Volume 1 | Issue 10 | October 18, 2012 | Rs 10
talk the intelligent bangalorean’s must-read weekly
Inspired by fit, eco-aware riding enthusiasts, affluent Bangaloreans are taking to cycling in a big way. Our streetscape is changing, finds MARIA LAVEENA
RAMESH HUNSUR
Pages 14-18
‘Go Green’ Rao and daughter Pranalini
CRIME Panchaloha idols disappear from Bangalore temples 3
AYYOTOONS Robert Vadra, banana man in mango country 5
DALIT LIFE Ideologue Kancha Ilaiah on food, caste and fads 8
MOVIES What Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘intensity’ means 10
Talk, the magazine you just can’t miss. At your doorstep every week. Ask your news vendor or call 95388 92600
talk|18 oct 2012|talkmag.in
team talk
Loved the package on Cauvery: it reveals fascinating details The last issue of Talk was comprehensive and varied. The cover story on Cauvery was especially informative. Thanks for revealing so many less-known facts in your special package, which was a joy to read. The fake currency story is useful to readers, and keeps them alert. I wish Talk all the best and hope you continue your good work. Leena Fernandes by email Lovely spread Just read one of the best spreads on the Kaveri (as I like spelling it) by the team at Talk — you never cease to amaze me! Laishram Romal M Singh on Facebook Enjoyed article on bookshops Just happened to read the latest issue of Talk magazine with its varied coverage. I particularly enjoyed Prachi Sibal’s article about
secondhand book stores in the MG Road area (Old beats new, and how; Issue 9). It was informative. Dinesh B by email Glaring mistake In your issue dated 11th October 2012, in the box item ‘How to identify a fake note’ on page 7, on the right hand side under the title ‘Intaglio Printing,’ you have mentioned Rs 25 as a currency denomination. Please note that such a note doesn’t exist. Bunnie Labeyrie by email (Of course it doesn’t! We actually meant to say ‘Rs 20’. Thanks for pointing this out. — Ed.) Barfi! leaves a bad taste This is in response to M K Raghavendra’s criticism of Barfi! in Talk (‘Humanism of the corrupt’,
Issue 9). I agree with his assessment. I have never seen such a cynical, insincere, ugly and exploitative film. I was initially misled by what others said about it. I have now come to the conclusion that contemporary films can be watched only on borrowed DVDs or TV, and that I should stop spending my money on them. I regret wasting my money on a movie like Barfi! What the director and scriptwriter have done is almost criminal, and nothing short of disgusting. Raghunandana S Jayanagar Reaches out to all I got a copy of Talk magazine along with my morning newspaper. It makes for interesting reading, and reaches out to locals as well as outsiders residing in Bangalore. Beluru Ramamurthy Kannada novelist by email What do you think of this edition? Write to letters@talkmag.in
EDITORIAL
EXECUTIVE TEAM
S R Ramakrishna Editor Sridhar Chari Consulting Editor Prashanth G N Senior Editor Sajai Jose Chief Copy Editor Savie Karnel Principal Correspondent Basu Megalkeri Principal Correspondent Bhanu Prakash E S Senior Reporter Prachi Sibal Senior Features Writer Sandra Fernandes and Maria Laveena Reporters and Copy Editors Anand Kumar K Chief of Design Shridhar G Kulkarni Graphic Designer Ramesh Hunsur Senior Photographer Vivek Arun Graphics Artist
Sumith Kombra Founder, CEO and Publisher Ralph Fernandez Manager - Marketing Aaron Jones Asst Manager - Marketing Abhay Sebastian Asst Manager - Sales Aman Preet Singh Asst Manager - Sales Mithun Sudhakar Asst Manager - Sales Kishore Kumar N Head - Circulation Vinayadathan K V Area Manager - Trade Mahesh Javvadi Asst Mgr - Corporate Sales Yadhu Kalyani Sr Executive - Corporate Sales Lokesh K N Sr Executive - Subscriptions Prabhavathi Executive - Circulation Sowmya Kombra Asst Process Manager
Printed and published by Sumith Kombra on behalf of Shakthi Media Ventures India Pvt Ltd - FF70, Gold Towers, Residency Road, Bangalore -560025 and printed at Lavanya Mudranalaya, Chamarajpet, Bangalore-560018. Editor: SR Ramakrishna. Editorial Office: FF70, Gold Towers, Residency Road, Bangalore -560025 Email: info@talkmag.in Phone: 08049332100, 08040926658. © All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited.
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cauvery dispute
talk|18 oct 2012|talkmag.in MADHUSUDHAN S R
editor talk Has cycling returned to Bangalore in a big way? When Maria Laveena went researching this week's cover story, she found a renewed interest in cycling among people who could afford cars. Bangalore roads are choc-a-block with 15 lakh vehicles, and the number is growing by 7 to 10 per cent every year. While two-wheelers constitute 70 per cent of all motorised vehicles plying in the city, cars constitute 15, and autos 4. Cycling evangelists are trying to change all this, but it will take some time before they can make any difference. In fact, in Jayanagar, which now boasts 21 km of cycling lanes, riding a cycle continues to be a challenge because the space is taken up by parked cars. Overall, the interest in promoting cycling is welcome, and it is now up to the traffic police to instil confidence in cyclists, and make them feel safe.
HIGH TENSION On October 6, agitating farmer groups threatened to storm the Krishnaraja Sagar dam near Mysore
The Gandhigiri gamble In the first week of October, Karnataka quietly released more water to Tamil Nadu than the Cauvery River Authority had asked it to. Talk brings you the behind-the-scenes story of how the government defused a crisis. But what lies ahead?
BASU MEGALKERI basavaraju@talkmag.in
n Saturday, October 6, not a single shop was open in Bangalore. No buses or autos plied. Offices were shut, and the roads looked emptier than on any day in recent memory. Even pharmacists, whose business rarely gets interrupted, joined the shutdown. The bandh was complete. Protesters took out processions and shouted slogans against Tamil Nadu and the central government. Meanwhile, in the Cauvery
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belt in Mysore and Mandya, lakhs of alert. Suddenly, on Monday, October farmers gathered to oppose the release of water to Tamil Nadu. 8, the Karnataka government closed Everyone in the region was angry. the sluice gates, publicly declaring Tamil Nadu was watching the agita- its inability to continue to honour tion nervously, even urging the cen- the September 19 Cauvery River Authority’s order to release 9,000 tre to call in the army. Just a few days before the cusecs every day. Information available with bandh, judges had spoken harshly to Karnataka’s lawyers. Prime Minister Talk shows that the government in a Manmohan Singh, as head of the way played hide and seek and pleased everyone: Cauvery River protesters in Authority, had The state wanted Karnataka, politiasked Karnataka to cians and farmers release 9,000 cusecs to placate in Tamil Nadu, the of water every day, farmers, but Cauvery River from September 20 could not risk Authority, and the to October 15. Supreme Court. While public the Supreme Here’s how perception in Court’s wrath Karnataka, led by Karnataka was that Irrigation Minister the government was sympathetic to the agitators, its Basavaraj Bommai, did it: The state wanted to stop the engineers were quietly releasing extra water to Tamil Nadu. And on outflow and placate farmers in Sunday, a day after the bandh, a Mandya, but could not risk the staggering 25,300 cusecs, almost wrath of the Supreme Court, which three times the required daily had upheld the CRA order. By release, flowed into Tamil Nadu releasing 19,000 cusecs, or more from Karnataka’s reservoirs. So than two days’ worth of excess much water gushed into the water, Karnataka hopes to win the Hogennakal region in Tamil Nadu goodwill of the CRA and the that the authorities issued a flood Supreme Court, and bargain for
On a long afternoon drive to the airport, Sajai Jose posed some hard questions to Kancha Iliah, the well-known Dalit ideologue who has just retired from Osmania University, Hyderabad. M K Raghavendra’s article on Amitabh Bachchan puts a finger on the actor's defining quality. The intensity that Bachchan is praised for, Raghavendra argues, reflects an inability to relate to his fellow actors and his world. The actor turned 70 on October 11. We have an update for writers who mailed us their stories for the Talk Short Fiction Contest. Much to our delight and surprise, over a hundred entries landed in our inbox. We have now arrived at a shortlist of 20, and hope to announce the prizes in just a couple of weeks. Thank you for your patience, and we are as eager to publish the winning entries as you are to read them. S R Ramakrishna ram@talkmag.in
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cauvery dispute more favourable orders at the upcoming hearings. Meanwhile, shutting down the sluice gates had become unavoidable as water levels were dwindling, and the agitation was gathering momentum. By stopping supply to Tamil Nadu a week before the CRA-stipulated October 15, the government was placating farmers in Mandya and Mysore. The Krishnaraja Sagar dam had 30.1 TMC of water on October 4. Over six days, nearly 6 TMC had flowed out. “Every day in the first week of October, far more than 9,000 cusecs was released from KRS and Kabini to Tamil Nadu,” a source told Talk. As on October 11, water in the the KRS dam had fallen to 27 TMC feet of water, including dead storage of 8.4 TMC, said government officials. The Kabini reservoir had 10 TMC, down from 11.7 on October 4. The other two dams in the basin, Harangi and Hemavathi, had 5.8 TMC and 27.4 TMC respectively. The water level at KRS in terms of reservoir height stood at 110.80 feet on October 1, and on October 7 it stood at 104.92 feet. Karnataka’s legal team, led by Fali Nariman, was smarting under the
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‘WORST DROUGHT IN 40 YEARS’ Karnataka on Thursday refused to accept a recommendation of the Cauvery Monitoring Committee that it release 8.8 TMC over 16 days from October 16 to 31, NDTV reported. This would mean that Karnataka has to release about 6,200 cusecs of water daily during this period. The Cauvery River Authority had mandated in its September 19 order that it release 9,000 cusecs per day from September 20 to October 15.
TEAM CAUVERY Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar with Irrigation Minister Basavaraj Bommai
court’s sharp words, and threatening it would opt out if the state did not comply with the orders of the CRA and the Supreme Court. The legal team had also briefed the government that compliance was necessary for a favourable judgment. Nariman then filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court: “The state government has promptly followed the stipulations by the Supreme Court and the Cauvery River Authority. Every day more than 9,000 cusecs of water was released from the KRS dam
to Tamil Nadu. Also additional water was released over the last six days. Now there is no water. Considering the shortage of water for farming community and drinking purposes for Bangalore and Mysore, the state government has stopped releasing the water.” Whether Karnataka’s gamble will pay off will be known in the course of the week, but the Jagadish Shettar government has played a strategic game so far, keeping everyone happy, and averting violence.
Karnataka has stopped water release since October 8, and Tamil Nadu has approached the Supreme Court, charging Karnataka with contempt of court. Karnataka told the monitoring committee on October 11 that it had no water to release to Tamil Nadu since it was facing the worst drought in 40 years. The committee is made up of officials from both states, as well as Kerala and Puducherry, besides representatives of the central ministry of water resources. It reports to the Cauvery River Authority, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar was reported as being confident that Karnataka can convince the Supreme Court it is not guilty of contempt.
fun lines
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stolen artefacts
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Who moved your God? COURTESY: SAHIL ONLINE
Antique smugglers are targeting shrines in and around Bangalore, sometimes deploying men to work in the very temples they plan to loot
BHANU PRAKASH E S bhanu.prakash@talkmag.in
n the thriving illegal market for Indian bronzes, an ordinary-looking bronze bell that the devout ring on a routine temple visit might fetch anywhere between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 30 lakh. And if it is an icon of a deity or saint, or even a member of an erstwhile royal family, the price can go up to Rs 1 crore. In international markets, especially at auctions, an idol stolen from your neighbourhood temple could sell for millions of dollars. Cases come to light with distressing regularity, and Karnataka is particularly vulnerable. In February this year, a man was arrested when he was trying to sell a Krishna idol in Chamarajpet. Sonia Narang, DCP (South), who led the investigation, found that the idol, weighing 4.5 kg, was valued at Rs 75 lakh in the black market. S Murugan, IGP, CID (Economic Offences Wing), says the black market for bronzes, loosely referred to as panchalohas (five-metal alloys), is huge in Bangalore. “Antique idols are sold openly with no fear of the law. We have been booking burglars under Section 380 of the IPC, which makes the crime bailable. Criminals we arrest get out of jail legally and continue their racket,” Murugan told Talk. The racket spans many states. Most panchaloha dealers caught in Bangalore are from neighbouring
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PRICELESS An 11th century Chola panchaloha idol of Hanuman and (right) the famed Nataraja of Chidambaram
RECOVERED This 500-year-old panchaloha of Adinatha, worth Rs 10 lakh, was stolen from a Jain basadi near Karkala on the Karnataka coast
states. In one case, in 2010, three men from Gujarat tried to sell panchaloha bells in Bangalore. Temples in Bangalore Urban and Rural districts have reported 42 cases of theft since 2007. The police has recovered 138 panchaloha idols since 2003, among the highest in the country. An official from the Economic Offences Wing, CID, puts the value of the idols at Rs 130 crore. Bangalore Urban comprises four regions—North, South, East and Anekal, while Bangalore Rural comprises four taluks—Devanahalli, Nelamangala, Dodballapur and Hoskote. The Economic Offences Wing has declared certain areas as sensitive, and these are monitored round the clock by special teams appointed by the DCPs of the areas. Devanahalll, Yelahanka New Town, Madivala, Yeshwanthpur, Rajajinagar, Magadi Road, Kalasipalya, and Banaswadi have also are currently classified as sensitive zones. B Dayanand, IGP, Central Crime Branch,
says, “Selling and buying of panchaloha idols is an inter-state racket. A burglar never sells an idol in the state he stole it from. Very few get caught. Only those who sell idols are caught, while the ones who stole them escape.” In many instances, temple authorities do not lodge complaints. In April this year, Peenya police arrested five burglars in Rajagopal Nagar and recovered five idols from them, together valued at Rs 1 crore. Venkata Raju, sub-inspector (CCB) at the Chamarajpet police station, explains the modus operandi: “Locals form a team with accomplices from other cities and states. They closely observe how temples are secured, and keep track of festivals. They then move in. In many temples, the idols are not in the sanctum but in outer rooms. This is just what the criminals want.” The criminals plan their heist carefully. They work as daily wagers at places close to the temple. Some even find
jobs inside the temples. In Tamil Nadu, temple authorities obtain background information before hiring people, but Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh temples are not so strict about who they hire. In any case, Karnataka temples don’t have to follow any law on recruitments. After an idol is stolen, a team assesses its quality and value. This group is well connected in the big cities. Once the price is fixed and the idol washed and shined, it is sold to an intermediate buyer, who then sells it abroad for a whopping price. K Ramanujam, Tamil Nadu DGP, suggests an inter-state police network could curb the menace.
Burglary targets
Since 2007, many temples in Bangalore and on its outskirts have suddenly discovered their idols gone. Here is a list of some temples targeted by antique hunters: Vishwanathapura, Bijjawara, Channarayapatna (all near Devanahalli), Nelavagilu (near Hoskote), Basavanahalli, Arishinakunte (near Nelamangala), and Vijayanagar (Bangalore).
stolen artefacts
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RAMESH HUNSUR
Man who ‘defrauded’ top museums in the West Subhash Kapoor, Indian-American antique dealer and owner of a gallery in New York, is now behind bars in Tamil Nadu. He was brought to India in July, a full 10 months after his arrest in Cologne, Germany. The Interpol had issued a red corner notice to track him down. Kapoor allegedly sold idols stolen from temples in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. All items he sold or 'donated' to museums are now under scrutiny. He had high profile clients. For example, the National Gallery of Australia has bought an ancient bronze Nataraja from him. The Hindu reported that the gallery has now initiated a “comprehensive reexamination by a panel of internal and external art experts of the supplied documentation, as well as the provenance of work acquired from Kapoor.” The gallery is one of at least 18 major international art institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler Galleries in Washington DC, and the Art Institute of Chicago, that acquired works of art from Kapoor, the paper said. The New York Times reported on July 27 that US Federal authorities were asking American museums to scrutinise their collections, after investigators seized “more than $ 20 million worth of Asian antiquities from storage units in Manhattan linked to Mr Kapoor.” The items seized included a Chola bronze (late 9th century to 13th century AD) valued at nearly 2.5 million dollars (Rs 10.5 crore). Investigators suspect most items in his possession were stolen. In an earlier raid, New York police had seized antiques worth 10 million dollars (Rs 52 crore). Under India’s 1972 Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, no art object older than 100 years may be removed from the country. But in the past few decades, antiques from several Indian temples and heritage sites have been auctioned in New York and London, the paper said. It is not clear if Kapoor is involved in any heist in Karnataka, but considering his networking, it is possible he was in touch with idol thieves here.
SKC
BANGALORE HEIST Panchaloha bells went missing from the Balamuri Ganesha temple near Vijayanagar in 2009
We worship but don't value heritage organic matter with the broader sense. On the one hand we arnataka and the help of carbon dating. But have a world where our bronzes are Deccan region have a lead isotope analysis is pos- sold illegally at high prices. On the tradition of producsible, and some origin other, we have the religious world ing bronzes, though their information can be where idols are worshipped. How do idols are not as numerous or obtained as the material you reconcile these two worlds, which as well-known as the Chola can be traced to specific are moving apart each passing day? bronzes. Indian art actually undersells, Deccan bronzes come Sharada Srinivasan mines. Though we call Professor at the these idols panchalohas compared to, say, Chinese art. While from the Vijayanagara and National Institute of (five-metal alloys), gold and the law prohibiting the sale and export Chitradurga regions, and Advanced Studies researching silver are present only in of antiques gives some protection to many are Jaina in style. (NIAS), archaeological trace amounts, if at all. our artifacts, it also means we have no Karnataka’s bronzes can also science, metallurgy ancient artefacts. Their main components are domestic market. Contemporary be Chalukyan or Ganga in and She got her PhD and Indian art sometimes fetches a higher copper and tin or zinc. style. MA degrees from The loss of bronzes to price than antique art. Among the Hindu idols London, and is a B Tech from IIT, We don’t get to appreciate the theft is a major problem, in Karnataka, especially from Bombay. She is also and cases keep coming to great art and heritage of the world, the Vijayanagara period, an acclaimed Bharatanatyam light. Idols go out of the because we don’t have a broad museVaishnavite bronzes are more dancer. um culture. We don’t country all common than Shaivite ones. have museum spaces The Chola country in Tamil Nadu is the time. Many temples to tell us how to particularly known for its evocative have no idea about the Indian art approach art and artiantique nature of their Nataraja bronzes. facts, the philosophy Most antique idols are in temples idols. I am saddened to undersells, behind the iconograand mathas. For example, you can see hear, for example, that compared to phy, and the symbolcommittees a spectacular set of idols in Kadri, near temple Chinese art ism, in ways that are Mangalore. A Buddhist icon of replace utsava murtis compatible with modicons) Lokeshwara is huge and perhaps dates (procession back to the 10th century. Idols are because they look old. Our temples ern thinking. We need spaces where we don’t often found in fields because people have no proper inventories. Temple buried them fearing attacks from the authorities and even government have to be religious to respond to relimedieval Sultanate or the Portuguese. departments need to be educated. gious artworks, and where anyone, While Jain bronzes feature Religion is one thing, heritage anoth- even from another culture, can be moved by the aesthetics of a work of inscriptions naming the donor, and er. We need a museum culture in art. What we now have is a very limitare thus possible to date, Hindu bronzes are mostly deities, and feature our country, where great art is dis- ed idea about our aesthetic heritage. no inscriptions. Bronzes cannot be played and people learn about idols (As told to Sridhar Chari) dated directly, the way you can date and appreciate their value as art in a
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ideas in focus
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Castrating caste Dr Kancha Ilaiah, arguably India’s most discussed scholar on Dalit and OBCempowerment, retires from Osmania University after 38 years of teaching. In an exclusive interview with Talk, he takes tough questions about casteism among the minorities, Karnataka’s beef laws, activism’s faddish face, and the charge that he is a ‘Christian agent’
But why demand religious rights from a religion that you maintain is not yours? This is a strategic move. Now, there’s an accusation, mainly against Christians, that they are pumping money and attracting people to their SAJAI JOSE religion. My question is, if you don’t want sajai.jose@talkmag.in these people to go to them, why don’t you give our people some money? They have been poor t 61, Dr Kancha Ilaiah for so long, after all. Also, give them equality remains as combative as ever. within Hinduism. Give them your temples, His frontal offensive against your Tirupatis and so on, and you go and till casteism has earned him the the land… you have romanticised that for so wrath of many, and from long, after all. But they can’t, because there is across the political spectrum. The Hindu no structural possibility of equality within right cannot stomach his attack on the Hinduism. The texts all explicitly state that religion’s structure, in works such as Why the caste system is divinely ordained. Moreover, there’s also no culI Am Not a Hindu, and the ture of equality. If they let in recent Post-Hindu India. The mainstream Left finds The RSS wants the backward castes, the whole edifice will collapse. If they no friend in him either. OBCs and don’t, it will still collapse. Academic stalwarts such Dalits to do its That’s their dilemma. as D R Nagaraj accused him of ‘reductionism’, dirty work What about casteism among but Ilaiah believes idethe minorities? Are ideologues ological writing must necessarily create ‘binary opposites.’ like you soft-pedalling this? Earlier this month, Dr Ilaiah Minorities, especially communities like the retired from an eventful 38-year-old Syrian Christians of Kerala, definitely are teaching career at Hyderabad’s Osmania casteist, and we are launching a critique of it. University, where he was head of the But the fact is that church institutions have a Department of Political Science. He told culture of promoting education and healthTalk he intends to give more time to the care. There’s a notional equality, and some campaign for Dalit emancipation that he ini- amount of practical equality. Among the tiated—‘Read, Write and Fight’—which he Muslims, equality is much better than among says evolved from his own life experiences. Christians. Caste in Islam is limited to occupaMeanwhile, he will continue to teach, as invit- tions, but their shared worship ensures equaled professor at the Centre for the Study of ity in religious and social life. This is not there in Hinduism. If Islam and Social Exclusion and Inclusive Christianity hadn’t come to India, Policy at Maulana Azad National we would still be in the medieval Urdu University, Hyderabad. age, and the only country in the Excerpts from the interview: world to be so. That’s why I call Hinduism ‘spiritual fascism’, while You have said Hindutva, as we others are ‘spiritual democracies’. know it today, is a reaction to the Of course, the degree of that political mobilisation of the backdemocracy varies, but there is a ward castes. Could you elaborate? core of equality in them that When Hindutva forces in preHinduism does not have. Independence India were organising themselves on political lines, Wikipedia says you are a Dalit what did they want? They wanted a unified Indian mass. But their unity was not Christian. On many online forums you have based on equality. This is a contradiction. If been accused of being a ‘Christian agent.’ you invite someone to your house, but don’t How do you react to this charge?
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NO LEFT TURN A former Marxist, Kancha Ilaiah believes the Indian Left failed because it did not take on the problem of caste
want to give him water, and refuse to sit with him, there will be more anger than if you had never invited him at all. The RSS wants OBCs and Dalits to do its dirty work, attack Christians and kill Muslims, but doesn’t want them to become priests. Recently, a former RSS member—now working against the Sangh—told me that giving the backward castes political rights without simultaneously giving them spiritual or religious rights would not work.
ideas in focus It’s wrong on both counts; I’m an OBC, and I do not follow any religion, though I’ve been openly sympathetic to both Christianity and Islam because of their egalitarian traditions. This is the handiwork of Brahminical forces, mostly NRIs, who have a big presence on the Internet. I’ve been accused of being an agent of both (former American President) Bush and (slain Al Qaeda leader) bin Laden, so you can take your pick. You were booked for helping organise a controversial ‘beef festival’ at Osmania University. As you’d know, Karnataka has passed a bill (now awaiting the President’s approval) that makes the sale and consumption of beef a criminal act. Can you talk a bit about the politics of food? No state government should prohibit food items people have been eating for centuries. Primarily, the BJP pushes for ‘beef ban’ because it believes beef is the food of Muslims and Christians. Secondly, they define beef as the meat of the cow. Both these assumptions are wrong. Beef has been part of the diet of tribals, Dalits and several OBC communities for centuries.
Beef also includes the meat of bulls, oxen and buffalo. It is their food not just historically, but also at the present moment. If you take away indigenous people’s food in the name of Hindu cultural nationalism, it makes them feel the government is not theirs. The purpose of this bill is to provoke, especially the minorities. The cow is venerated because it’s a milk-producing animal, but the same respect is not given to the buffalo. That’s because the cow is white and Aryan, and the buffalo is dark and Dravidian and native to this land. The fact is that cows produce just 12.5 per cent of milk in the country. I want India to adopt beef in a big way because it’s a cheap and a rich source of protein. The late intellectual and writer D R Nagaraj wrote that your argument in Why I Am Not a Hindu suffers from ‘reductionism.’ Do you see this as an academic criticism? Do you consider yourself an ideologue or an academic first? Mine was an ideological book which aimed to demolish the Hindutva argument that this is a Hindu majority country. Also, it is written from experiences in people’s lives, including my own, and not based on books
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or methodological research. Nagaraj away from that ideology? How do you seemed to have misunderstood the book in evaluate the decline of the Left in India? two ways. First, he was not ideologically I was once a part of the Marxist-Leninist movement in Andhra. I had convinced that Brahminism many personal experiences of was anti-production and anticasteism within the party. I development. Two, consaw that they never gave any structing binary ideas is an important positions to Dalits integral part of ideological and OBCs. This is true not writing, which Nagaraj failed just of Andhra Pradesh, but to grasp despite his knowleverywhere the communist edge of Marx. parties operate. The lack of growth, and later decline, of Dalit and OBC ideologues the Indian communist paralmost always attack ties, came about mainly Brahminism exclusively, but because they failed to underthe most brutal atrocities on stand or deal with the probDalits are often carried out by ‘neo-Kshatriyas,’ and sometimes, OBCs lem of caste and integrate it into their ideology. themselves. Is the Brahmin a soft target? Brahminism, with its casteism and vegetarianism, is one aspect of Hinduism, which Has the Dalit ideology become fashionable also has other elements—idol worship, in some quarters, a tool for career superstition, backwardness and death. advancement? Death, not life. We need to critique the In any movement, all kinds of forces oper‘Brahmin-Bania system’, as Phule called it. ate. There will always be those who work The neo-Kshatriyas—castes like Reddys, for transformation and those who want to Jats, Patels—don’t have dwija roots and hijack the movement. Careerists, opporperhaps can join the bahujan fold. In my tunists, agents… these are not specific to view, it is Hinduism, not Brahminism the Dalit movement alone. But the essential direction of the movement is transforalone, that we should attack. mative, and that is more important than You were a Marxist once. What pulled you the other factors.
lone star
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It is surprising that someone like Amitabh Bachchan—he turns 70 on October 11—came to be the most popular star in the history of Hindi cinema. His defining quality on screen, which he has tried his best to conceal, is his inability to relate
The aloofness of Amitabh C M K Raghavendra is the author of Seduced by the Familiar: Narration and Meaning in Indian Popular Cinema (Oxford, 2008), 50 Indian Film Classics (HarperCollins, 2009) and Bipolar Identity: Region, Nation and the Kannada Language Film (Oxford, 2011).
onsidering that Amitabh Bachchan is the biggest star that the Hindi film ever had, one wonders how he has actually given to cinema. He has donned a variety of roles, because after making a breakthrough as the angry young man in Prakash Mehra’s Zanjeer (1973) and more forcefully in Yash Chopra’s Deewar (1975), he went on to broad comedy in films like Manmohan Desai’s Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) and used his singing voice in Mr Natwarlal (1979). After a near fatal accident on the sets of Coolie (1982) when he had an intestinal injury and was subsequently diagnosed as suffering from a serious nervous disorder Myasthenia gravis he appeared to lose confidence in his star power, quit cinema to take up politics from which, after some initial success, he soon withdrew.
In the 1990s he tried to enter business in a big way through his company Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd (ABCL) and lost money. His house in Mumbai came under litigation because it had been mortgaged to a lender. In the late 1980s and the 1990s, Amitabh’s films flopped one after another and it was only in 2000 with the smash television hit show Kaun Banega Crorepathi and Aditya Chopra’s film Mohabbatein that he slipped back into the limelight, where he more or less remains today. Given his checkered career, his seventieth birthday on 11th October may be the right occasion for one to estimate his importance. If one were to take a measure of the biggest male stars in Hindi cinema—Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan—it would
appear that Amitabh has been more versatile. All the others have relied on a single persona—although the persona may have changed. Dilip Kumar started on a grave note in the early 1950s playing a man beset by doubts (Babul, Devdas, Jogan, Andaz) but shifted to the role of the ebullient rustic in films like Naya Daur (1957). Salman Khan began with uncomplicated romantic roles (Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!) but one senses a development in his persona as well. Amitabh’s ‘angry young man’ roles - excluding Zanjeer - perhaps number only five: Deewar (1978), Trishul (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Shakti (1982) and Agneepath (1990). A huge amount has been written about the political significance of the ‘angry young man’ in the context of Mrs Gandhi’s radical rhetoric and populist initiatives and none of it bears repeating. But what has not
been explored is Amitabh’s chronic inability to play romantic roles. While his roles depend hugely upon his physical presence and his voice, one does not even recall many roles in which he plays as a successful foil to another star. The obvious exceptions are Sholay (1975) and Shakti in which he is ‘paired’ with Dharmendra and Dilip Kumar respectively. But in both roles, it is the other actor who is burdened with the task of delineating the relationship with him. The observation here is that Amitabh is perennially aloof and he depends entirely on projecting his physical presence on the screen, leaving the hard work of ‘relating’ to the other star. Another high point of Sholay is the ‘cold romance’ between Jai (Amitabh) and the widow played by Jaya Bhaduri and one credits Salim-Javed with having spotted Amitabh’s ‘inaccessibility’ and
lone star
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MR FROST? Amitabh’s interaction with his screen heroines often lacks in genuine chemistry. (Above) With Jaya Bachchan in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham,Tabu in Cheeni Kum, and Jiah Khan in Nishabd
used it. In comic roles like the one in Amar Akbar Anthony, Amitabh produces loud slapstick but, here, the ‘noise’ of the role distracts us from spotting his essential aloofness. As evidence, one is hard-pressed to even recall the actress he is teamed with in most films. Amitabh Bachchan’s inability to relate to another person on screen may not have been a handicap, because some top Hollywood stars like Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver - 1976) suffer from the same ‘malaise’ but the difference is that Hollywood has a place for the unattached (sometimes psychotic) individual while Bollywood does not. The closest that Hindi cinema came to this was the ‘angry young man,’ but once his term ended, there is very little that Amitabh was left to do. In his elderly avatar in the new millennium, Amitabh is not really acting but is often simply ‘being’.
One is initially perplexed by Amitabh’s success as a star in elderly roles because old people were once only parents in film stories—simply a way of providing the protagonists with a past. But it is still in the new millennium that he has gone about ‘acting’: playing a former teacher afflicted by Alzheimer’s in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black (2005), a boy with a disease which makes him look like an old man in Paa (2009), a Shakespearean actor in Rituparno Ghosh’s The Last Lear (2007).
In the first two films, Amitabh relies and wealth wielded by the new Indian in largely on make up to become unrecognis- the global age. The point here is that in the able. He is impersonating people and older cinema, the parental figure was impersonation differs from acting in that moral discourse directed within the the impersonator goes through the Nation—largely serving as vehicles for tramotions without inhabiting the character. ditional values—but the new parent played In Rituparno’s film, Amitabh throws his by Amitabh is directed globally, to tell the voice valiantly but it is evident that he is rest of the world that India has a history of power and wealth. Unlike not an accomplished the other Hindi actor who Shakespearean actor. Two might have played a patrifilms in which the tricks of Amitabh’s a r c h —D h a r m e n d r a — make-up and oratorical aloofness in Amitabh Bachchan is fluresonance cannot be used Nishabd and ent in English, this suiting are Cheeni Kum (2007) and the global age. Hence, Ramgopal Verma’s Nishabd Cheeni Kum is Amitabh Bachchan is not (2007) where he is required pathological really ‘acting’ in these to show love for a younger films but being an icon woman and infatuation for Bollywood in global entertainment. for a girl. In the first film, he plays opposite Aloofness is perhaps a quality which sits Tabu and dons the role of a 60-year-old well on the powerful and the wealthy in the London chef who falls in love with a 30- global age. To conclude, Amitabh Bachchan has year-old woman and needs to ask her 54year-old father for her hand in marriage. an impressive physical presence on screen But we never get the sense that this eld- but it would not be truthful to describe erly person is capable of love and it is him as a ‘good actor’. This is largely because Tabu who makes all the moves. of his coldness, which he has tried hard to Nishabd may have been inspired conceal. The general sense to be got out of by American Beauty (1999) and Amitabh Bachchan’s performances is that deals with a 60-year-old man’s he is actually suffering all those around infatuation for his daughter’s him and this is as true of the women he is friend. Amitabh is frosty here cast with as the men. Amitabh has stayed away from investand hardly demonstrates that he is attached to the woman he ing in the film industry and there are is married to (Revathi), let alone the 18- reports from the 1990s of his predicting a year-old girl (Jiah Khan). Amitabh and dark future for each one of his films at Revathi behave towards each other as their release. This suggests that Amitabh though they were on barely civil terms. In had really no clue about what the public order to compensate, as it were, the camera saw in his f ilms—or continues to see. One behaves voyeuristically towards the girl— surmises that he does not respect his profrequent low angle shots of the girl’s bare fession—regardless of what it has done for legs and the girl in a shower—while him—but he may not be alone here. Amitabh himself is never more than indifWhile one has little doubt that the ferent. Amitabh’s aloofness in both films is older Bollywood personalities—directors as pathological as ever and brings home his like Mehboob Khan and Guru Dutt, lyriinadequacy strongly. cists and composers of the 1950s and 60s, Amitabh’s importance in the new mil- stars like Dilip Kumar—looked upon cinelennium really rests on his portrayal of rich ma as a vocation, we cannot be certain that patriarchs in two big films—Kabhi Khushi those who have stepped into their shoes Kabhi Gum (2001) and Kabhi Alvida Na think likewise. Their questionable loyalty Kehna (2006). The names of the characters to their vocations suggests that they overhe plays—Yashvardhan Raichand and estimate their own individual importance, Samarjit Talwar respectively—tell us that not recognising that Bollywood is more these are people who are not only meant to than a sum of its parts, that it is a cultural be impressive but also embody the power artifact of immense value to a huge public.
around town
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RAMESH HUNSUR
Cobblers on Bangalore’s footpaths must now compete with a new breed of hi-tech ‘shoe service’ shops
Laundries for your shoes SANDRA FERNANDES sandramarina.fernandes@talkmag.in
hile the idea of judging a man by his shoes has been around for a long time (ask any job interviewer or even the girl next door), it takes a busy urban centre to make a ‘shoe laundry’ viable. Such shops, offering cleaning, repair, resoling and other such services, are cropping up in Bangalore, and Shoe Vival is among the first. Already thriving in Mumbai and Delhi, Shoe Vival found its way into this city almost a year ago. Says franchisee partner Shashank Bhardwaj, “I was in New Zealand when I saw a service like this for the first time. I returned home and was exploring career options. Once, I was looking for someone to clean my shoes. Since Bangalore didn’t have a service like this, I thought I should start a laundry for shoes.” Bhardwaj’s partner in the venture is Chitra Ambareesh. How receptive have Bangaloreans been? Bhardwaj, a former news producer with CNBC, says the initial six months were a struggle. “People have a very fixed mindset. Many don’t even clean their shoes
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SHOE BIZ Both Shoe Vival in Jayanagar (top left) and Mr Pronto (right) operate on a franchise model
regularly. I’ve had customers who clean the shoes at home, you will not come to me after using their shoes get that professional a finish. “There is a certain method of without cleaning for over a year. But people are now beginning to realise washing, and the chemicals and that clean shoes are a part of good cleaning agents we use make your shoes look brand new,” he says. grooming,” he explains. Sudeendra agrees that though a Sudeendra N is a busy man catering to his customers at the Mr cobbler can do a fine job of repairing Pronto showroom in Forum Mall, your shoes, the process that a profesKormangala, which also provides sional service follows is different. “A person with shoes worth Rs laundry and repair services for shoes. 2,000 hesitates to Though their give them for repair main aim is to repair to a roadside cobbler. shoes and bags, they Shoe Vival’s for take the utmost do make exceptions if people who don’t We care. We use quality a customer asks for want to get their products sometimes laundry service. from The man behind hands dirty, says imported abroad,” he says. And Mr Pronto, Abhishek Bhardwaj customers agree. Dhingra, initially Sunil Sharma, a began the services in Chennai and then moved to painting contractor, has been going to Shoe Vival for the past six months Bangalore and other cities. Dhingra says Mr Pronto was the and is pleased with the services. outcome of a desire to create a brand “Leather shoes need special care. name for shoe service, again inspired Roadside cobblers are not reliable as they sometimes shut down for by what he saw abroad. “Busy lifestyles make people extended periods. Shoe Vival repaired come to us. They don’t have the time my leather shoes and also washed my to polish their shoes,” says Mr Pronto sneakers. They looked as good as new,” he says. franchisee Sudeendra. A customer at Mr Pronto agreed Bhardwaj explains that such a service is convenient for people who that dropping off the shoes there was don’t want to get their hands dirty, more convenient than washing them and moreover, even if you wash or at home. “While we shop in the mall,
our shoes are repaired. Once we are done we can pick them up and leave without any hassle,” she said. The smaller cobblers do not feel threatened by such shoe centres. Srinivas, a cobbler who works from a wayside stall in Kammanahalli, says his customers are loyal to him. “These fancy places cater to a small number. And, besides, even the big showrooms sometimes send their repair work to us,” he says. Shashank has received queries from places as distant as Hyderabad. “People are willing to courier their shoes to us just to get them cleaned,” he says. In one instance, a customer just wanted the shoes laced correctly! Bangalore’s shoe laundries now cater to a mix of students, professionals and sometimes even celebrities. Prices range from Rs 30 for polishing to Rs 150 for basic laundry and minor repairs.
Sooner or lather... Mr Pronto: at Forum Mall, Koramangala, Forum Value Mall, Whitefield and Mantri Mall, Sampige Road. Shoe Vival: opposite the Police Station at Jayanagar 4th Block
first person
talk|18 oct 2012|talkmag.in
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RAMESH HUNSUR
CITIZEN CHAIN Joe Anthony lives in Lingarajapuram and cycles 9 km to work at Embassy Golf Links, near the Domlur flyover
Cycling makes my soul happy Joe Anthony, drummer and tech writer, shifted from a Maruti 800 to a cycle for his daily commute. Four months into pedalling, he has become an ardent pedal evangelist, but also offers a word of caution for beginners s a child, I wasn’t interested in cycling. In fact, I used to hate it, as mine was the most ordinary cycle around. But today the story is completely different. I have grown to love cycling and it has become an inseparable part of my life. I had some prejudices and reservations, but my colleague Abhijeet Rao, an ardent cyclist, helped me overcome them. His passionate exhortations are what really made me decide to get myself a bike. With a budget of Rs 15,000 in mind, I walked into Decathlon (the sports equipment superstore on Sarjapur Road), where I managed to get a French-made Btwin at a discount price of Rs 11,500. With the remaining money I bought acces-
A
Joe Anthony Works at MYSIS and plays with several rock bands in Bangalore
sories: a flashlight, a helmet with nearly Rs 6,000 a month on petrol, blinking lights at the back, a raincoat but now I hardly spend Rs 2,000. As that folds into a handkerchief-size an investment, the cycle wins hands cover, cycling shoes, a stand, and a down because I’ve already got mine carrier to carry stuff. Now, four back, having saved a total of Rs 16,000 months after I started cycling regular- over four months. While I have listed all the posily to office—for the first time since childhood—I have realised that it is tives about cycling, it would be good to keep in mind some negatives, espegreat fun. Cycling helps rejuvenate my cially when it comes to riding at body and there’s nothing quite like a night. The dogs are the biggest danger good sleep after a hard ride. It is phys- on the roads for night riders. When you find dogs barkically engaging and ing or howling at keeps your metaboyou, stop immedilism level high. Most There’s nothing ately. Try to carry a importantly, it tones like a good pack of biscuits and your legs. As a drumnight’s sleep throw a few at them mer who plays with several bands, any after a hard ride to calm them down. Never try to peddle exercise my legs can away fast, as the dogs get comes in handy while performing. The up and down can catch up in no time. Also watch out for reckless cab motion of the feet makes my legs and auto drivers, who think it is all much more flexible. Cycling is also good for coordi- right to push cyclists off the road. nation of the body and it leads you to Keep your nerve. Try not to seek the right kind of diet. Though my unnecessary attention. Don’t carry family was initially apprehensive your iPod at night as there are high about the whole thing, they now see chances of your getting mugged. my point in shifting from a car to a Equally important, if you have a relacycle. Take fuel costs. I used to spend tively expensive bike: never reveal its
price to strangers. It is usual for me to have people waving at me and inquiring, “Boss, how much does it cost?” I mumble it’s something between Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000. By now it is wellknown robbers eye expensive cycles. It helps to be part of one of the several cycling groups. You can meet likeminded people and exchange tips and information there. In many IT companies, devoted cyclists meet every weekend and go on long rides. In MISYS, where I work, four or five enthusiasts go on group rides on Saturday mornings. I am not part of any group at the moment, but plan to join in one in the near future. It takes some time for your body to adapt to cycling. I would advise beginners not to take up long rides. If they end up injuring themselves, it kills the motivation for good. The best option is to start with small distances. I certainly feel city dwellers will be cycling more in the future. If I get an opportunity to promote cycling—and this article is one such—I would be happy do it without second thoughts. Cycling makes my soul happy. (As told to Maria Laveena)
cauvery special
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The simple invention that revolutionised transport
Bicycle SAVIE KARNEL savie.karnel@talkmag.in t may seem hard to believe today, but when the bicycle was invented, it constituted a major leap in technology. People didn’t have to depend on horses or carts, and could speed by on their own power. Flemish writer Stijn Streuvels writes that the new machine was like a revelation, and everyone wondered how something so simple had not been invented earlier. The new contraption got different names in different countries. As it evolved, the names kept changing. Coined around 1868, the term bicycle itself was a replacement for original term velocipede. Though other names were introduced later, bicycle was the one that stuck. Perhaps it is the simplicity of the term that has not let it fade away. It is a composite of bi, which means ‘two’, and cycle, meaning ‘circle’ or ‘wheel’. The word The Talk bicycle clearly implies column on word origins that it is a vehicle with
I
two wheels. Many believe the word was coined by the French, and the British also take credit for it. To quote Streuvels, “The French, as always when they have to name something new, took a piece of Greek and a piece of Latin and stuck them together, giving us the ‘velocipede.’ For everyday use, however, this name proved too long and too cumbersome for something so speedy, and they shortened it to ‘velo.’ The English went about the task in their customary rational manner and came up with ‘bicycle,’ ‘wheel,’ or simply ‘cycle,’ which became the real name, the true name.” David Perry in his book Bike Cult
writes that bicycle appeared on an 1869 British velocipede patent by J I Stassen, and quickly gained popularity. “Bicycle (a twowheeled velocipede) became a root-word for an activity, such as bicycled, bicycling, and bicyclism (the art of bicycling), for a person, such as a bicycler, bicyclian, and W bicyclist, and for anything pertaining to or connected with the nature of bicycles, such as bicyclic, bicyclical, bicycular, and bicycle kick (in soccer, a kick made with both feet off the
A German patented this design in 1818
ground and moving the legs as if pedalling a bicycle),” he writes. The naming and renaming of bicycles hasn’t stopped yet. Some years ago, the phrase Human Powered Vehicles (HPV) was formed for vehicles that could be driven with human energy. Of course, cycles are on top of the list. Not many use the phrase. At a New York bike conference in 1989, cycling activist Mary Frances Dunham suggested a new name for motorfree vehicles, ‘morfs.’ “She described terramorfs as land vehicles, mermorfs for the water, airmorfs for flight, and ideomorfs propelled by thoughts,” Perry writes. In Kannada slang, saikal hodeyodu (cycling) means ‘to tire from effort’. In everyday English usage, we have long ago dropped the bi and use just cycle. If we say bicycle, people may give us surprised looks, suggesting that we are from the last century. The word cycle too may soon fade away, with the cooler-sounding bike replacing it. Though bike is commonly used for cycles in the West, in India it is used mainly for motorcycles. With cycles coming back into fashion, it may not be long before we find an even more fashionable name for them.
K E Y
O R D S
cycle on
The twin-pedal MARIA LAVEENA
the convenience of two wheelers. Half a century back, the cycle was the preferred vehicle for the renewed interest in middle class in the city, if for no cycling, which started other reason than that few other off as a techie fad in options existed. Many old-timers Bangalore, is now a remember fondly how they would go growing movement that to college or work on one. The ‘fondis quietly attracting hundreds of ness’ mainly because Bangalore was a first-time cyclists to its ranks. And far more cycle-friendly city back thanks to the then, which made the efforts of a few almost zero-maintenance Some companies organisations cycle an attractive option. championing The two-wheeler revolupick up the tab the cause, civic tion, combined with the for their authorities too arrival of the Maruti 800, employees’ cycle have come forchanged all that, and not purchases ward to suponly did the cycle lose in port and proterms of social status, but mote cycling, which might very well the rapidly expanding city itself become the preferred mode of urban turned into something resembling transport for a large chunk of well- the ‘Well of Death’ stunt show that heeled Bangaloreans. While this shift used to be part of most carnivals or is gaining numbers and momentum, travelling fairs. the irony is that it is happening at a That might be about to change time when the lower middle classes now, as a new breed of cyclists have are opting in far larger numbers for entered the streets, armed not just maria.laveena@talkmag.in
A
SHOW OF STRENGTH Go Green Go Cycling members at at a Cubbon Park meet-up. (Right) An old-fashioned cycle shop near Town Hall
with expensive imported cycles and protective gear, but also an awareness of their rights as cyclists and the undeniable personal and collective benefits the cycle offers. As Talk found, the majority of these new generation cyclists are well-heeled professionals, who opt for the cycle because they want to get fit, or simply because it gets them through the traffic faster, or both. Others, mostly techies, take it up because their MNC employers encourage it, with some even reimbursing the cost of the cycle. Cycling’s health benefits—primarily in improving stamina and cardio-vascular fitness—is well-known. One of the easiest ways to shed calories, cycling just 20 miles a week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 50 per cent, according to the British Medical Association. As for its advantages on Bangalore’s trafficchoked streets, we hardly need any testimonials. Many people who would like to
try it hold back because they fear the prospect of riding in frenzied traffic. Go Green Go Cycling (GGGC), an organisation that works to promote cycling as an eco-friendly mode of transport, holds regular training sessions to help newcomers overcome their anxiety. Its founder C M Prabhakar Rao, better known as ‘Go Green Rao,’ says ten newcomers are trained every Sunday. He explains: “Cycling, which helps save fossil fuels, is one of the best ways of paying back Mother Nature. It also keeps us fit and healthy, and helps us save money and time.” Go Green, which started in 2008 with just five members, today has thousands on its rolls, the majority of whom not only cycle to work every day but also pitch in to promote the use of bicycles. The organisation also conducts a Go Green Endurance Ride’ for experienced riders every last Sunday of the month, covering 80 to 100 km. Suhas Prabhu, software profes-
sion org ride the thre offi offe sho fash wel
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revolution
nal and an active member of the ganisation, says, “The Go Green es gave me the self-belief to ride on city’s chaotic roads. For the last ee years, I have been cycling to ice and back without fail.” He ers a word of caution: People ouldn’t take up cycling just for hion. They must ensure they are ll prepared before cycling to work.”
For the first time in decades, the government is taking concrete steps to encourage cycling in Bangalore. Simultaneously, well-heeled, rightsconscious citizens are riding to work and play
If you are a Metro commuter, you can hire a cycle cheap Jayanagar now has 21 km of cycle lanes, but when a Talk reporter went around the neighbourhood, she found cars parked all along the ‘dedicated’ lanes. Jayanagar is famous as one of the biggest and best-planned residential neibhbourhoods in Asia. The Ride a Cycle Foundation (RCF) and the BBMP are instrumental in getting lanes ready here. The project was inaugurated last month by R Ashoka, Deputy Chief Minister.
Chidambaran S, a businessman, his wife Rohini and their two children are all Go Green members and passionate cyclists. Chidambaran, 39, cycles from his house in Puttenahalli to his Indiranagar office every day and also uses it to run all his errands. He actively encourages his family members to do so. Continued on page 18
They are promoting cycling among school and college students. If successful, the project will be extended to Padmanabhanagar, Koramangala and Malleswaram. Murali Ramnath, coordinator of RCF, says, “The BBMP has spent Rs 3.26 crore on the cycle lanes, and Rs 60,000 on 25 signboards to create awareness about them.” RCF volunteers say it could take a couple of months before cyclists can ride without hindrance. S N Gangadhar, ACP (traffic) says, “Cyclists are too few now. Once there are more, we will worry about clearing the cycle lanes of cars.”
A docking station at MG Road
Meanwhile, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation is doing its bit: it has unveiled three cycle docking stations, with nine cycles in each, along the currently operational Metro line. Seven more are coming up. The service is free now. Soon, the Metro will collect a deposit of Rs 1,000 and a usage fee of 16 paisa per minute. Srinivas Ramesh, CEO of Kerberon Automations, says Bangalore will eventually have 100 such stations. His company has won the contract to set up such stations.
cycle on
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RAMESH HUNSUR
Continued from page 17 “We go for long rides together as a family,” he says, and proudly describes how his elder son Vaibhav recently completed a 72-km ride successfully. Rohini, a housewife, says she has been an ardent cyclist right from her college days, and her passion for cycling has had a positive impact on their children and the family. While on the one hand groups like Go Green and Bangalore Bikers Club promote cycling among individuals and communities, others like the non-profit advocacy organisation Ride a Cycle Foundation (RCF), fight for the rights of cyclists and campaigns for infrastructure and regulations to make cycling a safe and even attractive option for commuters. RCF is the moving force behind the newly inaugurated cycle lanes in Jayanagar, part of their ‘Safe route to school’ project executed with the support of the BBMP. Sridhar Pabbisetty, chief operating officer of IIM Bangalore and an advisor for RCF, says, “As kids, we all rode to school but our kids are not doing so. It is to address this that we have implemented this project, initially in Jayanagar as it has the highest number of schools and colleges in the city.” RCF works to ensure that civic authorities and urban planners take cycling seriously as a viable and socially desirable mode of urban transport. Its trustee Deepak Majipatil told Talk, “You can find cyclists everywhere in the city but it is hard to find cycle lanes and parking stations. One of our first campaigns was for a bicycle parking station at Lalbagh, which after much debate and going back and forth, we managed to get done.” Ride a Cycle Foundation is also currently working on a bicycle sharing project where it will initiate students of a reputed institution to use only cycles on the campus. With more and more people taking up cycling, the demand for cycles of all makes have shot up, testify leading city outlets. Talk spoke to stores across the city: RR Cycle Junction, Jayanth Probikes and Fitness, Green works, Shah Cycles and Fitness and Khan Enterprises. Cycles on display cost anywhere between Rs 6,000 and Rs 60,000, and include brands like Firefox, Trek, Cannondale, Schwinn, Montra, Giant and Rock Rider. Some stores import select models that cost up to Rs 5 lakh on order. Nitesh R, owner of RR Cycle Junction, which has six outlets in the city, says business has picked up like never before and that IT professionals form the bulk of his clientele. But he fears the business may take a hit since the government has now increased import duties on cycles.
NO WAY (Top) Cyclists’ at the inauguration of exclusive cycle lanes in Jayanagar. They are now (right) forced into the centre of the road by cars parked on the lane. (Above) A vintage model on display at Jayanth Probikes, near Commercial Street
Jayanth Probikes and Fitness has three outlets and deals in two major brands, Firefox and Trek. Manager Stephen Maria says, “We have had a 40 per cent increase in sales in the last two years. Many IT companies encourage their employees to take up cycling and reimburse the costs, which is why so many techies are into cycling these days.” Jayanth stocks cycles that cost between Rs 4,000 and Rs 1.89 lakh. Shah Cycles and Greenworks displays models that range from Rs 6,000 to Rs
75,000. Some cycles are battery-powered. Swarnalaxmi, marketing executive of Greenworks, says though they stock half a dozen expensive brands, most customers opt for cycles that range between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000. Chinese-made Letto is one of the fastest moving brands in their showroom. At S P Road, once home to most cycle dealers in the city, the number of shops has dwindled. Ironically, one of the oldest among them, Madras Cycle Trading Company, which has crossed 50 years, is
also one of the few still doing well. Owner Rakesh Parekh said, “We understood very early that only fancy cycles are moving these days, and upgraded ourselves. So along with older brands such as Hero, Hercules, and Atlas, we also offer new brands like Firefox.” Parekh however sees the renewed enthusiasm for cycling among the middle class as a fad. “Maybe a few corporate people are into cycling but ordinary people buy scooters and cars because they can afford them now.” COURTSEY: HISTORYINWORLD.BLOGSPOT.IN
1818: Draisine Karl Drais, Germany
1830: Two-wheel velocipede, Thomas Mc Call, Scotland
1860: Pedal-bicycle Pierre Michaux, France
1870: High-wheel bicycle James Starley, France
1885: Safety bicycle John Kemp Starley, England
1960s: Racing bike, USA
Mid-1970s: Mountain bike, USA
talk|18 oct 2012|talkmag.in
Rewind
Forward
The week that was
The week ahead
World
World
Nobel awards: This year’s Nobel prize in physics goes to Serge Haroche of France and David Wineland of the US. Their quantum optics work deals with single photons and ions, basic units of light and matter. John Gurdon from the UK and Shinya Yamanaka from Japan were awarded the Nobel prize for medicine for their work in stem cell research.The Nobel for literature has been awarded to Chinese author Mo Yan.
Obama lags: In the US, for the first time in many weeks, Mitt Romney races past President Barack Obama in poll ratings in the presidential campaign.
Nation
Advani’s pat: BJP patriarch LK Advani pays an unexpected compliment to rival Congress by telling the United Nations the UPA’s employment guarantee programme has empowered rural people. No cash: Kingfisher Airlines wants staff to begin work on October 13 but remains silent on pending salary payments. Vadra in the dock: Anticorruption activist Arvind Kejriwal says Robert Vadra, son-in-law of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, profited from clandestine deals with real-estate developer DLF. The charge badly shakes the Congress.
State
Vidhana Soudha 2: Belgaum, Karnataka’s second capital, gets Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, where the state legislature meetings will be held. Waste worry: Bangalore grapples with waste segregation, now mandatory. Lit show: Over 10 lakh Kannada books go on display at Pustaka Parishe on National College grounds in Basavanagudi.
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New voices in Bengali cinema Toto Funds the Arts inaugurates its new initiative, ‘New Voices in Indian Films’, with a screening of three films by Srijit Mukherji. The Kolkata-based theatre and film actor, director, lyricist and erstwhile economist is the leading light of a band of young directors creating work that speaks directly to the current generation of Bengalis. Mukherji has received the Young Achiever Award from Rotary International and the prestigious Shera Bangali Award from ABP Anando, among others. With ‘New Voices’, Toto Funds the Arts aims to bring the new wave of critically acclaimed and commercially successful films—fiction, non-fiction, shorts and experimental—to the fore. 13 Oct, Saturday, 2 pm: Autograph (120 minutes), Bengali with English subtitles. 13 Oct, Saturday 4.30 pm: Baishe Srabon (140 minutes), Bengali with English subtitles. 14 Oct, Sunday 2 pm: Hemlock Society (150 minutes) Bengali with English
Pussy riot: A Moscow court freed one member of punk band Pussy Riot, but will hear the case for two others for staging an anti-Kremlin protest in a cathedral.
subtitles . 14 Oct, Sunday 5 to 6 pm: Adda with the director Srijit Mukherji. Listen to what he has to say about his struggles, successes and challenges in the intimate setting of a Bengali ‘adda.’ Venue: National Gallery of Modern Art (Auditorium), 49, Palace Road (Tel: 22342338)
Sing for first Kannada crowd-sourced film
If you have always wanted to take your singing beyond your bathroom doors, here’s your chance. Lucia is the first ‘crowd-funded’ Kannada film. Directed by Pawan Kumar of Lifeu Ishtene (That’s All There is to Life) fame, it is slated for release early 2013. The filmmakers have invited aspiring playback singers to do one of the numbers in the movie. For more details, log on to: www.hometalkies.com/ lucia/
Booker riddle: The 2012 Man Booker prize winner will be announced on October 16. October 15 is the Man Booker Prize Readings in which the 2012 shortlisted authors, including Bangalore’s Jeet Thayil, discuss their work.
The song, written by Purnachandra Tejaswi (not to be mistaken for the writer of jungle adventures), employs the Mandya dialect. There’s already a promotional video on the Net, featuring Pawan, actor Satish, and a host of lovelies attempting to mouth the lines. Meanwhile, more than 100 people from across the world have sent in their contributions towards the production of Lucia. Catch more details on the movie’s web page.
Film editing masterclass NFDC Labs is offering aspiring and experienced filmmakers an opportunity to cut their film with Molly Stensgaard, editor of such groundbreaking films as Melancholia, Dogville, Manderlay and Dancer in the Dark. Molly shares her experience of working with acclaimed director Lars Von Trier. She was the editor of The Idiots and The Kingdom where she perfected and defined the technique of time cutting. For more, log on to: www.nfdcindia.com/labsworkshops
Academy awards: Steven Spielberg’s new film Lincoln is tipped for Oscar success after a high profile ‘surprise’ screening at the New York Film Festival.
Nation
Chess champ: Vishwanathan Anand is expected to win his first match in the masters chess championship in Spain after six straight draws. Politicking: If Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party withdraw support for the ruling UPA, early national elections are a possibility. Hold on: Reforms proposed by finance ministry are likely to be put on hold in the face of opposition from the ministry of environment.
State Spirited battle: Vijay Mallya’s United Spirits and Kishore Chhabria’s Allied Blenders and Distillers will likely settle dispute over ownership of Officer’s Choice whisky, India’s top seller. Sonia visit: Congress president Sonia Gandhi will address a public meeting in Mangalore on October 18. Water relief: Crucial decisions on Cauvery river water dispute expected; more rain may ease tempers.
City
BBMP is set to collect dry waste twice weekly in deference to requests from Bangalore citizens.
back stage
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A small wonder debuts Indiranagar, but this is his debut on the professional stage. In The Invisible River, he plays the role of Anwar, a street child who lives by the Ganga, making money from tourists. He also plays the character of Ajay, who, as a child, visits the river banks with his mother every day. “The play is about the Ganga, which has been polluted over the years. Bad things began happening 20 years ago. There are so many characPRACHI SIBAL ters who are interconnected and it is prachi.sibal@talkmag.in almost like a timeline of the incidents along the river,” says Aryan. Interestingly, he was the only very now and then an actor takes you by sur- child who auditioned for the role of prise and leaves on your Anwar, and won director Vivek mind a lasting impact. Madan’s heart instantaneously. “He But it is unusual for that fit the role, right down to the build of actor to be a bratty 11-year-old. the character,” says Madan. The only Playwright Gautam Raja’s The problem he faced during rehearsals Invisible River, besides being an almost was how to curb Aryan’s enthusiasm flawless production, makes debut and stop him from prompting the space for Aryan Jagtap, who stole the other actors’ lines! Aryan says he was able to relate thunder from older, more accomto the character of plished fellow Anwar. ‘“Anwar is a actors. kid. He doesn’t Initially, I was He made fearless street have any job except to wondering how a eye contact with be with the Ganga. child could handle a He is one of the main play with serious the audience components of the content, but wonwhenever it was story, and he is like a derment turned to required of him son to Ajay. Anwar’s amazement as I playfulness has the watched his perability to make people formance unfold. Curious to know more, I asked the- laugh. I am like that in real life,” he atre insiders how he had negotiated says. Juggling exams and performanccomplex scenes involving religious discrimination and death. “He is a es, Aryan prepared well in advance for smart child,” was what they said. But his tests and rehearsed a great deal to that hardly explained the grace I had be able to perform well. He admits doing both can get stressful, but that just seen on stage. Face-to-face, Aryan turned out doesn’t stop him. Except for a particmore articulate than I had thought. ular scene that took about two weeks Theatre isn’t alien to this fifth grade of rehearsals, he faced hardly any student of National Public School, problems with the script or the cast, he says, adding veteran-like, “Vivek is a good director.” Reluctantly, I bring up the death scene that involves young Anwar, but he doesn’t seem perturbed. He speaks of it with surprising detachment, saying he wasn’t worried as he “dies only towards the end.” Director Vivek, on the other hand, says he didn’t have to explain the scene to Aryan. “I gave him the script, and he returned prepared the next day. The groans and cough you hear while he is on the hospital bed are all his own, it required no prompting,” he says. The trick for the director and the cast was to treat him as a smart colleague who just happens to be a child.
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RAMESH HUNSUR
First-timer Aryan Jagtap, who plays a street kid in The Invisible River, is an actor to watch out for. In a candid chat, the 11-year-old tells Talk what it was like to feature in a grown-ups’ play
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EASY PEASY (Below) Aryan Jagtap with Sachin Gurjale, whom he considers his favourite fellow actor, ‘though he beats me up in the play’
When children perform on stage, they usually can’t help throwing glances in the direction of the director, demanding approval. This was something Aryan never did. Not just that, he made fearless eye contact with the audience whenever it was required of him, and delivered his lines with easy charm. His entries and exits were as clean as those of the adult actors. The play has a scene where Aryan drinks a glass of sugarcane juice. During the rehearsals and shows, he always gulped down the entire glass, except once. “When I went to check what had happened, I realised the glass was covered with ants. This is something that could have thrown even experienced actors off balance, but he handled it with composure,” says Madan. Aryan’s parents Anuradha Sarkar and Vishal Jagtap are IT professionals. Vishal has passed on his love of read-
ing to the child, and Anuradha says she watched much theatre during her college days in Kolkata. “Aryan is a voracious reader, and is also articulate. He did small roles on the school stage and received compliments. I was looking for something that would suit him and stumbled upon the theatre course at Jagriti. He was eager to attend classes,” she says. However, Anuradha believes Aryan is too young to think of acting as a profession. “Doing plays once in a while is fine, but education is important,” she says. But with a debut like his, it looks like there is no stopping Aryan. He plans to do more theatre, but he prefers comedies. He says he had fun through the making of the play and made many friends in the cast and crew. “My favourite is Sachin (Gurjale), even though he beats me up in the play,” he says.
back stage
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River-like tale First staged in 2008, The Invisible River has returned in a new avatar that stands out for its lightness of touch
PRACHI SIBAL prachi.sibal@talkmag.in
ith a water dispute raging around us, the timing for a play about a river could hardly be more appropriate. The story of The Invisible River cannot claim to be all that unique, but it offers so much thanks to the subtlety of its telling. Set in Allahabad, playwright Gautam Raja tells a story about five people who live by the Ganga, and presents a larger picture of the ‘sacredness’ of the river. Directed by Vivek Madan, the story begins with young Ajay and his mother,
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who move to Allahabad after the death of his father. From the age of ten, he is brought up to hold the Ganga sacred, and to take a holy dip in it every day. He grows up to be a doctor at the government hospital, where one of his duties is to create awareness among the public about cholera, which is caused by the organic waste regularly dumped into the river. Sachin Gurjale brings out many layers to the character of the agitated and sensitive Dr Ajay. Jayant (played by Jimmy Xavier) is a priest who has spent his whole life by the Ganga, where he holds Gita classes for women every Friday and keeps a watchful eye on everything that happens on the banks. He is also like an adopted son to Ajay’s mother and understands her belief in the all-encompassing powers of the river. Most of the laughs in the play easily belong to him for his effortless portrayal of this curious new age priest. Anwar, a street kid played by an 11year-old Aryan Jagtap, has built relationships with both the priest and the doctor. He lives on the money he manages to get out of tourists and takes the presence of
the river in his natural stride. The plot thickens when Uma (Rebecca Spurgeon), a scientist from Bangalore, arrives to study the presence of bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) in the river, something she believes provides scientific reason for the Ganga’s purifying properties. The relationships formed among the characters and between them and the river constitutes for the rest of the story. Emotional tussles, conversations
about science, political and religious battles—there is hardly a major aspect of the contemporary world that the play doesn’t touch upon. The modestly designed sets help maintain the focus on the characters, and the action on stage refrains from being overly physical. The lighting design by Gautam Raja is fitting; the minimal transitions and a few blackouts help you absorb the complexities of the scene that has passed. The original score by Rajesh Mehar and Vamshi is enchanting.
beantown beat
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‘I like people who beat traffic to meet jazz’ Diva Radha Thomas, who has just launched her album I Only Have Eyes For You, sees quite a bit of New York in Bangalore, but the road jams are a dampener
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and others in some of Manhattan’s most famous jazz clubs like Sweet Basil, The Bottom Line and Alice Tully Hall. She ran her own business in New o be an ‘outsider’ and still be appreciated in the York to be able to sing. “Jazz doesn’t home of jazz is no mean pay. It didn’t then. So I ran a boutique achievement. But then, for six years from Long Island. I had Bangalorean jazz diva something coming for me so I could Radha Thomas thinks of herself as a do the music with no worries over money,” she recalls. New Yorker. She loved the ambience: “The Her band UNK: The Radha Thomas Ensemble launched its first clubs would be crowded. There was album, I Only Have Eyes For You, to a nothing like us and them. Everybody’s warm and intimate reception at at home with everybody else. They were there for the music. It was one Indiranagar’s bFlat recently. “New York was my home for 20 world for all of us.” Radha is aware she was not the years. And New Yorkers don’t really care who you are or where you come first Indian to reach American shores. from as long as your jazz is good. To L Shankar and L Subramaniam had them, you’re good or not. It’s not for already made it there. But who’d done jazz vocals? That, she me to say, but if I did concedes, is somereceive appreciation thing she could be of New York’s jazz New Yorkers proud of: “Perhaps clubs, it must don’t really care being a woman doing have meant I where you come jazz vocals makes me struck a chord, one among the few that there was from as long as something in your jazz is good who made it in the New York clubs.” my singing,” After 20 years in she says. She is an Indian, and New York, does she miss that city’s jazz isn’t Indian, so how could jazz passion in Bangalore? she succeed among people who “For me the journey from New York had grown up on the legendary only continues in Bangalore. The music’s the same. Years ago, you Harlem black greats? After winning a jazz competition wouldn’t have seen clubs hosting jazz, hosted by Jazz Yatra two decades ago, but now you have more than one club Radha went to Poland to perform. doing that in Bangalore. And people From there, she travelled to New York, are nice, appreciative and friendly,” which she made her home. Given her she says. What about the quality of love for jazz, stepping into New York’s jazz clubs was the most natural thing music? She feels there’s no need to feel defensive: “We don’t have to feel to do. “Thing is, they never worried inferior in any way to the home of about the skin. It wasn’t about black, jazz. We’ve built a pretty good culture white or brown. Was your music in the last few years in our metros. good? Were your jazz notes right? If Delhi is very responsive, with plenty they were, you could have been of venues. Goa is just great, but I’d like Mongolian and yet sing into their Mumbai to do better. Bangalore is doing well for itself. We are also well hearts,” she explains. Radha has performed with big trained in classical music and that can names like John Scofield, Randy bring new idioms to jazz.” A little known fact is that Radha Brecker, Michael Brecker, John Faddis, Alex Blake, David has trained under the legendary vocalist Kumar Liebman, John Abercrombie, Hindustani Ryo Kawasaki, Joe Farrell Gandharva and can bring the Indian prashanth.gn@talkmag.in
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beantown beat
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Blues on a blue bus large group of women blocked my path as they scrambled for every available seat, giggling all the while. The quick breakfast on offer was good, but at the time, I didn’t know it would turn out to be the high point of this ‘experience’. Now, everyone likes to get freebies, but here it was getting a bit out of hand, with the women jostling each other towards what looked like a foot spa secPRACHI SIBAL tion and a make-up artist. The masseuses prachi.sibal@talkmag.in looked exhausted. In my case, the masseuse made no effort to wipe the masirst came the promos on the sage oil off, leaving me sliding out of my radio channels, and then a deluge footwear for the rest of the day. Next came the makeover session, of blue-tinged advertisements that spammed Facebook walls. where a make-up artist, armed with a for‘Mia on Wheels’ sounded like a publicity est of brushes, worked on me in the movgimmick masquerading as a fun outing, ing bus. She worked swiftly, every now and these days there are plenty of those and then taking the liberty of yelling at around. I decided, however, to put it to the bus driver to slow down. In exchange for all this pampering, the test and clicked the tacky blue register button on the Facebook page. A web page passengers were obliged to gaze at boxes asked me for my date of birth but would filled with newly launched jewellery. And only let me select years starting from not just that: the rear of the bus was a makeshift studio where 2002. Hardly the sort of each of us was asked to thing to get you in the The masseuse pose for pictures. That is, mood for a fun journey. pose wearing some of the The idea behind this was too tired to jewellery on display. The promo for a jewellery colwipe off the oil, photographer clicked lection was to take afland left me slid- away rapidly, printed the fuent women to their pictures, fixed them on workplaces, the big IT ing out of my to frames and thrust hubs. En route, they were footwear all day them on the ladies before promised an experience they had time to recover. to ‘make them feel beautiful’ for the day ahead. No doubt they Conceived by city-based ‘experience’ comknew which buttons to push when they pany The Yellow Cycle, the concept was planned this concept, because I soon indeed interesting, but 20 women a trip found myself at their HSR Layout pick-up made the bus overcrowded. Despite the point, gaping at a large blue bus covered chaos, Mia on Wheels still has some with advertisements. As I entered, I was things going for it—and I don’t mean just greeted with a bus ticket (fake), flowers the breakfast menu. Rides are on till October 14. (real), and a guitarist (a bit of both) belting Details here: www.mia.tanishq.co.in out popular numbers from the 1980s. A
A gimmick to promote a jewellery brand would have worked better if its ‘relaxing experience’ hadn’t left you so stressed
BAND STAND Radha Thomas with band members (from left) Matt Littlewood, Mishko M’Ba, Aman Mahajan, Suresh Bascara and Ramjee Chandran
classical touch to jazz. But Bangalore is lacking in one critical department. “It’s mundane, but bad traffic won’t get you an audience. In New York, you can reach a club easy, but in Bangalore, the commute is stressful, and it could dampen enthusiasm for a lively evening of jazz. That’s why I have the greatest regard for people who beat traffic to meet jazz,” she says. Radha’s latest album features a mix of jazz, bebop, hip hop, and blues with Indian classical overtones. It has been a year in its making. Much of the material is original, featuring compositions by Radha and her collaborator, pianist Aman Mahajan. Apart from Radha, there’s Aman, Matt Littlewood (saxophone), Mishko M’Ba (bass), Ramjee Chandran (guitar) and Suresh Bascara (drums), who have come together for the first time to record an album. They had been working on their own and sometimes together, but hadn’t done an album as a band.
What expectations does she have from the album? In her words: “There’s a little desire everybody has. Will I see the day somebody sings and performs our compositions?” An album, she feels, must connect with the audience, however small the audience. “I place a premium on listening. No matter how many listen, are they listening? It’s a beautiful feeling when you know they are and when they know what you’re doing. That’s why I love audiences of any kind, any type, any number,” she says. Jazz singing, for Radha, is “a fleeting moment.” “We have to make that moment count—the bond with the music and audience. Some days it may happen, some days it won’t. When it doesn’t, that’s an off day. The greatest quality of jazz is freedom: it enables a free movement of the heart, unhindered. After a good show you’re liberated,” she says.
Tour guide by day, singer at night Radha Thomas was born in Tamil Nadu, and grew up in Mumbai and Delhi. She completed high school at a girl's convent run by Catholic nuns, and attended a few semesters of college in Delhi, again a strictly girlsonly environment. Not given to academics, she joined a rock and roll band called Human Bondage, popular in the 1970s. She soon developed a taste for jazz, and began combining the form with the rhythmic complexities of Indian classical music. Her classical vocal training came first from Kumar Gandharva in New Delhi, and subsequently with Ustad Fariduddin Dagar, one of the famed Dagar Brothers. She won a jazz contest organised by Jazz Yatra and travelled to Poland to perform. Radha (whose surname then was Shottam) represented India at European jazz festivals and made her way to New York, the home of jazz, where she lived and performed for almost 20
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years. She held a variety of day-jobs as she sang in clubs at night, sharing centre-stage with New York's wellknown jazz artistes. Her jobs included being a tour guide in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. When she returned to India, she found work in a publishing company. She is currently senior vice-president at Explocity Media, and lives with her son Stefan in Bangalore. MEDIUM AND MASSAGE: Working women enjoy some freebies on a bus ride to work
L I S T I NGS octoberfest
talk|18 oct 2012|talkmag.in
food Golden kebabs: As part of their first anniversary celebrations, Mango Tree is going to put up a spread of dishes. Vegetarians can relish dishes like aloo haryali, hussaini paneer tikka, Rajasthani aloo dum and more while non-vegetarians can sample dishes like murg bharra kebab, murg sheekh kebab, chandi kebab, murg badami, mutton Kashmiri kebab, ajwani fish tikka, and more. The highlight here is the sona kebab wrapped in an edible gold foil. Mango Tree, #99/4, Natraj Layout, Kothnur 8th phase, J P Nagar, till October 14 9448142771
When beer and music come together: Soak in the celebrations of Bangalore’s very own Octoberfest this weekend. Watch musical performances by Children of Bodom, Advaita, Sh’aa’ir and Func, BLOT, Indian Ocean, Sunidhi Chauhan, Benny Dayal, Mad Orange Firewroks, Raghu Dixit Project, Javed Ali, Indian Ocean and more. Enjoy all this with lots of beer, food,
games and other activities. This event is inspired by the German beer festival and has gained popularity ever since it was introduced in the country and has seen some of the well known music artists in the country come together on the same platform and perform. Jayamahal Palace, #1, Jayamahal Road, October 12 to 14, 2 pm onwards 23331321
Swiss delicacies this weekend: Choose from dishes like capuns, air dried ham, cheese fondue, Zurich style veal, Egandine crepes, rosti style potatoes, Swiss chocolates and ice cream. Prices start at Rs 1,080 plus tax for the buffet and Rs 1,300 plus tax for buffet and drinks.
My Place, Movenpick Hotel, 1st floor, Mathikere, Gokula Extension, till October 14 43001000 Crepe crawl: Enjoy a spread of pastas, crepes, French grilled chicken, salads and desserts. These combos can be customized according to your taste and preferences. Prices start at Rs 199. Crep's Bar, Brigade Metropolis, The Archade garudacharpalya, Whitefield, till October 15 22650222 Taste of China: Savour delicacies from China this weekend at the Chinese Food Festival. You can choose from dishes like lotus root, sweet corn soup, steamed fish with black bean sauce, flat noodles with sea food and more. Chinese chef Thi Giang will showcase his culinary skills at the festival. Lunch is priced at Rs 1045 plus tax whereas dinner is priced at Rs 1195 plus tax. Sheraton Hotel, Brigade Gateway, Rajajinagar, till October 14 42521000 Experience Thailand in town: Thai dishes like vegetable clear soup, kimchi salad, chicken salad, cauliflower sangdong, crispy vegetables salt and pepper, chilli fish, roast chilli chick-
Picasso at the Lapin Agile: Directed by Vaishak Shankar the play is about one night in Paris where Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein meet each other at a bar. This bar witnesses the presence of one genius after other and what follows is a series of witty exchanges
en, chicken hot garlic sauce, lamb in chilli oyster sauce, okra potato kung pao sauce and more can be relished at this fest. Prices start at Rs 349 plus on weekdays and Rs 399 plus tax on weekends. Shitakke, No 25/26, Ascendas Park Square Mall, ITPL, Sadramangala, Whitefield
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Lucknowi dum: Taste authentic Awadhi cuisine such as gosht-e-lucknowi, Lucknowi dum biryani, Awadhi korma and more at the Dum ka khana food festival. GAD, #66, Residency Road, till October 14 66604545
retail therapy
theatre Beauty and the Beast: You need not have to fly to Disneyland to witness the magic of Beauty and the Beast. About 120 children from the Sarala Birla Academy will recreate the magic of this fairytale in the city as they showcase their acting, dancing and singing talent. Tickets are priced at Rs 200, Rs 300 and Rs 500. Jyothi Nivas College, Hosur Main Road, 5th Block, Kormangala, October 12 and 13, 7pm 25506100
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world. The play will be presented by puppets and actors who have toured countries like Switzerland and Austria. Ranga Shankara, #36/2, 8th Cross, 2nd phase, JP Nagar, October 13 and 14, 7.30 pm 26592777
between the two. Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Thimmaiah Road, Vasanthnagar, October 13 , 7.30pm 41231340 Bollywood Bandwagon: Experience the different components of Bollywood that include a superstar, an item girl, a love triangle, songs, exotic locations, the stunts and the casting couch. In short the play will be a pot boiler of the filmy
Love the stage?: Mad Hats is looking out for new faces for its next production. All you boys and girls out there who are aged between 20- 35 years and have a strong command over English and have a penchant for acting this is your chance. For registration share the following details: full name, age, gender, address, employment status, work timings (if applicable), availability during November 2012 - February 2013, Prior theatre experience (if any).
Mail madhatstheatre@ gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/events/3 52305528195063 auditions on October 12 and 13 9900102857 Laughter Punch: When many mad ads teams come together, the outcome is surely a laughter session. Laughter Punch is a rib tickling play that brings out movie spoofs, mime, comedy plays, stand-up comedy, mimicry and more. it is presented by Punch Tantraa, who aim to create awareness about different forms of theatre like movie spoofs, mad ads and want to create an active audience for the same. Kengal Hanumanthaih Kala Soudha, Ramanjaneya Temple, Hanumanthanagar, October 13, 6 pm 9880487682 Our Myths: Storyteller Geeta Ramanujam will have two story telling sessions for children from Our Myths series, the popular Hanuman’s Ramayan written by Devdutt Patnaik and It’s all the same retold by Nina Sabnani. Atta Galatta, 75, 2nd main, 1st Block, Koramangala, October 13 , 4 pm 9632510126
Back to the classics: Choose from contemporary collection of sarees by Mayuri this weekend. The sarees include woven borders, multi colour weavers with prints. Apart from these, salwar suits in block print, brocade embroidery are also available. Rain tree, Opposite Sankey Tank, Near Windsor Manor Hotel 32723251 Go ethnic this weekend: Seema Nanda’s collection will be on display this weekend. You can buy from a range of sarees, anarkalis and kurtas at the exhibition. Sarees in chiffon and georgette are also available. Prices start at Rs 2,500. Under The Mango Tree, #3 Laurel Lane, Richmond Town, October 12 and 13 9686601021 Get inspired by the Queen: Inspired by the Queen Elizabeth, The Collective houses many British brands like Hackett London, Fred Perry, Ted Baker, Simon Carter, Vivienne Westwood and Lyle & Scott and more. Men's apparel starts at Rs 7,500 and women’s apparel starts at Rs 12,000. The Collective, #40, Vittal Mallya Road, till October 31 67678888
L I S T I NGS music Make way for some steam: Bangalore’s very own rock n roll band, Steam Live is here to enthrall you. Watch band members Kim Noble on vocals and guitar, Herbert Paul on vocals and guitar, Val Moraes on keyboard and vocals, Max Bantleman on bass and Cliff Adrian on drums as they play some originals tunes. Take 5, 54 MSK Plaza, 100 ft Road, Indiranagar, October 14, 8 pm 65300645 Jazz in its best form: Watch Jazz artist Carlton Kitto perform live this weekend. He will perform after the screening of
talk|18 oct 2012|talkmag.in
dance Susheel Kurien’s documentary film Finding Carlton: Uncovering the Story of Jazz in India. The film is about the dying art of Indian jazz music. Opus, #4, Chakravarthy Layout, Sankey Road, October 16, 8 pm 9008303330 Shankar Tucker live: After tasting success with his online music series called The Shruthi Box, Shankar Tucker is back in town to perform live. The show will be a blend of jazz, pop and Indian classical music. Opus, #4, Chakravarthy Layout, Sankey Road, October 13, 9 pm 9008303330
Let your hair down: Belly dancing got better as over 100 belly dancers from Payal’s Dance Academy perform this weekend. The theme for this year’s Bangalore’s Belly Dance festival - Hipnosis is Shimmy. Shimmy is one of the most used dance moves across various dance forms. Watch dance performances in various genres like Samba, Polynesian, Tribal Fusion and more. The shows will be done using props such as cane, swords, tambourines and more. Dancers will perform belly dancing of different levels, starting with beginners to specialised one. Tickets are priced at Rs 300 per show. Workshops will be conducted on the same day. Tickets for one workshop and one show along with the after party cost Rs 500 and those for one show, two workshops, two trials and the after party cost Rs 700. Kalinga Hall, The Lalit Ashok, Kumara Park, October 14, 3pm and 7pm 9739744818
talk picks
Kannada top-sellers at Sapna Books
Naanu Mechchida Pustakagalu Author: Osho Publisher: Sapna Book House Price: Rs 180
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Bettale Jagattu Author: Pratap Simha Publisher: Sahitya Prakashana Price: Rs 120
Ondu Jeevana Saladu Author: Kuldip Nayar Publisher: Navakarnataka Publishers Price: Rs 450
Aanandakke Ondu Missed Call Author: Suresh Padmanabhan & Shan Chavan Publisher: Saavanna Enterprises Price: Rs 180
Mooka Dhathu Author: Dr KN Ganeshaiah Publisher: Ankita Pustaka Price: Rs 195
L I S T I NGS art
Chromatics are here: The works of Debu Barve, Seema Kohli, Farhad Hussain, Parvathi Nayar, Biswajit Mondal, Jagannath Paul and more will be on display this week as part of a show curated by artchutney.com The Leela Gallerria, #23, Old Airport Road, Kodihalli, till Oct 31 9880280222 Hues of soil: See the works of MG Doddamani, Prash Nayak, Rani Rekha, KV Kale, D Kamakar, Krishna Raichur, Nirmala Kumari, D Kale, KM Krishna, Bhavani GS, Thirunavkaras and more that display the
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film
heritage of our state. Abstract Art Gallery, #8, next to Chandrika Hotel, Cunningham Road, October 13 41235444 Walk down memory lane: Jaya Javeri will take you back to your childhood days as her paintings depict happy and playful memories. Imaginary paper planes, butterflies and jigsaw puzzles are some of the elements she uses to relive childhood fantasies. Hotel ITC Windsor Manor, #25, Windsor Square, Golf Course Road, Sankey Road, till October 18 22269898
Aiyaa Hindi: Directed by Sachin Kundalkar, the movie is about a Maharastrian girl named Meenakshi who dreams of Bollywood. She gets a job in an art college where she meets a lookalike and then they go man hunting. All this comes to an end when Meenakshi meets the hunky Malayali student Surya. She starts stalking him, which annoys him a lot. Simultaneously her parents find the perfect guy for her who loves Marathi art and loves planting roses. On the other hand her dream guy, Surya disappears. She is now in a fix; should she find the guy or marry the one her parents have chosen for her? The movie stars Rani Mukherjee and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead. Tribhuvan theatre, Gandhinagar10.30 am, 1.30 pm Q Cinemas, ITPL, Whitefield- 10.15 am, 4 pm, 9.45 PVR, Kormangala- 10 am, 12.45 pm, 3.30, 6.30, 9.15 Everest theatre, Frazer town- 6.30 pm, 9.30 Vision cinemas- 10.01am, 5.15pm INOX, Swagath Garuda Mall, Jayanagar3.10pm, 9.15 Central Mall, J P Nagar- 10.25 am, 12.40 pm, 5.55, 9.10 Bhoot Returns Hindi: The film is a sequel to the 2004 film Bhoot. The movie is about a family that moves into a new house. The little girl in the family begins experiencing the presence
of someone called Shabbo. A series of events that scare them follows. Will they leave the house or not? Who is Shabbo and what does she want? The film is directed by Ram Gopal Verma and stars Manisha Koirala, J D Chakravarthy and Alayana Sharma in the lead. 2D Abhinay Theatre, Gandhinagar10.30 am, 1.30 pm, 4.30, 7.30 Bhumika Theatre, Gandhinagar4.30pm, 7.30 INOX, Swagath Garuda mall, Jayanagar- 10 am, 7.40 pm INOX, J P Nagar- 1.20 pm, 7.35 3D Everest theatre, Frazer Town- 11.30 am, 2.30 pm Q Cinemas, ITPL, Whitefield- 2.50 pm, 9.55 Vision
Cinemas- 12.30 pm, 7.45 Looper English: Directed by Rian Johnson the film is based on time travel. When people want to kill someone they send the person 30 years into the past where a gunman is waiting to kill. Joe leads a comfortable and luxurious life until Joe’s future self is sent for assassination. The movie stars Joseph Gordon Levitt, Bruce Wiliis, Emily Blunt and Jeff Daniels in the lead. Q Cinemas, ITPL, Whitefield- 1.10 pm, 6.30 PVR, Kormangala- 10 am, 3.20pm, 7.40, 10 Kalaya Tasmai Namaha Kannada:
Directed by Chandrashekhar Srivastava this crime drama stars Yogesh and debutant Madhubala in the lead role. The film is about a supari killer played by Yogesh and his love interest played by Madhubala. PVR, Kormangala- 10.05 am, 3.30 pm, 6.25 Sri Krishna theatre-11.30 am, 2.30 pm, 6.15, 9. 30 Navarang theatre, Rajajinagar- 10 am, 10 pm Gopalan Cinemas, RR Nagar- 10 am, 4 pm Gopalan Cinemas, Bannerghatta Road - 10 am, 3 pm Gopalan Cinemas, Mysore Road - 10 am, 4 pm INOX, Malleswaram 10.05 am, 3.45 pm Bharathi Theatre - 10.30 am, 1.30, 4.30, 7.30 pm Srinivas Theatre - 11.30 am, 2.30 pm Taken 2 English: Sequel to the 2008 Taken, the focus now shifts to Bryan Mills played by Liam Neeson, who is targeted by a vengeance seeking criminal. As the story unfolds, Bryan is seen facing many challenges to protect his family from the clutches of the criminal. Directed by Olivier Megaton, the film stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace and Famke Jennesson in lead roles. Q Cinemas, ITPL, Whitefield12.50pm, 3, 8.20 PVR, Kormangala- 10 am, 2 pm, 6, 10 Lakshmi theatre, Tavareker- 12.50 pm, 3, 8.20
martial arts
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DEMONSTRATED BY PRIYA CRASTA AND VINAY KUMAR. PHOTOS BY RAMESH HUNSUR. TRANSCRIBED BY RADHIKA P
Way of Budo Sensei Avinash Subramanyam on how to live without complaining
A fit person doesn’t crib f you are fit in the true sense, you understand how you contribute to a situation. When the manager shouts at you, take a breath and ask: ‘If I were him, how would I react? Am I at fault, in however small a way? Is pressure from his bosses making him aggressive? Is cut-throat competition driving him crazy? And if I have chosen my job for what it pays, shouldn’t I complain less about what comes my way?’ In most situations, it may be
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good to accept criticism and challenge yourself to perform better. Still, if you feel wronged, move out, for finally, what is more worthwhile: health and happiness, or work and pay? If you are extremely unhappy at work, the emotion could spill over into your family life as well. A sound mind believes. Have faith in overcoming obstacles that come your way. We might not be able to control our physical or financial health. But faith in overcoming problems can work mira-
cles. Faith moves mountains, they say, but it doesn’t come easy; we need to truly believe and dare to believe. Likewise, if you fear and think sickness and death, they follow. If thought created the universe, it can cause sickness, too. Whether in body or mind, be flexible, not rigid, for rigidity is brittle and breaks easily. Do not follow severe exercise or diet regimes, for when you slip, you are anxious. If the regime does not allow you to do things you love, it causes negativity, that in
turn is projected on to others. Be cool, and love and enjoy what you do. Such positivity of the spirit is true bliss. It remains undisturbed by the negativity that your life passes through; it spreads love and happiness. Finally, a life that embodies and practises fitness in body, mind and spirit slowly shapes a clean soul. To echo the protagonist Maka in the Japanese manga comic Soul Eater, “A sound soul dwells in a sound mind, a sound body and a sound spirit.”
SELF-DEFENCE FOR WOMEN What to do when you are sexually harassed on the street
Ruffian approaches you from behind.
Move away from him, putting your weight on your front foot. Raise your right arm simultaneously.
You’re busy otherwise, and don’t see him until he’s up close.
Strike the groin, lending your body weight to your swinging fist.
He takes advantage of your surprise and tries to feel you up.
He’s unlikely to recover, but keep your other fist ready, just in case.
memoirs
A two-faced client After a trial court acquits him in a sensational swimming pool murder case, arrogant DCP Somashekar starts behaving in strange ways The story so far Backed by a chief minister who plays badminton with him, DCP Somashekar terrorises Mysoreans. One day, after a run-in at the swimming pool of a palace hotel, he finds himself in the dock for murder. Hounded by the press and shunned by his colleagues, the helpless cop pleads with advocate Hanumantharaya to save him. any VIPs from Somashekar’s Kuruba (shepherd) community contributed amounts ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 to help him tide over his crisis. I used to go to Mysore for the hearings. At other times, Somashekar followed me around in Bangalore. Whenever I sat leafing through his files, he brought me coffee in a flask, and lunch in a box. Somashekar’s case had attracted the attention of all of Karnataka. It seemed as though the entire police department was determined to send him to the gallows. The CoD had prepared a long list of witnesses. They had tried to recreate how Sathyadev had died, using a drawing of the swimming pool by an expert
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VIVEK ARUN
engineer. They were proud they had and on the other, he had accused left no room for Somashekar to Somashekar as the murderer at a press conference. This had harmed escape. I was drawn deeper and deeper Somashekar at first, but later came into the case without my being to his help. Uthappa’s account also went in aware of it. At one stage, I was more involved in it than even Somashekar’s favour. He had stated Somashekar. It had become a matter that Sathyadev had come running of prestige for me to win the case. I from the tennis court and jumped sorted through the list of 45 wit- into the pool head first, never to nesses produced by the CoD and felt come up again. I then proceeded to I could easily blow away 40 of them bring to the court’s notice the incoin a single breath. But five witnesses herence of the children’s stateappeared challenging: coach ments. They had spoken about Somashekar a full Uthappa, child-witmonth and a half nesses Elisa after the incident. I Andrews, Srikanth, Somashekar asked how they and Ajay, and Dr entered my could have kept Shenoy, who had room, wearing such a terrifying conducted the postincident a secret mortem. The case shorts and a for such a long depended entirely T-shirt, and period of time. on them. blew smoke in The workers The CoD invesmy face, saying, had used 20-foottigation was high on long brushes to quantity, but lacking ‘Hello, CHH!’ retrieve Sathyadev’s in quality. They had body. They had built a high building on a weak foundation. If struck at secured the body on the sharp tips the right point, the edifice was sure of a brush, and heaved it up along to collapse. I noticed that the prose- the ladder. At that point, his neck cution had not paid enough atten- had slid up the ladder’s metal sides. tion to the initial statement by Dr Shenoy’s post-mortem report had said the death was caused by Uthappa to the Nazarbad police. Police Commissioner Surat damage to the blood vessels on the Prasad had formed a secret commit- left of Sathyadev’s neck. I suggested tee and obtained a report about the to the court the possibility of role of Somashekar in the death of Sathyadev being alive when poked Sathyadev. It had said Somashekar by the brushes, and dying while had not played any part in the being pulled up the ladder. The map of the pool did not death. On the one hand, he had sent the secret report to the government, contain pictures of the ladder and
crime folio
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Fabled ranconteur and Bangalore’s top-notch criminal lawyer brings you moving, sensational and bizarre stories from 40 years of his practice
C H HANUMANTHARAYA
the brushes. I argued that the prosecution had left them out deliberately. I filed an application requesting inspection of the spot by the judge. The prosecution objected. But the judge visited the spot, complying with my request. This trial was conducted before the Second Additional Sessions Judge K L Anantharaman. By the time the case reached the argument stage, he had been promoted, and a new judge, Javed Rahim, had arrived in his place. I petitioned that the case be tried before Anatharaman, as he had studied all details. Judge Rahim ordered that Somashekar pay costs of Rs 3,000 for wasting the court’s time. I questioned this order in the High Court. It upheld my contention and ordered that the money be returned. The prosecution argued for 15 days. I took 19. Anantharaman acquitted Somashekar in November that year. On the day of judgment, about 10,000 people had gathered outside the court. When the police heard the news of his acquittal, they were sour. Somashekar’s suspension was revoked. He was posted as superintendent of police in the fingerprints
memoirs bureau, with its office in the Cauvery Bhavan complex. On the day he returned to work, he came with sweets and a bouquet to my office, and bent to touch my feet. I stopped him, and patted him on his back. Somashekar’s behaviour changed dramatically within a few days of his resuming work. One evening, he entered my room, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, and blew smoke in my face, greeting me with, “Hello, CHH.” I was dumbfounded. I spoke politely and saw him off. Instead of getting angry, I was worried. His humility and politeness had vanished. My knowledge of psychology, which I study in the course of my practice, suggested he had a split personality. Within days, I heard he had been admitted to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. It seems he went around suspecting everyone, throwing violent tantrums, and sobbing. He had started speaking to himself and arguing with himself. His wife Shamantakamani had got him admitted in the hospital with the help of her relatives. I was sorry to hear the news. I wondered if Somashekar was schizophrenic. I thought I should look him up at the hospital. One morning, Somashekar jumped into a van transporting bouquets to
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I wasn’t convinced. A police acquainBangalore, and escaped from the hospital. He hopped off near his house and rang tance told me, to my shock, the truth the bell. It was 4 am. Shamantakamani about his arrears. Somashekar had been peered out, wondering who it might be at taking home his salary every month withthat hour. She saw Somashekar, clad in out fail, even during his suspension. I was disgusted with myself for hospital clothes. He believing his lies. I had offered her a bouquet, been wrong in thinking grinning widely. Somashekhar he was a proud man who Shamantakamani would suspect wouldn’t beg for his shrieked in horror and everyone, throw salary until his honour called the police and the tantrums, and cry. was restored. It is madhospital. The police ness to assess a man on escorted him back to the I wondered the basis of his empty hospital. if he was words and manners. It Somashekar had schizophrenic was a lesson to me that not paid me any fees: he loudness was the trait of a had forgotten his hollow personality. promise. He had not In the meantime, the government uttered a single word about this, even after resuming duty. I heard he had been had gone in appeal to the High Court. discharged from hospital on the recom- Somashekar turned up at my office. All mendation of a psychiatrist. his insolence had vanished. He stood like Shamantakamani had left him and a pet dog wagging its tail. I was not applied for a divorce. Somashekar came to moved. I asked seriously: “I am told no me carrying the divorce papers. I told him, arrears are due to you?” His eyes welled “You have not paid me my fees for your up. “Sir, please forgive me. I lied to you earlier case.” He hesitated, and then because I was in a financial crisis. Now drawled, “No, no. I haven’t received my that I have joined duty again, I will somesalary arrears. As soon as I get the money, how pay your fees,” he said. His arrogance and humility, bullying I will bring everything and place it at your feet. You can keep however much you and whining, insolence and joking, bravery and cowardice appeared before my want and give me the rest.”
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eyes one after the other. I felt drained. I also felt pity. I agreed to take up the case. One day, Somashekar had gone to the family court to attend his divorce case. Shamantakamani’s maternal uncle Krishnaswamy, who had helped him when he first landed in trouble, was her advocate. Somashekar assaulted him in an open court. The lawyers went to Krishnaswamy’s help, and gave Somashekar a thrashing. An inert, bleeding Somashekar was taken to hospital on a stretcher. After this incident, many lawyerfriends told me to stop supporting Somashekar. I was linked to him because of my sense of pity. But the pressure of my lawyer friends severed that link. Later, he came to my office several times, begging for help. I sent him back without any hesitation. My junior Basavaraj once came to plead on his behalf. I saw Somashekar standing outside with a pathetic expression. I was afraid I would give in, and hurried away. I ordered Basavaraj loudly to send him away. The High Court convicted Somashekar. He appealed to the Supreme Court. He breathed his last when the case was in progress. Third and final part (Translated by Indira Udupa)
T I M E P A SS 1st Cross
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Talk’s weekly crossword for Bangaloreans who know their way about town of Cauvery water (1,1,7) 17 Racked busted by the Mangalore police recently (6) 18 ____ Lake: Picnic spot north east of the city. (6) 19 Number of districts in our state (6)
5
7 8 10
1
3 4
DOWN Road in the news recently on account of a 3 year old boy being run over by a JCB (8) ____ Bank of India: A gang looted their van and made off with Rs 65 lakh (5) International school on Bellary road (8)
Last week’s solution Across: 1 Deve Gowda, 4 Blood transfusion, 8 Lumbini, 10 B Vijaya, 12 Kothanur, 13 Garden, 14 Hyder Ali, 15 Galaxy, 17 Heart, 18 Chowdiah.
2 6
9 11
Across Street home to Mainland China and many other restaurants (6) Advocate who has filed a PIL against heavy vehicles plying in Bandipur (1,1,5) One of Bangalore's railway stations (10) Old name for a popular Katti roll
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joint in Indiranagar (7) 14 Peace festival organized by the Bangalore Mizo Association (7,3) 15 Dynasty which ruled the area around Bangalore in the 11th century (5) 16 External affairs minister who has urged the PM to explore the possibility of stopping further release
Down: 2 Wonderla, 3 Waste, 4 BJP, 5 Opus, 6 Ravishankar, 7 Kaif, 9 Malnad, 11 Charcoal, 16 Yash.
12 13 16
____ power consumers in the city will face six hour power cuts for the next few weeks (10) _____ Murthy: Our mayor (1,9) Area home to the IAF's new information and cyber warfare school (9) Kaggaladu Herony is in this Karnataka district (6) Essential service which was impacted during a recent bandh (9) Cinema in the Banashankari area (7) Pub for rockers at MG Road that closed down (4)
Prof Good Sense When I met my dream girl, I was the happiest soul on this planet. But we broke up for some silly reason. She stopped talking to me for some time. She also made it clear that she was not interested in any deep relationship with me but wouldn’t mind flirting. What should I do ?! Jayant, Michaelpalya
Be calm. Watch T20. Take it easy and spend some time thinking. It is possible she wants to take her time before gets into a serious commitment. Given this situation, if you still think she’s your ‘dream girl,’ go ahead and nurture the relationship in an objective manner. Look for reciprocity signs but don’t be disappointed if she sticks to her position. Don’t forget, whatever happens happens for the best. Prof M Sreedhara Murthy teaches psychology at NMKRV First Grade College. He is also a well-known photographer. Mail queries to prof@talkmag.in
T I M E P A SS
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It’s all about motion My friend (let’s call him S) is an avid photographer, and though an amateur, has won many awards pursuing his hobby. His knowledge of cameras and photography equipment, acquired over decades, too is rather impressive. Since he and his work are fairly well-known, he regularly attracts beginners claiming that they want to learn the art, most of them techies who pursue their ‘passion’ on weekends. Once it so happened that when S was chatting with a bunch of us friends, one of these wannabes dropped in, proudly displaying his expensive camera and accessories. He proclaimed that the entire imported kit had cost him nothing less than five lakh rupees. While it got all our attention, we were startled when we heard him confess to S that he didn't really know how to operate it. “Sir, can you tell me in simple terms what exactly does this camera do that others can't?” Pat came S’s reply, with a straight face, “It is best for capturing loose motion in slow motion.” Manjunath, Jayanagar Share the humour in your life, multiply the fun! Keep those anecdotes coming to: features@talkmag.in
talk|18 oct 2012|talkmag.in
Small boss goes Bigg Looks like a spell in jail has given ‘firebrand’ cartoonist Aseem Trivedi a taste for confinement. Trivedi has appeared in reality show Bigg Boss, because it will, ahem, help him gather more support in his fight against corruption. “I want to reach out to people... I want to spread the message of fighting against corruption through the show. There will be celebrities on the show and I hope to convince them to be a part of this anti-corruption movement,” Trivedi said, before entering the Bigg Boss house. The 25-year-old was arrested in September this year for allegedly depicting national
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We’re Luvin’ it symbols in a poor light in his cartoons. He was later granted bail. Rumour has it that Trivedi’s histrionic talents—well in evidence at the time of his made-for-TV arrest—caught the eye of Bigg Boss executives, who approached him immediately after he was released.
Admit it—you secretly long to be back in a world filled with fantastic creatures, mythic heroes and beautiful maidens who harbour terrible secrets. That is, the world of Amar Chitra Katha. The homegrown comic giant is now rich enough to do a Walt Disney: ACK’s first full-length animated feature, Sons of Ram, will be in the theatres in early November. Written and directed by Kushal Ruia, creative head of animation at ACK, the story is “different from the conventional LuvKush stories. They are not deities in the film, but regular people like us.” Regular people who enjoy more adventure in a day than us cubicle warriors manage in a lifetime, may we add?
Creepy product of the year If you are wary of those zombies who ‘like’ everything on Facebook, here’s more bad news. A US designer has unveiled a jacket that hugs the wearer every time they receive a ‘like’ on their Facebook page. Designed by Massachussetts Institute of Technology student Melissa Chow, the ‘Like-AHug’ is a ‘wearable social media vest’ that allows for hugs to be given via Facebook, thus threatening
to “bring you closer” to social media pals. Air pockets inside the jacket inflate when the wearer’s mobile phone sends a signal that a page has been liked. According to Miss Chow, it allows us to ‘feel the warmth, encouragement, support, or love that we feel when we receive hugs.’ Hugs can also be sent back to the original sender by squeezing the vest and deflating it. Now, we all know Facebook is full of lonely people who don’t have any real friends, but this?