The New Indian Express • 24th March 2016

What Started as Asylum for soldiers and Paupers

The hospital, which is now the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, NIMHANS, was the result of the effort put in by Dr Charles Irving Smith. He was born in Bangalore to a family that worked in the East India Company in 1831. Dr Smith studied in the UK before being appointed as Surgeon to the Mysore Commission in 1836. “I had personally treated 20 to 30 patients of all castes and ages. The form of mania most common and the least amenable to treatment, appeared to be result of a...

The New Indian Express • 12th March 2016

How to Drive a BMTC Bus Home

The residents had been suffering because of the poor public transport, ever since they moved into the complexes in Nagegowdanapalya and Talaghattapura in 2009. While the well-off residents could manage with private vehicles, their domestic staff were forced to walk 1.5 km to the nearest bus stop on Kanakapura road. Buses go through Nagegowdanapalya village, but its congested, narrow roads would hold up the commute by half an hour.Kavitha, the maid who works with Sobha Hill View, is happy that sh...

The New Indian Express • 5th March 2016

It Takes Petitions and Arguments to Win Drinking Water

BENGALURU: Balaji Layout, located off Kanakpura Road, comes under Yeshwanthpur  Assembly constituency and is one of the few layouts in the city to have its own drinking water plant. Though Cauvery water reaches the entire city after passing through this area, these 31 layouts face water scarcity. None of the houses in any of the layouts have Bangalore Water Supply and Sewarage Board connection. An overhand tank, into which Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Pallike’s trucks pump in 20,000 litres a day,...

The New Indian Express • 2nd March 2016

Pink Divas Dance to Feminism

The second last dance was by the six-member Pink Divas, who danced in skimpy and tight-fitting clothes, to a cheering audience of 1,500 in Alliance Francaise auditorium.With their pelvic thrusts and daring dance moves, they grinded to Ghani Bhawri and Banno from Tanu Weds Manu, Kannada song Darling among other item numbers, breaking gender barriers and channelising the theme of sexual exploration showcased by all the movies at the festival.Sunny Leone’s Aao Raja brought out the best in Rasgula R...

The New Indian Express • 16th February 2016

14-year-old Pens Book on Miniature Planes

He became fixated on toy planes as a five-year-old, when his parents bought him one. “When I was 11, I moved on to learning from the RC kit, a tool set used to construct electronic planes,” Kiran says.“It took me five to six years to be able to build a miniature model plane. I had at least 10 failed attempts before I figured out how to construct the plane,” he says. “In the first attempt, I identified a flaw in the design structure. Later, I figured out the configuration was wrong, especially wi...

The New Indian Express • 13th February 2016

Stick to the Byelaws, or It can Get Sticky

BENGALURU: Many builders in the city routinely violate BBMP’s byelaws. Usually, neighbours gossip and crib about it, and get on with their lives. Not so, with the Residential Welfare Association of Bangalore East (REWABE). They have been fighting it for the past three years in court and, they went a step further, and took to educating potential investors/buyers against flats in the ‘rogue’ buildings.  Two buildings on Hutchin’s Road and another on McPherson Road have exceeded the two-floor limit...

The New Indian Express • 6th February 2016

Can Hold a Rake, Will Clean Turahalli Forest

It all started when Padmini Palpatti and her friends went on a trek in the forest last October. A huge mound of garbage stood in their way, while glass bottles, paper plates and cups were scattered everywhere. The garbage was even visible from Oakwood Complex, one of the four buildings in the apartment compound.Their first step was to conduct a paper drive to collect funds. As the apartment complex was new, only 30-40 families occupied the houses in the first week of November. “We were able to c...

The New Indian Express • 4th February 2016

Once, Bishop Cotton Ran on Rs 500 a Month

The building was rented and there we no steady endowments. When Rev Pope assumed the role of the warden, the campus of today was acquired by taking a loan of Rs 47,500. When the trustees were unable to repay the amount, the property was mortgaged to the lender. Later, it was mortgaged once again to the Government of Mysore for Rs 37,000.One of the reasons for the fund crunch was the lack of donors due to its prestigious image. The school gave the impression of being supported by the Church of En...

The New Indian Express • 30th January 2016

Ripe Jackfruits and Hot Chillis at New Food Fest

BENGALURU: Kappa Chakka Kandhari is a food festival from God’s own country. Chef Regi Mathew who was previously with  Taj, organised it at St John’s Auditorium, along with Augustine Kurian and John Paul. Regi, Augustine and John are from Chennai, but they came to Bengaluru first with their festival, because they thought it was a better market. “There is a vibrant food culture here,” says John, who otherwise runs a timber business. The festival is itself a little quirky, gathering cooks and food...

The New Indian Express • 28th January 2016

Older than Bengaluru, Stands a Grizzled Guard

BENGALURU: The Devannahalli fort, which stands 35 km away from Bengaluru, is older than the city itself by 36 years.The fort has been occupied by different dynasties over time. It was built in 1501 by Kempegowda’s ancestor, Malla Baire Gowda. But in 1747, in a battle led by Nanjarajaiah, the dalwai of Mysore, the clan lost it to the Wadiyar dynasty. Marathas later claimed it and lost it back to the Mysore state, in a siege led by Hyder Ali in 1746.Arun Prasad, from Discover Bangalore Project, sa...

The New Indian Express • 23rd January 2016

Architecture to Rebuild Lives

Dissatisfied and wanting to make a difference in the world, she quit her job and joined the Centre for Social Initiative and Management, where she researched on rural housing in different parts of India. “I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and interacted with people from different communities to understand their needs. I learnt that construction must be married to the socio-economic needs of the people,” she says.The initiative was supported by NGO YogaKshema which appointed a community wor...

The New Indian Express • 23rd January 2016

The Chef and a Restaurant with a Twist

Through his unconventional approach, Harpal Singh Sokhi has introduced some “twists” or innovations to the common kebab. “Usually the kebab is made of meat, but I have tried to mix betroot and amla for a healthy something,” says Harpal Singh.This is inspired by a childhood memory. “My maternal uncle used to take my family out to dabbas, where the dal was added to the mutton curry,” he says. “I was astonished by the combination. It was exciting for me as a child, and so I have tried to incorporat...

The New Indian Express • 19th January 2016

'Rajyotsava Award of Little Value When 'Eunuch' Stays'

BENGALURU: Transgender activist Akkai Padmashali, conferred with the Rajyotsava award last year, feels the honour does not hold value as the government has failed to protect the rights of sexual minorities. Karnataka State Sexual Minorities Forum has been fighting to revoke Section 36A of the Karnataka State Police Act, which says police have to keep tabs on the “objectionable activities of eunuchs”. It empowers police officers to keep a register of “eunuchs” living in their jurisdiction, who co...

The New Indian Express • 16th January 2016

Living by Walden on Bannerghatta Road

BENGALURU: A high-income gated community of over 500 plots and 250 houses on Bannerghatta Road, Classic Orchards, takes the concept of self-reliance to a whole new level. Its residends don’t depend on the city’s civic agencies for most basic amenities. For water, sewage treatment, road repair and security, they have hired contractors. “We did it out of necessity, but the community is a model to the rest of the city, on how to be self-sufficient,” says its Resident Welfare Association President S...

The New Indian Express • 11th January 2016

College Students Adapt Fly Ash to Purify Lake Water

BENGALURU: Three students — Shashank Javgal, Vijeth, Avinash and Nithin Kumar — have come up with an innovative method to clean up Bellandur lake, whose noxious fumes have sparked flames in recent months.They say their method separates pollutants from water, oxidizes them, and lets them out in a place far away from human habitation.It all started with the curiosity of Nithin Kumar. While discussing carbon nanotubes in class, he asked Pullela how the polluted lake could be cleared.industrial and...

The New Indian Express • 7th January 2016

Bhajans in Worship of Christ

The man who initiated the funding was John R Mott, who was also connected to the ecumenical movement in Edinburgh. “The ecumenical movement is the coming together of all Christian denominations and sects and is an all encompassing approach to religion. It is a practice of accepting all Christian traditions (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Charismatic Groups) and other religious traditions without prejudice. Bhajan singing, usually a Hindu practice, for instance, is part of our worship every...

The New Indian Express • 29th December 2015

I Worked in a Mill in This City: Hariharan

The event also saw the launch of a website for Art For Humanity, an initiative by city-based organisation Ranjini Kalakendra to build a network of artists and patrons, and raise funds for those in need.I have some memories from here. When I was starting out, I used to work in a paper mill in Bengaluru, where I was in charge of a shift. I also did a few gigs in the city back when I was a struggling musician.Establishing my own signature style has been a struggle. Being known for what I do took me...

The New Indian Express • 26th December 2015

Lone Rangers in City's Outback

The residents in this layout, far from the city centre, are left to fend for themselves. No one comes to collect their garbage, therefore the weekly trips, and there is no proper water connection. There are no street lights, though they have raised the matter with the Bangalore Development Authority, and the nights are unsafe with drunken groups coming to their open spaces. The road from the city to the layout is through a forested area, Kodipalya, and deserted.Venkatesh moved to the this locali...

The New Indian Express • 15th December 2015

Bengalureans Don't Walk, if They Can Afford a Ride: Study

The low percentage could be because of the poor pedestrian facilities. Even walking enthusiasts like Niyaz Ahmed, a resident of JP Nagar, worries it is not safe anymore. “The footpaths are uneven. I prefer walking on the flatter surfaces of the main road, but the traffic makes it unsafe,” he says. He used to walk from JP Nagar to Konankunte Cross every morning.Vinay Kumar, an engineering trainee at Mercedes Benz, spends most of his time in his office in Whitefield, where residents have been prot...

The New Indian Express • 24th November 2015

He Dances in Stilettos and She Steps Out in Oxfords

He wears the highest heels in his family. “The women in my house don’t wear more than 3 inches,” he says. “High-heeled shoes gives me confidence. I don’t like wedges, I prefer stilettos. My personal favourite is ankle-length boots,” he says.Alex choices are personal, innate and not really intent on making a statement. However, he does have something to say about stereotypes. “A piece of clothing should not determine your sexuality and limit your personality. Just because I wear men’s clothing, i...

The New Indian Express • 21st November 2015

City Safe for LGBT Groups, say Activists

BENGALURU: Bengaluru is a relatively safe city for the LGBT community, but there have been few cases of harassment. Members of the community say that they are limited to people who are easy to identify and belong to the poorer sections. Vinay Chandran says the Sahaya helpline receives five to six calls a week related to relationships and fitting in. He said, “Lesbians from the poorer sections are more susceptible to violence. Section 377 has given the police an opportunity to use the law against...

The New Indian Express • 19th November 2015

Family, Friends Abuse Trust Most: Elders

QUEEN'S ROAD: When 75-year-old Nameshwar (name changed) transferred his commerical property worth crores to his son, he trusted his son to pay him a monthly amount for his and his wife’s expenses. “The rent from the property alone is a lakh or more a month, I thought he would give us atleast Rs 50,000.” Sadly, Nameshwar did not expect his son to cut him off everything.It is not lack of money that is leading to the harassment. Nameshwar himself had given four of his properties to his son, who als...

The New Indian Express • 5th November 2015

Abstract Expressionism is Catching on: Artist

“Abstract expressionism is growing in India. Usually, the common public relate better with definite structures, but there is more interest in this genre now,” he says. “It’s the simplest form of art as the interpretation is based on each individual’s perception, vibe and reality.”Amrish likes to speak all his visitors and ask them what they see, and the interactions sometimes reveal fascinating interpretations. “Once, there was a kid who perceived a telescope from a abstract splash of green. In...

The New Indian Express • 5th November 2015

Mood Downbeat in Wholesale Crackers Market

In Sultanpet, one of the oldest commercial hubs in the city, wholesale shops have stocked up, as they usually do at this time of the year. But the road is swamped, making purchases a challenge.A dealer for Standard Fireworks said, “Over the last five years, there has been 60 per cent fall in sales. This year, the rains come as an additional dampener.”Nanjundaiah, who runs Cracker Bazaar, says the flooding of roads is an additional blow to wholesalers. He has seen a fall of about 30 per cent over...