Z-Blogs

It’s not easy to review a play when the theme is intense-- political unrest, and the social chaos that results.. This was the thread underlying  “Mein hoon Yusuf, aur yeh hai mera bhai”, which I watched at Ranga Shankara on 8th November 2015. Two theatre groups collaborated in this production. The action of the play is set against the background of the conflict in Palestine. It’s January 1948, and the British Mandate is ending. There is a lot of conflict over how the Palestine pie will be cut up. In a small village, Ali’s love for Nada faces difficulties because…

Prem Sagar says, "The kids had a lot of fun with crackers. Now, ensuring that their fun doesn't turn into someone else's job. It started with the kids cleaning up. Soon, others (elders) joined in. At 9.15 pm, we're done with crackers and the street is all clean now." Couldn't we all follow his example? Here is the photo of the children cleaning up.

A little off the city, on Mysore Road after the Kengeri township, it is hard to miss the ultra-colourful stuffed toys being sold by the kerb. Makers of these toys are the members of more than 20 families migrated from Naklav village, Jharkhand, a decade ago. Their profession back home was making mortar and pestle and statues. They have made Bengaluru their home now, but sadly they do not even hold an address proof. Even after all these years, very few of their children get to attend schools. One among them is Pooja. Pooja is ony 18, cute and shy…

Name : Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre Website : http://www.wrrcbangalore.org/ Phone : +91 80 2294 7307 | 91 80 2294 7317 email : wrrc-rescue@googlegroups.com | wrrc.projects@gmail.com | wrrcbrc@gmail.com   Name : People For Animals Website : http://www.peopleforanimalsbangalore.org/ Phone : 91 99000 25370 | 91 99803 39880 Landline : 080-28611986 | 080-28612767 | 080-22733350 email : info@peopleforanimalsbangalore.org | rescueservice@peopleforanimalsbangalore.org   Name Karuna Animal Welfare Association of Karnataka Website : http://karunaanimalwelfare.org/ Phone : 080 22860205 | 080 -23411181 | 080-23511329 email : contact@karunaanimalwelfare.org   Update: On 29 Dec 2016, I got the number of the Bangalore Cat Squad from Vidhya Sunder, it's 9845553850…

It’s not often that I attend a play without prior planning, but this happened to me when my friend Prathap invited me, after rather a long day outdoors, to “Still and Still Moving” at Ranga Shankara on 31st October 2015, staged by Tadpole Repertory Theatre. It was worth the effort of changing tracks, from nature to theatre. You can find Tadpole Rep’s blog here,   and they are on FaceBook,   here. A Delhi-based group, their professionalism in all departments of stagecraft was outstanding. I will be listing the cast and crew at the end, so I may not mention…

ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವ ದಿನದ ಶುಭಾಶೆಗಳು.    

Our peripatetic Prime Minister recently choked up on one of his visits abroad. He was talking about his mother and her years of working as a domestic help. Following that emotional outpouring, reams were written, and much space given to the fact that maids and other domestic workers in India continue to be ill-treated, badly paid and treated with little respect. Actually change is happening. As Indian cities such as Bengaluru become home to richer, double-income individuals, the benefits are passing on—to the domestic help. Take for instance, a luxury apartment complex in Bengaluru or even a gated community, where…

The resilience of birds never ceases to amaze me. All around us, in the face of "development", I see so many birds which manage to adapt to urban life, and live amongst us. The crow, the kite, the myna, the pigeon... these are the common examples, as are cattle egrets and pond herons. But yesterday, at the busiest of places... the Silk Board junction, I saw these beautiful Red-rumped Swallows flying and perching on the wires! Long may our urban birds last!

One of the trees that flowers profusely right now is "akasha mallige" or the Indian Cork Tree. I collect a few flowers each morning while on my morning walk, and put them in a small bowl or glass of water... the sweet, heady scent fills the home and keeps me in touch with the outdoors even when I am not outside! Here is the Wiki entry about the Indian Cork Tree. 

It's fun spotting the various signs that surround me as I walk around my city, and tryto understand what they might mean!  Here's one on a pushcart that was passing my front gate. Can you guess what it could be? My subject title gives a clue! Yes... indeed, it's 'Cutlets'!   Bangalore, October 24th 2015