citizenmatters_22sep2012_jpnagaredition

LocaL news Like no one eLse does

Vol-4 Issue-17 22 Sep - 5 Oct 2012 bengaluru

JP Nagar-BTM-Jayanagar

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CitizenMatters

7 Meet Alan Vincent D’Souza

9 Learning Yoga14 Turahalli Habba17 Photo exhibits,

workshops, charity fundraisers & more

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Citizen Matters Vol-4 Issue-17, 22 Sep - 5 Oct 2012 KARENG/2009/28904. Published & Printed by Meera K for Oorvani Media Pvt Ltd. Printed at Lavanya Mudrana, 19, 15th cross, Vidyapeeta Circle, BSK I Stage, Bangalore 560060 Place of Publication Oorvani Media, #98/1, MMR Plaza 1st Floor, Sarjapur Main Road, Jakkasandra, Koramangala 1st Block, Bangalore 560034. editor Subramaniam Vincent.

Hypertension or high blood pressure causes many changes in the blood vessels of the body. These same changes in blood vessels affect the eyes in many ways. It can cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina, the area at the back of the eye where images focus. This eye disease is known as hypertensive retinopathy.

SymptomsTypically, a person won’t experience symptoms of hypertensive retinopathy in the initial stages. It is usually discovered during a routine eye examination. Therefore it is important to have a periodic eye check up to detect these eye diseases. However symptoms might include headache and vision problems.

How is it diagnosed?Hypertension Retinopathy can be diagnosed using an Ophthalmoscope, an instrument that projects light to examine the back of the eye ball. The Ophthalmologist will look for signs of retinopathy which include: Narrowing of blood vessels Fluid oozing from blood vessels Spots on the retina known as cotton wool spot and exudates Swelling of the macula (the central area of the retina) and optic nerve Bleeding in the back of the eye

Why is eye check up important and recommended if one has Hypertension?Eye is the only organ of the body where the blood vessels can be directly observed. The blood vessels of the retina can be examined using an Ophthalmoscope. This helps the Physician or Ophthalmologist to observe the changes in blood vessels because of Hypertension, which gives an idea about the severity of the disease else where in the body. Certain signs in the eye are associated with certain systemic conditions for

example, narrowing of vessels and vessel wall changes are predictors of heart attacks and cotton wool spots are predictors for stroke. Hence eye examination is important.

How is it treated?The best way to treat Hypertension Retinopathy is to adequately control the blood pressure and to have regular eye check ups atleast annually or as recommended by the Ophthalmologist.

Can Hypertension Retinopathy be prevented?To prevent Hypertension Retinopathy, the blood pressure should be kept under control by changing diet, exercises, lifestyle modifications and taking the anti-hypertensive medications as prescribed. In addition, see your doctor on a regular basis for follow up care.

633, 100 feet Ring Road JP Nagar 3rd Phase, Bengaluru - 560078Tel: 08026593210 fax: [email protected]:9980562020 [email protected]

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BP can add affect your eye too!

High BP can affect the blood vessels in the eyes too. Symptoms include headache and vision problems.It is important to control blood pressure and have periodic eye checkups!

BRVO Hypertensive Retinopathy

DR. MAMATHA S R senior Consultantvitreo retinashekar Nethralaya

Vol-4 Issue-17 22 Sep - 5 Oct 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 5Got feedback on our articles? Give us a missed call at 080-300 88 615

when you ask for change in BmtC busHaving got to go to Ulsoor the other day, I boarded G-4 at Jayadeva - needless to say, being peak hour, the bus was crowded and I handed over Rs 11 and took the ticket.

After the bus turned into Hosur Road, the crowd reduced. The conductor too was relaxed. As the bus crossed Johnson Market, I went to the conductor and asked him “500-ge change idiye”-

Conductor nodded his head and gave me change which I myself didn’t expect-Rs.10x10+Rs.50x8. Can’t get more change than this for Rs.500!

In crowded buses, conductors do not want the obligation to remember and give back the change especially for huge amounts-but once the bus nears destination or crosses the main crowded sections, they relax and getting change for large amount is easy. The other day, I asked the conductor for change, on route No. 3E enroute to Basavangudi from BTM. The conductor

asked me whether 10 rupee notes would do or did I require coins too!

BMTC commuters, please try this technique, where passengers and conductors both can be happy!!

siddhArth s is a student of commerce and resident

of JP Nagar.

jayanagar jp nagar & BTM

Meet H Veeranna (30), who has now been working

at Park View, a darshini at JP Nagar III Phase (Mini Forest) for eight years out of the thirteen that this eatery has been in existence. He is certainly one of the reasons why this bustling eatery is thriving; he, and his colleagues, always deliver service with a smile, no matter how rushed it is.

Veeranna belongs to Kundapur, and came to Bangalore to make a living. “I am lucky and happy to be here,” he says with a smile. He lives with other members of the staff in accommodation provided by Park View owner P N Narasimha Murthy, at Marenahalli. He is able to save enough to send some money home every month to his mother and two sisters, back home. “I work both here, and at our other location (Bangalore

Tiffany’s near Brigade Millenium apartments)”, he says.

His main duties are to oversee the cooking and packing of catered meals to various IT companies, ”We send out about 700 meals a day,” he says proudly, pointing to the huge stainless steel tiffin carriers that are used. He is also in charge of the coffee and tea section, and it’s a delight to be served by him!

All the regulars know him well, and he knows each one of them. He remembers to never give me coffee with sugar! “I am happy to have such nice customers,” smiles Veeranna, and I smile too, at the implied compliment!

deePA MohAN is a amateur naturalist, blogger and freelance

writer.

Life in a DarsHInI

CiTizen RepoRTs

Btm to Get a new LIBraryBTM will get a new City Central Library branch by 2014. The 3300 sqft library will come up at a Civic Amenity (CA) site at 7th main, BTM layout, 2nd stage.

In the first phase ground and first floor will be built. The space will also be used a centre for cultural activities. In the subsequent phases, three more floors will be conducted.

The project is coming up at a cost of 10 crore rupees

Newsdesk

We have heard of stories of conductors abusing or rebuking passengers asking for a change. It makes a difference when and how you ask!

File Pic

Veeranna, who works in Park View Darshini, J P Nagar III Phase. Pic: Deepa Mohan

6 CITIZEN MATTERS 22 Sep - 5 Oct 2012 Vol-4 Issue-17 Want to book an ad or classified? Give us a missed call at 080-300 88 614

In & arOUnD

The Rotary E-Club of Bangalore, District 3190, held its annual

inter-school English debate competition “The Rotary E-Club Rolling Trophy” on Saturday, September 1st at the “Rotary House of Friendship”.

The event saw participation from 10 schools across Bangalore and was a keenly contested one.

The topic of the debate was “In accordance with the Right to Education Act, 25% reservation for poor students in private schools, is the correct way to address the problem of improving education in our country.” Poorna Chandra

Tejaswi of St Paul’s English School secured first place, Sarah Biju of Brigade School secured second and Bhanushree of King’s Convent secured third place.The rolling trophy was awarded to Brigade School.

The Rotary E-Club also organised RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) programme last Saturday, 15th September for the students of tenth standard at Kairalee Educational Institutions.

rotarian venkat holla is a resident of JP Nagar and President, rotary e- club of Bangalore district 3190 (2012-13). see www.rotaryeclubbangalore.org

GanesHa anD LakesIn villages, traditionally, local potters collect clay from the lake beds in summer when water level falls. The potters use their own dyes made with turmeric, red mud, plant and other natural colours. At the end of the festival, the Ganeshas go back into the lake waters from which they were born.

Today, we are dissuading people from going to lakes with their Ganeshas.

There are several eco-friendly alternatives that have been advertised. Despite this, it is expected that majority of the Ganeshas will not be ‘eco-compliant’ and their worshippers will be seeking out lakes. The material with which the Ganeshas are made, the paints used to colour them and the other

accessories that are put on the Ganeshas are most likely going to be harmful to water bodies and the lives they support.

Puttenahalli Lake is not on BBMP’s list of lakes designated for Ganesha idol immersion. “Immersion of idols” is also on the list of Don’ts. But we are prepared!

PNLIT has organized two different immersion points where water drums and flower collection baskets have been specially placed. A watchman and volunteers will also be on duty. Devotees who do turn up at Puttenahalli Lake will be asked to immerse their Ganeshas in the water drums at these points and save the lake!

ArAthi MANAy yAJAMAN

students debate on reservation in education

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State Bank of Travancore, BTM Layout, celebrated Onam festival. Pic courtesy: G Nageswari, branch manager, SBT.

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24-year-old Alan Vincent Dsouza quit his engineering in his third

year, because he did not find any value in the course and risked his career to formally start his own company, Vavia Technologies. He is one of the founders.

D’souza lives in JP Nagar and finds Bangalore to be most conducive for entrepreneurship. He thinks that his dots are yet to connect but is confident it will.

When and how was Vavia Technologies formed?I thought of starting a business with this name when I was a three-year-old. I got selected for Infosys’ contest ’Catch’em young’ when I was in class eight. It was meant to teach children about computers. There I realised that my interest lies in web (internet) and learned the techniques. Later on, gaining some proficiency, I undertook small projects in my locality.

After completing my Higher Secondary, I came to pursue my engineering course in PESIT, Bangalore. However, I did not find much value in the course structure and dropped out in my third year in 2008. This was the time when we started Vavia formally.

What is Vavia all about?We build web applications. We take an idea, market with minimum budget, build the social media presence and do the search engine optimisation. We provide end-to-end solutions for the web. Last year

lOcal MaTTerS

NiMMA neighbouR

‘I chose entrepreneurship over education’He dropped out of college because he believed he was better off being an entrepreneur. His venture is a web platform where both buyers and vendors get a good deal, while he makes his moolah.

we served about 350 clients across India.

Apart from services, last year we launched our flagship product: discountpandit.com. It aggregates

deals for products and services from various deal providers. It works as a search engine for deals. Recently, we also launched askthepandit.

com, under the the umbrella of discountpandit, which is a discount-as-a-service portal. Here we find discounts from vendors according to the customers demand.

You dropped out of the college in 3rd year. Why? Do you think education system in India needs a change?I did not see much of value in

education system. Not that I disrespect it, but I did not find any point learning advance microprocessor without any interest. I took couple of projects including the one to build my college’s website. Then I realised that business was growing. I had a choice to leave my business and continue with engineering. But I chose to venture full time into my business.

More than educational institutions, it is the society that needs to change. If we were able to respect the plumber for his job, someone would have created a new tool for plumbing or a new dimension to mechanics for a mechanic. There is no point studying just for the sake of it.

ABhishek ANgAdabhishek [email protected]

Ratan Tata’s inspiring words gave me lot of courage while dropping out: ‘I don’t believe in taking right decisions, I take decisions and then make them right’. Also, 2008 was the right time to start any business. Owing to the recession, we learnt all the nuances.

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check OUTS

Hot food is definitely tempting, what if it is smoking hot? A bed

of minced meat cutlet with boiled vegetables with some great sauce and maybe mashed potatoes on the side, sizzling away at your table?

That would be a Sizzler.

Though the roots of Sizzlers are associated with seafood being served on a sizzling platter, there have been several variations with time. There are even vegetarian sizzlers now.

Non-vegetarians have several options to choose from. Steaks, chicken, mutton, pork, and of course - the original seafood. The meat is usually minced and made into a cutlet or grilled and served with french fries and lots of boiled and grilled vegetables. The spice levels can be adjusted according to your taste.

Vegetarians need not worry as there are several options available like simply veg sizzlers to cottage cheese and exotic vegetables. The vegetable cutlet or cottage cheese cubes are served with french fries, rice and noodles depending on what you choose.

But here, the sauce does the trick and enhances the flavour. There are several varieties of sauces used in the preparation to go with your rice or noodles.

Paprika or Black Pepper sauce is will give your sizzler a dash of spice.

Lettuce is spread over the sizzler plate and the assorted vegetables, rice and noodles are arranged over it. A sizzle is added by sprinkling a mixture of water and oil over the hot sizzler plate and served.Yana Sizzlers: 145, 60 feet road, 5th Block, koramangala. Ph: 25505538, 25505542

Cost for two is 600. Alcohol not served.

Kobe Sizzlers: 1st Cross, 5th A Block, Near Java City, koramangala. Ph: 41705607


Tomatina: 27th Main, Above gold’s gym, 1st sector, hsr Layout. Ph: 42420606


898 Steaks & Grill: 898, 80 Feet road, Next to F Chisel, 6th Block, koramangala. Ph: 30412940 ext:281


Bombay Blue Express: 4th Floor, Bangalore Central Mall, 9th Block, Jayanagar.


Pizzeria Romano: 55, 5th Cross, Above Fulki, 6th Block, koramangala. Ph: 40953752, 40953751

Cost for two is 1200 without alcohol. Alcohol served.

Marhaba: 394, 1st Floor, 7th Cross, 7th Main, MiCo Layout, BtM 2nd stage. Ph: 40997172


ANishA NAir

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There are a variety of yoga styles, some modified to suit different

fitness needs.

Yoga styles for everyoneThough the postures remain the same across different styles, the difference is in its approach and intensity. Power Yoga is a continuous sequence where the asanas are strung together to flow in a sequence. Hot Yoga or Bikram Yoga is hatha or power yoga, practised inside a heated studio. This helps in weight reduction and detoxification.

Ashtanga Vinyasa is the most rigorous of all flow-based practices like power yoga and vinyasa yoga, having physical, emotional and mental benefits. Iyengar yoga is done with props such belts, blankets and even blocks.

The intensity and the type of asanas should be designed based on age, sex, weather because the physiology of the body, especially hormonal activity, differs based on these factors.

There are some special yoga techniques for people with different conditions. For example, there are specific asanas for pregnant women. Pregnant women are advised not to overstretch the abdomen and

the emphasis is on strengthening shoulders and the back.

These days, Yoga teachers can be certified under governing bodies like AYUSH and UGC approved yoga programmes, both at the graduate and postgraduate level.

International standards like Yoga Alliance and International Yoga Federation also exist. sivananda yoga vedanta Centre: 16th B Main, koramangala 3 Block, koramangala. Ph: 25634991

Anandamaya wellness Center: #1252, 27th Main, 7th Cross, J P Nagar i Phase. Ph: 22449007

srimoyi yoga: Bellandur ( Next to intel), sarjapur outer ring road. Ph: 25843122

due North yoga Private Limited: #11, First Floor, 1st Cross, 5 – A Block, koramangala. Ph: 25506145 / 25506142 / 77952 27392

Navarasa: #1016, 2nd Floor (Above sichuan), 80 feet road, 1st Block, koramangala. Ph: 97412 90592 / 8971455021

indian heritage Academy: #870, opp koramangala Club, 17th e Main, 5th Block, koramangala. Ph: 25530304

Center for yoga and Counselling: #6/3, Above tata docomo office, 8th Main, 4th Block, koramangala. Ph: 9886152722

dhrti yoga studio: #64, ‘savinaya’, 1st Floor, 7th Main, BtM 2nd stage. Ph: 41288665 / 9886021047

siddhi samadhi yoga: 34 1st Floor 4th Block, 11th Main, 31st Cross, east Jayanagar. Ph: 26631909

Ayur yoga Center: No 1009, 1st Floor, 4th t Block, 26th Main, Jayanagar. Ph: 22457514

yoga Bharathi: 36th Cross, 4th Block, 10th Main road, Jayanagar. Ph: 22441486

Artistic yoga: #1303, 25th Main, above Praveen Novelty Big Bazaar road, 9th Block, Jayanagar. Ph: 9972246555

ANishA NAir

POInTs TO RemembeRThe following points will help choose appropriate yoga sessions. The teachers should be certified, experienced and inspiring. The teachers should be able to counsel for proper choice of style and frequency of yoga classes based on one’s needs. The space should be clean and hygienic.

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Yoga practice. Pic: a1000yoga


exclUSIVe

parents want religion in schools, intellectuals criticalparents want religion in schools, intellectuals critical

Last year, state government got flak for promoting the teaching

of Bhagavat Gita in schools. Activists and educationists had branded this as ‘saffronisation’ of education.

But, for decades, Hindu organisations have been promoting Hinduism in schools throughout the state. Prominent of these is Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an organisation that actively promotes Hindutva. VHP holds exams, competitions, sloka classes etc for schools in the city. Ramakrishna Mission in Ulsoor, and ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), are other organisations that have similar programmes. However, such work has continued without getting the ‘saffronisation’ tag.

Culture comes from religionVHP has been holding exams in Ramayana and Mahabharatha for about 40 years now. D N Murthy, VHP General Secretary for South India, says that around 100 schools - government, aided and private - in Bangalore participate in the exam annually. The exams are optional, but across the state, around 45,000 students from 800-900 schools attend the exams. VHP sends appeals to participate, to 7000-8000 schools overall.

However Murthy says that the participation from the city schools is low.

Many schools that participate, do not have Hindu managements per se. The exams are held by a Trust, named Bharatha Samskruthi Prathishtana. This Trust was formed

by VHP, after it was banned temporarily in ‘92.

International and Christian schools not approachedVHP’s Ramayana/

Mahabharatha exams are three hours long, and is

taken up by students in classes 8th - 12th. But international schools and Christian schools are not usually approached. “These schools are usually not interested,” says Murthy.

In scores of schools, religion and scriptures are being taught by the administrations themselves or organisations from outside. Parents, be it from majority or minority community, appear to want this even as intellectuals worry.


He says that the idea is to put children on the right track. “Children have to be taught their cultural roots, else they will go astray. There are consistent efforts by Christians to mislead them. Government has never interfered in this work, so we take their silence as support,” he says.

Values or religion?Schools allowing these exams say that this should not be controversial because the exams are not compulsory, and that parents implicitly support this. They also say that schools run by minority religious managements already teach their respective religions in their schools.

Sir M Visvesvaraya PU College in Old Airport Road allows value education classes by ISKCON after school hours. Students are taught Bhagavat Gita in the classes. Shyamala Jogaiah,

Principal of the college, says that the classes are not explicitly about religion, but about values.

Minority run schools teach religionSt Joseph’s Boys High School has Catholic prayer sessions for Catholic students once a month; these students also have to attend religious sessions three times a week. Students belonging to other religions need not participate.

Fr Celestine Sera, Principal at the school, says, “We are a minority school, and it is a given that Catholic children will be exposed to their religion. Parents admit their children here because they know and appreciate that religion is taught. It’s not just us - Hindu and Muslim schools also teach their own religions.”

There are also Christian schools like St Mary’s School which do not teach religion.

Carmel School of Banashankari does not have religious affiliations, and has a policy of not encouraging religion in the school. Principal Sribala S says that the school is secular and that hence religion is completely avoided.

Sujata Khadabadi, Principal at SAAMAR Islamic International School, says, “Religion is an important part of education; but it is wrong to not teach it at all, in the name of secularism.” At SAAMAR school, all students are Muslims, and Islamic education is mandatory and part of the curriculum.

Educationists disagreeThe educationists Citizen Matters spoke to, disagree with this point of view. They say that the Constitution mandates a clear separation

between state and religion, and hence religion should be a private affair.

Ashok Kamath, Chairman of Akshara Foundation, says, “There is no need for any guidelines on religious teaching, we only need to turn to our Constitution. School is a public place; there is no need to complicate things by bringing religion there. It can be distressing to children.”

Another opinion is that government should actively control the curriculum, avoiding indoctrination. Niranjan Aradhya, Education Consultant at Centre for Child and

Law in NLSIU, says that NCERT and DSERT - which design school curriculum - should be involved. “These bodies and their experts are there so that a common curriculum can be designed, and public can take their objections to government. The values of all religions can be included, without focusing on specific religions,” he says. Aradhya is also an advisor to state government on policy

matters in education.

Parents do not see a problemHowever, parents of school-going children seem to support religion being part of schooling, but not too much of it. They say that one specific religion should not be imposed on children. Soumya Muralidhar, whose children study in GEAR International School, says that schools should teach about religion and festivals since parents do not have enough time for this now a days.

She says, “There can be some guidelines from the government so that all religions get equal weightage in schooling.”

NAvyA P k

cM SpecIal

many schools have prayers of a particular

religion only, and parents know this. They don’t mind

because ultimately they only look at

quality of teaching and facilities in schools.” He, however, opines that there should not be in-depth sessions

on religion as it shifts the focus of schooling itself. - Ravi shankar

Raman, parent.

parents want religion in schools, intellectuals criticalparents want religion in schools, intellectuals critical

Pic: Navya P K


As urban gardeners we have several

simple organic options for ensuring adequate input of nutrients to the soil and plants.

PanchagavyaOne of the most effective and common

liquid nutrients for the garden is Panchagavya. It consists of five main ingredients from the cow (ghee, milk, curd, cow dung and cow urine) and serves not just as a growth promoting hormone and immunity booster but

also as a pesticide.

It is also a good source of micronutrients for plants and the soil. The usage is as simple as spraying a three percent solution on plants every 10-15 days. Seeds can also be soaked in this solution for 20 minutes before sowing.

If you have easy access to free range cows, you could try making some at home.

Effective Microorganisms (EM)Effective Microorganisms is a combination of useful microorganisms (such as

lactic acid bacteria, yeast, other fungi) that exist freely in nature and are not

manipulated in any way. It occurs in a liquid form and can be used to increase the natural resistance of plants. It also considerably improves the quality and fertility of soil as well as the growth and quality of crops.

EM can be applied to plants as a diluted spray early in the morning or late evening. Drenching the soil with EM before sowing is also another method of application.

More on fertilisers in the coming issues.

September 29th is observed as world Heart day. Cardiovascular

diseases causes at least 17 million deaths annually.

Heart attack typically occurs when blood supply to heart is blocked. If the blockage is temporary, it results in chest pain or ‘Angina.’ If it is prolonged and irreversible, it leads to death of heart muscles, and is called heart attack. It can and does lead to death in a significant number of cases, if immediate treatment is

not provided. It is estimated that 50 percent of all deaths due to heart attack occurs in first hour.

It is therefore imperative to understand the risk factors associated with heart attack, and check whether you are at risk or not. The most important risk factor, which cannot be modified, is ‘genetic.’ South East Asians, and that includes

Indians, are genetically much more predisposed to heart disease than other individuals.

In addition, obesity is significantly associated with this disease. More

so because it leads to other risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol levels) and decreased activity.

Smoking and alcohol consumption also increases the risks.

fOr yOUr InfO

chlOrOphyll cOnVerSaTIOnS

viniTa suRyanaRayanan

healTh MaTTerS

Col (ReTd.) dR Mukul saxena

Heart attack: are you at risk?

TO Reduce yOuR RIskGenetic predisposition, is something you cannot fight, but there are other risk factors that you can pay attention to.

Quit smoking. If you are obese or overweight, consult

your physicians. Losing weight is one single intervention which can help control diabetes, blood pressure, and a host of other problems.

Regulate your diet. cut down on junk food, aerated drinks, alcohols, chips, peanuts, salt, sugar and oil.

exercise daily. brisk walking is a good form of exercise.

Reduce your stress level. A bit of planning can help reduce stress of deadlines. meditation, spending quality time with your family and friends does cut down the stress levels significantly.

easy and safe nutrients for the garden

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Dear Reader,

After nearly a hundred fortnights (from early 2009) in print as a free newsmagazine, Citizen Matters is evolving into our next avatar: a reader-supported model.

you know we have covered major developments in the city and especially your own neighbourhoods. Our coverage has had impact and has also facilitated a spirit of community amongst readers in many neighbourhoods.

For instance, we are privileged to have continuously covered the journey of Puttenahalli Lake in JP Nagar from an environmental disaster to the wonderful form it has taken now thanks to citizen leadership and community involvement. Our continuous and critical coverage on BBMP's blind push for roadwidening in 2009-10 along the outer ring road corridor gave a legitimate platform for citizens solidify their position, till the government was forced to take a step back in general. Today officials think hard before they use the word 'roadwidening' without proper compensation.

More recently, we exposed a massive scam-like project BWSSB had propped up in name of cleaning up Bellandur Lake. Minister Suresh Kumar took note of this and met the BWSSB chairman. It was also Citizen Matters that illuminated readers through a detailed interview with P Manivannan, MD of BESCOM that Bengaluru power cuts were not as much due to shortages as they were due to overheated transmission cables.

Our step-by-step guides and FAQs have always been popular, starting with our property tax payment guide and all the way to getting birth and death certificates

and more.

none of this can happen without a high calibre journalism team that is both exclusively focussed on the city, and partners with citizens week after week, issue after issue. We are the only magazine that integrates professional reporting with citizen-authoring to deliver

a pioneering city media product to you. The name Citizen Matters exemplifies our approach.

so we ask you, the regular reader, to tell us that this publication is relevant to you and

your community in the following ways:

* Join the Friends of Citizen Matters Club. Support our journalism with a contribution of 500 to 5000 rupees (barely what you’d spend for a dinner for two or a family). In return you will get exclusive privileges. Email us at [email protected], or call 98455 06477 to express your interest, and we will respond with details.

* support the print magazine with a subscription. To receive our all-new 24 page fortnightly magazine at your door step at just Rs.12 a month. Ask your newsagent to call 98455 06477. For annual subscription at Rs.150, call us directly at the same number.

Please do note this: we are counting on support from readers and patrons. with support from you and others like you, we will be certainly be able to continue our print editions in your neighbourhood. And needless to say, our web-and-mobile based media platform will always be there to deliver content and foster citizenship as our social goal.

Subramaniam Vincent, Meera KFounders, Citizen Matters

eDITOrIal

support Citizen matters and give back to your city

For the price of a cup of coffee, you can get the upcoming, all new Citizen Matters at your doorstep. Ask your newsagent to call 98455 06477.

Citizen Matters will be priced from November-December 2012 at only Rs 6, in a new 24 page format. If you like Citizen Matters and would like to receive your copy, please ask your newspaper agent to call Citizen Matters at 9845506477, we will make sure it is delivered at your door step.


Recently BBMP decided that it would put up an “adventure sports hub” on the

hillocks of Turahalli forest on Kanakapura road. Nature lovers who regularly trek to the forest decided it was time to protest.

Over the years, the pressure of population in Bangalore has meant that the once pristine forest has been “developed” into various layouts. All that remains is just a couple of hillocks. These are beloved to nature lovers, cyclists who organise downhill runs here, rock-climbers who find the crags of the hillock inviting.

This is of course apart from the residents around the forest - the shepherds and the cowherds. Several devotees also visit the two temples on the hillocks, even these temples are being “developed” in an illegal way.

Leo Saldanha of Environment Support Group, who has always stood against the privatisation of public commons, sent out an email calling for some action. His email underscored the fact that yet again, public property was likely to be privatised and earmarked only for the use of certain sections of society.

Deepak Arya, one of the avid and experienced birders of Bangalore, and his friend Venkatesh M, decided to have a “Turahalli Festival” on 9th September, to highlight the fact that many diverse people were enjoying the common space, and would not like it to be privatised.

Our group, consisting of nature-lovers and bird watchers, reached Turahalli hillock quite early, as the birds get disturbed once a lot of people arrive on the scene. We climbed up the outcrops and reached one of the temples.

A few other people including a group of cyclists and members of “Go Green,” an initiative started by Prabhakar Rao also joined.

A banner, saying, “Save Turahalli” was put up on the massive Ficus tree in front of the temple, and several visitors signed it. Leo Saldanha spoke about the past (the free access to forests and public spaces) , the present (encroachment and “development”) and the future (the need to keep public commons accessible to all).

A simple vegetarian lunch was served to everyone present; the caterers did not use plastic cups for water, and served the food in steel plates. All litter was collected and taken back. Deepak had requested the caterers to deliver the leftover food to an orphanage.

For a long time afterwards, rock-climbers were having a field day, as there were experts around to help the newbies climbers. Many children also tried their hand at climbing, under the watchful eyes of their parents.

deePA MohAN

It is the last remaining wilderness space so close to South Bangalore. Nature lovers, cyclists, trekkers and rock climbers alike protested in a unique way, to ensure this last piece of greenery is not lost in the name of development.

turahalli Habba to protest privatisation

On 17 september forest officials met some of the activists and promised to take action and announced a meeting on 13th October to constitute a urban Forest committee. Those interested in being a part of this committee can mail deepak Arya at [email protected]

The meeting was held at Turahalli forest itself. The group that met also found out that the illegal temple structure that had come up two weeks had been removed completely. This was seen as the triumph of ‘the immense capabilities of public and collective action to protect the forests.’

turahalli Habba to protest privatisation

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Music GearDealers in Musical Instruments and accessories

Call9880599956

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JP Nagar

TalksA talk on “inDiA’S noRth EASt” by K Sreedhar RaoFri 28 sep, 6:30pm, Bangalore international Centre, teri Complex, 4th Main, 2nd Cross, domlur ii stage, Ph: 2535 9680

thanjavur - A thousand year old temple and its Cultural legacyLecture by Kalaimamani Lakshmi Viswanathan, Bharatanatyam dancer and authorMon 24 sep, 6.30pm, Bangalore international Centre, teri Complex, 4th Main, 2nd Cross, domlur ii stage, rsvP 9886599675

Dance DiSCourseThe event promises a Leading Odissi dancers from Bengaluru city, Madhulita Mohapatra,

Argha Chatterjee, Vandana Supriya, Meghna Das, Shwetha Krishna and others, perform the complete traditional repertoire.sat 29 sep, 6.30pm, Alliance Française, thimmaiah road, vasanth Nagar, Ph: 98861 94545MusiCDo RE Mi school of music and studio presents free workshop to learn and play Piano, Keyboard or guitarwed 26 sep to thu 27 sep, do re Mi school of Music and studio, #7, Arakere Main road, 1st floor, Near reliance Mart signal, Next to Apollo Pharmacy, Ph: 95910 76336

25th intercollegiate Music CompetitionThe categories include Carnatic classical vocal,

Hindustani classical vocal, instrumental, light music, film hits based on classical ragas and groups songs in patriotic, folk and ranga geethe.Mon 24 sep to tue 25 sep, National College, Jayanagar 7th Block, Ph:2653 3541 TheaTReRanga Shankara Plays21 Fri (at 3.30 pm) 22 Sat, 23 Sun (at 11am) Jujubee (Tanglish) 60 mins (for 5 year olds and above)25 Tue, 26 Wed Aadaddella Olithe…? (K), 90 mins27 Thu, Sambashiva Prahasana (K), 135 mins28 Fri to 30 Sun Beyond Hattamala (E), 100 mins (also at 3.30 pm on Sat and Sun)rangashankara, JP Nagar, Phase ii, Ph: 2649 3982.

Food for ChangeAs a part of ‘Joy of Giving Week’ we present an evening of ‘Dine and Donate’Every donor that makes a contribution of Rs 5,000 to an NGO of his/her choice will be entitled to a free dinner coupon for the gourmet food offered by top chefs from Bangalore’s top 4 & 5 star restaurants on 6th October, 2012 at SAP Labs India lawns. 100% of the funds would reach an NGO of your choice; you make a cheque/ DD favoring the NGO or donate the amount online. Choose your NGO The invite to the evening of fine dining and music will be given to you by the chosen NGO.You can ask your friends too to make a donation to a cause and use this as an opportunity of spending some time together.http://www.bangalorecares.indate: october 6th, 2012venue: sAP Labs india, #138, ePiP Zone, whitefield, Bangalore 560 066

art 4 public - open for all photo exhibit at koramangala (last chance to catch it)Citizen Matters, in association with Red Frames invites you!National Games Village will host 40+ framed cityscapes over the weekend. Why go to a gallery to see the best of photogra-phy? ‘Art 4 Public’ is coming to your doorstep!Enjoy the evening with your family and friends.The travelling exhibition gathers the collective talents and perspectives of amateur as well as professional photographers across India. sunday, 23rd, september, national games village park - 5pm to 7:30pm

art 4 public in bTM Next weekAt BdA Park, 6th Main, k.e.B, Lay-out, BtM Layout, 1st stage sunday, 29th sep, 10am to 1pm.Talk: Effective way of handling day to day problems by scholar Dr.K.S.Srinivasa Rao on30 sep, 10.30 am, #111, 4th Main, BtM 1st stage


BUzz

Selected Poems - a book of poems of Subramanya Bharathi

translated from Tamil into English by Usha Rajagopalan was released in Bangalore on September 14th.

Usha’s relationship with writing began in her childhood. “I was always into reading and writing, and assumed that it was a part of every child’s life. My grandfather would insist I write a review on every book I read, and would later go through the reviews, marking out phrases or words that he thought were well used in the context, as well as those that could be improved upon or expressed differently,” she says. Usha has written three books prior to this one - get Published (a writer’s manual, OUP, 2001), Amrita (a novel, Rupa & Co., 2004), Corpse kesavan

& other stories (short stories, NHM, 2008).

Published by Hachette India, the book is bilingual with both the original Tamil and the translated English side by side. The selections give an insight into the versatility of Subramanya Bharathi (1882-1921) whose work expressed progressive and reformist ideals.

Geetha Srikrishnan presented excerpts from the book, singing in Tamil, while Usha rendered the English translation. One of the guests, Rekha, a Bharatanayam dancer who is doing her PhD in dance knew some Bharati songs and she very sportingly offered to dance to Geetha Krishnan’s singing.

Arathi Manay yajaman

Bangalore writer translates Subramanya Bharathi’s poems

Have a good camera and excited to take picture, but not sure how to get the best from your camera? Here is what you have been waiting for!

Amitabha Roy Saha, an experienced photo will conducts a photography workshop. All the proceeds from

the workshop will be donated to Arakere Neighbourhood Improvement Trust (ANIT). ANIT has been working on restoration of Arakere Lake.

You can go beyond auto mode to manual mode, learn about composition, exposure, aperture, ISO , tips and tricks and much more. There will be ample hands on sessions.

ArBiNd guPtA is chairperson, ANit.

ashoka Trust for Research in ecology and environment (aTRee), inTaCh bangalore, Citizen Matters and Red Frames present a series of events on Urban Biodiversity, to be held in the first week of October - a curtain raiser to one of the most important international conferences on the UN’s Convention of Biodiversity, the 11th Conference of the Parties that will be held in Hyderabad from October 8th-19th at Jaaga, Double Road 4th-6th Oct: Photo exhibition of select entries from Nature in the City contest. 4th oct: Talk by dr harini nagendra, aTRee 5th oct: dr Madhusudan katti, California state university, Fresno, California 6th oct: s karthikeyan, Jungle lodges and Resorts.Talks are at Jaaga, at 6:30 pm. on sunday, 7th october, put on your shoes and caps for an outdoor nature Journalling workshop by the award-winning sangeetha kadur and shilpashree of greenscraps.All events are free and open to all!

CLICk for arakere Lake

7th October 2012, sunday, 10.30 am to 5.30pmVenue: classic Or-chards (club House), behind meenakshi Temple,bannerghatta Road,Workshop Leader : Amitabha saha Roy.Fees: Rs 1000 per person (Incl. Lunch and Tea)email [email protected] or contact Amitabha saha Roy at 8105455200.

usha rajagopalan and geeta srikrishnan at the book launch. Pic courtesy: author.


laST wOrD

Bizarre saga of a mysore road messIn 2011, I moved back to Bangalore

from Seattle. I was conscious that I was not moving back to the city that I knew.

For starters, I was moving to a part of the city that I needed getting used to. I had spent all my earlier Bangalore life around Chamarajpet and Srinagar, bang in the middle of the city.

But now I had to negotiate Mallathahalli (which gets increasingly confused with the more famous Marathahalli), near Nagarabhavi. And it lay on the wrong side of Mysore Road and far off from anything and everything that mattered.

Around 2005-2007 there was a road being constructed to link Tumkur Road to Mysore Road, right from the point where the Outer Ring Road from Banashankari met Mysore Road. By the time I returned, the road was well in commission and there was the huge mess of Nayandahalli.

There are now flyover(s) being constructed and the Metro hovering above. It is a gigantic battlefield of work - tall cranes, noisy trucks, angry buses, potholes, dust, gravel and smoke.

There are days when BMTC plays truant and I have to hitch on to whatever is available and try to somehow get home. Once you got into something you’d climb up the slope from the signal on ORR after PESIT praying that the bus would

not stop anywhere before the petrol pump on the way down. It invariably would.

Sometimes you could see the traffic piled up right near the entrance to the NICE road clover leaf. The wait would last anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. Painful time considering that you’d be hungry and tired after a long day’s work.

There you would see a brightly lit minefield of activity with the metro

above, the flyovers’ construction below, sweaty and stressed out policemen directing traffic. We would wait,

cursing the state of roads and the time it was taking for the flyover to be finished.

The flyovers across Mysore road are a marvel by themselves. It is an 18-ft high construction from the road across Mysore road linking the two sides of the Outer Ring Roads. There is going to be another 36-ft high one built over it for through traffic over Mysore Road, with the metro adjacent to it, hovering

above all of them.

I would gaze out, predict that they can finish the ramp in a month and open traffic by March, and then April, and then May and then June. August ended without bringing any joy. Finally it opened in mid-September.

Let’s not even talk of the flyover at level two, along the other direction. They built pillars, one after the other until the Metro beat them to the spot and put up their own pillars where the flyover should have descended. Funny to read in fiction. Can’t decide whether to laugh or cry in real.

Of all the flyovers, grade separators that have been sanctioned, built or being constructed this is the one that was most necessary and it should have happened when the link road was connected to Mysore road.

It speaks volumes about the lack of planning or vision that neither the BDA nor BBMP foresaw this state of extreme congestion at the Nayandahalli junction and finished the job years ago!

Anyway, here’s hoping that the whole mess gets cleared soon and there can be some peace and respite along Mysore road. Of course, I haven’t started describing the other flyover near Bapujinagar or the road-widening mess. God save Mysore Road!

vAidyANAthAN r is a software engineer and ‘long suffering’

Bangalorean.

Nay

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ysor

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R

CiTizen RepoRTs

FLy OVeR, undeR PAssed, OVeR TIme It is a gigantic battlefield of work - tall cranes, noisy trucks, angry buses, potholes, dust, gravel and smoke.

citizenmatters_22sep2012_jpnagaredition

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