The Observer An IIJNM publication
Vol. 21, Issue 15
Resident doctors, interns of two govt hospitals go on an indefinite strike, joined by other staff | P 2
Monday, November 29, 2021
Reluctance to seek help is one of the factors By Tina Freese
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and they don’t seek help. Middleaged men, in general, have a lot of societal pressure. The environment they grew up in during young age makes talking about emotions a sort of taboo.” Another reason for the larger number of suicides is toxic masculinity. Dr Khushbo Baxi, a practising counselling psychologist, said: “From a very young
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Medarahalli roads, dug up two years ago for the Cauvery Pipeline, have been left unpaved | P 4
Men more prone than women to commit suicide: NCRB report en are more prone to suicide than women, says the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2020. In 2020, India reported 1.53 lakh cases of suicide out of which 1.08 lakh (70.9 percent) were by men. Among men, 22.6 percent were in the 18-30 age group and 23.8 percent were in the 30-45 age group. Family problems was the major cause of suicide in cities, which accounted for 34.0 per cent of suicides by men Dr Veena A. Satyanaryana, associate professor of clinical psychology at NIMHANS, discussed the various reasons that drive men to attempt suicide. “It is true that men are more prone to attempt suicide than women. The reason for suicide is very complex. It is a combination of things. Men tend to internalize issues. They prefer not to speak about them,
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age, boys are fed with this notion that they are supposed to be strong. This gets engraved in their minds.” Boys are told that one is masculine only if you don’t cry or get emotional. “They aren’t self-aware in many cases, and they don’t want to talk about their feelings. For them, asking for help is a sign of weakness. They avoid it completely,
Baxi said.” Out of all the patients she has dealt with, only about 5 percent were men. Preetpal Singh Bhatia, 19 years old, a student, said: “I feel that boys of my age face a lot of pressure from family and the society. ‘Study hard, make a career so that you can support your family in the future’ is a common phrase in every household. I have faced it personally. I don’t think a girl is nearly as much under pressure as compared to a boy.” Societal expectations and a lack of ability to express feelings openly are considered to be the major reasons for much higher suicides among men. Sahil Chodhary, 23 years old, a back-end developer in Bengaluru, said: “Societal expectations are… the very root of this problem. Men aren’t seen as man enough if they even try to express their feelings. When we sometimes do express our feelings, we are seen as weak and emotional. Phrases such as ‘Don’t cry like a girl’ are fed to a boy from a very young age. It is very difficult to shake off the idea that men are supposed to lack emotion and be strong.” Continued on Page 5
News briefs Farm laws repealed, protest to continue A Bill to repeal the three controversial farm laws has been passed by Parliament by a voice vote. The opposition’s demand for a debate was rejected by Speaker Om Birla. Farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait welcomed the Bill, but said the protest would continue since other issues, including MSP, are yet to be resolved.
Japan restricts entry of foreign passengers
Japanese PM Fumio Kishida announced the country will bar foreign visitors from entering the country. This order comes after Japan lifted border restrictions earlier this month for people visiting for businesses, students and workers. Israel and Morocco have suspended all incoming international flights.
Ready to handle third wave: B’luru hospitals
With the fear of a third Covid wave hitting Bengaluru, hospitals say that they are prepared to tackle the situation. Though the hospitals are unclear about the right treatment, they are confident their handling would be better in comparison to the second wave. Karnataka has reported 315 new Covid-19 cases as of today. P 2
‘What was his crime?’: Fans of Faruqui livid as show is cancelled By Tina Freese
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A cheerful atmosphere due to a relative return to normalcy was the highlight of the Kadlekai Parishe, inaugurated on Monday. People who participated in the much-awaited festival, however, said the footfalls did not match up pre-pandemic levels | Credit: Shrist Achar A | Page 5
any fans and fellow comedians are upset over the cancellation of Munawar Faruqui’s standup to be held on Sunday at the Good Shepherd Auditorium, Bengaluru. Rajvardhan Thakur, 16, a fan, is deeply hurt by the situation. “It is very sad…. Society tries to draw the line about topics which you can joke about. Taboo topics become tempting for comedians who try to use them because nobody expects to hear them . When you go to a show, you are allowed to get offended by a joke and you are free not to laugh, leave the show and continue with your life. But to take it to this level is bad.” Amina Khot, 21, said: “This is
Good Shepherd Auditorium in Bengaluru wore a deserted look as Faruqui’s show was cancelled | Credit: Tina Freese unfair. We have lost a great artiste today. What was his crime? Making jokes? I don’t know what kind of democracy we live in. If you don’t like a joke, just walk away, but don’t make the comedian leave his comedy behind. What happened to him is in violation of his freedom of speech
and… because he is a Muslim.” Khot hopes the comedian will come back stronger. On Sunday, Faruqui took to Twitter and Instagram to announce he was deeply saddened byofficial response to his planned show. “I think this is the end.” His fans on social media gathered in support of the artiste. Pavan Venugopal, a Bengalurubased standup comedian, said, “I am deeply saddened by the situation. We live in a world where anyone can get offended anytime. What we can do as comedians is to try and scrutinize our jokes in such a way that it doesn't hurt anyone's sentiments. I am sure that Munawar will come back stronger and resume his shows.” Continued on Page 5
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The Observer Monday, November 29, 2021
We are confident of fighting a third Covid wave, say hospitals
But lack clarity on how to treat Omicron variant By Simran Sharma
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n the wake of an increasing number of covid cases in the state, hospitals in Bengaluru are quite confident of handling Covid-19 better than before even if a third wave comes. Dr Dakshinamurti , a resident medical officer at Chinmaya Mission Hospital, informed The Observer. “Most…hospitals are ready for a third wave. We have arrangements and will be creating more facilities for it. We are not very sure about the new variant. A lot of study is required….” If Omicron, the new covid variant, spreads in Karnataka, they would follow the same treatment protocol as of now. Most hospitals have covid patients with mild symptoms. Dr. Praveen Kumar, medical superintendent at Raja Rajeshwari Medical Institute and Hospital, said: “We will be able to control it unlike what is projected in media If symptoms are detected, then I won’t say that we will be able to stop it from spreading, but we would be able to contain it by following all the covid-appropriate
Covid tracker
Karnataka New Cases
315
Active Cases
6860
Total Cases
1,646,193
New Vaccinations
281,023 Total Vaccinations
72,098,531
India New Cases
8,309
Active Cases
103,859
Total Cases
34,580,832
New Vaccinations
4,204,171 Total Vaccinations
1,224,168,929
With new covid clusters being found in the state, the citizens demand that flights from high risk nations should be banned for the safety of the people | Credit: Simran Sharma behaviour around us.’’ About the new variant, he said: “Anything can be said about the new variant only when any such cases would come to the country and treatment is tried out on them.’’ He believes they would be able to handle the situation in a much better way than it was handled during the second wave. The Karnataka government has asked the central government to ban flights coming from South Africa, Botswana and HongKong, as the new variant has affected these countries a lot. With covid clusters being found
in the educational institutions in the state, the Karnataka Health Department has asked such institutions to set up or find covid care centres for the people infected with the virus. These guidelines came after the two South African citizens tested positive for covid-19. They were found infected with the new Delta variant according to a statement issued by the Bengaluru Rural Health Commissioner. The Observer noticed that most people in the city are not following covid-appropriate behaviours. Masks slipping to the chin and
people brushing against each other are a very common sight. Jagdish B.S., who works in BMTC, said, “Testing at the airport should be increased.The government is taking good decisions as if now, but people also should be following protocols.” Many people want the government to ban flights from high-risk nations like South Africa. Lakshmi S, a computer trainer, said people have gone back to their normal lives.The fear of another wave is worrying her. “As per reports, it is very dangerous and there are a lot of rumours going around,” she added. Sri D.Randeep, commissioner at Health and Family Welfare service told The Observer that “it is too early to comment” regarding the current situation.. The state government came up with some fresh guidelines after Chief Minister Bommai called an emergency meeting on Saturday. The per-day testing has to be raised to 80,000 from 60,000.RTPCR testing has been made compulsory for people coming from Maharashtra and Kerela. The Authorities at Kempegowda International Airport and Kempegowda bus station, said that they still haven’t received any latest guidelines from the Karnataka government regarding the situation. simran.s@iijnm.org
Citizen’s Voice Munawar Faruqui has been treated unfairly After the cancellation of standup comedian Munawar Faruqui’s show in Bengaluru, one cannot help but think to what extent will the “goondagardi” of a certain people go on, and what a young person like him will be going through. He has been bearing the load of a crime he hasn't even committed with utmost character. Grishma Nair
There’s a possibility of a grim 2022
With Covid positive cases and deaths rising all over Europe, and emergence of new strains from countries that are not vaccinated well, it is tough to maintain a sense of optimism about how India will perform next year. With the general population getting more careless with Covid-appropriate behaviour, one can only wonder whether we will end up in with a nightmare like the second Covid wave. Keshav Janyani
Portray police brutality sensitively on screen
Last year’s killing of George Floyd in US resulted in worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality. But, Hindi films like the recently released Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi have repeatedly portrayed police violence, which is an illegal practice. Filmmakers before making a movie need to think about the social impact. Sourasis Bose
Resident doctors and interns of two government hospitals go on strike Joined by staff who have not been paid
By Swarali Bodas
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esident doctors and interns of government-run Victoria Hospital and Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute began an indefinite strike on Monday. They have withdrawn all services at OPDs as well as operation theatres. The strike,organized by the Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD), has also been joined by the housekeeping staff who are a part of the All-India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU). They have different kinds of demands. Dr Ramesh Krishnan , the medical superintendent at Victoria Hospital, said that till the government doesn’t release any funds, the hospital management will not do anything. Dr Namrata, a former president of KARD, informed The Observer: “We started a strike on November 9 but dissolved it soon when the health minister promised to meet
Resident doctors and interns of the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute and Victoria Hospital hold placards in support of their demands | Credit: Swarali Bodas our demands in 10 days. Our demands still haven’t been met,so we have called this indefinite strike from today.” Housekeeping staff and ward attendants shared their troubles with The Observer. “Housekeeping staff getRs 14,000 a month and ward attendants gets Rs 10,000.We have not been paid for three months. Many of us are the sole earners in the family.My family is finding it difficult to survive,” said a ward attendant who did not want to be named.
Many employees live in far away places Peenya and Mandya. Half of their salaries are spent on travelling to their workplaces. Maitri, a lawyer representing the housekeeping staff, said: “The superintendent says the money is stuck with the government. With no payment for three months, how are they supposed to run their households? They will be on an indefinite strike till their salaries are paid.” The doctors and interns have three demands: Restructure fees
according to the year 2018-19; immediately release funds for covid risk allowance; and pay stipend to post-MBBS junior interns timely. Dr Navin, president of KARD, addressing the strikers, said: "Covid allowance is our right. We are demanding our right.” Anuradha Parmeshwari, president of the Indian Medical Association, Bengaluru, said the IMA supports KARD and hopes the health minister and the CM will listen to their demands. They don't want patients to suffer. “The collateral damage of these strikes will be to the patients.” Tajunnisa, who had a severe stomachache, said that she visited the OPD but the staff there did not attend to her. “They just gave me medicines and advised me to come after two weeks. There aren’t many doctors on duty because of the strike." B L Srinivasa Murthy, Assistant Commissioner of Police, VV Puram division, said they still have not received any information regarding this issue. The Observer tried to reach out to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka but no one was available for giving a response to us. swarali.b@iijnm.org
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The Observer Monday, November 29, 2021
Bengaluru cafes doubling up as working spaces for professionals Boredom and flexibility are driving the trend By Shristi Achar A
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n increasing number of freelancers and work-fromhome employees have turned cafes into coworking spaces in Bengaluru, say café owners. Covid-19 had a massive impact on the food service industry in India, with sales plummeting by 49 per cent, even after restrictions were eased in the third quarter of financial year 2020-21, according to the National Restaurant Association of India’s report titled Covid Impact on the Food Services Industry 2021. However, with a further reopening of the economy, and changing customer demands, cafes across the city are accommodating working people. A recent trend is the establishment of co-working cafes targeted towards people who need a space to work outside of home. Udit Bhudhiraja, co-founder of Habitation Cafe on Lalbagh Main Road, said the trend arises from the need to survive in the industry hit by the pandemic. “Cafes are struggling big time. People still aren’t comfortable sitting in cafes and having their meals. So this is why they are looking for a second source of income…. In a time when there are more freelancers and employees working from home who want flexibility, we want to be able
Quiz 1.The first vaccine against smallpox was inspired by? 2.What major disease did Europeans catch in the Americas and bring back to Europe? 3.Which virus inspired the movie 'Contagion'? 4.Which animal can spread Nipah, a deadly virus that struck in Malaysia in 1999? 5.A carved stone from the time of the Pharaohs is thought to depict a victim of which virus? 6.What is the name of the deadly mosquito-borne disease that has killed the most number of people in the world? 7.Which fever is also called “three-day fever”? 8.The ‘corona’ in corona virus refers to? 9.After which period does the virus replicate in the body and starts to affect the host? 10.Double-stranded DNA is found in which viruses? 11.In the host cell, replication of RNA virus takes place in? 12.Which virus causes the common cold? 13.Which Chinese city was COVID-19 first discovered in? 14.What does the “19” in “COVID19” refer to?
People in Bengaluru prefer working at cafes as they free them from their responsibilties while providing a pertinent work environment away from home I Courtesy:-pexels.com to provide for that demand for spaces. We are essentially Uber for working spaces,” Bhudhiraja informed The Observer. Nayantara Bagla, chef and partner at Bangalore Creative Circus in Yeshwantpur, cited similar reasons. “Companies are now considering flexible working models. They are realizing they don’t need dedicated real estate for their organisations to work. So in such a scenario, our cafe fills the gap.” “In a traditional cafe a person could block one seat for the whole day without generating much for the cafe itself. But our entire cafe isn’t a co-working space anymore; they are separated. So such accommodation helps avoid prob-
lems for us,” Bagla added. The upcoming trend of co-working cafes has yet another angle to cover, Bhudhiraja said. “Since corporates are considering flexible working day models, people will need a space to work. In a co-working space, unlike cafes, one has to take up monthly passes. So coworking cafes fill in the gap when we provide such flexibility in time and cost.” Aakash Kumar, a director and writer, likes cafes for their light ambience and work environment. “I go to cafes because they free me from my responsibilities at home for a little while.…You get services like tea and food in a casual environment. The ambience
is quite helpful,” he said. Chetna Kaur, an interaction designer, said such cafes provide a respite from the confines of the home. “Working in the co-working cafes gives me a sense of being a part of something bigger. It gets me out from being stuck within four walls. And because I can see stuff happening around me, it sometimes helps in sparking inspiration for my work.” Keshav K, Chetna’s friend, while agreeing with her, thinks that ultimately coworking cafes are still not as useful. “I live in the city, and have a home where I already get food. I don’t understand why I would have to come outside to work unless I have to meet someone. Working in cafes isn’t exactly cost-effective,” he said. Heetarthi Jodhani, an industrial psychologist, thinks the boredom of home alone isn’t the only reason behind the trend. “Co-working cafes will thrive because they serve as communities for freelancers who can be hired for projects and contracts. While people will come there because they are bored of sitting at home, the flexibility of having to work outside of an office is also very appealingto people. It helps them network and build their social capital, which was perhaps the biggest setback during Covid-19. Additionally, people have realised that they can be just as productive while working at their own pace. Hence, we see even corporates are considering three-day work weeks to accommodate such flexibility in work behaviour.” shristi.a@iijnm.org
3 Across the city Indian Music Experience Museum, Brigade Millenium Road, opp. Wood Rose Club, JP Nagar 7th phase, Saturday, November 27 to Tuesday, November 30, Bengaluru. About 9th Elasia- 2022, Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre, 10th Mile, Tumkur Main Road, Madavara Post Dasanapura, Hobli, Saturday, November 27 to Tuesday, November 30, Bengaluru. Jawarharlal Nehru Planetarium, Sri T, Sankey Road, High Grounds, Thursday, November 25 to Tuesday, November 30, Bengaluru. Thinking through Process, Bangalore International Centre, 7, 4th Main Road, Stage 2, Domlur, Wednesday, November 17 to Wednesday, December 1, Bengaluru. Hand Held Precision Digital Multimeter, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru Complex, HAL Airport Area, HAL, Wednesday, November 10 to Wednesday, December 1, Bengaluru. Free Walking Tour Bangalore, Coffee Day Square, 23/2, Vittal Mallya Road, near Cubbon Park, Ashok Nagar, Thursday, November 25 to Friday, December 3, Bengaluru. 2021 Bangalore Open Air, No 45/2, Honnenahalli, Doddaballapur Main Road, Yelahanka, Saturday, December 4, Bengaluru. Job Fair, St. Francis de Sales Degree College, 24, National Highway 44, Veer Sandra, Hebbagodi, Saturday, December 11, Bengaluru. 0Start:AdobePhotoshop&;Ga phics Workshop, #302, Old#174, 11, 7th Cross Road, Chikka Banaswadi, Old Madras Banaswadi Road Layout, Banasawadi, Saturday, December 18, Bengaluru.
Japanese anime gains popularity in B’luru Japanese food, language make people curious By Simran Sharma
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ntertainment stores have been witnessing increased footfalls with the rising popularity of ‘anime culture’ in Bengaluru. Japanese restaurants and language institutes have also joined the anime race. Vani Kartik, owner of the Entertainment Store, informed The Observer: “The number of people coming to our store for anime merchandise has increased…. About 70 percent of these people are college students. For the past one and a half years, more and more people are buying anime merchandise from us.” Japanese restaurants have also seen an increase in footfalls. Pradeep Bhora, manager of Harima, a Japanese restaurant, said: “After Covid, we are getting a lot of Indian guests, especially on weekends. Many times people
There has been an increase in the number of people visiting stores to buy anime merchandise I Credit: Simran Sharma don’t even know how to eat a dish but they still order and ask me how to eat it. A lot of Japanese cultural events have been organized in our restaurant.” Jackson Jose, co-founder of Artmonk Film Production House, said: “Animation is completely technology-based, and this is an advantage as there is a certain level of difficulty in shooting liveaction films. A lot of stories can be
conveyed through the use of animations and it uses a tremendous amount of imagination as well.” The anime industry will grow further in terms of viewership. Many have started learning the Japanese language after watching the anime shows. Pallavi Goshal, founder of Nili Japenese, a language institute in Bengaluru, shared: “Many students are coming to learn Japan-
ese because of animes. If there are 16 students in a class, half of them are the ones who came here after watching animes. For the past two to three years the viewership is increasing. We have started three or four kids’ batches this year. We have been seeing a lot of young people as well.” The Observer spoke with several anime fans regarding the same. Snigdha V, a student, said: “My sister is a huge fan of animes. She even started eating ramen after watching these shows. I remember she once told me that she wants to eat the ramen that her favourite character Naruto eats.” Some feel that anime products make them come closer to their childhood. Madhur Bharadwaj, a 20-year-old student, said: “I watch anime because of the plot and story. It gives a sensation that no real-life movie or series can give. Anime culture has affected us deeply.” He has even purchased merchandise of his favorite anime character. “These customized products make us go down the memory lane and (we) relive our childhood…” he added. simran.s@iijnm.org
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The Observer Monday, November 29, 2021
Medarahalli roads, dug up for Cauvery Pipeline, remain unpaved 2 years later
Similar is the situation in nearby Abbigere By Arshreet Singh
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he condition of roads in Medarahalli, a residential neighbourhood five kilometers from the Jalahalli Metro station, is miserable, say its residents. The roads were dug up to lay a Cauvery water pipeline, but have remained unpaved for two years, leaving them completely unnavigable after rain. Nidhin Pramod, a technical consultant who moved to Medarahalli six years ago, informed The Observer: “The roads were paved six years ago. But two years back, the roads were dug up for the Cauvery pipeline project. The government dug up the roads again to connect storm water drains to the main line, and they never bothered to pave it back.” The cost of one square foot of land in the neighbourhood is Rs 4,500. But none of the properties has a paved road in front of it. “Medarahalli lies well within the limits of Bengaluru Urban, but feels like a rural town,” added Pramod. “I am embarrassed to bring my friends home because of the condition of the roads.” The Observer noted a similar condition of roads in neighbouring Abbigere. Both neighbourhoods have witnessed a surge in
I am embarrassed to bring my friends home because of the condition of the roads says Medarahalli resident Nidhin Pramod | Credit: Arshreet Singh, Courtesy: Nidhin Pramod residential construction, putting further strain on the dismal infrastructur of the region. Manoj L, an undergraduate student at the nearby RR College of Pharmacy who has lived in the area for over seven years, shared: “The roads are always a mess. It gets muddy whenever it rains, and it is hard to step out of the house. Local politicians fill it up with raw cement, and it washes away when it rains.” The residents are pessimistic about the possibility of any future
improvement in the area.. T.K. Karthikeya, a resident of Medarahalli, said: “This will continue. We have complained to the BBMP, and they’ve told us to go to the Public Works Department. It has been three years since I have seen a paved road here.” Kumar, another local resident, explained: “The roads will be repaved once the work is done. It is taking a long time because first they put in the Cauvery pipeline two years ago, then Bescom cables, then BSNL cables, and fi-
nally sanitary and drain water pipelines. Another reason is that the local MLA belongs to the JD(S) and doesn’t get much money from the BJP government for work related activities.” The Observer tried to contact MLA R. Manjunatha, but he was unavailable for comment. Asked about the condition of the roads, BBMP Assistant Executive Engineer Rahaman Idrus said: “There are no roads because of the Cauvery pipeline. One hundred and ten villages are being
Visitors left disappointed by Bengaluru’s poorly maintained Government Aquarium Many fish tanks are empty; some have no lights By Swarali Bodas The Bangalore Aquarium, also known as Government Aquarium, is poorly maintained. Onethird of the 30 tanks at the aquarium are completely empty. A dozen of them don't have fish, while six lack lights. Shruti Madar, the officer-incharge of the aquarium, informed The Observer they do their best to maintain the aquarium but at times it gets difficult. “At the end of the day, it is maintained by the government. It comes well under the Department of Fisheries. There aren’t many visitors even after lockdowns were lifted,” she added. Rashmi KV, a Bengaluru resident who visited the aquarium with her two children, said she was disappointed to see the condition of the aquarium. “I wanted my
Twelve tanks at the Government Aquarium didn’t have any fishes in them I Credit: Swarali Bodas children to see various kinds of fish. Sure, there are many fish here, but according to me, the best ones are missing. For example: the Golden peacock which is a fascinating fish to look at. They don’t have that in there.” On the other hand, her children Vishwa and Isha, aged 13 and 11 respectively, were happy to see the fish . “We don’t know the
names of many and are happy to click photographs of the fish that are there,” said Vishwa. The aquarium has an entry fee of Rs 10. There are 14 tanks on the ground floor and 16 on the first floor of the aquarium. The Observer noted that 12 tanks had nameplates but didn’t have fish in them. Some nameplates said: Platies, Yellow, White and
Black Mollies, Red Rukim Goldfish, Golden Peacock, Oranda and Red Rukim Goldfish and Crab. Asked about the missing fish, Madar said: “Some of the fishes are temperature sensitive. Because of cold weather, they die. We cannot keep dead fish in the tank… and avoid bringing new ones to the aquarium.” Shashwat and Sandhya Kesari, tourists from Chennai, said they visited the place because it’s located inside a famous garden. “Cubbon Park is in the middle of the city. We wanted to visit all the important places in Bengaluru. This popped up on Google. We didn’t know that some of the fish were missing,” Sandhya said. Ashutosh KP, a software engineer who is interested in marine biology, was left disheartened when he found the aquarium closed on Tuesday. “The signboard outside clearly says the aquarium would be closed on all Mondays and second Tuesdays. Today is the fourth Tuesday. Even Google says they are open but it wasn’t,” he said. swarali.b@iijnm.org
connected. On top of that, sanitary pipelines are also being laid. People need to understand that it takes time to provide facilities in newer areas which lie on the periphery of Bengaluru. These villages were only recently added to Bengaluru’s city limits.” In 2008, 110 villages in the periphery of the city were added to the limits of Greater Bengaluru. The areas relied on water tankers until the BWSSB promised to supply piped water by 2023 through its Cauvery Stage 5 project. However, a report in Citizen Matters Bengaluru says most of the work is still in its early stages and is unlikely to be completed in the next two years. S. Varaprasada Reddy, a structural engineer, cited the lack of systemic accountability for the problems. “The BBMP has a good engineering department, but nothing will happen because they have high blood pressure as all they care about is eating and smoking. We have the technology to get things done, but we are suffering due to complacency in the bureaucratic system.” As Bengaluru has sprawled in the past two decades, the Cauvery Stage 5 project aims to bring about 775 million litres per day (MLD) of water from the Cauvery to the Bengaluru city. The 110 peripheral villages alone are expected to consume over 800 MLD of water by 2049, according to the final project report issued by BWSSB in the year 2017. arshreet.s@iijnm.org
Twitterati Talk @DarshanDevaiahB Bajarang Dal members barge into a Prayer Hall in Hassan district of #Karnataka,allege Conversion. Visuals of alleged incident shows the activists stopping the prayer and asking the people to step out of the prayer hall. @IndianExpress @INCKarnataka Will the Modi govt meet its own target of full vaccination by December 2021? At the current rate, no. Does the govt have a plan? #SansadKiBaat @RahulGandhi Not allowed to discuss on MSP, on justice for the martyr Annadata, on the dismissal of the Union Minister in the Lakhimpur case… Who snatched the right of discussion from the Parliament, It is a failure, that government is a coward. @NewIndianXpress The sample of one of the two South African travellers to Karnataka was found to be different from the Delta variant, Health and Medical Education Minister Dr. K Sudhakar said Fresh curbs have been issued by the governemnt amid growing concerns.
The Observer Thursday, November 29, 2021
CITY
12 of Faruqui’s standup shows cancelled,says event manager
Vendors at groundnut fair fear sales will be poor
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Say pandemic has dampened Parishe spirit By Shristi Achar A
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adlekai Parishe, Bengaluru’s annual groundnut fair, began with much enthusiasm on Monday. After it was cancelledlast year because of Covid concerns, visitors alike were excited to participate in it. While the fair appeared to be in full swing, sellers didn’t seem to experience the liveliness of the old. Mangamma, a vendor from Kalasipalya, said: “We have been coming here from my grandfather's time. I took up selling groundnuts from my mother. But prices have soared now. We get it from the market for Rs 80, and come and sell it here for Rs 100.” Another vendor, Nagalakshmi, said:“We’re mostly not getting buyers after the lockdown.. People are here, but they aren’t buying much. But maybe it will increase tomorrow. The fair attracted multiple vendors from Tamil Nadu. Chennasami, a groundnut farmer from Hosur, said he isn’t optimistic about the sales this year due to soaring costs. “I barely make an extra Rs 5 on each kilo I sell. It’s actually not very profitable for me to sell here, so I don't know what to do. The crowd is thin, and the ones that have come aren’t even buying much. The only reason we’re here is because there is no such festival to sell our products back at home,” he further continued. Manjual M, a frequent visitor, agreedthat the footfallsare less
Unfulfilled financial duties drive men to commit suicide Continued from page 1 ravin Gupta, 55, a chartered accountant, said: “A man as compared to a woman has much (more) responsibility. A woman… just has to think about the family and take care of them. But this is not the same for men as they have to think about their finances, their status and reputation in society. With all this pressure, and if they fail to meet these expectations, then it makes us feel like a failure. So I think this is mainly why men are more prone to attempt such actions,”he continued. Ashwini GA, a sub-inspector at the Ashok Nagar police station, informed The Observer that the Ashok Nagar division has seen 28 suicides till now. Out of them, 20 were by men. “A man has a lot of responsibilities. Especially during lockdowns, there were losses which can be a possible reason for suicides. We also get many cases where a love breakup is involved,”
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On this day in 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, calling for the partition of Palestine into two separate states- an Arab and a Jewish one- that would retain an economic union
Quote of the day Though the vendors at the groundnut festival expect their sales to be low, this is still their best chanceof gaining any income. Vendors from Tamil Nadu were seen in large numbers since they do not have such fairs back in their state|Credit: Shristi Achar A than in the past. “Comparatively, yes...the people are less here. Even I came here just to look around.I might buy a little groundnuts and trinkets here and there. I do not want to stay in the crowds,” she said. BBMP commissioner Gaurav Gupta was the chief guest. Among the guests were Rakesh Singh, IAS, BBMP administrativeofficer, health officer Shivakumar, and Special Commissioner (Finance)Tulsi Madinneni. . The function was inaugurated at around 11.15 in the morning. BBMP’s Basavanagudi supervisor Rajendra said more than 15 marshals were deployed, with social distancing measures under-
taken. Plastic bags were not allowed in the festival. Police official K.S. Sreenivas saidthey expectaround 2 lakh visitors and about 2,000 vendors, in a span of two to three days of the festival. He however mentioned that the number of visitors earlier used to be around 6 lakh . Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya told reporters: “More than a lakh people have visited since yesterday, more will be coming tomorrow and the day after. It is a fair to enjoy the traditions and culture.” He encouraged visitors to bring their own bags, wear masks and engage in Covid-appropriate behaviour. shristi.a@iijnm.org
Unhappy KSLU students protest against university By Saumyangi Yadav ational Students' Union of India (NSUI), along with the students of Karnataka State Law University staged a protest at Maurya Circle on Monday to express their discontent regarding issues affecting the student community. The protest started at around 11:30 am on Monday with as much as 150 to 200 students present there at the site. Manish G. Raj, the state general secretary of NSUI, Karnataka, told The Observer: "The main intent of the protestors and the organizers is to show our discontent against the misconduct of the university (KSLU). They have extended their academic term for more than 16 months, they have delayed the examinations... Students are facing a backlog in terms of examinations and results. The ones who have completed their final year are also not able to get jobs or admission in
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Crying makes men feel that they are weak. They feel that they are less than a man|Credit: Pixels Suicide has become a rising concern throughout the country. An increasing trend in the rate of suicides has been seen. There was a 10.0 percent increase in 2020 compared to the 2019 as per NCRB 2020 data. Karnataka (18.4), Maharashtra (16.1), Sikkim (42.5) and Chhattisgarh (26.4) had high suicide rates. According to a report in The Hindustan Times, the rate of suicides now is the highest since 1967. The report said the Covid19 pandemic is a major reason behind the increase in rate. tina.f@iijnm.org
This Day, That Year
PG colleges because of impending repeaters exams." Students were agitated as the university has not provided them a minimum 21 days notice prior to the exams, as is mandated by the UGC guidelines. Varun, a law student at St. Joseph College and a student activist, said: "With only a few days left, now they're telling us that the examinations will begin from December 6. There are students from Kerala, Maharashtra and all other states. They will have to come here and look for accommodation even though there is no surety if the offline classes will continue after the exams. We want our exams to be conducted on time... we are the ones who protect the law.” The protestors also demanded Ishwara Bhat, the Vice Chancellor of KSLU to resign. saumyangi.y@iijnm.org Full story on www.weeklyobserver.in
“You get what you settle for.” —Thelma and Louise
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Quiz answers 1.Cows 2.Syphilis 3.Nipah 4.Pig 5.Polio 6.Malaria 7.Pappataci fever 8.Crown 9.Incubation period 10.Poxviruses 11.Cytoplasm 12.Rhinovirus 13.Wuhan 14.year of detection
Continued from page 1 iddharth Dash, the manager of Curtain Call Events, Bengaluru, said: “We were informed by the police that there might be some unprecedented situation during the show and we didn’t want to get into such a situation and that’s why we cancelled the show. Munawar is an emotional person and that is why posted on Instagram and Twitter. It is a sad situation as 12 of his shows in two months have been cancelled up until now.” Alwyn Mendonca, the manager of Good Shepherd Auditorium, said he had received a letter from the police saying that he is a “controversial figure” and there might be some disturbance during the show. “We didn’t want any vandalization of property. That’s why I informed the organizers about the whole situation. They could’ve asked for police protection. An official at the Ashok Nagar police station shared: “We got information that there were some people who had purchased tickets to create nuisance at the show. We called up the organizers and told them that we have this information. They asked us to send a letter asking to cancel the show and we sent it. If they had asked for police protection, we would have done that too. We have no contact with the comedian or his manager, we had solely talked to the organizers,” he added. The deputy commissioner of police refused to comment on the matter. Police said that it is our duty to keep peace in the city.They said that it was cancelled by the organizers. We have no personal issues with him. tina.f@iijnm.org
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Team Observer Editor: Ayndrila Banerjee Reporters: Arshreet Singh, Saumyangi Yadav, Simran Sharma, Shrishti Achar, Tina Freese, Swarali Bodas Copy Editors- Ayndrila Banerjee, Anwesha Singh, Kashish Sharma, Chhavi Vohra,Arshreet Singh, Saumyangi Yadav, Simran Sharma, Shrishti Achar, Tina Freese, Swarali Bodas Photo Editors: Swarali Bodas, Ayndrila Banerjee, Supplement:Kashish Sharma
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Fashion Draping a six-yard puzzle
The Observer Monday, November 29, 2021
SUPPLEMENT
Watching their mother dress up in a sari is one of the most cherished childhood memories for many women., writes Kashish Sharma Stuti Jain, a 25 year-old young teacher in Agra reminisces her childhood fantasy of draping herself in her mother’s old worn-out sari. It was a dress-game then. But once she grew up to her teens, she did not feel right wearing it.” Stuti felt dressing in a sari would send out the message that she was of marriageable age. “It’s tricky to wear a sari at a certain age. People think that one is more inclined towards getting settled down and taking on responsibilities if we wear a sari. It makes us look older.” For many young women across the country, a sari holds different meanings. Some think that it is too grand for a young maiden to touch. For some, it is too sensual to carry in the public eye. For others however, it is just an everyday affair. Watching their mother dress up in a sari is one of the most cherished childhood memories for many women. It has been both a source of awe and consequetively, also a herculean task for them to execute. In an article published in the Vogue on April 30, 2019 by the name ‘Why I am Taking the Sari back to the Street,’ Meara Sharma talks about how as a child she used to watch her mother applying the methodical process of wrapping, pleating and draping the sari with great fascination. “When she would emerge — all the elements in place, heels clicking down the stairs — it was like a grand debut. All this pomp and process made saris quite intimidating for me,” she writes. In her twenties, Meara herself found the act of wearing a sari somewhat contrived. It was a garment she could not inhabit freely, she writes. “I would never attempt to drape one on my own; doing it correctly, I thought, required the help from my mother or an aunt,” she writes. Vinaya K, 22, who is a student in Bengaluru, finds the sari to be a puzzling task for a teenager to handle, was surprised to see her 12 year old cousin decked up in a sari when Vinaya herself was 15 and had never worn one. Fiona Das, a young married woman in her mid twenties who lives with her husband in Dehradun sec-
onds Vinaya in talking about the complexity associated with sari. “Wearing a sari requires a certain degree of maturity. Firstly, because of the complex processes involved in draping it and secondly, one who does not very often wear a sari is bound to feel a little vulner-
able in it. What if it comes off suddenly, is our first reaction.” Earlier as a student, she recalls how her college had made it mandatory to wear a sari, Fiona had been wearing it for over a year and it no longer made her conscious. For many young women in North India, comfort in a sari comes with some amount of practice. Unless wearing a sari is associated with some religious, cultural or professional code, the thought of wearing it is not natural. “The very first thought of wearing a sari came to me when it was time for my school farewell. It is natural for us to associate sari with a farewell. Also, it feels a little out of place when nobody around you is wearing one,” says 17-year old Ishita Chauhan who is a student in Lucknow. As per an article published in The Indian Express historically, sari was worn mostly in Bengal and the Southern states. This explains the generational ease with which the sari is worn among young women and teenage girls, particularly of the states where sari was always in trend. In Rajasthan, for instance, lehenga, choli and odhni were common garments for women. “In the South, everybody wears a sari, from a 5 year-old girl to an 80-year old woman. It has been a part of their culture and it has been very well sustained. Nobody feels out of place,” says Pooja Jain, mother of a 13year old girl. Would Pooja allow her daughter to wear a sari to an event? “It is not about my allowing her, but since my daughter has so many options in both western and traditional wear, she would hardly choose a sari because nobody
around her wears one,” she said. Utkarsha Muley, a 21 year old young woman who is a student from Maharashtra had a contrary response to the traditional elephant in the room, “In our State, little girls wear saris with confidence. Even if they can’t wear the pleated ones, they go for stitched saris. We have stitched nauvari saris for small girls.” Indian saris mimic the ideologies projected on them. They usually become what people see in them. In mythology, saris are often associated with goddesses, piety and marriage. This often creates a halo around the garment and many associate it particularly with womanhood. It becomes something that needs to be earned at a certain age and time. “In Nepal, there is a cus-
tom where a girl is gifted a sari once she hits puberty,” says Tina Freese, a journalism student in Bengaluru. On the other hand, as per the Indian Express report there were stories of Indian women wearing saris not being allowed in certain places visited by the Whites, who considered the single, fine cloth draped around a woman’s body with no undergarments beneath as ‘indecent clothing’. The same pious sari becomes a symbol of sensuality in the post-colonial era and looks incomplete without the English blouse and petticoat. “I have only seen very strong-headed young girls in North- India who can carry off sari with confidence. Many young teenage girls are shy of wearing it as the dress is too sensual for them, they sometimes feel exposed” says Reema Agarwal, who is a house-wife in Agra. Richa Massey, a mother of a 11-year old girl, said, “When young girls start wearing saris when nobody of their age is wearing them, they get too much attention that is uncomfortable for them. I have no problem with what my child wears but it must not
make her face such situations.” With the sari inviting such varied perceptions, it has ended up confusing young girls no end. Little wonder that most of them prefer to play it safe by wearing it only on occasions where they don’t raise eyebrows.