Z-Blogs

Bellandur Buzz Issue # 28 Date: 29th January 2015. This fortnightly newsletter is published by the citizen group bellandur.forum@googlegroups.com   Bellandur Devasthana - Inauguration ceremony Sri Venkateswara temple on the banks of Bellandur lake A temple dedicated to Sri Venkateswara Swamy will be inaugurated this week in Bellandur Village. The temple is built on the banks of the Bellandur Lake, and made from granite stone, in Madurai style of architecture. Everything, from the temple plan to the size of the idols, is according to the shastras. The inauguration ceremony, spanning from 29th January (Thursday) to 2nd February (Monday), will be…

When trash seems to be strewn everywhere in our public spaces, it was heartening to see this sight at the Bannerghatta Zoo. Long may such initiatives last! Zoo, 18th January, 2015.

Republic Day is a good time to think about citizenship, and the responsibilities it carries. The basic premise of a democracy is that the people imagine it, create it, shape it and sustain it. There are no 'others'. But in fact, what we find is that most people go about their lives without any of this. There are many reasons for this, but one important reason is misconception about what is needed. A lot of people think doing things for the public good is a 'major' commitment, and that they cannot achieve much by giving a few hours a week.…

Swalpa Adjust Maadi (SAM)..this seems to be our attitude towards the others who share our planet. And some of them learn to adjust...but at what cost, still needs to be determined! Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, 11th Jan 2015.

My friend Priya Venkatesh,  herself a theatre person, told me about another interesting and unusual performance at Jagriti on the 15th of January, 2015. So I went with her and three other friends, to watch "Two Women Talking." The excellent brochure produced by Jagriti talked of story-telling, not as the retailing of fiction, but as the telling of one's life experiences. In fact, the telling of one's personal stories, and listening to those of others, has been designated as a form of therapy for everyone. The two protagonsists, if that is the right word, were Monsoon Bissell and Benaifer Bhadha.…

Bellandur Buzz Issue # 27 Date: 16th January 2015. This fortnightly newletter is published by the citizen group bellandur.forum@googlegroups.com The DIY solid waste management website www.2bin1bag.in The website for 2Bin1Bag has been launched to help individuals and communities manage their waste. 2Bin1Bag started off as a small citizen initiative to find a solution to the problem of solid waste disposal in the Bellandur ward. However, years of research and effort put in by a group of committed citizens has culminated in a movement encompassing the entire city. The movement, which is endorsed by celebrities like Mr. Rahul Dravid and Sri.…

Kere run was organized as part of the Kere Habba 2015 at Kaikondrahalli Lake. Nearly 30 kids from Thayimane and Ananya Trust attended the event as pacers, helping the runners finish the distance they planned to run. Many of these kids are budding runners with a lot of potential and being trained by RunnersHigh, one of them being a podium finisher at Bangalore Ultra 2014. The format of the run was different from a typical racing event. The idea behind the run was not to raise money either for the lake or the involved schools, but as a platform to bring the lakeside communities around the lake together…

When my friend Priya Venkatesh told me about the performance of “A Moment of Memory”, I was intrigued by the description of the performance and decided to attend the 8 pm showing at Atta Galatta in Koramangala, on January 10th. The production was by Visual Respiration, a group founded by Aruna Ganesh Ram, and  the show was directed by her.  'An experiential performance based on personal encounters' is the description of the performance in the words of Visual Respiration. It  gives the details about how this production came into being. It was not a “play” in the usual sense of the…

The recent tragic story of a three-year-old’s death after receiving dental care under local anesthesia in Bengaluru is heart-breaking. I am a surgeon who treats patients and performs procedures everyday. I am also a father of a three-year-old and an eight-month-old. The aftermath of the incident would have been unpleasant for the doctor and the family. I am sure this incident sent shivers down every patient that walked into a healthcare facility. I have received and delivered health care in India and in the United States. Where is it safer? What does quality mean? What does informed consent mean? How…

I find it interesting to watch a translation of a play; watching "Maryade Prashne", a translation, by Surendranath, of "Respect", a play in German by Lutz Huebner was an experience on several levels. In the foyer. Pic: Deepa Mohan I was curious to know how a play set in Germany would fit into the present-day milieu, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it melding in so perfectly. It sent out the first message of the play to me...that human equations, and power plays are common to humanity and not restricted to one culture or one nation. The play started…