Talk Mag Jan 17, 2013 by Suhas Shankarappa

the intelligent bangalorean’s must-read weekly

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SATISH ACHARYA

Volume 1 | Issue 23 | January 17, 2013 | Rs 10

Most people know SR Hiremath as the activist who sent mining don Janardhana Reddy to jail. Basu Megalkeri brings you the stirring, untold story of how he gave up the plush comforts of corporate America to become India’s quiet eco warrior 12-15

GIANT KILLER REAL ESTATE How owners and tenants are coping with a changing retailscape 16

AUTHORSPEAK What bothers Suketu Mehta about his home state Gujarat 18

MAKEOVER At 54, Lucky Ali reinvents himself for another shot at pop fame 23

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

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Story on Facebook entreprenuers inspires new business folk I have become a regular reader of Talk of late, and thoroughly enjoy going through the magazine. I liked your recent article on people who use Facebook as a business platform (We Like Facebook startups, Issue 21). I’m an engineer turned designer who specialises in glass paintings, mural and handpainted articles. I have been using Facebook to showcase my creations, and find it a useful and inexpensive medium to reach my customers. So, as a ‘Facebook entrepreneur,’ I felt it was a good gesture on your part to encourage people like us. I expect to see more such articles on the budding entrepreneurs of Bangalore. Swapna via email

More power to Talk I don't read magazines that lack original stuff. I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up a copy of Talk recently and found the content presented in a simple and uncluttered way. I found that the varied subjects, from current affairs to lifestyle to sports and food, were wellresearched and read-worthy. 'Ayyotoons' was great fun with its comic take on a wellknown personality. And now, for a suggestion: I would like to see articles on weekend getaways, and also less known places around Bangalore (not the regular touristy spots). Tanushree Nair via mail

Impressive story on nanotech I am an engineering student, and my mother is a subscriber to Talk. I like the variety you serve every week, and there is a clamour for the paper the moment it lands in our inbox. My 13-year-old sister and my mother compete with me in reading Talk first. The cover story on the progress of nanotechnology research in Bangalore was impressive: it gives us a glimpse of what is happening at our research centres. My sister was impressed with the idea of a car that repairs itself, but I was happy to know about the strides our scientists are making in medicine. Talk also updates me on the arts and trends in the city in a simple style. My mother, a lawyer herself, loves CH Hanumantharaya’s memoirs. This is just to say thank you. I enjoy the magazine very much. Shravanti Mokashi Uttarahalli Write to letters@talkmag.in

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE TEAM

SR Ramakrishna Editor Sridhar Chari Consulting Editor Prashanth GN Senior Editor Sajai Jose Chief Copy Editor Savie Karnel Principal Correspondent Basu Megalkeri Principal Correspondent 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 Mithun Sudhakar Asst Manager - Sales Kishore Kumar N Head - Circulation Vinayadathan KV Area Manager - Trade Yadhu Kalyani Sr Executive - Corporate Sales Lokesh KN 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: 08040926658. © All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited.

sankranti special

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Where the sun stops to pay respects RAMESH HUNSUR

The Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple is a huge draw for devotees during Sankranti; it fascinates not just by its history, which dates back to the Puranas, but also with its brilliant architecture

SAVIE KARNEL savie.karnel@talkmag.in

hen you take the narrow lanes t h r o u g h Gavipuram, you encounter rickety cycles, shops selling banana leaves, men in panches sitting around chatting, women with flowers walking to the temple. It leaves you wondering if you have lost your way and left Bangalore miles behind. There’s only the familiar BBMP sign boards to tell you that you are still in the IT city. You then wonder if time has stopped still in these parts. Well, time does have a special preference for this locality. The Puranic temple where, according to belief, Rishi Gautama used to say his daily prayers, is an architectural marvel. On Sankranti day every year, the rays of the setting sun make their way through the cave temple to pass through the horns of the Nandi (bull) and fall on the Shivalinga at the Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple. The Sankramana, as the phenomenon is called, lasts a couple of minutes when the sun enters the zodiac Capricorn. This year, the Sankramana will last about two minutes, between 5.05 pm to 5.13 pm. The temple’s architecture might leave you wondering about the precision with which the structure was designed and built, but for devotees, that’s hardly the point. They believe it simply means that the sun pauses in its

DESIGN MARVEL The temple’s inner sanctum is designed with such precision that during barely two minutes-long the Sankramana, the sun’s rays fall on the Shivalinga

track to pay respects to Lord Shiva. “Surya touches the feet of the Lord before moving north,” says M Ventabarao Sindhey, who proudly adds that he belongs to the neighbourhood and is the secretary of the temple’s Chariot Festival Committee. “Have you noticed? The path of the sun is not in a direct straight line. It comes through a window on the side of the temple’s compound walls, enters through two smaller windows and then passes through the horns of the Nandi and falls at the feet of the Lord. The rays take a somewhat zig-zag route,” he explains. You might still insist that it’s the architecture that does it, but that would hardly make a dent. “It's a miracle,” Sindhey declares, and goes on to explain that mere architecture cannot guarantee the occurrence year after year without fail. Sindhey recalls the Sankranti four years ago. “It was raining heavily and dark clouds filled the sky. We looked up and wondered if the sun would show. The chief priest calmly said the sun wouldn’t fail to pay his tribute to Shiva. As he said, at about 2 in the noon, the rains stopped. Before 5 pm, the

skies cleared up and the rays appeared on the linga at the specified time,” he recalls, beaming. Sindhey has lived his entire life in this ‘village’ (as he prefers to call it). “There hasn't been a single year when the miracle hasn't occurred,” he says. It is believed that each temple guarantees the fulfillment of a special kind of boon. While praying at some temples guarantees wealth, others might bless you with an offspring. But the deity at Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple makes no such discrimination, and is expected to guarantee quick fulfillment, irrespective of the kind of blessing asked for. “If you need anything urgently, you can pray at this temple and your prayers will be answered without any delay,” says the chief priest N Somasundar Dixit. He claims that former chief ministers Ramakrishna Hegde, Gundu Rao and Deve Gowda all came to the temple when they needed something quickly. “You see, Deve Gowda became the chief minister and very soon the prime minister. It all happened after he visited this temple,” he says. The devotion of leaders to the temple dates back to the time

editor talk On our cover this time is a remarkable life. At 67, SR Hiremath is a tireless fighter who has quietly exposed some of the biggest scandals in the history of India. If the robber-barons of Bellary are in jail today, it is because Hiremath carefully gathered evidence over many years—with help from a committed army of volunteers—to send them there. Born into a poor family, and yet excelling at school, the brilliant Hiremath completed a mechanical engineering course and went abroad to work and study further. He spent his early professional years in the US, working in banking and finance, before he returned to northern Karnataka with an American wife who had taken the name of Shyamala. Here he began working with the rural poor. With no desire for political power or glory, Hiremath has demonstrated the strength of ordinary citizens who work together, besides the strength of the law as it already exists. Basu Megalkeri spent many days pursuing this story, meeting Hiremath at his Majestic office, and chatting with him over the phone, with the signal breaking every now and then, as the activist travelled second class on a late-night train to Delhi. In an age of cynicism, when NRI heroes such as Rajat Gupta routinely fall from their pedestals, here is a story of unimpeachable integrity and stirring idealism. Hiremath ranks among the greatest of contemporary activists, alongside Chandiprasad Bhat, Medha Patkar and Binayak Sen. We also bring you reports about the changing fortunes in this city’s real estate, and a task force trying to correct how we in the media report suicides. Also, don’t forget to catch the interview with writer Suketu Mehta. His book Maximum City is a much-acclaimed portrait of Mumbai, but he talks to Prashanth GN about what bothers him about his native Gujarat. Happy Sankranti! SR Ramakrishna ram@talkmag.in

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of Bangalore’s founder Kempegowda, 500 years ago. The area was still under the Vijayanagar Empire when, Kempegowda, a local chieftain, decided to mint coins with his name on them. This irked the emperor Ramaraya, who summoned Kempegowda to his capital and imprisoned him. After spending five long years in prison, Kempegowda then prayed to Shiva and promised to renovate the Gavi Gangadhareshwara and Shivaganga temples if he was released. Unexpectedly, Ramaraya agreed to free Kempegowda if he paid a hefty ransom. Once he was free, Kempegowda kept his promise, or so the story goes. The temple was originally just the natural cave with the main deity and the water stream. In the 9th century, the monolithic cave was carved to form a temple. The 14 Vijayanagar style pillars were added later. The power of the temple is said to come from Shakti, the other half of Shiva. Usually the image of the God’s consort is on the left side. Here, the idols of Durga and Parvati are on the right. “This makes the temple a Shakti sthana, where the goddess’s power is dominant,” explains Dixit. A constantly flowing thin stream of water on the right of the Shivalinga gives

How to get there

Gavipuram is well-connected by bus from City Market and Kempegowda Bus Station. The temple is a 10minute walk from Ramakrishna Ashram in Basavangudi. If you are visiting the Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple, you could club it with visits to the ancient Dodda Ganesha temple and Ramakrishna Ashram, all within walking distance. The lovely Hanuman temple on a hillock nearby gives the neighbourhood its name: Hanumanthanagar.

ANCIENT HERITAGE The Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple is mentioned in the Puranas

the deity his name, Gangadhareshwara. “It means the lord of the Ganga. Here, Ganga is the Vrushabavati River. Gavi is cave in Kannada, from which the temple gets the name Gavi Gangadhareshwara, the Lord of Ganga in the cave,” Dixit says. The South-facing direction of the temple also makes it unique. “Shivalingas face the East, West and North. But they never face the South. Here, the temple faces the South and the rays of the sun set-

ting in the West enter the shrine,” says Dixit. This also gives the deity the name of Dakshinamurti. This form of Shiva is said to represent him as the giver of wisdom and all forms of knowledge. Dakshinamurti is believed to have imparted the essence of the four vedas to the sages. Perhaps, Dixit reasons, this is why the ancient rishis chose this cave for their daily worship. The temple is a protected monument

under the muzrai department. The festival was a dull affair when the department organised it, so the people of Gavipuram formed a committee to revive it. The committee has collected Rs 60 lakh through memberships, which is in a fixed deposit. With the interest of Rs 6 lakh, it celebrates Sankranti and the car festival. This year the committee plans to set up four TV screens outside the temple on Sankranti to help people witness the illumination of the Shivalinga. “Only 50 people, including VVIPs, will be let inside at that time. The rest can watch it on TV screens,” he says.

fun lines

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political diary

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A poet and 'party hopper' A published poet, KH Srinivas is returning to politics through Yeddyurappa's Karnataka Janata Party KH Srinivas is not only one of Karnataka's most experienced politicians, but also one who has made a name for himself in cultural and literary circles as well. He has brought out two anthologies of his poems, Kangodu Mane, and Valasonne Horasonne. He has also translated JeanPaul Sartre's book Les Mots (Words) into Kannada. While in active politics, he became close to former chief ministers Devaraj Urs, Ramakrishna Hegde, JH Patel, S Bangarappa, SM Krishna and Yeddyurappa. He was also good friends with litterateurs UR

She is doing her best to get herself expelled from the BJP, but that is not happening so easily.

But for all that experience, he never rose beyond being a minister, that too way back in 1967. Says a confidante: "He is a brilliant KH Srinivas politician. With his and became the political intelligence and advisor to the then chief experience, he could have become the chief minister. minister Devaraj Urs. When Urs lost power in 1980, he But he lacks leadership deserted him and joined qualities. He has no selfconfidence and is afraid to hands with the powerful Gundu Rao. take risks." In 1967, he contested on a From then on, Srinivas has been frequently hopping Socialist Party ticket from parties. In his political Sagar constituency in career spanning 45 years, Shimoga district. He later he has been in the Socialist joined the Congress(I)

Party, Congress, Janata Dal, Karnataka Congress Party, and the BJP. He is now in the newly formed KJP, founded by Yeddyurappa, as its vice-president. "I had lost touch with politics and lost contact with people. I was very happy with the welcome I received in the KJP,” he is now saying.

Wooing the Muslim vote Deve Gowda's party calls itself secular, but in reality favours only the Vokkaligas. Its strength is restricted to the Old Mysore region. Last year, when the party conducted its Muslim rally in Bangalore, it was attended by 5,000 people who looked like Muslims. The very next day, Abdul Azeem of the very same party spilled the beans: “Deve Gowda made 5,000 people wear skull caps and called them Muslims to fake the support of the minority community!”

With elections approaching, politicians from across parties have suddenly taken a fancy for skull caps. And all major parties have held rallies for Muslims. The JD(S) actually kicked things off with a rally in July last year. This was followed with one by Yeddyurappa's new party, the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP), in November. The New Year started with the Congress and BSR Congress holding rallies for Muslims on the same day (Jan 6) in different places, the Congress in Gulburga and the BSR in Davanagere.

According to the 2011 census, the Muslim population is 12.75 per cent of the total population in the state. This is about 78 lakh people, a number large enough to play an important role. But this vote bank that politicians are wooing is divided. They do not have a strong leader representing them. They are also socially, educationally and economically backward. The politicians take advantage of them. The community is sceptical of all the attention, and they feel that they are embraced during elections only to be abandoned later.

The Shobha dilemma Everyone is in a dilemma about Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje, including apparently, herself.

Ananthamurty and P Lankesh.

Deve Gowda at a Muslim conference organised by JD(S) at Palace Grounds last year

While Yeddyurappa was in power, he stuck to the BJP's Hindutva ideals. He made no Muslim a cabinet minister, with the exception of Mumtaz Ali Khan, who got the Haj and Wakf Board portfolio. Now, after launching the KJP, he is looking for ways to overthrow Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar. He has joined hands with Jabbar Khan of Hubli, and held a rally in Hubli. When mining lord Janardhan Reddy’s right hand man BS Sriramulu was in power, he was implicated in illegal mining. After forming his own party, the BSR Congress, he has been sporting a skull cap. He held a Muslim rally in Davanagere recently.

At a programme organised by the energy department last week, Shobha announced it would be her last programme as a minister. She also met all the leaders in her constituency, Yeshwanthpur. She discussed the coming elections with them. She said she would contest either from Yeshwanthpur or Rajajinagar. Neither the BJP nor old colleague BS Yeddyurappa made any comment. A BJP leader had this take on the situation. When Yeddyurappa was the chief minister he didn't let any woman become the cabinet minister expect his loyalist Shobha. He even curbed the prospects of Shakuntala Shetty, who might have become a minister. Shobha too wanted to be the only woman minister in the cabinet and did not let Yeddyurappa appoint anyone else. Now, since Yeddyurappa is out of the BJP, his opponents in the party have ostracized her. “If she leaves the BJP, her political career will be at stake. If she doesn’t leave, people will call her disloyal. She is in a fix,” he said. The BJP is in a dilemma. They cannot oust her for fear of being called anti-woman. They don’t want this label with elections around the corner. If they keep quiet, Shobha will take advantage. “She has already been misusing her position as an energy minister and generating funds for Yeddyurappa's party,” he alleges. That is something even other ministers are busy doing, if what we hear is true.

Shobha Karandlaje

BASU MEGALKERI

mediawatch

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Death be not proud Unthinking media portrayal of suicides triggers copycat attempts, says a task force looking at training journalists MARGOT COHEN r Ashok Pai has a lot on his mind. Late last year, the 67-year-old Shimoga native was named to lead Karnataka’s Mental Health Task Force, a new advisory body slated to tackle a variety of complex issues, including a shortfall in trained psychiatrists and a network of de-addiction clinics run by allegedly incompetent and unqualified practitioners. But in an interview with Talk, Dr Pai reserved his most scathing remarks for the manner in which local journalists—both print and TV—handle cases of suicide. “Totally insensitive, non-analytical, full of knee-jerk reactions,” said the veteran psychiatrist. “The right perspective on suicide is not projected.” A fatal attraction to bad news is not the only problem, he insisted. Pai and other prominent mental health professionals in Karnataka perceive a disturbing media habit to simplify cases based on a few unreliable details spoon-fed by police. The result: a higher risk of copycat attempts, they maintain. These reports “are read or watched by millions of people at different levels of vulnerability, in different emotional states,” observed Dr G Gururaj, a Bangalore-based psychiatrist who helped draft the media guidelines issued more than a decade ago by the World Health Organisation

What the media must avoid  Don't publish

photographs or details of suicide notes.  Don't report specific

details of the method used.  Don't give simplistic

 Don't glorify or

sensationalise suicide.  Don't use religious or

cultural stereotypes.  Don't depict suicide as

a valid method of coping or protest.

reasons. Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Media Professionals. World Health Organisation, 2000

(WHO). The message must go out that “suicide is not a solution to problems,” he said. The stakes are high. Reporters and editors and TV executives tend to forget that for each completed suicide recorded by the National Crime Records Bureau, there are an estimated 10 to 20 cases of attempted suicide, according to experts at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans). In the case of Karnataka, that would mean that anywhere between 1.26 lakh and 2.52 lakh human beings attempted to end their own lives in 2011. It’s a sobering thought. Yet mere reflection is not enough. What the task force wants is change, without delay. So its first priority is to run a crash course for journalists in February, focused on the do's and don’ts of covering suicide cases. To be sure, much of the reactive coverage stems from the fact that India continues to treat suicide as a crime. It turns up on the police blotter, giving rise to the daily, corrosive drip-drip-drip of press bulletins on people who take their own lives for ostensibly simple reasons: a doomed love affair, a bad marriage, a heavy VICTIM TWICE A scene from the 2010 Hindi movie Peepli Live, which satirises the media’s callous and sensational approach to farmer suicides debt, a failed exam. That makes it easy for readers and viewers to identi- ple with suicidal ideas to think of vious Law Commission recommenfy with such cases, and think, “Hey, I their actions as some sort of weapon dation to decriminalise suicide. Not everyone is waiting for have the same problem. Why not of the weak. Perceiving themselves as powerless to fight back in life, they action in Delhi. In Kerala, for examchoose the same solution?” Yet psychiatrists emphasise that can be consumed by the idea of pun- ple, the Indian Medical Association ishing their so- ran two successful workshops for such bulletins ignore called persecutors journalists in Cochin and Kozhikode the fact that suicide is Case details are early last year. with their death. almost always a result often spoon-fed Dr CJ John, chief psychiatrist of And the press of multiple factors. the Medical Trust Hospital in often plays along Substance abuse, to the media by with such notions. Ernakulum, was particularly pleased depression, domestic the police In many cases of with a series run by the Malayalam violence and biologiyouth suicide, for daily Mathrubhumi, geared to educatcal factors may contribute to a complicated picture that example, “it’s basically reportage that ing farmers on how to handle emothe police has neither the time nor the tries to nail somebody or another. Fix tional distress, debt, and other issues. The Kerala workshops also laid the teacher, fix the principal,” willingness to investigate. Moreover, the criminalisation of observed Sugata Srinivasaraju, editor- out the dangers of gory, sensationsuicide often encourages family in-chief of Vijaya Karnataka, the alised coverage of so-called family members or neighbours to provide mass-circulation Kannada daily. In suicides, in which parents took a limited or inaccurate accounts, which reality, however, the act can deal a far decision to kill their children and are then lapped up by reporters. more severe blow to the loved ones of subsequently killed themselves. Such coverage “very clearly” can produce a “False information and declarations the deceased. The February workshop promis- ripple effect, John said. are given for official purposes, buryNo one suggests that a single ing the real issues,” says a Nimhans es to be a particularly timely opportureport, put out after sessions with nity for reporters to shake free of the workshop can instantly cure such ills. media and mental health profession- shackles of police domination of sui- But if Pai gets his way, the new Task cide coverage. The national legisla- Force will send a clear message that als in 2003 and 2006. The crime-and-punishment ture is due to consider a new Mental distorted coverage of suicide is no approach also encourages some peo- Health Care Bill, which adopts a pre- longer acceptable.

national icon

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A mighty heart As the world prepares to celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversay, his vision remains relevant today, though problematic for some. A personal reflection on a unique personality and his powerful message

SRIDHAR K CHARI sridhar.chari@talkmag.in

eing a Swami Vivekananda fan today can be problematic; it has been so for some time. I remember sitting in the Bangalore Press Club 15 years ago with a journalism colleague, enthusing about the man who primarily preached a gospel of strength and sound work ethics—the man who famously demanded “muscles of iron and nerves of steel” and declared that “Infinite strength is religion and God,” words which thundered off our school textbooks and never quite left the mind. I noted then the mmmm-youare-one-of-those look on this colleague’s face. The next thing I knew, this gent was complain-

B TRAVELLING TRIBUTE (Below) The Indian Railway’s mobile museum dedicated to Swami Vivekananda

ing to a friend of mine that I harboured ‘Hindutva’ sensibilities. Over the years, there have been some fashionable negative reassessments of Vivekananda in ostensibly progressive mainstream discourse, especially during the rise of the BJP, whose leaders sought to appropriate the man and his message. Even before that, however, in an India eager to make its way forward, “and become a developed country,” the Swami's message faded into the background, in spite of being perfectly in alignment, in word and spirit, with the aspirations of the young and energetic. After all, for all his cut and thrust, he never said, “Awake, arise, and go get that green card!” though it is doubtful if he would have actually been against it. Of course there is a natural resistance to

what our textbooks preach, and unless we discover the magic ourselves, and indeed there are many who did, it is easy to forget him in the noise and clamour around us. Even as a great votary of Vedantic Hinduism, it was his understanding of a strong mind in a strong body that informed his teachings. He wrote: “First of all, our young men must be strong. Religion will come afterwards... you will be nearer to heaven through football than through the study of the Gita... You will understand the Gita better with your biceps, your muscles, a little stronger." The masculine language has also posed problems to those easily thrown off by imagined sub-

texts. The Hindu recently carried an article on “taking the aggression out of masculinity” by one Sanjay Srivastava, with a misguided reference to Vivekananda, evoking a storm of protests. This included an angry rejoinder by Prema Nandakumar, a scholar of Indian literature, who pointed out that “it was Swami Vivekananda who gave us back our dignity as women, our education, our strength of purpose... inspired by him, a host of social reformers in India opened a new, glorious page for Indian women.” Another problem for some people is Vivekananda’s ardent elucidation and promotion of Hinduism and the Sanskrit scriptures. Even within the fold, his stress on advaita (nondualism) created another kind of misappropriation by those who wanted only to advance one sectarian version of Hinduism. Again a travesty, as this was a man who fulminated against sectarianism, who said that “be sure, these quarrels are entirely wrong; they are condemned by our scriptures,” and that “this religion of ours admits of a mar-

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

vellous variation, an infinite amount of liberty to think and live our own lives.” For Sister Nivedita, nee Margaret Noble, one of Vivekananda’s earliest disciples, and one of many Western women (she was Irish) who fell in love with India's journey to rediscover itself in the first half of the 20th century, he was on par with the greatest religious figures, “a mighty heart.” She wrote: “What was it that the West heard in him, leading so many to hail and cherish his name as that of one of the greatest religious teachers of the world? He made no personal claim. He told no personal story... He made no attempt to popularise with strangers a single form or creed, whether of God or Guru. Rather, through him, the mighty torrent of Hinduism poured forth...” Ah, and so there is that other problem, in multi-religious India. Swami Vivekananda, while he wanted Hinduism to throw off its shackles and reclaim its rightful spaces, including the secular one, had only words of reverence and appreciation for the teachings of Jesus and Mohammed. He strongly resisted, however, any attempts to disparage Hinduism, or impose a “universal religion of the world.” Though he fought whatever social ills that had crept into Indian society, fundamen-

WEST MEETS EAST Vivekananda (centre) with other Indian delegates at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, United States, in 1893

tally, as Sister Nivedita put it, “to him, nothing Indian required apology.” But that is for scholars to quibble over. For many of us, the strength and power in his message, particular to young Indians, ring good and true. “Stand up, assert yourself, proclaim the God within you, do not deny Him. The way to do that is found in your own sacred books. Teach yourselves, teach everyone

his real nature, call upon the sleeping soul and see how it awakens. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything that is excellent will come....” Some of those questions were perhaps best addressed by Swami Vivekananda himself in the legendary speeches he gave in Chicago at the World Parliament of Religions on September 11, 1893. Chicago

will be celebrating his 150th birth anniversary in a way perhaps not given to any other city in the world. Even today, when you hear of his stunning opening — "Sisters and brothers of America"; of "the great wave of enthusiasm that went through the audience, who rose to their feet with shouts of applause, as if they had gone mad. Everyone was cheering, cheering, cheering", the hair stands on end. After he finished his short speech, there was another “tremendous ovation,” and the papers hailed him the next day. In subsequent speeches he laid out the tenets of Hinduism. But it was in that first speech that he spoke against “sectarianism, bigotry and its horrible descendent fanaticism, which have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often with human blood and sent whole nations to despair.” He hoped that the convention would spell “the death-knell of all fanaticism.” That has clearly not happened. That these evils persist would have distressed him, but spurred him on, “to stop not till the goal is reached.” The “might of the universe is within you,” he preached. There is little doubt that he felt that might within his own heart, and it resounded across the world.

Vivekananda's spell in Karnataka, and how it took him to ‘the last bit of Indian rock’ Seshadri Iyer, the prime minister of princely Mysore, invited Swami Vivekananda here. He then introduced him to the Mysore maharaja, who was amazed at the young monk's personality and insight.

"Many of us have studied much about religion, and yet what has it availed us? Here is this young man whose insight exceeds that of anyone I have ever known. It is simply wonderful," the dewan is quoted as saying. He introduced Vivekananda to Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar. The young monk's insight amazed the maharaja, who then

Anniversary events in Bangalore  Jan 12: Day long festival at Ramakrishna Math, Basavangudi with a flute recital, talks, a book exhibition, multimedia displays and quiz programmes

Vivekananda arrived in Bangalore at the invitation of Dewan Seshadri Iyer, who had heard of him, in 1892. In this city, Narendra, as Vivekananda was then called, discussed Vedanta with the dewan (prime minister of princely Mysore). An impressed Seshadri Iyer invited him to Mysore, the capital. Vivekananda accepted the invitation, and stayed at Niranjana Mutt. He even gave discourses in Sanskrit at the Sadvidya School.

Vivekananda was invited to Mysore by the princely state’s prime minister K Seshadri Iyer, who introduced him to Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar (right)

made him a state guest, and discussed spirituality with him. When the maharaja died in December 1894, Vivekananda was in the US. He wrote: "The maharaja of Mysore is dead--one of our greatest hopes." After about two weeks in Mysore, the maharaja provided Vivekananda a letter of introduction to the Dewan of Kochi and got him a train ticket to enable him to travel further South. From Bangalore, Vivekananda travelled to many places in Kerala. He reached Kanyakumari on foot on December 24, 1892.

At Kanyakumari, Vivekananda meditated on the "last bit of Indian rock", later named the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. From there he went to Rameswaram, Pondicherry and Madras. With money collected by his disciples and donated by the Rajas of Mysore, Ramnad, Khetri, and Dewas, Vivekananda left for Chicago on May 31, 1893. It was in Bombay, just before leaving for the US, that he assumed the name of Vivekananda, as suggested by the Maharaja of Khetri.

memorials. A Namma Metro station is called Swami Vivekananda Road. In fact, a sprawling ashram in Halasur provides a retreat to many monks from all over India. Basavangudi has a Vivekananda Square, and the adjoining Ramakrishna Ashram is a spiritual centre that attracts the devout. Its library and bookshop stock the works of many philosophers and spiritual leaders, including Vivekananda and his guru Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Bangalore remembers Vivekananda with many

(Swami Vivekananda: January 12, 1863 to July 4, 1902)

 Jan 11: Bangalore Little Theatre and Alliance Francais de Bangalore will be staging a play on the life of Vivekananda titled Finding Ananda, 7 pm at Alliance Francais. The play aims to introduce youth to Vivekananda's relevance in today's world.  Jan 12: Youth Day at HMT Grounds, Opposite RT Nagar Police Station. For details call Gopala Krishna Yashavanthapura (Coordinator) at 9845975665  Jan 15-18: Karnataka Pranta Vijaya Poorna Vijaya is organising prayer meets. For details,www.vivekananda kendra.org

nature trail

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

RAMESH HUNSUR

‘Birdwatching now is all about clicking pictures’ As birdwatchers in the city gear up for the annual Bangalore BirdRace, Sandra Fernandes meets Dr MB Krishna, passionate ornithologist and ecologist, who says technology can never be a substitute for painstaking observation

hen Dr M B Krishna walks into Koshy's every evening, there are greetings all around, followed by some chitchat and catching up, before he can settle down for a cup of filter coffee (no espresso, thank you). One of the best-known ornithologists and ecologists in the city, he's also been an ardent populariser of birdwatching. The online group he started now has hundreds of birdwatchers as its members, from all over the world. And yet, he is also slightly wary of the new tribe of camera-wielding weekend birdwatchers, and how technology is assuming more importance than

REAL TWEETS: Dr MB Krishna at his house in Basavangudi. His favourite blueheaded rock thrush

the birds themselves. Talk to Dr Krishna about birds, wildlife, the environment, and his eyes immediately light up, and he's more than happy to take you on a journey through Bangalore's natural habitats. Upset about the destruction of the city's bird habitats, he's naturally wistful about the Bangalore of 20 years ago, with its many public gardens and lakes and large parks. His own house in Basvanagudi is a good example of the traditional houses with huge gardens, rich in bird and animal life that once dotted the city before they were replaced by high rise apartments. As I query him about the changes in Bangalore's green cover and its impact on the bird population, he asks, "How many crows have you noticed since you got here?" None, I reply, suddenly conscious of the fact. "So now you know what exactly has happened to the birds in the city…" he says with a smile. Excerpts

from the conversation that followed:

Scientific and Industrial Research (had introduced competitive exams for fellowships for PhDs, and for me it was a logical next step in the academic path. That's how I turned a hobby into a formal involvement.

Unlike most people, you managed to develop your passion of bird watching into your profession. How did you pull it off? And how have things changed since then? MB Krishna: I started using the Which are the best spots in Bangalore British Library during my middle (apart from Lalbagh) for bird watching? school days and they had a children's The Hebbal and Madivala lakes would section which had books on nature, be good choices for beginners, as which got me hooked on birds and would Cubbon park and Nandi hills. wildlife. In high school, I came into The agricultural land, with a mixture contact with other birdwatchers in of cultivation, fallow land, intervening tree lines, and a Bangalore, all of whom little scrub intermixed were of course much with the hummocky older than me. But ‘Many bird country that we have is learning from seniors species have a great place for birds. was quite helpful and declined to In fact, one could look made me look at the for birds almost anybirds around me sys2 per cent’ where where there is tematically. Around greenery other than this time I got interested in the seasonal changes in the our concrete jungle (though some birdlife around me and started taking birds are found here too). Variety begets variety, and the weekly counts of birds at Lalbagh with a well defined sampling plan. I more such habitats one visits, the collected this data for many years, more kinds of birds one would spot. which helped me greatly later. By the Habitat wise, the lakes with the assotime I completed my masters in zool- ciated wetlands are great places to see ogy, the University Grants water and shore birds. Gardens and of Commission and the Council for course, the forests are logically the

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

next habitats by way of the number of species seen. Lakes and wetlands that take up just five percent of land in the Bangalore area, support some forty percent of our birdlife. Adding the gardens and forests, they comprise a fifth of the total area, and support some two-thirds of the bird species. Which species of migratory bird is your favourite among those that you have noticed and recorded in Bangalore? It is very hard to pick a favourite. Very, very hard indeed, since I don't have favourites. But if you asked me about spectacular colours, I would choose a Blueheaded Rock-Thrush, Monticola cinclorhynchus. In terms of abundance I would pick the Greenish Leaf-Warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides: it is such an active little bird! Have there been any drastic changes in the migration of bird species in the past ten years? Unlike humans, birds do not modify their habitat and are highly dependent on it for food, therefore degradation and loss of habitat has a big impact on the birdlife of an area. In Bangalore, we have lost our greenery, water bodies and wetlands to great extent. We have lost our lakes or their quality has deteriorated and shore lines

photographing birds, but hardly anybody sits and observes birds and their life today. It is by and large about clicking them: now What, according to you, is the best way to people focus more on the picture and do preserve the bird habitat in Bangalore? not observe what the birds are doing. Would a professional group help? Our empathy and sensitivity should not be Binoculars have been replaced by digital restricted just to the history and culture of cameras. Observation has been replaced by Bangalore, but also help us acknowledge composition of the picture. You also started the first email discussion group for birdwatchers in the state. Can you the urban system as a habitat for wildlife. We require more parks, more gardens with What's the nature of your work with corpotell us more about it? The response to the group has been quite shrubbery and lots of roadside trees. We rates like Robert Bosch, SAP Labs India and also require greener parks that Taj West End? What's your advice to institusteady since the time it was started will serve as a habitat for tions that want to create a 'green campus'? in December 1998. There are I just assist them and consult them on birds. We also need to premore than 2000 members till serve wetlands as bird habitats. improving the habitats within their camdate, ranging in age over The largest land owner is the gov- pus. Instead of just having a campus for some six decades! ernment and most of the people they can have a campus for birds. Overall, the memberresponsibility should be borne by Making a place nice green and beautiful ship has steadily them. Since they have huge man- does not mean it should also be made sterincreased. Since power, there is no need to have ile. It could very well support birds, Bangalore is an IT butterflies and other little wildlife that we any professional group. hub there are many have around us. It could be a better habitat people going not only for people but for wildlife too. Technology such as photograabroad from here phy and the internet is increasand coming here And finally, any 'do's and don'ts' for birdingly a part of bird watching on work. So physwatchers and photographers? activity. How do you see its ically, people Be ethical. Keep the interests of birds in influence? Has this attracted who are interestmind. Do not do anything that will hurt or more people to bird watching? ed in the birds Technology has influenced bird- harm them or their habitat, or would dishere could be watching a lot. The easy turb them. Create more homes and located anywhere accessibility to digital cameras habitats for birds such as gardens, roof garin the world. Our means that even children go about dens and artificial lakes. members come reduced. We have lost our trees and avenues, lost our home gardens, and have not seen an increase in the number or area of parks. Consequently, many species show declines down to some two percent when compared to, say, thirty years ago.

from as far as Sydney and ReykjavĂk!

green activist

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RAMESH HUNSUR

SR Hiremath is known in as the man who brought down a politically powerful mining mafia. His full story is even more inspiring: It tells of a bright boy who overcame crushing poverty to become a high-ranking corporate professional in the US, only to relinquish all comforts to return to India and crusade against corruption and champion rural regeneration

Man with a mission BASU MEGALKERI basavaraju@talkmag.in

ith files and sheets of paper scattered all around, the small room in a lodge in the Majestic area looks hardly impressive. Clad in simple clothing, its elderly inhabitant seems at peace here. You may be forgiven for assuming he is a retired government official fighting cases to get his pending dues. For 67year-old SR Hiremath has indeed been a tireless fighter of cases, except he has been doing it on behalf of the public. Hiremath may not be a media sensation like Team Anna, but has championed some of the defining causes of our times and brought about lasting change. He has successfully taken on some of the mightiest politicians and corporations in the state, most famously those associated with illegal mining. Perhaps more than any other individual or organisation in recent times, it is the quiet activism of Hiremath and his Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) that has proven that

QUIET CRUSADER SR Hiremath in the Majestic lodge room which serves as his Bangalore home and office

it is still possible for public interest to had seven children, four of whom triumph. died young, and Hiremath grew up Hiremathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work has brought with an elder brother and sister. him many honours, including the Rachayya, while a farmer, would also Karnataka Rajyotsava award in 1987 take up the cause of the poor, and was and the recent 'Man of the Year 2012' active in the co-operative movement. award by the Bangalore Press Club. Once, Rachayya's co-operative While his campaign against illegal society had taken up a case against a mining brought him media attention local landlord, which it won. The in recent times, his landlord and his activism goes back a men turned against He topped his long way. Rachayya, threatenclass always, but And an incrediing to kill him. He ble story it is too, of was forced to flee had to work as a a boy who grew up the village with his field labourer poor but managed family and take to top his class refuge in Bijapur, throughout, of a young idealist who where his wife's family was based. pursued his social concerns alongside Rachayya attempted to start a new a demanding corporate career in the life in Bijapur, where he took up civil US, and of a selfless dreamer who contracts, but soon developed tubergave up all his comforts to work in culosis and died. the most backward of villages. Young Hiremath was just five years old at the time, and with just his mother to take care of the family, Growing up poor Sangayya Rachayya Hiremath was spent the rest of his childhood in born on November 5, 1944, in utter poverty. After school he would Belavaniki village of Rona taluk in work in groundnut fields or help out Dharwad district. His father a local khadi-weaving unit for a daily Rachayya was an agriculturist, a wage. His elder brother soon found a leader of the co-operative movement, job as a bus conductor and started and a freedom fighter, and his moth- taking care of household expenses, er Rachavva a housewife. His parents but Hiremath still had to earn his

own school fees. Remarkably, the hardships wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop him from excelling at his studies. He always stood first in class at his Bijapur school. He finished his SSC in 1961, coming second in the state. He recalls being congratulated by the then chief minister BD Jatti, an alumnus of the same school , who had been invited to felicitate the rank winner. Hiremath then went on to get a first class in PUC and did his BE in mechanical engineering from BV Bhoomaraddi College in Hubli. There, too, he stood first in his class. After completing his BE, we worked as a lecturer for a year in the same college. Around this time, some of his friends, who had migrated to the US, started pressing him to join them there.

Life as an NRI His friend Sharanu Nandi helped him get to the US, where he did an MS in industrial engineering from Kansas State University. After completing his course, he joined the Bank & Trust Company, Illinois, as a research analyst, assessing technical inputs for the bank's investments. He later moved to the Chicago office of the US Federal Reserve Bank, the American

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GREEN LUMINARIES (From left) Jnanpith awardee Shivaram Karanth, ecologist Madhav Gadgil, Chipko movement founder Chandiprasad Bhat, and Hiremath during the Save Western Ghats campaign in the early 1980s

equivalent of the Reserve Bank of India. During his tenure at Federal Bank, he met his future life partner, Mavissa Sigwalt. Hiremath had been invited to a friend's place for dinner, where he ran into the young sociology graduate. The socially conscious Mavissa had volunteered with the Peace Corps and worked in West Africa's Sierra Leone for two years, something that drew Hiremath's attention. The two young idealists got talking, and discovered that they had much in common. They were drawn to each other, and courtship followed. When they decided to get married, Hiremath's mother insisted on traditional Hindu custom. The couple flew down to India for the wedding, which took place on December 24, 1972 in Hubli. After marriage, Mavissa changed her name to Shyamala Hiremath. The couple returned to a comfortable life in the US, where they raised two childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;son Raj and daughter Sheela. To further improve his career chances, Hiremath did an MBA from Chicago's Illinois Institute of Technology, and moved to investment banking, holding senior positions at firms like Franklin Park and Oakbrook.

Making news in America Throughout his career in the USA, Hiremath had kept in touch with the goings-on in India. He and a group of likeminded friends would regularly meet and discuss the situation in India, particularly about how to improve the conditions of India's rural poor. In 1974, some of them founded a non-profit group, India Development Service, with this very objective in mind. But these politically aware Indians abroad were dealt a blow the very next year, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of Emergency in India. In the United States, Hiremath's group protested openly against the harsh measures imposed by her. This irked the Indian regime, which put pressure on the US government to impound the passports of four of them, including Hiremath. But the move backfired when it provoked widespread outrage in America, forcing the US government to return the passports weeks after it had seized them. The incident received widespread media attention, which put Hiremath's group in touch with the vanguard of the Indian resistance to the Emergency, including prominent figures like Ram Jethmalani, Subramanian Swamy, HV Kamat, Ramdhan, and (future Prime Minister)

Chandra Shekar, apart from the foremost back. Given her background and concerns, opposition figure, Jayaprakash Narayan Shyamala was also enthusiastic about the himself. Hiremath recalls meeting the move. Hiremath found that unemploysocialist leader when he visited America for ment was the raging issue in India. This his treatment in 1977, and discussing with prompted him to consider setting up an him the political situation and the problem industry so it could provide jobs for some of rural poverty. people. But following discussions with his The experience also put Hiremath in activist-friends here, he realised that would touch with a wide variety of people and achieve very little, and instead, decided to organisations on India-related issues in the work towards bridging the social and ecoUS, England and India. One such group, nomic gap in rural areas. formed by a bunch of former IITians, was When he returned on July 1, 1979, working with the rural poor in India. He Hiremath had funds worth US$ 33,000 got more and more drawn into the issues (approximately Rs 18 lakh) donated by his they were working with, and started rais- friends for India Development Service, a ing funds for their activities. large sum for the time. He went to Medleri While corresponding with the group, village in Ranebennur taluk of Dharwad, which would regularly send him articles on the area he grew up in, where he took a the situation in India, Hiremath came small house on rent for Rs 90 a month. He across a reference that provoked his curios- sent his children to the village school, ity. while he and Shyamala got fully involved in An article he received referred to a development work. book, Small is Beautiful, written by the He then registered a non-profit British economist EF organisation under the Schumacher. It was essenname of India Indira Gandhi tially a warning against the Development Service had his passport craze for development (International), with the without paying attention to primary aims of rural impounded by its economic and human development and the United States cost, and was being widely women's empowerdiscussed in policy circles ment. Simultaneously, as well as in the budding environmental he started talking to village people from all movement in the West. Hiremath tracked walks of life, in an attempt to learn more down the author, who presented him with about their conditions of life and how best a copy. On reading it, he found that it they could be served. In the initial phase, raised the same concerns that he had had the organisation targeted 30 of the most about the industrial model of develop- backward villages in the area. Using the ment. It was to prove one of the biggest funds at hand, they introduced several influences in his life. development programmes in health, animal husbandry, handicrafts, environmental planning and horticulture, most of Return to India When he returned from America with his them involving women. Recalling those early days, Hiremath family, Hiremath had no plans of going

says, "You cannot live in a city and claim to work for the rural poor. That doesn't happen. If you really want to work for people in rural areas, you should live in a village and experience their living conditions, understand their way of life. When the villagers, especially the women, saw that an American woman and her children were living with them, they began to trust us. They opened up to us and opened themselves to change. Our work also became easier." In 1982, Hivos, a Netherlands-based organisation that funds non-profit groups, bestowed on him the Jaap Van Praag international award, named after a prominent Dutch activist. The popular Kannada magazine Sudha did a cover story on Hiremath and his work. The organisation gradually began to attract volunteers who were inspired by their work.

Strength to strength In 1983, with three years of rural development work behind him, Hiremath took up the first of his environmental campaigns, something he would become known for later. Along with local activists, he started a campaign against the Birla-owned Harihar Polyfibre factory, which was releasing pollutants into the Tungabhadra. The effluents released into the water were killing fish by the thousands, and had affected 16 villages in the Harihara and Ranebennur area that were dependent on the river for water. Hiremath joined the Tungabhadra River Pollution Committee and filed a petition in court, giving a new impetus to the struggle. To their surprise, the court ruled in their favour, which brought the largely inexperienced Hiremath no small amount of confidence. They had stood up against

green activist one of the biggest industrial groups in the country, and won; it was a victory that would inspire many more campaigns to come. The following year, Hiremath started the Samaj Parivartana Samudaya, the organisation that has played a pivotal role in the state's rural development and environmental protection, and with which he is associated to this day. Based in Dharwad, the SPS undertook several campaigns; to protect community land, generate local employment and to rehabilitate forestdwellers and villagers evicted from their land in the name of conservation and development. During his campaign against the Harihar Polyfibre Factory, Hiremath had also come into contact with some of the most key figures in cultural and civic life. At the time, many of them, including such prominent names such as Jnanpith awardee Shivram Karath, Chipko movement leader FAMILY MAN Hiremath with his granddaughter during a visit to the US Chandiprasad Bhat, former state chief minister Kadidal Manjappa, former high court the role of David against the Goliath of strengthen local self-governance by deepenjustices DM Chandrashekar and VM Karnataka Pulpwood Limitedâ&#x20AC;Ś" ing the Grama Sabha and Panchayat Raj sysTarkunde, and journalist Kuldip Nayar, had They eventually won the case against tems. In the early 1990s, the GGV became joined hands with activists in the state and the company and the state government, and the number one platform for people's strugelsewhere along the Western Ghats to pro- the plant was forced to shut down in 1992. gles in the state. It worked for changes in tect the ecologically fragile region from In 1987, the SPS was among the organ- the Panchayat Raj Act of 1993, which resultbeing opened up for 'development.' At a isations instrumental in starting the 'Save ed in the Panchayat Raj Amendment Act of time when awareness of ecological issues Western Ghats Movement,' a pioneering 2003. was low, the state government had been civil society movement against deforestaTheir successes brought nationwide handing over forest land to tion in this ecologically attention to Hiremath as one of the key private companies at fragile region, which architects of these changes. In 1996, he was The Reddys throwaway prices, somecalled for conservation contacted by an activist group that was underestimated thing the group opposed. and protection of natural fighting the local timber mafia in Madhya Hiremath and his resources without affect- Pradesh's Bastar (now in Chhattisgarh). The Hiremathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends jumped into the ing the local people's liveli- mafia was felling valuable trees like teak on strengths fray eagerly. In 1984, they hoods. a large scale in a forest area whose traditook up a campaign against In 1989, forced to tional ownership rights rested with the adithe Karnataka Pulp Wood Company, which recognise the organisation's achievements, vasis. They had colluded with some adivasi had got 30,000 acres of community land the Union Environment and Forests chieftains and forest officials, and near Kusnur village in Dharwad district Department gave them the Indira Gandhi unleashed violence on anyone who dared to from the state government for a pittance. Environment Award for the year, ironically, stand in their way. The District Collector Under the deal the company was to grow named after the very leader Hiremath was had written to the government about the eucalyptus trees on government land. fiercely opposed to in the early days of his deforestation and atrocities against the tribactivism in the US. als, but nothing had happened. In 1992, Hiremath formed the He readily volunteered to help, and World media take note National Committee for Protection of travelled to Bastar to start a campaign. He Hiremath's organisation found that the eucalyptus trees had made the land dry and Natural Resources, which sought to play an also filed a PIL in the Supreme Court infertile, while the pesticides used there had active role in the shaping of environmental requesting the apex body to look into the been affecting people's health in nearby vil- laws, forest regulations and rehabilitation matter, which soon bore fruit in the form of lages. It was in protest against this that he of forest-dwellers displaced in the name of a CBI inquiry. Based on the findings, the initiated the famous 'pluck and plant conservation and development projects. He court ruled in favour of the adivasis and Satyagraha,' where about 100 young volun- didn't know it then, but the biggest battle prohibited tree-cutting in the area for three teers entered the plantation and plucked for the NCPNR and Hiremath himself lay years. Recalling the experience, Hiremath out the eucalyptus plants and planted fruit ahead, against some of Karnataka's most powerful politicians and business interests says, "All our movements, including the one bearing saplings in their place. The campaign captured the imagina- in a series of cases that exposed one of the in Chhattisgarh, taught us valuable lessons. They not only taught us to organise people tion of people everywhere, and got wide- biggest scams in the nation's history. and put up protests but also to use the law spread attention both nationally and interto our advantage. All this proved to be of nationally. Foreign television channels like New alliances Channel 4 and Discovery sent their crew to Around this time, the Hiremath-led SPS great use in our fight against illegal mining the spot to make documentary-length films also seeded two organisations, the Jana in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh." on this unique protest. The BBC journalist Vikas Andolana (JVA) and Grama Ganarajya Charles Pye-Smith wrote about it thus: Vedike (GGV), to extend its reach and The big fight "Nowhere in India has the power of the involve more people in working towards Illegal mining has always gone on in the meek to change the course of history been rural empowerment in accordance with the state, especially in the ore-rich northern more brilliantly demonstrated than in principle of 'Azaadi se Swaraj' (from inde- areas. But from the late 1990s, spurred by Kusnur where the people cast themselves in pendence to self-rule). Their agenda was to demand from a rapidly industrialising

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The war against illegal mining 2006 SR Hiremath starts campaign against illegal mining in Karnataka

2008 December 18: The then Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde submits his report on illegal mining to the government

2009 January 27: Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde meets Hiremath April 29: The then Andhra Pradesh chief minister, the late YSR Reddy tells the Supreme Court that there is no illegal mining, and so there's no need of investigation November 17: Hiremath, along with two of his activist friends, Vishnu Kamat and Ravi Kangavi, files a public interest case against illegal mining In the Supreme Court

2010 July 26: Karnataka government bans export of ore from 10 ports

2011 April 15: The Supreme Courtappointed Central Empowered Committe submits its report detailing extensive illegal mining April 29: The Supreme Court directs the Karnataka government to close 19 mines July 27: State Lokayukta files its report on illegal mining to the Karnataka government July 29: Supreme Court bans all mining in Bellary district July 31: Faced with corruption charges, including those related to mining, Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa resigns September 31: Mining lord Janardhana Reddy arrested for his role in illegal mining

2012 April 12: Supreme Court orders CBI inquiry against Yeddyurappa and his sons for illegally denotifying land to help mining companies in return for favours August 6: Karnataka Milk Federation president Somashekara Reddy is arrested on charges of bribing a judge to grant bail to his brother Janardhana Reddy

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China, it reached an all-time high. There were reports about hundreds of acres of forest land being encroached and mined, and in one particularly alarming case, that of a stretch of several km on the Karnataka-Andhra border being erased as a result of extensive mining. It was a scandal of staggering proportions—it has since been estimated that the loss to the exchequer amounted to at least Rs 50,000 crore—but having profited from it directly, neither the ruling BJP nor the opposition parties would take a stand against it at the time. Intellectuals and cultural figures held protests, but fell silent after some time. The media too carried only limited coverage, and rumours floated around that many journalists had been paid off to keep their mouths shut. Hiremath had been spearheading a campaign against illegal mining in the state from 2006 onwards, but in his characteristically methodical fashion, would make his move legally only in 2009, when he had accumulated enough evidence. He made several field trips to the Bellary area, and procured incriminating documents that revealed plunder of natural resources on an unprecedented scale, all of it with the knowledge of government officials who chose to keep quiet or were intimidated into silence. In November 2009, he filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court through leading advocate Prashant Bhushan (later of Team Anna fame), against the widespread illegal mining and export of iron ore in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The supporting documents that Hiremath filed ran to about 1,400 pages. In addition, he filed a separate petition on the Belekeri port scam, wherein nearly 35 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore that had been confiscated by government officials, was surreptitiously exported, causing a loss of Rs 16,000 crore in royalties. The documents submitted showed that widespread illegal mining had taken place in the state under chief ministers SM Krishna and N Dharam Singh of the Congress, HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S), but above all under the BJP's BS Yeddyurappa, when it reached unprecedented proportions. Mining baron-turnedpolitician (and kingmaker of Karnataka politics) Janardhana Reddy, who was also the tourism minister of the state at the time, was revealed to be the kingpin of the mining racket based in Bellary. Others named included current BSR Congress leader Sriramulu and current tourism minister Anand Singh. The documents also accused Congress leader DK Shivakumar of indulging in illegal mining during his tenure as a minister with the SM Krishna government. Since the ruling government and officials were hand in glove with the mining lords, indicting them wasn't easy. But Hiremath was determined and made a 499-

EMPOWERMENT AT WORK Hiremath with participants at a women’s empowerment programme at Medleri village in Dharwad district

page list of reasons why mining licences work in the field. Their primary task is to issued to some firms ought to be cancelled. collect information about issues affecting The greed for mining was such that the people, and to use a variety of methods Reddy brothers had even demolished the including RTI applications to address historic Suggalamma temple to get at the them. Hiremath himself survives on the Rs iron ore beneath it. Hiremath submitted 15,000 salary he receives from the organievidence for all of his allegations to the sation, which also funds his expenses when Supreme Court appointed committee, he's travelling. which accepted them and cancelled the The soft-spoken Hiremath lives a simmining licence of the Reddy brothers. The ple life, shuns modern amenities and travCBI raided Janardhana Reddy's house and els second class by train. He simply shrugs arrested him. He was sent to jail, where he off his victories, saying they come from remains to this date. people's power and in making the best use It was also a petition filed by of the law. Hiremath that helped topple the powerful Chatting with him at the Majestic BS Yeddyurappa from the lodge room rented by chief minister's chair. A SPS, which serves as his ‘We can’t ignore Central Bureau of permanent office and threat calls, or Investigation inquiry residence in Bangalore, found that Yeddyurappa we ask him what take them too had misused his position to inspires him to take on seriously’ denotify land for two minthe bigwigs. ing companies, Jindal Steel "My mother Works and South West Mining Ltd, in inspires me. After my father's death she return for large donations to a 'trust' run by took upon herself the responsibility of the his family members. family. Her courage inspires me. She When asked if he has faced any seri- showed me that if a person decides on ous threats for his campaign against illegal something, she can do anything. People mining, Hiremath responds with equanim- from my village encouraged me to pursue ity, "Threat calls are part of our work, we my education. Then there were the words cannot ignore them or take them too seri- of Shivaram Karanth (renowned Kannada ously. But when it came to our anti-mining writer and Jnanpith awardee), who on a campaign, what really saved us was that the visit to our school, reminded us of what we Reddy brothers had totally underestimated owe to society. He said, "We talk about our us. They never thought that we could take debts to our parents, teachers and elders. them on, and were totally unprepared. In But we don't think about our debt to socifact, we faced more pressure from ety. If we ignore what happens around us, Yeddyurappa's people after we went after it grows more and more unhealthy until its him in the land denotification case." evils spread to the entire nation." His words had a great impact on me; it was as if he had said it just for me," he says with a smile. Inspiration There are plenty more examples that SPS now has 17 full time volunteers who

inspired him, he says: from the ideas of socialist leaders Jayaprakash Narayan and HV Kamat, to his IIT friends working in the rural areas, from the late Dr Rajnikant Arole and his wife Mabelle, a couple who worked to improve rural health in Maharasthra's Jamkhed, to some models of primary agriculture practiced by Kerala farmers, and so on. When asked which books he would credit with shaping his thinking, he lists, apart from Small is Beautiful, Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre's work on Indian independence, Freedom at Midnight. "More than all this, I was motivated the most by Dr BR Ambedkar's last speech to the Constituent Assembly, delivered on November 25, 1949, which I find relevant to our predicament today. It was his concern for the underprivileged and the rural communities that turned me to the villages," he says. He then goes on to quote from Newton, "If I have seen further than other men, it is because I have stood upon the shoulders of giants." Hiremath believes that more than ideals, it is trust and sincerity that is required for a struggle like his. "That way, people will stand by you, and you need not fear anything. Our movement had always adopted the Gandhian methods, perhaps why the people, courts and the media have always stood by us," he says. Hiremath retains his faith in democracy. "Both good and bad can happen in the system. Honesty still exists in society. Good people are still around. It's because of them that we have won," he says. His work provides him with peace of mind. "Justice has prevailed. What else does one need?" he says, looking back at a life well lived.

real estate

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

High street’s changing fortunes Bangalore's retail landscape is changing. While Commercial Street is no longer the draw it once was, spiffy new avenues like Vittal Mallya Road are seeing steady rise in rents

PRASHANTH GN prashanth.gn@talkmag.in

rban spread and the emergence of alternative destinations for shoppers has seen Bangalore's once-popular 'Commercial Street' register zero growth in terms of rise in rental value for retail space between 2008 and 2012, even as relatively new shopping zones like Vittal Mallya Road registered a 46 per cent rise in the same period. Rental value per square foot is still the highest in Brigade Road, at Rs 225 per sq ft, an increase of 26 per cent during the period. But on Vittal Mallya Road, rental values went up from an average of Rs 137 per sq ft to Rs 212.50 per sq ft. Commercial Street is holding flat at Rs 175 per sq ft. With the UB City Mall and other properties in the area housing leading luxury brands, and a few popular pubs and eating places, the venue's rise in value is not surprising. Karun Varma, Managing Director, Jones Lang Lasalle, a real estate consultancy, Bangalore explains how other areas have come to rival the Central

1250 850

120 Hyderbad: SP Road Begumpet

190 Chennai: Khadar Nawaz Khan Road

Bangalore: Brigade Road

Kolkata: Park Street

250 Mumbai: Linking Road

National Capital Region: Khan Market

400

India’s priciest retail space

*Approximate figures, in rupees per sq ft per month

Business District (CBD), which can be understood to be the areas around MG Road: "Over the last five years, organised retail has grown and distributed itself across different regions in the city. What was once concentrated is now dispersed. There is a balancing effect on the CBD, in terms of spread of merchandise, brands, retail outlets, revenues and rentals. People now have multiple choices and don't have to travel to the CBD to exercise their choice. What was once available only in the CBD is now available in a variety of areas." Commercial Street association president Ajai Motwani points out that the road is full up, and expansion is not possible. "There is simply no additional space on Commercial Street. New buildings can't come up unless people agree to the demolition of old ones. Commercial Street is an old bazaar. People who run international brands want large physical space, new and smart buildings. How can the very old Commercial Street provide all this? Naturally retailers will go where they get all these. Even then, because it's a vast catchment area, there are some good brands and demand for floor-level shops is high. Many are not willing to give out such shops. But we would like the street to be recast and acquire a new look with more space, new property and constructions. Then I'm sure demand will go up and rents will scale up." Traders in Commercial Street point to parking as the main problem, though a section on Kamaraj Road near the Army School is available for parking. "People want to come to Commercial Street, but where can they park? If you have a shop, you manage it, but people don't really go out of their way to set up new ones," a trader told Talk. In addition, shoppers are attracted to destinations where they can do more than just shop. Rival areas have restaurant, pubs, and cinema houses. And malls do their best to be all-in-one shopping and entertainment centres. Indiranagar is neck and neck with Brigade road in terms of rate of growth in rents, with rents rising 25 per cent between 2008 and 2012 from Rs 107.50 per sq ft to Rs 135. MG Road grew 14 per cent in the same period, with rental values rising from Rs 150 to Rs 175. Koramangala too grew 14 per cent from Rs 115 to Rs 132.50. Jayanagar too has seen a rise, of six per cent, from Rs 120 to Rs 125. Said Karun Verma: "Along with Indiranagar, Koramangala and Jayanagar,

RAMESH HUNSUR

WINNERS, LOSERS (Clockwise from left) 1. Once among the city’s most popular shopping destinations, Commercial Street seems to be losing its sheen. 2. The Vittal Mallya/Lavelle Road area is popular with premium international brands like Porsche. 3. Brigade Road remains the most expensive retail space

other areas have like Malleswaram, Rajajinagar, Whitefield and Sarjapur have also grown. What is more, you see more international brands in Indiranagar, Koramangala and Vittal Mallya road compared to Brigade Road and MG road." The most significant development in organised retail is the rise of the malls. "All 'experiences' are offered at one place - entertainment, shopping, leisure and dining. Since each area has its own mall now, there is less need to come to the CBD. Traffic, the long time it takes to drive to the CBD and the fatigue it engenders are keeping people away from the CBD," Verma said. Brigade Road Shops and Establishments Association President Sohail Yusuf says Brigade road is seeing a downward trend in terms of business and sales over the last three years. "Around 2009, you would not have found space on

Association members say the corporator of the area and BBMP officials don't allow them to take care of the road themselves. "We have very good plans to upgrade and beautify the road. But the corporator and officials don't encourage us nor do they take up works. For instance, the footpath on the road is broRents at Bangalore’s most sought-after retail spots ken and sewage spills over at a particular Rent in Rs/sq.ft 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 point. No repair work has been undertaken nor has any replacement been done," a Indiranagar 95-20 80-110 90-120 100-140 110-160 member said. Commercial Street 150-200 125-175 130-180 140-180 150-200 Leading architect Naresh Narasimhan has actually created a new MG Road 125-175 100-150 130-180 150-200 150-200 design for the spot where Brigade Road Vittal Mallya Road 150-225 125-200 150-225 170-240 175-250 meets Residency Road, the site of the old World War I memorial. He said the projKoramangala 80-150 70-140 75-150 80-160 90-175 ect should kick off this year. "Authorities Jayanagar 4th Block 100-140 90-120 95-130 100-140 110-150 have incorporated some recommendations in a new tender they have issued. Brigade Road 150-200 140-180 150-200 175-225 200-250 (Figures averaged after adding the two extremes and dividing by two. Data from JLL BBMP will take up the road revamp first, Research. All rentals rates are an average though actual quotes could be different.) and then get into designing the space Brigade road to set up an outlet. Now there is space. Why? People have found that business is not so rosy anymore. So why pay rent while sales go down?" He sees some ground for optimism. "In terms of being a big catchment area

which sees a large number of people congregating in one area, Brigade Road is still good. But it's not the only shopping destination. And tiring traffic is a problem. But it still attracts a large number of people over the weekends," says Sohail.

near the memorial. We hope it will take off, because if the initial road laying work is completed, it will build momentum for the next stage," he told Talk. A senior member says there are also plans afoot to install an information management system for automated parking. We put in the application for permission in 2008, but its 2013 and off icials are not allowing us to implement the project, especially after the success of our automated parking, which had been fortunately allowed at the time we undertook the project." He is miffed with the BBMP: "We are made to wait for hours to meet the BBMP commissioner. Why should I waste my time on public projects when they are not willing to see me? So no new project has been taken up by the association." The MG Road Shops and

Establishment Traders Association President B Srinath says business on MG Road was down during the construction of the metro, but is picking up now. "I wouldn't say MG Road is booming. But what was down in the last three years is now going up. Once the entire metro is connected, especially to the Jayanagar and Malleswarm sections, we expect business to rise sharply as people would be able to commute to MG Road more conveniently." Srinath agrees things have changed for shopping. "Jayanagar, Indiranagar, Koramangala and Vittal Mallya road have gathered rapid momentum in the last couple of years. While the prestige of MG Road many not have gone down entirely, it's also true that brands want to be seen everywhere else, even after having a presence on MG Road. The prestige of other areas is going up.”

real estate

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

PRASHANTH GN prashanth.gn@talkmag.in

1250 850

120 Hyderbad: SP Road Begumpet

190 Chennai: Khadar Nawaz Khan Road

Bangalore: Brigade Road

Kolkata: Park Street

250 Mumbai: Linking Road

National Capital Region: Khan Market

400

India’s priciest retail space

*Approximate figures, in rupees per sq ft per month

RAMESH HUNSUR

authorspeak

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

‘Gujarat’s quiet is that of a graveyard’ Acclaimed author Suketu Mehta on the situation in his home state of Gujarat, the UID project and his connection with Bangalore PRASHANTH GN prashanth.gn@talkmag.in

hen Maximum City was released in 2004, its author, New York based Suketu Mehta was hailed as a new star in the Indian literary firmament. Recently in Bangalore to release a book by his friend Vivek Shanbhag, Mehta says he was first inspired to write by UR Ananthamurthy, who as his teacher pressed him to write, no matter how imperfectly. Mehta, now an associate professor of Journalism at New York University, has also written the screenplay for The Goddess, a Merchant-Ivory film starring Tina Turner, and Mission Kashmir, a Bollywood film. His writings show him to be a keen observer of India, particularly Gujarat, where his family and relatives live. Here he shares with Talk his perspective on his home state, the 2014 elections, the Aadhar project, and more.

KEEN OBSERVER Suketu Mehta’s non-fiction book Maximum City was a 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist

You have been articulating your thoughts publicly on Gujarat and Narendra Modi. What is the picture of Gujarat that you see? I made two trips to Ahmedabad recently. It seemed quiet, but more like the quiet of the graveyard. A Hindu man told me, when you give rioters the seat of power, there would be no riots, give power to anybody

ic Modi, beaming himself from the other dimension. He’s so pervasive. Modi has been talking of harmony and sadbhavana. Modi keeps talking of moving on. But How do you read the current situation when your brother or sister or father and mother have been raped and of Gujarat’s Muslims? Muslims have been forced to become roasted to death in front of your eyes, apolitical or let’s say de-politicised. can you move on? And when are you expected to move They want nothing to on? In 10 years, 20 do with the Congress, years, 30 years, the BJP or any politi‘It’s not for Modi a lifetime, or cal party. This time to tell Muslims to over never? It’s not for not a single ticket was move on, it’s for Modi to tell given to them by Muslims to move Narendra Modi. And them to feel it’ on, it’s for Muslims within Gujarat, the to feel it. The least Congress doesn’t want to talk about the riots. When Modi can be tried for is dereliction of you don’t have a voice in the political duty at the time of the riots. But Modi process, it would lead to radicalisa- has managed to move on even from tion. Muslims today don’t have a there. political voice in Gujarat. They don’t have a man at the table to stake their We are told there are ‘borders’ within claims. So they won’t get anything. Gujarat’s cities… In the old cities, especially in Who do they look to then? Ahmedabad, people refer to roads in residential layouts as borders. When Do they have any faith in 'the idea of you ask to get somewhere, they’ll tell India'? The Muslims may have an abstract you, there, it’s there over the border— faith in the idea of India driven by its the Hindu and Muslim localities are secular constitution. But in the con- so distinct. Young men sit at these crete, their fortunes are tied to what borders as sentries on the watch. Narendra Modi does. Of course There are minor altercations every there’s a creamy layer among the day. If you’re a stranger who happens Muslims who have done well, the to be in a Muslim or Hindu locality at businessmen. They back Modi. But 95 night, you’ll be asked your business. per cent of Muslims are poor and are resigned to Modi being there forever. Is Gujarat then completely polarised? After he dies, there’ll be a holograph- Gujarat has always been polarised, at else, there would be riots. This is the quiet I see in Ahmedabad and the rest of Gujarat, when people tell me that everything’s been fine after 2002.

least since the 1969 riots, the worst in Gujarat. No Muslim can ever buy an apartment in the new Ahmedabad, which is the most segregated Indian city I’ve seen. This may be happening all over India, but it’s happening on a war footing in Ahmedabad. It hurts me. In Maninagar, the constituency of Modi, where my family lives, there used to be a semblance of exchange and interaction between Hindus and Muslims, but all that has disappeared. There is fear and suspicion now. There is fear among Gujaratis to say anything about what Muslims feel. There is no BJP in Gujarat, there’s only Modi. There’s no opposition in Gujarat, there’s only the Modi cult. But Gujarat’s GDP too has been growing at a higher rate than the country’s… It’s true Gujarat’s GDP has been growing at 10 per cent for a few years over India’s 8 per cent. But Gujarat comes eighth in the country in GDP growth. Why doesn’t anybody talk of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu ranked higher than Gujarat in GDP growth? Part of the reason is how Narendra Modi makes his point. He is probably the most skilled political communicator in the country today. You can see it in the way he uses technology, Twitter, Facebook. His website is the best of a politician I’ve seen in the country. The Congress should learn a thing or two from Modi, but they are stuck in the 20th century. Modi is able to inject confidence in large

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

masses of Guj aratis that everything is good. But when you look at other indicators like malnutrition and sex ratio, Gujarat is in the middle. And when it comes to the economic prospects of Muslims, it’s as if the GDP is zero. Juhapura, where Muslims live, is one of the worst slums I’ve seen on earth and I’ve seen a lot of slums.

and TV studios make it—that’s one of the peculiar features of an Indian election. Even as prime-ministerial candidates, we are in need of two good leaders, not one. But where are they?

The UPA has announced direct cash transfers to the poor enabled by a Unique Identification (UID) number. What’s your take on this? But there’s talk of the big roads Sounds like a good thing in principle. It seems a good and infrastructure projects, way to combat corruption. that Modi has transformed I’ve been to Brazil, where urban Gujarat… I come from a family of dia- they have direct cash transmond merchants. I respect fers to the poor. That project business, but you have to also has created what I believe is go beyond the lure. True, the world’s largest middle Ahmedabad has great roads class. So potentially, UID can and malls. The malls have do that in India too. I hope it everything except books. does. But what one has to Ahmedabad is now seeing a look out for in universal tsunami of kitsch. At one identification is the possibilipoint it was a great cultural ty of the government using centre with some of the the UID to monitor and conworld’s best architects build- trol the lives of people, coning the city, home to the best trol freedom of expression. If scientists, the best dancers, misused, it could end up an the best textile craftspeople. Orwellian project. So, very, Today we see people driving very solid safeguards will have to be Ferraris and built in to Porsches on the UID. ‘If misused, the the new roads. My UID could end up You have relatives becoming an interacted who are Orwellian project’ with supporters Nandan of Modi tell Nilekani, me, look at Modi’s work, it’s great, look at who heads the project… the roads, they are fantastic. I’ve got the greatest respect But my point is, great roads for Nandan, his work, his won’t solve history’s prob- book (Imagining India) and lems. Why is Gujarat so ideas. I admire him for taking up a massive project like UID, polarised? though for sure, there will be Your thoughts on Modi as PM. huge logistical, technical I don’t think Modi may issues in any project of this become PM, because caste kind. The intent behind UID may just save us. People in is good, but if God is in the India vote on caste lines, and details and devil is in the execution, that’s where we need they may not opt for Modi. to be get the act right. The American social security card Who will make it in the 2014 ran into screw-ups when it elections? While the UPA and Congress was first launched, but they are completely dysfunctional, got it right over time. I there is no vigorous opposi- believe Nandan is clever and tion either. There’s no saying aware of these issues; he who will win the 2014 elec- should know how to go about tions because the Indian elec- this. torate always votes in ways Glitches have cropped up in you can’t guess. The very peo- UID delivery... ple not projected in surveys I don’t want to be too scepti-

cal of government projects, because people will then point to the private sector. Private sector has had its share of problems too, but nobody wants to talk about that. Nailing the government is the easiest thing done. You have often taken issue with Arundhati Roy’s political writings. How do you see her role as a writer-

taught me to write. I was his student at Iowa (the well-known creative writing course at the University of Iowa). He would always tell me, write Suketu, no matter how imperfect, but write, because there’s nothing like perfection, writing doesn’t end anywhere. So, I dedicate my writing Tell us about your Bangalore connec- to him. And Vivek (Shanbagh) is a very good friend, apart from being a tion... Ananthamurthy is my guru. He very invigorating writer. activist? I admire the causes she fights for, but not the way she fights them. One needs nuance and complexity. She seems to have explored the gamut of options from A to B, but there are other letters in the alphabet.

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

Rewind The week that was  Killed: Cross border tension escaltes with ceasefire violations and the killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistani military at the Line of Control in Kashmir  Naxal activity: An important Naxal leader is supposed to have entered Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra, said to be preparing for a major attack  Code: The Karnataka education department has launched a unique code for every child in the schooling system; 98.48 lakh school children studying in the state would be part of the data base  Scribes protest: Journalists in China go on strike in protest against the Chinese government's move to censor editorials critical of the government  Reduced: A US court has reduced the prison term for Bradley Manning, a WikiLeaks suspect, because of harsh treatment he received from US military officials at a military jail where he was placed in isolation for prolonged periods  Wildfire: Australia sees wildfire in Tasmania, the most intense in its recorded history; over 100 persons said to be missing and several houses destroyed

A rom com on stage City-based WeMove Theatre is returning with their play P.S. I Don't Love You, which premiered last year. Director Abhishek Iyengar insists the production and the title have nothing to do with the popular book (written by Cecilia Ahern) or film (directed by Richard LaGravenese) by the name P.S. I Love You. "The idea behind the play is to show love in a practical way. It isn't even a spoof of the film or the book,"

says Abhishek, who has also written the play. "It is a story of many real couples. One couple had everything in common and find their life getting boring," he explains. The play then leads up to their wedding where they plot a prank on themselves, complete with professional help, to make their lives more exciting. "We don't do rom coms in theatre. This is one. It makes the audience feel theatre can be

The short story just got shorter It was only a matter of time before someone thought of it. Writer Sean Hill creates 'short stories' to the Twitter limit of 140 characters and has already amassed 1, 38,000 followers on the micro blogging site. The stories range from the mushy to the amusing, and the collection has been brought out as a book recently. He encourages his Twitter followers to send him a noun and spins a story around it if it inspires him. Look for #VeryShortStory on Twitter. Here are a few samples: One time, long ago, when you weren't looking, I swapped souls with you. Now yours is dirtier than mine. I want to swap back. Hold still

 Record: Ten students score 100 percentile in MBA entrance test, CAT, for admission to Indian Institutes of Management

Met Alysa on the beach. Took her to my car, dried her off. When legs did not magically appear, I lost interest, dropped her at the aquarium

 In-camera: A Delhi court has barred the press from covering the Delhi gang rape trial; the court has said hearings will be in-camera

Print is dead and the e-book is the future; by now, this is almost an article of faith. But the tide may finally be turning, a new Pew Research Center survey of American reading habits indicates. Only 30 per cent of readers surveyed had read even a single e-book in the past year. The shift from ereaders to tablets may also be dampening e-book purchases. Sales of e-readers plunged 36

 Film fest: A children's film fest kicks off in Bangalore; 135 films from about 25 countries will be screened; film directors from abroad make a beeline to Bangalore

fun and need not always be intellectual," Abhishek says.

On at Alliance Francaise at 7.30 pm on January 13

Filmmaking lessons Filmmaker, novelist and teacher Manjushree Abhinav is offering a course in film-making. This weekend hands-on course is specially designed for newcomers and those in professions like the media. Starting on January 13 with a free intro, the course will go on until April. Beginning with lessons in creative writing, the course takes the participant through modules like scriptwriting, acting, camera, and editing. Participants get to make a short film by the end of the course. Manjushree Abhinav is an alumnus of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and has taught scriptwriting, making of documentary films and video editing at National

Manjushree Abhinav

Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, FTII, Pune and Srishti School of Design, Bangalore. The course fee is Rs

Long live print per cent in 2012, according to estimates from IHS iSuppli, while tablet sales exploded. What's more, the Association of American Publishers reported that the annual growth rate for e-book sales fell abruptly

during 2012, to about 34 per cent. That's still a healthy clip, but it is a sharp decline from the triple-digit growth rates of the preceding four years. The initial e-book explosion is

32,800 with a 10 per cent discount for students and 15 per cent discount for women. Call Manjushree on 99451 92862 for more details. starting to look like an aberration. The technology's early adopters, a small but enthusiastic bunch, made the move to e-books quickly and in a concentrated period. Further converts will be harder to come by. A 2012 survey by Bowker Market Research revealed that just 16 per cent of Americans have actually purchased an ebook and that a whopping 59 per cent say they have "no interest" in buying one.

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

Forward The week ahead  Trial: The trial of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai is set to begin with his case being transferred to the judicial organs; he is being tried in connection with the death of a British businessman

Skirt around to register your protest

Here's a chance for all men in Bangalore to come out and express their stand in support of womenfolk. Called 'Skirt The Issue', this creative event is doing the rounds on social networking sites and getting quite popular too. The idea for the event was conceived by two friends, Samarpita Samaddar and Adithya Mallya, who wanted to contest the popular misconception that a woman's clothes invite sexual violence. Participating men are required to wear a skirt between 10 am and 10 pm and go about their normal lives in the same attire. It is a satirical take on the women's attire debate and intends to raise awareness towards women's safety issues in the city. The event kicks off on January 12, 10 am at Brigade Road.

Bescom’s helpline for women

The cause of women’s security has received an unexpected supporter, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) which has decided to deploy its existing helpline to receive emergency calls from women in distress. The existing 25 lines will be open round-the-clock to receive complaints, which will be forwarded to the nearest police station. This facility was inaugurated by Minister for Energy Shobha Karandlaje. The helpline is capable of receiving as many as 6,000 calls. Right now, the helpline receives about 1,000 calls a day. Call: 080 2287 3333

Calling social entrepreneurs IDEX Accelerator, a career launch-pad for aspiring social enterprise practitioners, takes top international graduates and places them with social enterprises in India for six-month internships. They are looking for organisations who can host IDEX Fellows (as they call them) for the coming year, beginning June 2013. The IDEX fellows take part in workshops and networking events to

enhance their understanding of the sector. IDEX is inviting social entrepreneurs in Bangalore to join them at Jaaga in Shantinagar for tea and snacks. The event includes a presentation from current staff, fellows and partners and a Q&A session. To register, write to Amy Watson at amy.watson@idexfellows.com or log on to www.idexaccelerator.com

The new generation Segal Attention, fans of Love Story author Erich Segal: his daughter Francesca Segal will soon make her presence felt in the country with her own book, which is not really on the lines of her father's work. Her debut novel, The Innocents has bagged a prize at the Costa Book Awards,

thanks to which the book will now see an earlierthan-expected India launch by the end of January. Francesca Segal is well known for writing the screenplay for the film Love Story based on her father's bestselling book from the 1970s. Interestingly, that book was originally commissioned as a

screenplay by Paramount Pictures, which then asked the author to adapt it to the novel form, which proved to be a runaway hit. Francesca's book though, takes off from Edith Wharton's classic, The Age of Innocence. setting it in the Jewish community of north-west London this time. Pitted as a 'modern love story', the book has received much praise as a tale of temptation, confusion, commitment and more.

City graffiti, now online From the amusing to the bizarre, graffiti from Bangalore streets is now available for viewing on the Internet, thanks to a cloud sourced site put together by Supreeth Srinivasamurthy of Overheard at Blossoms fame. Started three months ago, with just over half a dozen contributions, the site has a long way to go before it turns into the go-to place for checking out the latest graffiti on city streets (without actually going there). Each post has a small comment with the contributor's perspective and a vague mention of the location where the artwork was spotted. Log on to: bangaloregraffiti.tumblr.com

 Oath: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who is under medical treatment in Cuba may take oath for his second term  In the fray: An opera composer and painter tattooed from head to toe is part of presidential elections in Czechoslovakia next week  Jail: An Indian doctor is set to go to jail after he pleaded guilty to charges of US federal tax evasion and illegally distributing weight loss medicines in the US  Probe: A probe is set to be launched into the death of two Indian soldiers near the Line of Control in Kashmir; army officials in Kashmir to collect evidence of Pakistani involvement  Hike: The proposed hike in rail fares, supposedly due to a financial crunch, will take effect in a few days time  Diesel/LPG: The government is all set to hike diesel and LPG prices as the petroleum ministry has formally made its plea that it is incurring heavy losses on these two fuels compared to petrol  Cricket: The England-India series will offer a week of high voltage entertainment as the contests are expected to be close after the recent India-Pakistan series  Threat: Former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa has threatened to destabilise the Karnataka government this week saying he would ask his supporters to resign from the BJP and join his KJP

Graffiti spotted somewhere near Indiranagar

 Exit: Energy minister Shobha Karandlaje might have to part ways with the BJP for her public criticism of the chief minister and for expressing support to KJP

liner notes

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

‘I’m not a pop singer’ due in the mainstream. Other than film music and popular music of the foot tapping kind, most other forms, and styles of Indian music were largely being ignored by the music industry. Also, the contracts and agreements that artistes were offered for recording deals usually stripped them of all rights to their work. With the web offering the option of independent publishing and distribution, Aneesh and I decided to set up an online distribution platform for Indian artistes that would empower them to share their work commerSANDRA M FERNANDES cially on their own terms. The effort sandramarina.fernandes@talkmag.in was funded by both of us and not by s a young girl she trained investors, as usually happens. in Kathak, but today is considered by many to be What challenges did you face? one the finest In 2003, online music distribution Hindustani classical had not caught on as it has now, and singers in the country, known for her therefore music lovers, particularly strong voice. But popularly, Shubha those with a taste for traditional Mugdal is best-known for hit songs music, either did not know of online such as Ab Ke Sawan, Dholna and shopping or were hesitant to shop Pyaar Ke Geet, a result of her collabo- online. Many musicians were ration with a bunch of talented music unaware of the independence that directors who fused her classical the online distribution platform offered. Therefore, raising awareness voice with folk and pop elements. She has been awarded the was a prime concern and challenge. The other challenge we faced National Film Award for Best Feature Film Music Direction for Amrit Beej in was in promoting the content. With 1996, The Gold Plaque award for print and electronic media becoming Special Achievement in music in 1998 hugely expensive formats, where every millimeter of and the Padma Shri space, and every secin 2000. She is mar‘Underscore ond of air time is ried to musician sold to the tune of Aneesh Pradhan and Records lakhs of rupees, we her son Dhawal is a distributes 200 found it difficult to known face in the albums today’ promote the catarock music scene. logue that Recently in the city for a performance, Shubha Underscore Records was distributing. Mugdal talks about her career, her Fortunately, a three-year grant from gurus, and Underscore, the online the Ford Foundation between 2009 music platform and record label she and 2012 helped us immensely. co-founded with her husband, which is about to celebrate its 10th anniver- Would you call the venture a success? In 2003, we started out by distributsary. ing two albums and currently we distribute over 200 albums, several films What prompted you to start on music, hundreds of books on Underscrore? We started Underscore in 2003 as an Indian music in Hindi, English, and online platform for music distribu- Marathi, as well as music-related tion because we felt that the diversity merchandise. Albums and DVDs are of Indian music was not getting its distributed both as hard copies and in

She might be most famous for her 'pop' numbers, but Shubha Mudgal insists that she’s a classical singer first and last

digital form. I don’t have the exact figure of albums sold in the last 10 years, but the fact that we have continued working for a decade is a matter of great satisfaction for Aneesh and me. Your songs such as Ab Ke Sawan and Dholna became instant hits. What has it been like experimenting with pop music? I’m afraid I didn’t experiment at all. I am a singer, and was invited to record these songs, and I did so even though my area of specialisation is Hindustani classical music. The experiment, if at all, was on the part of the music directors for these songs, namely Shantanu Moitra and Sandesh Shandilya respectively. Therefore, the credit for the songs becoming instant hits must also go to them.

Live performances and recordings are different ways of communicating with an audience. The main difference is that a recording should ordinarily outlive a musician. Therefore, a recording documents a musician's work for posterity and could find an audience even after the musician’s lifetime. But of course, if you are part of an indifferent and callous music industry, you can record all you like, only to find that your music label hasn’t bothered to make your work available next door, leave alone across the world.

Some of India’s greatest musicians, from different gharanas, were your gurus. Who among them influenced you the most? I have had the opportunity to learn from many eminent musicians and scholars, namely Pandit Ramashreya Jha, Pandit Vinaya Chandra Maudgalya, Pandit Vasant Thakar, Why haven’t you come out with any Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, Pandit more pop songs? Simply because I am not a pop singer! Kumar Gandharva and Smt Naina Devi. I was fortunate to have received the guidance of Pandit Ramashreya Since you do many concerts and also Jha for over 30 years, and therefore record a lot, which of the two do you you could say that he moulded my find better when it comes to reaching voice and my music. out to your audience?

take note

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

A reboot at 54 says.

Lucky Ali is trying out new ways to connect with the crowd. He plans to chat up his audiences between songs, and zap them with technology. Talk speaks to the singer and his new manager to know what's in store

PRACHI SIBAL prachi.sibal@talkmag.in

ucky Ali, singer, songwriter and actor is ready for yet another performance in Bangalore. But, this one we are told will be nothing like his previous gigs. It will be more production-heavy, more visual, and more intimate since he will sing to an audience of a mere 100-150 people. Lucky Ali will also be interacting with the audience, narrating stories and strumming the guitar himself, unlike at earlier shows where he refrained from such camaraderie. Changes are happening off stage as well, with the singer's public image. Interviews with Lucky Ali are no longer the freewheeling ones they once were. Keen to avoid sensational media stories, they are now carefully supervised affairs where a third person (the manager) sits in on the conversations, through conference calls if they are over phone, like this one with Talk. The manager politely offers to fill you in on project details at intervals, lest you forget his presence on the line. Everything about Lucky Ali is being overhauled, including his personal website that is in the process of a revamp and hence has become inaccessible. He went on board with Timbre Entertainment, a Mumbaibased company that specialises in dock speakers, that now looks after both managing the artiste and all background production and collaborations associated with him. But this is not just a story of a popular artiste undergoing a makeover. It is also one of a fanturned-celebrity publicist and manager. It all began in 1998 when

Abhishaik Desai, then in Class 11, went to his first ever Lucky Ali concert at Mumbai's SP Jain College. He grew up to be an audiophile flying to the USA for shows by bands like U2 and not missing any Lucky Ali ones back home. With his quest for better sound came Timbre Entertainment, which he founded at the age of 25. “We are the only company that holds an Apple contract,” he says excitedly. They make iPod compatible docks which also sell in Apple retail outlets in India. Desai’s one-on-one association with Lucky Ali began a year ago when he was introduced through a friend who was handling the singer’s social media presence at that time. He spent the rest of the year establishing communication with Ali and chalking out a plan for his career.

“We are too small to be approached by a star like him directly. It took a lot of convincing,” he recalls. Fortunately for him, the perseverance paid off. “Now he is more like family. I call him bhaijaan even though he is probably my father’s age,” says Desai. He is fully focused on Lucky’s career graph and admits he isn’t taking any new artist management offers even though he has some. For Lucky Ali himself, this was a long due change. “The way I have structured my career, it has been progressive. I need to be with progressive people. I don’t want to be another commodity on the market. People I work with need to understand what I say. Creativity often gets hampered with miscommunication. The change in management was long overdue, almost three years in the making,” he

He doesn’t like being classified as a Bollywood singer and confesses the only things that concern him when doing a Bollywood track are energy and money. “There are only a few good people who do genuine work and the others are busy stealing tunes. The music companies too don’t push out any real stuff. At the end of it, it is all about how it comes together, it is like khichdi. But there are days when I don’t want to eat khichdi,” Lucky Ali explains. Desai claims that he along with Timbre Entertainment will be handling all of Lucky’s licenses and contracts on a long-term basis. Considering the focus is on collaborations, the musicians who collaborate with Lucky Ali will also be on short term contracts with the company. “Our primary goal is to ensure more of his work comes out. He has been recording but not a lot has been released in the recent past. In the long term, we want to take him to the next level with quality recording and production-heavy live shows, like a U2 concert. The short term plan on the other hand is to do select Bollywood projects and collaborations. He is recording a track with the Pakistani band Jal and has just finished recording a track for Vishal and Shekhar for the film David. Lucky also just recorded his first Malayalam song for Prashant Pillai of Shaitan fame". Desai claims the aim is not an image makeover but an effort to bring out Lucky Ali’s real, more humane side. “We want people to see the real person,” he says, hastening to add, “But I am not an advocate of his personal life being discussed." He prefers being on conference calls during interviews to ensure the focus doesn't steer from the music. On the other hand, Lucky Ali himself is barely ruffled by the stir his own comments on his personal life have created in the past. He says, “There is nothing in my personal life that I am ashamed of. I have an extremely happy life and it is the people who don’t have one that bother about these things. I’m grateful to the Lord for all that he has given me. My daughter hugs me even as I speak to you.” Lucky Ali performs on January 12, 8.30 pm at Windmills Craftworks, Whitefield

L I S T I NGS

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

food

music Benny Dayal asparagus with smoked salmon roll, breaded lamb cutlet. The fee for the demo is Rs 850. Toscano, 2nd floor, Whitefield, January 16 25939224  Pizza mania is here: Have a craving for pizza? Choose from hand tossed or thick crust pizza. The pizzas on offer are margherita, quattro stagioni, spicy chicken tikka and more. GAD, Gateway Hotel, Residency Road, till January 14 66604545

 Flavours of the world: You will be spoilt for choices as you dig into Afghani murgh, laksha, Luciana chicken sausages, Kabuli naan and other non-vegetarian fare. Priced at Rs 999 (without alchohol) and Rs 1,499 (with alcohol). Melange, Hotel Park Plaza, Marathahalli, Outer Ring Road, January 12 49094909  Celebrating Sankranti: This Sankranthi, celebrate with your family as you feast on a spread consisting of pacha manga

kadalai sundal, tomato thayir pacchadi, curd rice, podi, pickle, urlai podimas, vadakari, avial, vendakai moru kozhumbu, muringkai sambhar and more. South Indies, 840/A, 100 feet Road, Indiranagar, January 13 to 15 41636363  Make your own antipasti: Always wanted to cook the Italian way? Head to this cooking demo of antipasti where you will learn to prepare starters like insalata, lemon marinated peppers, dill roasted

 Experiment with mushrooms: Get creative with mushrooms as Chef Liang teaches you how to whip up different dishes. Some of the dishes that you can prepare are black fungus and mushroom salad, cloudear and woodear mushrooms stir fried with honey, chilli and pork and shiitake dumplings. The Schezwan Court, The Oberoi, MG Road, till January 17 41358202

reason to celebrate. Dig into some Merry Waffle, a combination of four icecream flavours of choice. You can pick from over a dozen classic flavours that are complimented with crunchy Belgian waffles drizzled with strawberry and hot fudge and finished with sugary strands. Available at all Swensons’ outlets

Sajith Satya on bass and Shashank Vijay on drums as part of this Chennai-based outfit. Hard Rock Café, 40, St Marks Road, January 17, 8pm 41242222  Funk frenzy: Watch Funktutation perform live in the city. This band from Chennai features musicians who have spent over 10 years in the industry each. Lead singer Benny Dayal has lent his voice to many popular tunes in Bollywood and Kollywood. bFlat , 100 Feet Road, Above ING Bank, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, January 12 , 8.30 pm 41739250

Wheely business: Motorists walk in here for an evening of motor centric games, talks and food. Choose from a variety of cocktails like copper monkey and nitro beer and dishes like roast pepper melt and pick up chicks. Monkey Bar, 14/1, Krishna Manere, Wood Street, Ashok Nagar, January 16 41116878  Retro rhythm: Groove to some music from the 60s, 70s and 80s as Retronome performs some numbers from this era. Watch Chris Avinash on lead guitars, Riccha Paul and Ryan Colaco on vocals and percussion, Trinity D'Souza on lead guitar, Saggy on bass and vocals and Uday Jose on keyboard and vocals. Take 5, 54, MSK Plaza, 100 ft Road, Indiranagar,

 Sweet somethings: Here's another

January 13, 8pm 25217191  Rock riders: Lend your ears to some alternative rock music as Junkyard Groove takes to stage this weekend. They have opened for international acts like Iron Maiden, Prodigy, Incubus and more. Watch Ameeth Thomas on vocals and guitars, Naveen Thomas on lead guitar,

 Harmonica workshop: Harmonica lovers are in for a treat as Steve Baker, well know harp player will be in the city to conduct a workshop. His music combines elements of funk, folk, soul and jazz. Furtado School of Music, No. 116/C-1, 5th Block, KHB Colony, Koramangala, January 12 and 13 , 11 am 41104304

international children’s film festival Ball Pen

 Prasad (Kannada) Menaka Theatre, Anchepet, Chickpete, January 11, 9.30 am  Companion (English) Orion Mall, Brigade West, 26/1, Dr Rajkumar Road, Malleswaram West, January 11, 2.30 pm  Antoine Bombus Confusus (English) Orion Mall, Brigade West, 26/1, Dr Rajkumar Road, Malleswaram West, January 11, 4.30 pm

 The Secret Letter/ Hidden Shadows (English) Vision Cinema, Screen 3, 44/1, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, January 11, 9.30 am and Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 12, 3.30 pm  7 or Why I exist (German)/ Gus (English) Vision Cinema, Screen 3, 44/1, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, January 11, 11.30 am  Marina (English) Lavanya Theatre, Halasuru, January 11, 9.30 am  Circus Dreams / Nature's kid (English)

Vision Cinema, Screen 2, 44/1, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, January 11, 9.30 am  Red Reeds (English) Vision Cinema, Screen 2, 44/1, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, January 11, 11.30 am  Ball Pen (Kannada) Menaka Theatre, Anchepet, Chickpete, January 11, 11.30 am and Vision Cinema, Screen 2, 44/1, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, January 13, 11.30 am  Lump Sugar (English) Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 11, 9.30 am

 Kauwboy / In a Heartbeat (English) Orion Mall, Brigade West, 26/1, Dr Rajkumar Road, Malleswaram West, January 11, 6.30 pm and Vision Cinema, Screen 2, 44/1, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, January 12, 11.30 am  Alfie The Little Werewolf (English) Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 11, 1.30 pm  Winter in Wartime (English) Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 11, 3.30 pm  Green Days (English)

Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 11, 11.30 am  Bee Movie (English) Bal Bhawan, Cubbon Park, January 11, 9.30 am and Bal Bhawan , Cubbon Park, January 13, 11.30 am  Kabaad Se Jugaad / Shelter (Hindi) Bal Bhawan, Cubbon Park, January 11, 11.30 am  Polar Bears / The Riddle Solvers (English) Bal Bhawan , Cubbon Park, January 11, 1.30 pm  Happy Feet (English) Bal Bhawan , Cubbon Park, January 11, 3.30 pm  Narasajjana Nursery (English) Bal Bhawan , Cubbon Park, January 12, 9.30 am  Tad The Lost Explorer (English) Orion Mall, Brigade West, 26/1, Dr Rajkumar Road, Malleswaram West, January 12, 4.30 pm and Vision Cinema, Screen 2, 44/1, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, January 12, 9.30 am  The Jungle Gang / In Divine (Hindi)

Bal Bhawan , Cubbon Park, January 12, 11.30 am  Roads / Bunty's Tree (English) Bal Bhawan , Cubbon Park, January 12, 1.30 pm  Save Water / the Last Tiger (English) Bal Bhawan , Cubbon Park, January 12, 3.30 pm  Lovable and the Most Beautiful (English) Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 12, 9.30 am  Farewell / Running Egg (English) Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 12, 11.30 am  My Granpa the Bankrobber (English) Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 12, 1.30 pm  Bardsongs / Short Distance (English) Orion Mall, Brigade West, 26/1, Dr Rajkumar Road, Malleswaram West, January 12, 2.30 pm  Traveller from a distance (English) Orion Mall, Brigade West,

26/1, Dr Rajkumar Road, Malleswaram West, January 12, 6.30 pm

26/1, Dr Rajkumar Road, Malleswaram West, January 13, 2.30 pm

 Prathana (Kannada) Menaka Theatre, Anchepet, Chickpete, January 12, 9.30 am

The Rain Fairy (English) Orion Mall, Brigade West, 26/1, Dr Rajkumar Road, Malleswaram West, January 13, 6.30 pm

 Belakinedege (Kannada) Menaka Theatre, Anchepet, Chickpete, January 12, 11.30 am  Iris / Kidnapped (English) Vision Cinema, Screen 3, 44/1, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, January 12, 9.30 am  By Summer's End /Acorn Boy (English) Vision Cinema, Screen 3, 44/1, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, January 12, 11.30 am  Reptiles and Amphibians (English) Bal Bhawan , Cubbon Park, January 13, 9.30 am  Siddaganga (Kannada) Menaka Theatre, Anchepet, Chickpete, January 13, 11.30 am  On the Sly / Land of Mirrors (English) Orion Mall, Brigade West,

 My Mother The Mermaid (Mermaid) Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 13, 9.30 am  Green Days /Just Kids Play (English) Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 13, 11.30 am  Taking Chances (English) Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 13, 1.30 pm  Chubby Drums (English) Priyadarshini, Badami House, NR Square, January 13, 3.30 pm  The Peak / Annojibon (Telugu) Vision Cinema, Screen 2, 44/1, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, January 13, 9.30 am

L I S T I NGS

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

theatre

retail therapy Chapter 2

 Treadmill: This Hindi play is the journey of people who live in towns and about their memories. The play starts off being a light heart comedy but slowly shows how people are actually running constantly in their lives but are not getting anywhere. Tickets priced at Rs 150. The play is directed by Abhishek Majumdar and has Sandeep Shikhar, Virginia Rodrigues and Ashwini Kumar Chakre. Ranga Shankara, #36/2,

8th Cross, 2nd Phase, JP Nagar, January 11, 7.30 pm 26592777  Chapter 2-An Indian Adaptation: The play revolves around the life of Aditya Kumar, who loves his wife but loses her to cancer. Post his wife's death, his brother Nikhil tries to set him up with girls, who actually turn out to be disasters. He finally strikes gold with Raaga Ramdas but Aditya is stuck between his late wife's memories and

Raaga. In the meanwhile Nikhil is trying to have an affair with Raaga’s best friend Lavanya, but that doesn't turn out as expected. A classic by Neil Simon this is an Indian adaptation of the play presented by Jugaad Co. and directed by Anna Thomas. Jagriti Theatre, Varthur Road, Ramagondana Halli, Whitefield, January 12 , 8 pm and January 13, 3 pm and 6,30 pm 41248298  Doosra: The play is about a 20-

year-old who gets selected to represent the country. The cricketer's metamorphosis is show in the play. It shows the power, politics, money and pressure and the changing phases of the game. The play offers the perspectives of a father who still believes in the values of the game, an obsessed fan who has a love and hate attitude, a captain who is victimised, an NRI businessman who represents the darker side of the game and a politician who patronises the game for money. MLR Convention Centre, Brigade Millennium, 7th Phase, JP Nagar, January 13, 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm 40182222

 Shop till you drop: You will be spoilt for choices and prices as you shop this season. Head to Pepe Jeans and avail a discount of flat 40 per cent on a purchase of three tops and flat 20 per cent on a purchase of denims. Choose from T-shirts, shirts, denims, jackets, knits , scarves, caps, bags and belts. Available at all Pepe Jeans outlets

 The Compleat Wrks Of Willm Shkspr (Abridged): The play showcases a complete collection of Shakespeare's 37 plays and 154 sonnets, all in 97 minutes. The play is performed by three actors; Pranay Manchanda, Madhav Mehta and Karam Vir Lamba. Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, 16th Cross, Malleshwaram, January 16, 7.30 pm 23445810

 It’s sale season: Shop at Wrangler outlets and avail a discount of up to 50 per cent or avail the buy one get one free offer on your purchase. Choose from reversible styles jack ets, bomber jackets, sweat shirts and more. Available at all Wrangler outlets  Comfy flip flops: Men have a reason to

Toes. Use the deep pore cleansing milk that removes impurities. Complete your skin regime with the toner that locks all the moisture and makes your skin glow. Available at all Tips &Toes outlets

smile as Crocs introduces weekend flip flops for men. These flip flops are available in many colours and can be teamed up with a tshirt and shorts or with a pair of jeans as well. Priced at Rs 2,195 onwards. Available at Crocs Mantri Mall, Malleshwaram and Phoenix Market City  Fresh breath for your skin: This winter season take care of your skin with products from Tips &

 Funky teens: Shop for some funky accessories like embellished bags and jewellery. Choose from a wide range of tunics and dresses both for casual occasions and for a party. Also look out for a range of ballerina flats in different colours. Available on www.shopteen.com

To get your event listed, write to us at listings@talkmag.in

L I S T I NGS

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

workshop

film Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola

am, 1.15 pm, 3.05, 6.05, 6.55, 9.05 Rockline Cinemas, Jalahalli Cross- 1 pm, 7, 9.45 Rex Theatre, Brigade Road10.35 am, 4.15 pm, 9.55  Gangster Squad English The film is set in 1949 in Los Angeles. Mickey Cohen runs this town as he is the leader of a mob. He is into drugs, guns and prostitutes. He is protected by his own goons as well as the policemen and the politicians as they are all controlled by him. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the film stars Josh Brolin, Emma Stone, Josh Pence, Ryan Gosling and Sean Penn in the lead. PVR, Orion Mall- 10. 10 am, 12.40 pm, 4.20, 9.40

 Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Hindi The movie is set in the backdrop of Haryana and is about Harry Mandola, a wealthy industrialist who loves to drink, his daughter Bijlee and the special bond they share with Matru, Harry's Man Friday. Bijlee is all set to marry Baadal, the son of a politician but fate has other plans. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film stars Pankaj Kapur, Anushka Sharma and Imran Khan in

the lead. Fun Cinemas, Cunnigham Road- 10 am, 12.45 pm, 2.35, 3.50, 7, 10 Cinepolis, Bannerghatta Road- 10.20 am, 1.15 pm, 3.10, 4.10, 6.05, 7.05, 9, 10 CineMAX, Central Mall, Outer Ring Road- 10 am, 12.15 pm, 3.45, 4.45, 6.45, 9.45 CineMAX, Total Mall- 7 pm, 6.45, 9.45 Vision Cinemas- 10 am, 1 pm, 7, 9.45 Fame Forum Value Mall, Whitefield- 12.05 pm, 3.35, 3.50, 6.25, 9.15 Fame Lido, Off MG Road- 10am, 3.20 pm,

6.15, 8, 9.10 Fame, Shankarnag, MG Road- 11.45 am, 2.50 pm, 5.55, 9 pm Gopalan Cinemas, Bannerghatta Road- 10 am, 12.20 pm, 3.30, 6.15, 10 Gopalan Grand Mall, Old Madras Road- 10 am, 1.15 pm, 3.45, 7, 9.45 Innovative Multiplex, Marathahalli- 1.45 pm, 4.30, 7.15 INOX, JP Nagar- 10 am, 1.05 pm, 3.20, 6.10, 9.15 INOX, Magrath Road, Garuda Mall- 11.15 am, 2.15 pm, 5.15, 6.05, 8.15 pm INOX, Malleshwaram - 10.15

 Galaate Kannada This Kannada rom com is directed by Sridhar MD and stars Prajwal Devaraj, Kriti Kharbanda, Nisha Shetty and Suman Ranganath in the lead. The music is composed by Jassie Gift. INOX, Malleshwaram- 1.05 pm, 6.30, Sri Srinivasa Theatre- 6.30 pm, 9.30 Fame Forum Value Mall, Whitefield1.05 pm Gopalan Mall, Mysore Road- 1.15 pm INOX, JP Nagar, Central- 3.40 pm INOX, Magrath Road- 12.25

pm Aparna- 10.30 am, 1.30 pm , 4.30, 7.30 Veeresh10.30 am, 1.30 pm , 4.30, 7.30 Uma- 10.30 am, 1.30 pm , 4.30, 7.30 Navarang- 10.30 am, 1.30 pm , 4.30, 7.30 Alex Pandian Tamil Directed by Suraj, Alex Pandian stars Karthi, Anushka Shetty and Santhanam in the lead. Music has been composed by Devi Sri Prasad. Fun Cinemas, Cunningham Road- 12.20 pm, 5.45, 9.35 Cinepolis, Bannerghatta Road10 am, 4.05 pm, 7.35, 10 Fame Lido, off MG Road- 11 am, 2.15 pm, 5.30 , 8.45 Gopalan Grand Mall, Old Madras Road- 10 am, 4 pm, 6.30, 9.30 Innovative Multiplex, Marathahalli- 10 am, 1 pm, 4, 7 INOX, Malleswaram, Mantri Mall- 10 am, 1.10 pm, 6.40 , 9 Lakshmi Theatre, Tavarakere- 10 am, 1, pm, 5, 8 Vision Cinemas- 4 pm, 9.45 INOX, Garuda Mall, Magrath Road - 3.35 pm, 9 Fame Forum Value Mall, Whitefield- 2.55 pm, 9 INOX, Jayanagar, Garuda Swagath Mall- 11.15 am, 2 pm, 8.50 Manasa Digital 2 K Cinemas10.45 am Gopalan Mall, Mysore Road- 6.15 pm Mukunda Theatre- 11 am, 2 pm, 5.30

 Rush to get on stage: Always wanted to learn theatre? Then head to this workshop called First Rush by Chennai-based group Evam Entertainment where you can start from scratch and learn about performance on stage. You will be given basic specialised training in voice, movement, character building, marketing and theatre lighting and sound. This 90-hour program ends with a final performance in front of an audience. Course fee is Rs 7,500. To register mail at firstrush@evam.in or call at 9840612333.

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

DEMONSTRATED BY PRIYA CRASTA. PHOTOS BY RAMESH HUNSUR. TRANSCRIBED BY RADHIKA P

Why New Year resolutions fail ow many of you made New Year’s Eve resolutions? And how many have managed to stick to them in the days that followed? New Year resolutions are usually made for two reasons. One, it is fashionable. Many young people make resolutions because their friends do it. It is then merely for fun. Two, because you want to change something in your habits or attitude. Even the ‘serious’ New Year resolutions are rarely new. Usually these involve behaviour changes you have earlier failed to achieve. It is often accompanied by the fear and guilt of failure. How can such negative emotions ever give rise to anything positive? A desire to change is good. Take the case of a person who decides to give up eating nonvegetarian food out of love for

Way of Budo 16 Hard decisions are brittle decisions. On the other hand, flexibility and moderation help you change your behaviour, says Sensei Avinash Subramanyam

STRETCHING EXERCISE

animals. If it is genuine, the person will give it up the moment he realises the love. Whether he can give it up entirely in practice depends on his ability and limitations, but he will not ‘make a resolution’. He will surely not wait for a New Year to put this thought to action. If you like something, you will take it up as soon as you encounter it and perform it to the best of your ability. You will not wait for this day or this hour. In war, can a soldier say he will perform beginning on a particular day? He has to perform from the day he sets foot on the battlefield. He can’t wait or dilly-dally; the waiting could cost his life. Resolutions are hard and brittle, and that’s why they break. You need to be flexible to win life. Take someone who decides to quit drinking. He makes such a resolve only

because he drinks too much. It’s as though he can only drink too much or not drink at all; he knows no moderation. How can such a person succeed in keeping his resolve? Won’t such a person make ‘an adjustment’ the moment his boss or girlfriend asks him out for a drink to discuss a raise or holiday? Can resolutions be soft? Can we use occasions as an excuse to renew ourselves? Resolutions, if at all, can at best be a flexible scheduling of events—I will exercise twice a week; I will indulge in a sweet only once a week. Not hard, never rigid. In budo, you need to be what you are required to be, given the time and place. If a friend or a teacher is truly dear to you, is the resolve worth breaking that love? Mind you, this is not ‘adjustment’. In this

Stand erect with feet a shoulder width apart and parallel to each other. Keep your back straight, body relaxed. 5

Lift left knee and thigh in upward movement. Stretch the instep and snap the heel.

Bring left foot forward to centre of the body. 6

6 & 7: Swing left leg outwards in a full stretch. Toes point inward. Exhale while releasing the kick.

path you do not decide based on your ego. You need to fulfil obligations to others and not to yourself. What is important in budo is the ability to understand your limitations and be discerning. Kaizen or continuous improvement is the key, just as the struggle to walk the path. But know that change is circumscribed by your ability and the grace of God. Taking the path of budo is taking the path of joy, which again means moderation. There are no dos and don’ts, rights and wrongs. Know life for its worth, but don’t go overboard— whether it’s in buying a new mobile or having a drink. Give up inhibitions, and stop being judgmental and self-centred. Reduce bondage from material life as much as you can; this will set you on the path of pure joy and freedom.

Swing left leg slightly backwards in a movement to kick.

Tuck left leg inwards. Inhale while tucking in.

Bring left foot downward. Without touching the floor, repeat the steps nine times. End in the starting posture with feet apart.

Perform the same movements nine times with the right leg. This exercise relaxes the back of the leg, Achilles tendon, knee, loin and hip joints. It also tones the thigh and leg muscles.

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

From fool to cool

Dude SAVIE KARNEL savie.karnel@talkmag.in

ou can’t escape dude these days, especially if you’re around young people; so easily does it trip off their tongues. It used to mean someone smartly, even showily, dressed and with an ‘attitude,’ but more often it just means a guy. Nevertheless it has a positive connotation. The origin of the term is unclear but it came into common parlance only in 1883. There is evidence that the word existed long before that. It was rarely used and not in a positive way. It was mostly used to ridicule someone’s dressing. Some etymologists W believe the term has its origins in the Scottish term for clothes, duddies. It was then used in Britain for someone who dressed flashily or like a woman. Some others believe that the term The Talk was once a German column on word origins slang for fool. Most

dictionaries consider it an American slang word. The term dude is first believed to have appeared in print in the American Putnam’s Magazine in 1876. Here it was used to mock the dressing of a woman. The term seems to have been in common usage even then. The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang cites an 1877 reference. A letter written by painter and sculptor Frederick Remington read thus: “Don’t send me any more (drawings of) women or any more dudes.” The term gained popularity in 1883. An article in Dudespaper.com says it all began with The Dude, a little-known poem by Robert Sale Hill. In his poem, Hill seems to be ridiculing the new generation of men who are overly conscious of their dressing, and who use slang and smoke. He calls these men dudes.

K E Y

Vijay Mallya may not be everyone’s idea of a dude, but it’s certainly not for want of trying

Mild dissipation, feeble brain With cigarette smoke border.

The poem goes on to say that the dudes may go to another nation. He is unlikely to have known then that he was Hill writes: A flock of Dudes, I greatly fear, naming a whole subculture that would live long and eventually go mainstream worldAre added to our nation. wide. In form and feature rather young— The newspapers picked up the term Somewhat resembling man, sir— and that year there were many articles on They flit about and speak a tongue the dude. The cartoons ridiculed the stylish That is not worth a d—n, sir tight pants which were the trademark of Their features, first I would explain the dudes. There was a flooding of dude Are of the washed out order—

O R D S

related articles in the media of the time, just like a few years back the Indian media was filled with articles on the ‘metrosexual’ man, talking about the way he looked, dressed, spoke and cooked. The most famous of the early dudes was New York socialite Evander Berry Wall, who was known for his extraordinary dressing. In 1880s, newspapers called him ‘King of Dudes.’ He was said to own over 5,000 ties and once changed attires 40 times between breakfast and dinner to win a contest against a fellow dude. In the meanwhile, dude earned another meaning, that of a city slicker. It was used by some for a rich well-dressed man from a city who has no knowledge of country life. Jonathan Periam in his 1883 book, The Home and Farm Manual, used the term several times to denote an ill-bred and ignorant, but ostentatious, man from the city. In the 1960s, the word entered the lingo of surfers, where it came to mean ‘a guy.’ By the same token, a woman was called a dudette or dudess. This meaning crept into common language in the 1970s and was used in informal conversation. This meaning has stuck around and spread through the world. The feminine form of the word is lost and dude is now a unisex term.

memoir

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

Thanks to his political patronage, gangsters had a free run of the city, but the consequences proved costly for the much admired chief minister

he mayhem created by assailants in the court hall, in their attempt to kill a person right in front of a judge, had shocked the judiciary. The judges were shattered. They were debating among themselves whether it would be possible to continue with court proceedings, if the police didn't provide adequate security. They decided to submit a memorandum to the chief minister Devraj Urs. The lawyer community went a step ahead and was verbally critical of the very attitude of the CM. Lawyers who were appreciative of the CM's policies on land reforms and reservations turned bitter critics of Urs for encouraging rowdy elements. The public were stunned when MD Nataraj, son-in-law of Urs, displayed his recklessness by taking rowdy Jairaj and his gang in a train, as he led a team from the state taking part in a Congress rally held in Delhi. The more sober members of the Congress party were anxious. These rowdies pushed their way into the rally raising slogans as if they were the real Congressmen, and party intellectuals hanged their heads in shame. Whatever sense of principles and ethics existed in the Congress was subsumed by the cacophony created by

VIVEK ARUN

When the truth came out, everyJairaj and his gang. The open and frank debates in the Congress com- one was shocked. Rowdies patronized mittee had become things of past. by the Urs government took the side When a meeting was held inside, row- of house owners and terrorized comdies would parade outside. Scared of plainants into taking back the cases. The government's policy was those goons, committee members would keep their mouths shut. akin to giving with one hand and Slowly, the goons started entering snatching back with the other. The Jairaj gang earned lot of wealth in just into the committee. As they had the ruling party tag, evicting tenants and brokering deals. rowdies wreaked havoc in Bangalore They managed to transfer many propcity. They would run parallel police erties under litigation to their names. Thus the House Rent Control stations and courts. The rowdies Act was beneficial to appointed by Jairaj the rowdies rather for various neighThe gangsters than needy tenants. bourhoods would Urs had an aversion kidnap people and ran parallel to upper classes and detain them in their police stations castes, and undeservdens, and get their and courts ing elements took work done with advantage of it. The death threats. policies did have The Urs government had implemented the House some use for the poor and backward Rent Control Act to help the tenants. classes, but anti-social elements had Under this Act, many tenants had grabbed the benefits of schemes dragged house owners to the courts. meant for the downtrodden. The 'Indira Brigade' filled with But suddenly, a clamour started among the lawyers when their anti-social elements had unleashed clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;who had booked cases terror on society. MD Nataraj was a against house ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;started urging leader of the Indira Brigade right from his student days when he studied them to withdraw the cases. medicine. Nagaratna, Urs' second daughter, was also a medical student. Nataraj was a Kuruba, and Urs, a Yadav. He was shocked at the news that Nataraj would marry Nagaratna. He vehemently opposed it. He was livid that a gang leader patronized by him was brazen enough to marry his daughter. Moreover, Nataraj was already married, and Urs didn't want to see

crime folio

Havoc under Devaraj Urs Fabled ranconteur and Bangaloreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top-notch criminal lawyer brings you moving, sensational and bizarre stories from 40 years of his practice

CH HANUMANTHARAYA

his daughter as the second wife of a goon. But, Nagaratna was adamant. She said in clear terms that she would marry only Nataraj and no one else. Urs had to keep quiet. After marriage, he was worried that Nagaratna was not happy. Nataraj went on to become an MLC, and started amassing wealth illegally, and indulging in land grabbing. One morning, Urs's daughter Nagaratna's dead body was found floating in a well in a farm. Some said it was suicide, others said it was murder. But the truth remained a mystery to the end. (Translated by BV Shivashankar)

T I M E P A SS

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

talk the intelligent bangaloreanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s must-read weekly

How do advertisers talk to Bangaloreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most intelligent readers? They call these numbers Abhay 95388 92618 Mithun 98864 69787

T I M E P A SS 1st Cross

2 3 5

6 8

DOWN Region on the Karnataka - Andhra Pradesh border facing a water crisis (8) Sri Lankan batsman in our IPL squad (1,1,7) BMTC celebrated this on 3rd Jan (3,3) Police and transport officials were recently given a crash course in _____ (8) Informal term for our state's film industry (10) JD(S) legislator who was sentenced to one year imprisonment for violat-

Last week’s solution

Across Vidhyarthi ____ : Dosa place in Gandhi Bazaar (6) 4 Mrs Jagadish Shettar (6) 7 Karnataka's largest district(8) 12 Patients suffering from this disease in Karnataka can now avail of free or subsidized travel for treatment (4) 13 The police recently busted a

Talk’s weekly crossword for Bangaloreans who know their way about town

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

____ racket in Ramnagaram (6) 14 ____ ____ B Mirji: Bangalore's Police Commissioner (6,7) 16 Energy minister Shobha Karandlaje feels this should be the punishment for rapists (10) 18 ____ Narayanan: Bangalorean who was recently appointed as the MD of IBM India (7)

Across: 2 Udayanagar, 4 Children, 5 Fifth, 7 Goa, 9 Srinivasa, 11 Tibetan, 13 Surathkal, 15 R Ashok, 16 St Mary's, 17 Paneer. Down: 1 Palace Grounds, 3 Neelasandra, 4 Chemical, 6 Whitefield, 7 Graze, 8 Bychapura, 10 Rahman Khan, 12 Thirty, 14 Three

ing the poll code in 2009 (1,1,10) SM Krishna plans to contest the Karnataka assembly elections from this constituency (6) 10 Congress MLA who was recently the target of a Lokayukta raid (11) 11 U S ____ __: Dance guru whose birth centenary was recently celebrated in the city (7,3) 15 ___ Cinemas: Multiplex on Cunningham Road (3) 17 You will find the remnants of his fort in the City Market area (4) 9

 I am 18 years old and a transsexual. My family is deeply Prof religious and Good Sense treats me as a sinner. My father, a theologian, told me I would not escape the fires of hell given my sexual orientation. I want to undergo corrective surgery, but my mom says it is an unpardonable sin to tamper with what God has created. Please help me. Sujith, Kodagu

Transsexuals from religious backgrounds grow up with fear and admonition from elders. I cannot answer a theological question about God, heaven and hell. I suggest you seek answers from within your faith, from a qualified, broadminded and experienced counsellor. I also suggest you interact with transsexuals of different faiths and beliefs, and see how they are coping, and what answers they have found. If you ask my personal view, I would say God doesn't condemn you for being a transsexual. It is not a sin to undergo reassignment surgery. The decision must come only from you. We carry within ourselves our own 'heaven' or 'hell'. The surgical process is actually a pursuit of physiological, sexual, emotional, and spiritual completeness, and is often achieved at enormous personal cost. Make yourself aware of the challenges and possibilities before you take any decision. Prof M Sreedhara Murthy teaches psychology at NMKRV First Grade College. He is also a well-known photographer. Mail queries to prof@talkmag.in

talk|17 jan 2013|talkmag.in

Pure veg Martians

New squid on the block

Whatever they are smoking over there in Silicon Valley, it's heady stuff. The latest loonier-than-thou idea to come out of the place beats others we've heard beforeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a small city on Mars for 80,000 space explorers, and only for vegetarians at that. Then again, it just might come true, since the man behind it is Elon Musk, billionaire co-founder of Paypal and private space entrepreneur, whose Falcon 9 rocket delivers Nasa cargo to the International Space Station. He recommends the size of the settlement be around 80,000 people,

because if it's "too few, the gene and culture pool dries up. Too many and you risk civil war." But before the wannabe Martians can settle down, there are quite a few problems to be solved, Musk admits. For example, how to avoid deep-space radiation, bone-rot and toxic dust; and that's just for starters. Considering that Musk has got his hands full, and given the technical difficulties involved in maintaining a chicken coop in Mars, we thought he might be forgiven for insisting on a 'vegetarians only' clause.

Bring on the zombie apocalypse Our government was caught unawares even when it came to a student protest, like in Delhi recently, but in the UK, they are even prepared for a zombie apocalypse. At least, that's what this response to a Freedom of Information (similar to our own RTI)

request indicates. In response to the query, a government official responded that "in the event of an apocalyptic incident (eg zombies), any plans to rebuild and return England to its pre-attack glory would be led by the Cabinet Office," and rather helpfully clarified that the military's role would be to support the civilian authorities. This is not the first time UK officials have

considered such a threat. In June 2011, the Bristol City Council detailed specific plans on how to prepare for a zombie attack, with four alert states based on the spread of zombie infection. It also designated the most at-risk towns, and detailed the correct zombie-killing procedure ("Fully disconnect the brain-stem from the body through either blunt force or full head removal").

It seems even being a deep sea monster living in an underwater abyss is no guarantee of peace of mind these days. A bunch of scientists accompanied by a TV crew have captured footage of an elusive giant squid, up to eight metres (26 feet) long, that roams the depths of the Pacific Ocean, 1,000 km off the coast of Tokyo. According to Japan's National Science Museum which filmed the poor beastâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;known to scientists as the Architeuthisâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it's the first time it has been captured in its natural habitat (in other words, not dead and washed up on a beach). These paparazzis with PhDs had to do nearly 100 dives, and spend about 400 hours cramped in a submersible before they spotted the specimen at a depth of 630 metres. While we're sure this is an impressive feat, we wonder if the seafood crazy Japanese can be trusted with a squid of any size, let alone a giant one.