CITY LIFE & LIVING
Bangalore, Monday, August 10, 2009
For Sean Blagsvedt, India has been a most revealing experience — on the professional, as well as the social front
A VEERAMANI. DNA
THE CITY CONNECT His Bangalorean girlfriend whom he’s been dating for two years and his cat keep him more connected to the city, he says. “I didn’t move across the world to hang out with more Americans,” says Blagsvedt who is also co-chairman of the Bangalore Democrats, “Socially and professionally I am wedded to the city.
Shilpa CB. BANGALORE It didn’t take Sean Blagsvedt long to feel like a desi in this city. After a while “my own country began to feel foreign.” So during his visits to Santa Cruz, California where he grew up, he noticed that “there was no garbage around, food was bland, there were fewer people around and everything was way too expensive.” Blagsvedt moved to the city in the summer of 2004 to take up a new assignment that his employer Microsoft had waiting for him here. But just three years into his job as “head of programme management and advanced prototype” at the company’s research lab, he decided to invest his lifesavings in the city. “I was in love with the idea of Babajob,” he says about the motivation to start his own Sean Blagsvedt company. The idea was to set Nothing up a web portal mysterious listing jobs about India. Most available in the behaviour makes informal sector. rational sense. Blagsvedt It's changed the was in a country that did not way I look at hide its class things. It has differences as taught me to well as Amerithink more clear- ca. He was quick to see the ly about power opportunity to relationships.” make a positive difference while running a successful business. He was aware of the necessity for a catalytic force in the world that would keep people from getting into poverty. The intention, he stresses, was not only to make money but also help “people who worked as cooks, drivers, cleaners, domestic helps” get access to better-paying jobs. Statistics and surveys on poverty, the city’s growing dependence on the Internet all came together adding more appeal to Blagsvedt’s idea. Of course, it helped that he was in a city that was strong in the area of technology. “There is definitely an advantage in Bangalore when compared to Mumbai or Delhi. It helps to be around other technology companies,” says the entrepreneur.
Babajob.com is a Bangalorebased start up that uses the web and mobile technology to connect employers and bottomof-the-pyramid (BOP) informal sector workers (ie maids, cooks, drivers, etc.) with the goal of creating a scalable, replicable and profitable solution to combat poverty. Babajob aims to do this by
MORE DESI THAN FOREIGN: Sean Blagsvedt finds himself missing the city when he is back home in Santa Cruz, California Two years later, Babajob is on the verge of “making money”. Now, this dream that took wing in the IT city has caught the attention of friends and corporate companies in other South East Asian countries; he is receiving requests to set up branches in these countries as well. In time, Blagsvedt will move to these locations, but for now, he is enjoying the “vitality of this city”. “One can do something almost every evening,” he says about the art and culture scene in the city.
And being just a few hours away from the beaches where he likes to relax is always a great thing for this 33-year-old. Of course, the fact that destinations like Dubai are just a four-hour flight away from here is just an added bonus. The traffic situation, riots over the water issue and that there are few options for outdoor activity are downsides that he’s still making peace with. While he still notices the differences between home and Bangalore, he finds
worldview
creating greater market efficiency in the informal sector through voice and web features such as SMS, UssD, automated voice systems, and operatormanned call centres, enabling employers and job seekers to find each other.
“nothing mysterious about India. Most behaviour makes rational sense. It’s changed the way I look at things. It has taught me to think more clearly about power relationships.” India is “where family is important, people take their parents to parties,” he says of the details that he found endearing. His own family came down to be with him for a year and only added more to the social life he enjoys here. He admits to being a convert– a desi convert. Check out his website, www.babajob.com b_shilpa@dnaindia.net
WHAT IS OBESITY? In India, five per cent of the urban population is suffering due to the consequences of varied degrees of obesity. In India, about 2.2 crore people are affected by obesity and related disorders.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES? Obesity is usually measured by the term called ‘Body Mass Index’ (BMI). A person is categorised as: Overweight if the BMI is 23 - 27.5; Obesity class I if the BMI is 27.532.5; Obesity class II if the BMI is 32.5-37.4; Obesity class III if the BMI is over 37.5.
The most common cause of obesity seems to be genetic. People whose metabolic rate is low tend to become obese. Obesity also develops due to some medications and hormones taken for different ailments. Other causes are hypothyroidism and trauma to the brain.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Obesity brings along several ailments like diabetes, hypertension, cardiac diseases, arthritis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, respiratory disease, sleep apnea, depression, urinary stress incontinence, menstrual irregularities and infertility.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT? Depending on which class of obesity one fits into and whether or not
Simple measures taken during daily activities can help a lot. Daily exercise – brisk walking, cycling, treadmill etc for at least half an hour. Diet control by avoiding excess
A walk in the pond reveals that what lies beneath the murky waters can be a pleasant find Elizabeth Soumya. BANGALORE
The only thing I’ve ever observed about a pond is the fact that pointlessly chucking stones into it and seeing ripples travel is a good pastime. But all that changed when a massive dent in the ground of holding water turned into a classroom at a recent nature camp at Hunsur by Wildlife expert Gerry Martin. The tutoring began with about 20 young campers braced with torches trailing behind Martin in the dead of the night. With streams of light pointing at slush, weeds and thorns, the drove moved forward towards its destination. A boisterous orchestra of gurgling frogs and chirping crickets welcomed us to their base. And soon the columns of light spread out in and around the pond. While it may seem like a collective search effort for some lost object at a highly inappropriate time, the ‘pond walking’ was done with a completely different reason. Martin explains: “In a pond ecosystem, you can see all kinds of interactions by animals.” And it’s sights like these that Chetana Purushotham, a 19-year-old loves. A student of environmental science, she gives a lowdown on the action she
Shyam Rao, Volunteer, Gerry Martin Project
There's cool flora and fauna in and around a water body and it's great to see how the snakes make use of the embankment to rest.” its limbs out as if asking for a hug, can also be found a plenty, she says. She names terrapins, eels, insects, clams, shrimp, crabs, birds and some fish (Maral, Carp and Catfish) as some more creatures one is likely to spot in a pond like the one in Hunsur. While she loves a good wade in the water during the day, Purushotham feels that somehow the pond comes alive in the night: “It’s good fun when you suddenly spot a head sticking out of the water or something in the
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF SURGERIES? Liposuction and abdominoplasty are contouring surgeries and can be used in the overweight and Class I category of obesity (without associated comorbid conditions), only if they have localised obesity. If one is morbidly obese with a BMI of above 37.5 with comorbid medical conditions and has failed to lose weight significantly by other methods, surgery is an option. Also if the BMI is above 35 and the person has associated comorbid conditions, they qualify for surgery. Bariatric surgeries can be done through both open and laparoscopic approaches. Laparoscopic bariatric surgery has the advantage of being associated with less pain, rapid recovery and fewer wound complications, because the surgery is done through small incisions. Depending on the type of surgery, nearly 36 to 90 per cent of a person’s EBW (Excess Body Weight) can be lost. Patients lose weight gradually to the extent of 30 to 50 per cent of their EBW in the first six months after surgery.
intake of oily foods, sweets etc. Avoiding drinks that are rich in calories – alcoholic and non alcoholic. Having plenty of vegetables, fruits and adequate amount of water.
Dr Tulip Chamany, MS, FMIS, FMIBS (US), bariatric surgeon, BGS Global Hospitals.
JOSHUA BARTON
grass.” According to Shyam Rao, a young volunteer with the Gerry Martin Project, what’s interesting in a pond walk is observing how animals make use of an ecosystem and noticing their interdependence. Rao utters his observation: “There’s cool flora and fauna in and around a water body and it’s great to see how the snakes make use of the embankment to rest.” While dipping your adventurestruck feet into a pond can teach you a whole lot of things, a few lessons need to be learnt before a pond walk as well. Purushotham goes on to lend some hints to those who’d want to try out a similar experience, “For a noctural pond walk, get a good torch. Concentrate and take confident steps, don’t murk up the water. Also watch where you are stepping even though it’s highly unlikely that you will step on a snake as they are very alert and won’t give you a chance.” Martin, who has enough experience stomping into marshes and ponds, dispenses some worthwhile guidance. It is important for one to know the pond’s deep and shallow areas, he says. He throws a few more pointers: “Make sure you are always visible. If walking in the pond at night, stay less than waist-deep and visible. Use a good waterproof torch. Wear shoes as some ponds have barbed wire, glass and other dangerous things in them.” So the next time you see a placid pond, be assured there’s more going on in there. Better still, get your feet wet and join in. e_soumya@dnainda.net
one has associated co-morbid conditions, the options available are: diet, exercise, medicines, liposuction, abdominoplasty and surgery. Substantial weight loss cannot be achieved by low calorie dieting alone in severely obese individuals, since the amount of exercising they can do is limited. There are few medicines that can help reduce weight, but they are not without side-effects and the amount of weight loss is not significant.
TIPS BY THE DOCTOR
Stir the waters to find nature’s wonders spotted in and around the water body. “There’s a lot to observe in a pond both during the day and the night. Fresh water snakes like the Checkered Keel Backs (Xenochrophis Piscator) can be usually found along the sides of the pond, as they come to breathe and rest,” she begins. She then lists some of the noisemakers. The Ornate Narrow-mouthed Frog (Microhyla Ornata) which is a small amphibian and has an arrow-shaped design on its back is at its persistent best busy making breeding calls in this season, she explains. The skittering frog that floats in water with
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Low metabolism could be why you are obese
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
ABOUT BABAJOB
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FROM BABAJOB.COM TO THE WHOLE INDIAN EXPERIENCE, IT HAS BEEN A HEALTHY GIVE AND TAKE
Right at home in tech city
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Reunited for the cause of change St Xavier’s College Kolkata alumni come together, spreading the creative spirit across the globe
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WHATCHA FIND? Enthusiastic and brave, these campers dared to walk in the pond for a glimpse of the creatures that inhabit it
t Xavier’s College Kolkata alumni reunite in Bangalore to celebrate 150 years of its existence. The launch of the St Xavier’s College Kolkata Alumni South Chapter in Bangalore is good news for many Xaverians in the city. It is part of the overall objective of starting St Xavier’s College Calcutta Alumni communities at the local, national and global levels. Tony Varghese Francis, St Xavier’s College Calcutta Alumni Association says, “After the recent formation of the Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore, Bangkok, UAE and South Africa chapter, the south chapter will be launched in Bangalore.” “The 15 member alumni team from Kolkata is headed by Father Felix Raj, the principal who will be inaugurating the chapter,” adds Francis, “Chapters locally based will be feasible to function. It would be an extension of the support to the institution.” “Some globally known
alumni from the institute includes Rabindranath Tagore, Jagdish Chandra Bose, Raj Kapoor, Jyoti Basu, Shashi Tharoor and Saurav Ganguly. Dr Vijay Mallya is being approached by the institute to be the Xaverian of Honour for the evening,” he informs. Response for participation in the alumni meet has been fervent. “Members can now reach out to the alma mater and particularly to that section of society which needs it’s attention. They can be involved in nation building through philanthropic projects,” says Francis. The launch of the south chapter would spread quality and affordable education in India.