BengalurBlog - My Two Cents

GRAND NEWS - Shubhashaya.com featured

2007-01-02T08:22:00.000+05:30

GRAND NEWS - Shubhashaya.com featured

We recently launched an exclusive Greeting Cards site in Kannada - for kannadigas by Kannadigas Shashi and Ravi...........Read Shashi's Blog where he has posted a screenshot of the article that appeared in today's Deccan Herald.

A Real super Hero

2006-12-16T19:08:00.000+05:30

A friend of mine sent this to me by E mail and I thought it was a wonderful story which every Indian should know.

On last Tuesday a news swept across all the news channels 'Sanjay Dutt relieved by the court'. 'Sirf Munna Not a bhai' '13 saal ka vanvaas khatam' 'alhough found guilty for possession of armory, Sanjay can breathe a sigh of relief as all the TADA charges against him are withdrawn'

And then many experts like Salman khan saying 'He is a good person. We knew he will come out clean' Mr. Big B, 'Dutt family and our family have relations for years - he's a good kid. He is like elder brother to Abhishek'. His sister Priya Dutt 'we can sleep well tonight…it's a great relief'

In another news: Parliament was mad at Indian team for performing badly; Greg chapel said something …..; Bomb scare in Gorakhpoor express; and Shah Rukh Khan replaces Big B in KBC and Sonia asked PM to consider reducing petroleum prices (I wonder who's the PM …anyways that is not the topic so leave it…) But most of the emphasis was given on Sanjay Datt's "phoenix like" comeback from the ashes of terrorist charges.

Surfing through the channels, one news on BBC startled me, it read, Hisbul Mujahidin's Most wanted terrorist 'Sohel Faisal' killed in Anantnag, India. Indian Major leading the operation lost his life in the process. Four others are injured.

It was past midnight, I started visiting the Indian channels, the ones who are 'Sabse TEZ', but Sanjubaba was still ruling. They were telling How Sanjubaba pleaded to the court saying 'I am the sole bread earner for my family' 'I have a daughter who is studying in US - who will look after her'. And then they showed how Sanjubaba was not wearing his lucky blue shirt while he was hearing the verdict. Also how he went to every temple and prayed for last some months. A suspect in Mumbai bomb blasts, convicted under armory act…..was being made into a hero.

Major Manish H Pitambare got the information from his sources about the terrorists' whereabouts. Wasting no time he attacked the camp killed the Hisbul Mujahidin's supremo and in the process lost his life….. To the bullets fired from an AK47……

He has a wife and a daughter (just like Sanjubaba), age …..18 months.
Major Manish never said 'I have a daughter' …before he took the decision to attack the terrorist hide out on the darkest of nights?

He never thought about having a family and he being the sole bread earner.

No news channel covered this since they were too busy hyping a former drug addict, an actor in real and reel life, a suspect who's linked to bomb blasts which killed hundreds. Their aim was to show how he defied the TADA charges and they were so successful that his conviction in possession of armory had no meaning. They also concluded that his parents in heaven must be happy and proud of him……

Parents of Major Pitambare are still on this earth and they have to live rest of their lives without their beloved son. His daughter won't ever see her papa again.

Definition of a Star has changed Major… it really has. So Sanjubaba always has a gun in every one of his movies then in real life if he has an AK47 then what's the big deal we are used to see him with some ammunition without it he's just a 49 year old hero so he did it for us…..so that we feel normal; Even if one of the bullets from one of such AK47's took a Real Star's life…….

but sir bole toh ….. tension nahi leneka. Aapun ko thoda bura laga.

Aapun pure din aapke baarein mein socha. Sach bataun kya aapun dukhi matlab ki senty ho gaya isliye ye likha.

Sorry major, to my generation there is no greater hero than one who laid his life in the name of this great nation. Hence Sir, I salute you. You are the real Star....

Bizarro Bengalooru

2006-09-25T06:32:00.000+05:30

‘Bizarro’ is a term associated with a character in Superman comics. This is a guy who is exactly the opposite of Superman (in terms of everything). Everything in his world is the opposite of Earth. Up is down. Right is left. Yes is No. Good is bad.

The context in which I envision this concept is our very own – Bengalooru. I started thinking if indeed such a thing as Bizarro Bengalooru(BB) existed, what it might look like. What would it be like to live in BB? Would the sky be a different color? Of course not. Would the traffic flow on the right hand side (not that it doesn’t happen now) of the road? Not at all. My vision is more about the people than the semantics of the city itself.

For the record, BB would still remain the capital of Karnataka. The first thing people would notice when they arrive in BB would be that everyone is extremely friendly and helpful. Getting out of BB’s railway stations or bus stands, auto rickshaw drivers actually would come running up to you and help you with your baggage. They would make you feel comfortable by asking you how the journey was and if everything was in order. Next they would start the engine without any qualms about your destination or the related fare for the ride. The vehicular movement in the city would be orderly and people would actually let you pass through if you were to honk just once. Honking would be a thing of emergency only. If anyone were to honk then it would be an assumption that something serious has occurred and needs priority. Needless to say ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles would get automatic importance in such situations. Buses would keep a minimum distance of 5 feet behind any vehicle to ensure safety. Irrespective of the condition of the roads everyone would maintain a safe speed and over-taking would happen, again, in extreme cases only. Traffic signals would contain the humble traffic policeman back in place. No more digital urgency here of the second timer that is more for a racing track than common traffic. People would stay behind the zebra crossing and wait for the signal to move ahead. Every citizen would be cautious about their vehicle’s condition and thus pollution would be considered offensive. People would respect each other and the law with a warm feeling of comfort that would envelope the city.

What occurred to me as I envisioned this version of Bengalooru was that our city was like this not so long ago. If being like this means being bizarre, then I guess it is not so bad after all.

Isn’t it?

--irKahS

Smile please, Mr. HDK!

2006-09-13T16:25:00.000+05:30

I guess the title of the article says it all. Do you still need me to elaborate? Gladly! Our dear Chief Minister is doing a lot to score points with the public. And why shouldn't he? After all the only proof governing bodies can provide that they support the people is by doing things for us, isn't it? So here we have dear Mr. HDK going around the state checking into the various villages dotted across the state and dining in them. Fair enough. Here we have Mr. HDK fending off accusations with the familiar shrug we have gotten used to it with a lot of integrity. Good enough. Here we have Mr. HDK dressed as the common man in a simple cotton shirt and trousers to symbolize his down to earth personality. Bull's eye!

But if there is one area our dear CM saar needs a little help with is his body language. A lot of chief ministers in the past have had their own unique personas. If Mr. Krishna had a profound thinker's look on his optimistic face then we had the 'leave me alone…I am tired!' look in Mr. son-of-soil. If we had to put up with the unshaven machismo Mr. Hegde exhibited then who can forget the dancing miracle in Mr. Bangarappa! Indeed we have had our share of a very interesting bunch of individuals who have steered our state in various directions and at varying speeds. Mr. HDK is quite possibly the best thing to happen to us after a long time as far as age is concerned. We do like to see young men and women become part of our aging administrative force in Karnataka. And if the chief of staff on that committee happens to be a bright 40 year old then the better, one would think.

But that is where the error occurs. I challenge you to Google Mr. HDK's photographs and I can confidently wager that you will find only one smiling photograph of our dear CM saar. Does this seem like something we should be bothered about? Yeah! I have always believed that a smile goes a long way. A firm hand shake takes us places and a gentle wink at the right time can do wonders for a career. The situation with Mr. HDK has gotten so beyond hope that even his cartoons and illustrations showcase him as a 'Angry Young Man'. Is Mr. CM so bogged down with baggage that he has forgotten how to smile and send out positive vibes? I hope not.

Come on, sir. We could use a new smiling photograph of yours. I think it is about time. Say cheese please!

--ShaKri

ShaKri Writes...: September the 11th

2006-09-12T18:23:00.000+05:30

ShaKri Writes...: September the 11th

A Painful Anniversary

2006-09-11T22:50:00.000+05:30

A Painful Anniversary

It is the most dreaded date in the modern Calendar. It is the date that no one wants to remember. It was the day that many people lost their loved ones to the barbaric acts of some fanatic terrorists. It is the day termed as the "Black Day" in the history of this century which crushed about 2996 lives and changed the lives of thousands of people. Yes I am talking about September 11, 2001 and today is the fifth anniversary of this heinous act.

Among the thousands of innocent victims are a few Bangaloreans who perished. One of them is a relative of mine Shashikiran Kadaba.a 25- year old Bangalorean who was on a project for the city based Wipro Technologies. Shashi is a 9-11 Hero whom I have never met but heard a lot about him through his father Mr. Lakshmikantha Kadaba. Lakshmikantha is my father’s cousin and I have met with him at Family gatherings and functions and who always makes time to talk to me about my life, career and welfare. We always had a good conversation and I was very proud that his son was in New York, USA working for Wipro

When I first learned a couple of days later, that Shashi was on the 97 floor when the plane hit the World Trade Centre, my heart stopped for a minute because this was a name I was familiar with, and I could not control my sorrow at what had happened. I imagined the mental state Mr. Lakshmikantha and his wife would be when they would have heard the news. It was so disturbing week to 10 days for me until I came to reality. If this was how I felt for a person whom I had not met, then what about the mental condition of the loved ones of the victims ? My heart goes out to all those heroes from Bangalore and India whose fate dragged them to the top of the world.

I personally felt that Wipro Technologies should have remembered Shashikiran and all his colleagues today who lost their lives on this fateful day. Unfortunately there was nothing on their website today. A search revealed "No results for Shashikiran Kadaba".

Wipro might have forgotten these heroes but not Bangalore. I dedicate this page to all those Bangalore 9-11 Heroes. On this fifth anniversary I pray to God Almighty to keep the souls of all the 9-11 heroes in Peace. If you want to pay your tributes to either Shashikiran or any 9-11 Hero visit http://www.9-11heroes.us/v/Shashi_Kiran_Lakshmikantha_Kadaba.php

Each time someone visits this page, a flower is added to the bottom as a small sign that someone remembers this person and wants to honor and appreciate their memory.

To know more about Shahsikiran visit http://memorial.mmc.com/pgBio.asp?ID=324

I also would like to quote the message from one of the visitors Manakkal V Ramesh who paid his tribute to ShashiKiran Kadaba.

You were born in a religion that advocated ahimsa even towards the meekest, weakest the tiniest of tiny creatures; considered the whole world one family, prayed for the well-being of all living forms and Mother nature and since ages worked and wished that Peace prevail in our Planet and in all other Planets and galaxies too.

The immortal Gita assures that all evil will have an eventual end and ONLY DHARMA AND TRUTH WILL PREVAIL. You have valiantly laid down your precious life. YOU ARE NOT DEAD BUT HAVE BECOME IMMORTAL AFTER THAT TRAGIC DAY.

Your life will surely inspire several hundreds too to LEAD A LIFE OF PURITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.

OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIHI

Over to Mr.CM - A great initiative

2006-09-10T18:27:00.000+05:30

Under the flagship of Deccan Herald a new initiative has taken birth. One more shot at getting our dear CM to listen to the pleas of thousands of Kannadigas/Bangaloreans. It is no secret that a lot of the roads in the state are in absolute disrepair. This has lead to several accidents and still continues to do so. This initiative titled 'Over To You, Mr.CM' showcases readers' complaints in a wider platform.

I had posted an article just yesterday mentioning how it was vital for people to follow traffic rules. I had also mentioned that the quality of roads was an important factor. This article justifies the same.

You can click on the image given here to read this week's complaints and areas covered.

Will this change anything? Only time will tell. Till then we too sincerely hope that our dear CM is sleeping with one ear open.

ShaKri

Old truth from a new source

2006-09-10T09:11:00.000+05:30

Grocery shopping to me is a weekend ritual. A ritual I have been following religiously for the last six years. To make things easier for myself I have a taxi driver I know who always waits outside the supermarket I frequent. He has been giving me taxi rides back to my apartment for almost four years now. It has never occurred to either of us that we should find out each other’s names yet. Nonetheless we still engage in everything from deep philosophical conversations to light hearted happenings about the life around us. We discuss everything from politics to traffic situations to weather to lifestyles. He even manages to ask me personal questions like ‘How come you bought a lot this week? Is a girl coming over?’ to which I sheepishly smile back with a standard response ‘Yes’ fully aware of facts that might be a tad askew.

Coming from a city like Bangalore getting exposed to multi-ethnic and multi-layered opinions is not new to me. The problems that plague Bangalore plague most of the developing cosmopolitans around the world. Chaotic traffic scenes, polluted clouds pouring down acid rain and the poor condition of the crumbling infrastructure. All the time I was in Bangalore a couple of months ago I was convinced that the mantra to improving the city’s traffic mayhem was making new and better roads.

Today I dragged myself out of the supermarket with another week’s supply. As always the taxi driver hailed me into his vehicle and we began with our usual chit chat. Within minutes we found ourselves stuck in a hopelessly deadlocked traffic zone. As we sat discussing the situation, I told him about similar conditions from back home and how I believed better roads are the only solution. Being a man who is always up for a healthy debate, he did not seem too convinced. He nodded his head in disapproval and said, ‘If people do not respect the rules of traffic, no amount of advanced roads will ever do any good. I can give you at least five examples of cities I know where vehicular movement is the best in the world not because they have six lanes going together, but because the citizens there are law abiding. Good roads are fine for the vehicles but good principles are what the driver needs. And if the driver does not follow rules then the law should be enforced strictly. No two ways about it. Is this not the case in your city too?’

As his words fell around me like tiny daggers of pure truth, I could not help but feel humbled by this common man with seemingly limited exposure to the outer world but with a lot of sense about the inner self. If people are good citizens the public life irrespective of the location automatically becomes a well planned out haven. Having a good infrastructure helps but the charity called self-discipline definitely starts at the home called ourselves.

My mind shot back to the many architectural initiatives back in Bangalore - multi-lane, flyovers, metro rail et al - that promise a better life ahead for the regular commuter. The real focus seems to be, however, on the commuter's behavior and law enforcement process itself.

As I got off at my apartment I promised myself that I would ask the man his name next week. I just hope I remember to.

--ShaKri

Bangalore 2010

2006-09-05T18:26:00.000+05:30

Bangalore 2010 - Think Vertical !

Bangalore Traffic

2006-08-26T20:38:00.000+05:30

It has been 6 years since I left Bangalore. During my recent visit I was amazed to see the growth & appalled to see the traffic on Bangalore roads. This is not the Bangalore I grew up in. It really was a Garden City then & also a true Pensioner's paradise. While I appreciate the growth & money the various industries have brought to Bangalore, I seriously think, something ought to be done to better ease the traffic flow. I hear stories of Metro Rail system coming up & I hope it is really happening. In the meantime, we have to think about what we can do to help the situation. One think I can think of is Car pooling or sharing a ride with our colleagues. This would reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Second thing I can think of is Working from home (especially for the IT Folks). The Karnataka Government should encourage Businesses to allow Working from home.Where I am based currently (Atlanta, Georgia), the traffic situation is equally bad & the Georgia State Government is doing a lot in this direction.I appreciate all your views & suggestions on this bad traffic situation in Bangalore. I may be based in Atlanta but my heart is in Bangalore & I would like to see it become a great City.

Rajeev Maddur

Should Narayana Murthy succeed Dr. Abdul Kalam ?

2006-08-23T04:52:00.000+05:30

From Chief Mentor of a very successful company to the Chief Executive of the Nation ? Well the rumour mills are busy with this news. Mr. Narayana Murthy recently retired as the Chairman of Infosys, one of the most professionally run companies of the World. I am not writing about the success story here. I read in a blog yesterday that NRN is making a serious bid for the Office of the Chief Executive of the Nation. The Blog futher says that he is going to be the Indian National Congress’ official nominee, with the likely support from the BJP.

The Techies are all supporting this nomination with one blog posting an Open letter to the Prime Minister (not sure which PM, former or present) requesting him to nominate Mr. NRN. The Campaigners list NRN's credentials and point out that he has got a slew of international and national awards.

I think that it would be one of the greatest moments for every Bangalorean to see a fellow Bangalorean take up the top post of the Country and the greatest tribute to a man who put India on the International Technology Map.

However I am not very sure if Mr. Narayana Murthy really wants to switch over from being the most innovative and successful person to a rather boring job of being the head of the Nation. While Dr Kalam with his Vision for India has changed the stigma of "rubber stamp" to the Government, for a person of NRN's calibre to take over that mantle is something I think is a waste of talent and brain. If the President can exercise more powers to change the face of the nation and steer it to the level of the much developed countries than cutting ribbons and inaugurating seminars, yes then NRN might be the right choice.

As NRN is still young, he should be better utilised as Central Minister for Technology or even more important portfolio where he can reallyy shape the nation. It is a well known fact that Mr. Murthy has always enjoyed political clout, but so far it has mostly been a behind-the-scenes presence. Narayana Murthy and Infosys have got involved in the government and political environment for some years now through the Bangalore Task Force and Bangalore International Airport Project but had to back off due to over interference from our politicians. What Mr. Murthy should be given is a free hand to run the Nation to make it a global leader.....however the question is Will the government and the politicans allow this ??

Whatever the outcome I wish Mr. Murthy all the best. It would be truly great to see someone with the same vision as Dr. Kalam.

Darshinis of Bangalore

2006-08-03T22:49:00.000+05:30

It's like the Starbucks or the McDonalds of America or the Tim Hortons of Canada. The Darshinis of Bangalore have come to stay. The fast food outlets dishing out hot crunchy Masala Dose, soft idlis, crispy Vade and hot piping coffee are all over Bangalore now. Bangalore literally has thousands of Darshinis under several individual managements serving south Indian vegetarian food. They usually are identified with small round steel tables and diners standing around them eating Dosas, idlis, vada's, curd rice, Vegetable Pulao, rice with sambar, lemon rice, Bisibele bath, Uppittu, kesaribaath and coffee.

The low-cost and "on the go" breakfast and lunch are a big hit among all class of people and it is hard to find any good quality Darshini that is not overcrowded by the day.

It is well known that the Darshini culture was introduced by one Mr. Prabhakar in 1983. Inspired by the fast food chains abroad, he started the first darshini called 'Cafe Darshini' in Jayanagar. The success of Café Darshini saw the proliferation of several darshinis and the many existing coffee bars renaming themselves into some Darshini. Wikepedia calls Mr. R.Prabhakar as Darshini Brahma , since he started the concept of Darshini and made the cost of food afordable to the General public. It is learnt that there are over 5000 Darshini's in the city itself. There are several Darshinis which have maintained a good quality of food using fresh and quality ingredients. Some of the well known Darshinis are Upahara Darshini in Netkalappa Circle Basavanagudi, Ganesh Darshini in Jayanagar, Palahara Darshini.

While most of the Darshinis serve only south Indian vegetarian food, some metamorphosed Chinese food to suit the Indian palate by introducing everything from the original gobi to the latest mixed-vegetable Manchurian, and even they have thrived. One wonders whether it is the name "Darshini" that brings success or the food they serve. Even the entry of multinationals like McDonalds, KFC or Pizza Hut has not been able to shake the popularity of the Darshinis.

The secret for the success of the Darshinis is the quick tasty bite one gets which is also easy on their wallet. Darshinis also have become popular hangout joints for office goers, college students or for that matter to anyone for a quick bite and a hot cup of Coffee and gossip.

Some of the these fast food joints adhere to strict guidelines from the BMP like the staff wearing head gear and aprons and the hotel cooks wearing caps. Darshinis have also been instructed to install ultraviolet water filters with Bureau of Indian Standards seals, to supply drinking water for their customers. Their Kitchens are to be cleaned with lime wash and colour wash every three months and the process is to be recorded in the inspection book. The guidelines also stipulate that garbage should be stored in a covered dustbin while the vegetables, grains and other provisions as well as the prepared food, should be separately stored. The note adds that tables and chairs in these eateries and hotels should be kept scrupulously clean. Thus one can eat in peace at these darshinis without the fear of unhygienic food or unclean premises.

The next time you visit Bangalore, give your epicurean taste buds a treat at one of the popular Darshini's and you would never be eating the south Indian vegetarian dishes anywhere else.
Long live the Darshini Culture that has vowed to feed the average man with tasty food without pinching his pocket much. And the credit goes to Bangalore as no other city in India has popularized this model.

Got spat at? Spit back!

2006-07-28T08:05:00.000+05:30

‘What!’ I exclaimed as my ex-colleague Gerard narrated his experience. He was returning from some place one sunny afternoon when a lazy public transport bus zoomed past him. As he tried to steer clear with his modest Kinetic Honda ZX a generous gob of human saliva shot out from within one unmistakable window and landed on dear Gerry’s left hand. Unable to bear being used as a metaphor for a trash bin and having endured enough abuse all his life as a commuter, Gerry had sped up right next to the roaring automobile, stood up on his Honda bike and returned the favor back into the surprised face of the passenger who occupied the window referred above. Gerry had then sped away from this catastrophe of an incident before getting into further trouble.

As amusing as this incident might seem, what really makes it borderline hilarious is that this is the only way, as it seems, that public sense can be evoked. How many times have you come across characters that relieve themselves on walls that yell back not to do so? How many times have you wondered why no one seems to want to pay that one rupee to use the many publicly installed restrooms across the city? How many times have you been extra cautious while walking past the windows of a bus not knowing what to expect on your head? A half eaten piece of corn? A very alive cigarette butt? Or worse?

Studies show that people are less likely to commit a sin when they become victims of the same genre. If there is anything real about this statement then I guess what my friend Gerry did was quite possibly heroic and is eligible for an award or two.

The human faculty is blessed with five major senses with the exceptional sixth one. But sadly the one sense they seem to have trouble mastering is the most common one – Civic Sense. What is ironic about it is that this sense seems to grow out like an extra limb when these very people travel to foreign lands. Can you imagine getting away with such disgusting behavior in London or Singapore? When confronted with this argument they retaliate with ‘Oh it is only India. Kindly adjust.’

Fair enough. We will adjust without a single shred of problem but only if they are ready to accept what they gave. Ever been in a traffic jam when the person behind you honks meaninglessly? I propose you carry a blow horn at all times. The moment he gets annoying step down from your vehicle and return the favor right next to his window. Wouldn’t that be the ideal revenge?

--ShaKri

The Spirit of Mumbai

2006-07-17T21:13:00.000+05:30

Every newspaper, every media have been hailing Mumbai for their “Spirit”. Almost all headlines spoke about the “Spirit of Mumbai” and "Salaam Mumbai" and how fast the city came back to normalcy. Well, Is coming back to normalcy an achievement? I would say NO.

My heart goes to every one of them who has been affected by this barbaric and cowardly act. The act has been completed and the irreparable loss has been done. What is the point in now saying that by coming back to normalcy fast, it has been a slap on the face of the terrorists? Well, who has come back to normalcy………only those who had nothing to lose and who were not affected by the blasts. Is that something great? Did anyone care to ask how the relatives who have lost their close ones are coping with the loss, how the injured are suffering with the loss of a limb or an eye or some other part of the body? Have they come back to normal? Are they a part of the crowd who are proud of their achievement of getting back to normal? Then what is so great about the city coming back to normalcy? Nothing had happened to these people to come back to normal…Right ?

Everybody has to get back to their work the next day whatever happens and for that matter any city which had experienced such a catastrophe would also come back to normalcy. The spirit of any city lies in how we are going to rebuild the lives of the innocent people whose lives have changed overnight……not putting the trains back on track or going back to work the next day. You should “salaam” those who were there at the time of the blast and helped the victims reach hospitals, reach their destinations and help them in whatever way they could. I saw on the television that so many of them were offering their cell phones to enable the victims call their people, carrying people to the rickshaws, offering handkerchiefs, water etc. It is the “spirit” of these people that helps the city, not the ones getting back to work or opening their shops the next day.

Today’s newspaper reported that the President is visiting the hospitals where the injured are being treated. While it is really nice of the President to pay a visit, I am not sure how it would help the poor victims in getting back to normalcy. Is the President going to recommend to the Government to cover all the hospital expenses of these victims so that they would not be burdened with hefty bills from the hospitals? If that is in the agenda then I would say “Salaam Mr. President “

Is Namma Bengaluru really safe after dark ??

2006-07-09T21:44:00.000+05:30

Well, if you read today's paper, it is NOT. There are muggers everywhere these days and in some case the protectors are themselves muggers. Yes this is our Bengaluru.

Read these stories and you will know what I am talking about....

Last Tuesday
A BPO executive was waylaid by muggers on Airport Road and forcibly taken to an ATM centre by muggers and told to withdraw everything in his account.

Last Monday
A 30-year-old photographer had to stop near on Hesaraghatta Main Road at 11 pm because his scooter ran out of petrol. As he was refuelling, three policemen allegedly asked for his papers. He was then frisked and whatever money he had on him was taken. He was assaulted and taken to the Vidyaranyapura Police Station. There, another police officer kicked him in the head and the photographer was injured to the extent that he needed two stitches. He was taken home by the police at around 12.30 am.

Last Sunday
Two college students were assaulted and robbed at Kempapura.

28th June
A software professional was stabbed and robbed of his gold chain and mobile phone near Victoria Road.

26th June
A software professional returning from work in a car was followed by four men on two bikes on Indiranagar 100 Feet Road. Though they stopped the car, he managed to get away, but was chased by the bikers to an apartment building in Kodihalli.

So my dear friends in Bangalore, and particularly those living in the outskirts, beware of these muggers and always travel in groups, travel in buses after dark and never attempt to walk on a lonely road.

Mindset

2006-07-09T21:37:00.000+05:30

It's called "Mindset"

As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not. I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. "Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away.

They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free." I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

Management Lesson

2006-07-09T17:26:00.000+05:30

This is a management lesson I read somewhere and would love to share it when I have an opportunity. So why not here !

One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, anddrove off along the route. No problems for the first few stops - a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well.

At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight, builtlike a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back.

Did I mention that the driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek?Well, he was! Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about it. The next day the same thing happened - Big John got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the next.

This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and all that martial artstuff.

By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself. So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said, "Big John doesn't pay!"

The driver stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, "And why not?"

With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, "Big John has a bus pass.

"Management Lesson: "Be sure there is a problem in the first place before working hard to solve one "

Children of a lesser road

2006-07-09T07:24:00.000+05:30

'That will be one and a half.’ said the auto rickshaw driver with an intimidating tone when I told him my destination. I felt like I was being interrogated in a police station and they had just figured out that I was lying. Reluctantly I nodded my approval. What should have been a basic transportation method to get from point A to point B had now translated into a weird extortive ritual that led to silent and desperate submission.

Welcome to Bangalore.

They say one needs to get a marriage done and a house built to really get a crash course in reality. In my case however, considering getting a house built is the only reality I have encountered so far, it was a piece of cake. The entire process of finding the land, getting the contractor, hooking in the architect and starting off the project seemed like child’s play. In a flat ten-month period I had managed to transform a speck of a modest 2400 square foot into a three-bedroom bonanza. When I visited India last Xmas for the house warming I still remember joking about the ease with which the puzzles fell into place. My family agreed with me in unison that building a house was no longer a challenge given the right inflow of funds and resources. Fair enough. But we quickly swallowed in our grins as we realized that the real challenge was not building a house…it was getting to it.

Bangalore has grown almost ten times in the last decade. From being a lazy little city with lazier folk it has now become a throbbing hotspot for almost anyone who wants to live here. This growth has made finding real estate all the trickier. I was thanking all my Gods when I managed to bag a prim looking plot back in 2004 for a reasonable price. But what I had not counted on was that I had also been adopted into the pantheon of trivial existence. The kind people react to as if they had just sucked on a lemon. The kind people roll their eyes at. Yes - my family and I were now officially the children of a lesser road.

We could not go anywhere in our humble Fiat since there were never any parking spaces around the city. Just the thought of having to steer through the lane-less and brain-less traffic of Bangalore would send a shiver down our spines. So we chose the lesser evil. To our rude surprise, the lesser evil turned out to be the greatest demon after all. Just the mention of our neighborhood would sky rocket the price of our worth. Every time we would mention the words “left” and “right”, the rickshaw driver would greet us with sighs of discontent. He would look back at us in the rear view mirror with an accusing stare. The vehicle would cough itself to a stop at our humble abode as I flipped through ‘one and a half’ of our worth as payment.

There was this one incident when a driver demanded 20 rupees extra than agreed upon since according to him our house was in the ‘burial ground’ (sudugaadu in Kannada) and hence would clearly not have any passengers on the way back. When we debated that he even went ahead and abused the members of my family. An equally dirty rebuttal triggered off from my father in pure Kannada. Within a matter of minutes respect had been violated and shamefully hanged in public. Was all this for 20 rupees? No. It was the price we were paying for being adopted into the family of lesser roads.

This is the story of tens of thousands of Bangaloreans who live with such constant verbal (and sometimes physical) abuse by the auto rickshaw community. We are treated like dirt despite paying them for their service. A disturbing and overwhelmingly disgusting culture where the passenger is made to feel like a worthless piece of human waste. A woeful debt we are part of for being kind enough to invest in our motherland and help improve her economy.

As I leave you with images of the children of lesser roads, I hope a day will come when despite the terrible condition of the area we live in, despite being in a location which is not necessarily passenger-friendly, despite being investors who are helping Bangalore grow - we are treated with the same respect we deserve for being human beings.

75% of Bangalore Girls have been sexually harrassed !!!

2006-07-09T03:07:00.000+05:30

I am not sure if I am reading this right. Recently a voluntary organisation called Samvada engaged in a campaign against sexual abuse, conducted a survey in 14 colleges where 75% of girls revealed that they have been victims of sexual harassment.

What makes it even worse is that out of this, 55 per cent had been attacked by family members including blood relatives like father, grandfather, brother and uncle. The other 20 per cent were people whom the girls knew well which included friends and acquaintances. Besides this, more than 80 per cent of city girls said that they had experienced sexual attacks between the ages of 0-14 years.

What is happening to our city and why is it turning western so fast ?? I dont mean that this is what is happening in the West.

Recenty when I visited a pub in church street, I found 90% of them were young girls smoking and drinking pitcher after pitcher of Beer. Most of them were wearing very revealing clothes and I am now wondering if this could be the reason or an invitation to the men (not the blood relatives, though) which made the rating high. I was kind of relieved that most of the girls were conversing in English or Hindi, but you never know, it could be our own kannadathees merging with the flow of western culture.... Phew I could not drink more than a pitcher and these brods are professional beer drinkers. An interesting information from this survey would be to know how many of them are native Bangaloreans and how many from other states, because Bangaloreans by nature are very conservative and shy.

Anyways a good subject to ponder about........

Take your Dogs to Work

2006-06-29T04:59:00.001+05:30

I had not known until I came to North America that kids in the 9th Grade get to spend a day with their parents or an uncle or an aunt to know what these adults do when they say that "they go to work" When I first heard about this practise I thought it was a very good idea.

It was just last week that I found out these Westerners have stretched this toooooo long. Last Friday was the day when you could have taken your Dogs to work, if your employer allowed it. I could not help laughing with this crazy idea and wondered what they are trying to achieve here. I also came to know that while North Americans take their dogs to work on 23 June , Britishers take their pets to work on 19 September.

This is an event introduced by Petsitters International to provide an opportunity for dog lovers to introduce their canine friend to their co workers. And also appreciate the fun way this special day celebrates the great companions dogs make and encourages their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs. Pet Sitters International have been promoting the worthwhile event since its inception on June 25, 1999. People have a lot of fun with this. Some hold doggie fashion shows, others "best trick" contests, and still others canine athletic competitions.

I also read somewhere that according to a recent survey, a majority of dog owners would work longer hours if man's best friend was sleeping under the desk. Two-thirds of dog owners would put in more time at the office, while 55 percent would commute a greater distance to a dog-friendly company. Nearly half would switch jobs, and 44 percent would take a salary reduction. SimplyHired.com and Dogster.com surveyed 150 dog owners online in January and this was what that came out of the survey. Interesting Eh !

Bangalore - My Passion

2006-06-26T18:42:00.000+05:30

Have you ever realized that you actually do not care too much about something you love the most when that "something" is always with you. I am talking of everything.... You would know how much you love the people(your parents, siblings and friends) when you miss them the most. Its the same with the city you grew up or lived in. I started missing my city "Bengaluru" the most only when I had to leave the city seeking greener pastures abroad.

I miss my parents, sister, cousins and many of my friends all the time and so my dear Bengaluru.

The only way I thought I would be connected with the City is keep me updated on all the happenings in the city. So like my "good old days" in Bangalore, although my day doesn't start with Deccan Herald and Times of India, I ge to read them before my people wake up in Bangalore. I am talking of the Internet edition. I thought I should share the good things of Bangalore to everyone and also let the world know of this beautiful city. Thus DiscoverBangalore.com was born in November of 2003 after a stint of about 18 months with tripod as visitbangalore.tripod.com.

DiscoverBangalore.com has come a long way with over half a million hits a month and well appreciated by majority of my visitors.

Yoga Promotes a Healthier Life

2005-12-22T07:20:00.000+05:30

By: Sintilia Miecevole
What goes on in the body when you are doing your asanas? Most of us realize that yoga increases and maintains flexibility, strengthens muscles and increases one's stamina. All forms of yoga invite the participant to attend to their breath and notice the inward quieting. Most individuals who participate sense a uniqueness in this movement form. Many of us are satisfied with just sensing this, leaving an explanation of how it affects our bodies and spirit to the realm of the mystical.

Those who seek to understand how things work ask:

What effect does yoga have on one's physicality? When one assumes and holds a yoga posture, this act of stretching and bending at the joints facilitates feedback to the central nervous system. This is done by means of beds of proprioceptive nerve endings located within the joints and muscles. Proprioceptors provide information about position, direction and rate of movement as well as the amount of muscle tension in a locality.

Yoga causes the central nervous system to respond with appropriate self-regulatory measures by promoting proper bio- mechanical use.

Self-regulation and self-healing are the physiological responses of the living body. The central nervous system takes the input from the proprioceptive nerve endings and by relaxing and tightening muscles in an organized fashion allows one to hold that posture. Changing balance of any one portion of the spine requires compensatory adjustments throughout it. Muscles respond automatically to stimuli from the nervous system which controls and integrates the activity of the whole body.

Flexibility is the proper and full range of motion within the joints of the body. This is brought about by the coordination of muscle tension and muscle relaxation via the nervous ystem.

Slowly moving into a proper postural stance and holding it provides for proprioceptive feedback that allows the nervous system to coordinate muscle action. Stretching slowly protects muscle fibers and their tendons from strain while resistance set up by holding the posture increases muscle strength. Improved muscle strength and stretch provides stability, flexibility and protection to the joints.

Stimulating the proprioceptive system or massaging the nervous system is but one of yoga's benefits. The encouragement and development of proper structural alignment reduces strain on muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Proper alignment allows for better functioning of the organ systems.

Structure determines function. If body cavities are distorted, so too are the contents within. Distortion caused by poor posture changes the relationship of tissues within organs, leading to the dysfunctioning of the system. Stress, a product of the distortion, reduces circulation throughout the area.

By improving posture, yoga supports the proper functioning of internal organs by maintaining structural integrity of these systems. Proper position and relaxation of tension improves circulation. Nutrition to the whole system is encouraged by the fluctuating internal pressures generated by the different asanas. This fluctuation in pressure enhances cellular diffusion and osmosis.

Simply, motion is life! By moving us through bio-mechanically sound postures, yoga promotes a healthier life. To say that yoga only affects us physically would be denying the larger reality of our existence. However, it is the profound effect that it has on our physicality which frees us to experience the depths of our existence.

Article Source : http://www.articlecube.com

The Story of Blogs

2004-09-15T07:54:00.000+05:30

From the Bloggers.............

Blogger was started by a tiny company in San Francisco called Pyra Labs in August of 1999. This was in the midst of the dot-com boom. But we weren't exactly a VC-funded, party-throwing, foosball-in-the-lobby-playing, free-beer-drinking outfit. (Unless it was other people's free beer.)
We were three friends, funded by doing annoying contract web projects for big companies, trying to make our own grand entrance onto the Internet landscape. What we were originally trying to do doesn't matter so much now. But while doing it, we created Blogger, more or less on a whim, and thought — Hmmm...that's kinda interesting.
Blogger took off, in a small way, and eventually a bigger way, over a couple years. We raised a little money (but stayed small). And then the bust happened, and we ran out of money, and our fun little journey got less fun. We narrowly survived, not all in one piece, but kept the service going the whole time (most days) and started building it back up.

2004-09-15T07:48:00.000+05:30

I was always wondering what these blogs were and thought I should try this out and so Here I am. While I signed up just for the heck of finding out what these blogs are, this looks interesting and I have started to think how best I could use this.