This will help with loading and unloading activities at the yard and also boost gypsum trade from Chennai Port to Bidadi, nearly 30 km from Bengaluru.
The goods shed surface improvement was planned for 600mx15 m area. In the first phase, 390m x 15 m areas has been made ready.
Bengaluru :
A total of 8,000 disposable railway sleepers have been put to efficient use by the Bengaluru Railway Division by building a goods shed at Bidadi from scratch within a month.
This will help with loading and unloading activities at the yard and also boost gypsum trade from Chennai Port to Bidadi, nearly 30 km from Bengaluru.
Thousands of railway sleepers are released by the Railways annually as new sleepers are laid when tracks are renewed.
This is the third such goods shed made in the Division with the previous ones made at Nelamangala and Penekonda.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, Divisional Railway Manager A K Verma said, “The Pre-Stressed Concrete (PSC) sleepers have been utilised to develop a 360 metre unloading platform. This has been done on the request of the Chennai Division of Southern Railway.”
The three goods sheds have been developed from scratch by utilizing 30,000 released sleepers, he added.
Sleepers are sturdy and can withstand a great load which makes them excellent material to develop roads or any surface which is likely to carry much weight.
Saint Gobain has a huge manufacturing facility at Bidadi.
“Gypsum from Chennai Port can be transported here. There is a potential of loading 2,00,000 Metric Tonnes per year,” he said.
“We got rich dividends in the form of substantial increase in NMG loading and first ever Roll On–Roll Off service of South Western Railway,” Verma added.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager A N Krishna Reddy said, “Usage of sleepers is cost effective. Being M55 PSC, the surface can withstand movement of heavy machinery and loaded lorries. It has saved us much transportation cost.”
The goods shed surface improvement was planned for 600mx15 m area. In the first phase, 390m x 15 m areas has been made ready.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by S. Lalitha / Express News Service / September 30th, 2020
The city has a long history of revolts and expressions of resentment against the British
Remembering them: A memorial at Mysore Bank Circle in Bengaluru to commemorate some of those who died in the freedom struggle. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Mysore Bank Square, August 17, 1942. For the ninth consecutive day, thousands of Bengalureans came out to protest peacefully in response to Gandhiji’s Quit India call. People surged and flowed along Avenue Road and slogans suffused with hope and anger rented the air: “Quit India!”, “Inquilab Zindabad!”
But that Monday, some protesters set fire to a post office at Aralepete; others broke into a police station and tried to attack the post office at Chickpet. When the police issued warnings, defiant protesters barricaded the road with carts and boulders and then hurled soda bottles at the policemen, while others threw stones from their rooftops.
The police opened fire, six people died and more than 30 were injured. Bengaluru has a long history of revolts and expressions of resentment against the British. Even in 1800, people were arrested for singing songs against the British and in praise of Tipu Sultan.
Attempted mutiny
Twenty-five years before the First War of Independence swept through India, there was an attempted mutiny in Bengaluru by soldiers who dreamt of overthrowing the British here and then inciting mutiny all over India; their plan was thwarted by a snitch.
From the late 1800s, like the rest of the country, Bengaluru too was gripped with nationalistic fervour. This was fanned by the activities of organisations such as the Vokkaligara Sangha, established in 1906, which did much to raise awareness and education in the community, and the Theosophical Society, which established a branch here in 1886.
Big stimulus
A big stimulus to the still-nascent freedom movement was the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in January 1915. His first visit to Bengaluru was in May 1915. His second visit in 1920 ushered in a movement for spinning khadi. Khadi sales were frequently held, as were other gatherings — to celebrate Gandhiji’s ending a fast, to mourn the passing of C.R. Das, or protest against a water tax. Such meetings usually began with Gandhians speaking about non-cooperation, Hindu-Muslim unity, against untouchability, and against alcohol.
Hundreds attended these gatherings which were held in the so-called Gandhi Maidan opposite Minto Hospital, Doddanna Hall, which was opposite Bengaluru Fort, and sometimes, even Tipu Palace. Many such meetings had an attendee whose job was to report on them to the Mysore administration: one such report by a spy in 1925 records the speeches made and then dutifully notes that khadi worth Re. 1 and 2 annas was sold.
Except for when he was here to recuperate from illness, Gandhiji’s visits had him criss-crossing the city, holding meetings at Mahila Seva Samaja, the RBANMs school and grounds, a home on Lalbagh Road, a shop at Commercial Street, and so on. Thousands thronged to listen to him speak passionately about non-violence and the evils of untouchability. A meeting in a house on Victoria Road, for example, drew 2,000 people, at National High School, 25,000 people. Many people who attended these meetings donated generously to the cause, sometimes even giving away their jewellery.
But not everyone was so moved: some people held meetings where they denounced Gandhiji’s anti-caste stand as “subversive of Hindu dharma”. The 1920s and 1930s also saw frequent student rallies, boycott of classes, and picketing of shops selling foreign cloth. In that pre-WhatsApp and social media era, when even telephones were uncommon, how did organisers get the word out about upcoming meetings? Enter the cheap flyer. Hundreds of these indispensable handbills were churned out at several small presses around the city and were then distributed door to door, in markets, and stuck on strategic lamp posts.
Turning point
A turning point in the freedom struggle in Bengaluru came in 1937 when K.F. Nariman, president of the Bombay Congress Committee, was invited to speak here. The Mysore government had banned him from addressing gatherings because of his earlier “incendiary” speeches. On October 24, at Banappa Park, as soon as Nariman came on to the stage to address a crowd comprising mainly students, he was arrested. The next day, when students gathered to protest his arrest, police opened fire on the unarmed protesters. One person was killed and 73 people were injured that day.
Little-known memorials at Banappa Park and at Mysore Bank Circle commemorate some of those who died in the 1937 and 1942 incidents.
(Meera Iyer is the author of ‘Discovering Bengaluru’ and the convenor of INTACH Bengaluru Chapter)
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Opinion> Columns / by Meera Iyer / August 14th, 2020
The structure built in 1887 has seen the city change, from a quiet abode for retiring seniors to a rushed metro that stays up all night.
Located in a lush green 20 acres, the hotel is said to be one of the first luxury hotels in the city. As you walk around the hotel, you will be greeted by turkey, geese and butterflies.
“Bengaluru was a leafy British cantonment and all families owned a part of the city’s gardens. A British couple, Mr and Mrs Bronson, opened a boarding house with ten beds and called it Bronson’s West End. It was opened to offer efficient boarding with laundry and kitchen facilities to the soldiers,” says Somnath Mukherjee, General Manager at the hotel. The single-storey building has been now converted into a Jiva Grande spa.
Arun Prasad, a historian and researcher, says that the guesthouse was need of the hour as there were no exclusive lodgings to accommodate the upper-class British who visited the city. “They would come here to visit the city or the officers living here. Some of them would also come to visit Royal Maharaja of Mysore,” he says.
“While the guesthouse was run by Mrs Bonson, who was married to a British officer, she started getting enough visitors and next year her husband also joined her and helped her in developing the property,” says Arun Prasad. The hotel had an ideal location – on the high grounds, next to Golf Club and adjacent to Race Club. The historian says that this made it easier for officers to access both the facilities.
There was so much demand that they extended it to two other existing buildings. One of the two buildings was earlier occupied by Grenadier Guards Regiment, one of the units of British Army, says Arun Prasad. Another building, he says, belonged to the secretary of the Race Club. They must have been built in early 1900s.
The post box located in the building which is the oldest functioning one in the city.
Oldest Post Box
Walk to the right of this building and you will find a post box that is still functional. It was used by the guests when it was Bronson’s West End. “It is the oldest operational post box in the city. It has the original Victorian Crest. It is made of cast iron,” informs Somnath Mukherjee.
But much before the guest house was opened by Bronsons, Muneshwara temple existed a little ahead of the building, which is now part of the hotel. The year in which it was built remains unknown. “It would have been a place of worship for people who lived in this locality,” says Somnath Mukherjee. The carving in front of the temple says that a great jamun tree fell on this temple ‘kalasham’ splitting the trunk into two but the temple remained unharmed. Even now the temple is open to the guests who visit the hotel and also to outsiders.
168-year-old Tree
Even the trees here are ancient, among them is a Rain Tree. According to a carving put up in front of the tree, it was planted in 1848 approximately. A Christmas tree planted in front of it measures more than 130 feet and is believed to have been planted even before the guesthouse came up. Eagles and parrots have made their nests here. Many more trees have been added and maintained by The Taj West End which occupied the place in 1984 and have preserved it with much love.
Arun Prasad says that in a book called Cyclopedia of India, a descriptive account of the landmarks and the people of India in early 1900s is listed. One of the landmarks mentioned in the edition printed in 1909 is Bronson’s West Land.
“The book describes it as an establishment of six fine buildings, spacious verandas, overlooking beautiful gardens and cottages. It also mentions that the building had a large dining room, a spacious drawing room, lofty billiards room with two full-sized billiard tables. All the rooms were furnished with modern amenities. There was a bakery, a dairy and carriage services as part of the hotel according to the book,“ he tells us.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Pratima Shantaveeresh / Express News Service / November 09th, 2016
( Picture right shows ) Keerthi Kumar of Belagavi who created a new meet record in Discus Throw attempting his final throw at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium. (Centre) K.A. Bharath of Bengaluru City sporting victory sign after creating a new meet record in the men’s 1,500 meter run. ( Picture in extreme left shows ) the Bengaluru 4×100 meters women’s team sporting victory symbol after creating a new meet record in 4xx100 meters relay.
Mysuru :
Three new meet records were created on the second day of Dasara athletic events held at Chamundi Vihar Stadium yesterday.
K.A. Bharath of B’luru City in 1500 mts), Keerthi Kumar of Belagavi Division in Discus Throw and 4×100 women’s relay team of Bengaluru City broke old records to set new records in men’s and women’s categories at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium here yesterday.
At the end of Day-2, Bengaluru City tops in both men’s and women’s category with 10 gold, two silver and two bronze medals and are followed by hosts Mysuru with 9 golds, 11 silver and 7 bronze medals.
Bharath shines: K.A. Bharath of Bengaluru City, who had earlier won gold in 800 mts, hogged the limelight again by creating a new meet record in the men’s 1500 mts event by clocking 3:58.00s to erase the previous record of 4:01.58s set by M.D. Manjunath of Mysuru Division in 2009.
Keerthi Kumar of Belagavi division threw the discus to a new meet record of 49.77 mts and broke the previous record of 47.76 mts set by Dharamveer Singh of Mysuru Division in 2011. Keerthi Kumar on day-1 had won a silver medal in the men’s shot put.
The third record came in the women’s section with the Bengaluru City’s relay quartet of Afsana Begum, Nityashree, Prajna S. Prakash and Reena George creating a new meet record in the 4×100 mts relay event with a timing of 47:00 sec, erasing the old mark of 47.48 sec, set by Bengaluru City’s athletes in 2014.
Swimming: In the swimming events held at the University Swimming Pool. S. Nishanth of Bengaluru City with 11 points (gold in 200 mts Breaststroke, silver in 100 mts Breaststroke & silver in 200m Individual Medley) won the individual champion title in the men’s section. Sunaina Manjunath of Bengaluru City excelled in the pool in the women’s section by winning the individual title with 15 points (three golds).
Team games: In the team games, Mysuru men’s tennis team spearheaded by S. Prateek won the title beating Bengaluru Rural 2-1 in the final. Bengaluru Rural won the women’s title beating Bengaluru City 2-0 in the final.
A 20-minute short film titled ‘Bannerghatta Breathing for Bengaluru,’ throws light on man-animal conflict, the rich biodiversity of the forest patch spread across 270 square kilometres and challenges due to increasing urbanisation around the forest.
It shows the wildlife and biodiversity of the fragmented forest patch in full valour.
The lone wild tiger roaming in Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) has also been captured in the film.
It also covers the problems which the department has been facing because of shrinking land due increasing denotification and mining. The movie also dwells on the history on how the forest patch was notified, how the zoo was carved out of it and how land was added to the patch to strengthen elephant corridors.
The film has been commissioned by Sunil Panwar, Deputy Conservator of Forest, BNP and has been filmed by conservationists and film makers duo Ashok Hallur and Padma Ashok of Ideas for Change. The film was released on Friday by Governor Vajubhai Vala.
Butterfly Walk
The Karnataka Forest Department will organise a Butterfly Walk in Hennur Park on Sunday, October 9, for Bengalureans. The park spread across 34 acres has over 34 species of butterflies. During the walk, people will be shown different species, the host plants, the larvae and the nectar plants. Apart from Forest department officials, experts are also being roped in to create more awareness among people.
The Forest department has created three artificial ponds in the park and improved the biodiversity to increase the number of species to the park. The open storm water drain passing through the park, has little impact on the butterflies. This park along with parks in Jarakabandekaval and Doreswamypalya. The green environs of Doraisanipalya Jallary Reserve Forest off Bannerghatta Road is home varied species of butterfly.
BBP open on Vijayadashami
The Bannerghatta Biological Park will remain open on October 11, on the occasion of Vijayadashami. Tuesday is normally a holiday. The management this time has decided to keep it open, said an press release.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> City / Bosky Khanna / Bengaluru – DHNS, October 08th, 2016
District-in-Charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa inaugurated the 9- day Dasara Aahara Mela (Food Festival) at Scouts & Guides Grounds near the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here yesterday.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mahadevappa said that the festival is not only to relish a variety of food items, but also to make people understand the importance of variety of healthy food items, hygiene and also to spread the significance of organic food items.
People from different parts of the State have put up stalls on the ground, serving special dishes of their respective regions.
The food items offered, include vegetarians and non-vegetarian, Bakery products like Pastry, Chocolates, Pizzas, Homemade coffee, Jowar roti and Chutney.
A range of food items made out of millets and organic food products are another attraction of the mela.
Tribal Delicacy: Tribals from various hamlets in the district and from across the State, have setup ‘Adivasi Aahara Mane’, where food cooked in Bamboo stems, is among the star attractions of the mane. Tea made of ‘Makali Beru’ (a root), variety of tubers grown in forests, dishes made of greens, a delicacy made of bamboo shoots and other tribal recipes are also available.
A plate of Bamboo Biryani costs Rs. 150/-, while a bowl of ‘Bidirakki Payasa’ costs of Rs. 50/- a plate of ‘Kadugenasu,’ Jenu, Rs. 25/-, a cup of Makali Beru Tea Rs. 20/- Crab curry, & Ragi Ball meals Rs. 100/-, Ragi Ball & Uppesaru Rs. 50/- and a cup of Bidiru Kalle Rs. 20/-.
Karnataka State Lamps Co-operative Federation Chairman M. Krishnaiah said Bamboo Biryani, which was a hit during Dasara 2014, receiving a overwhelming response.
“We could serve Biryani only to 50 percent of the visitors in 2014. But this time, we are prepared to serve 100 plates of Biryani in an hour to meet the demand. A team of 15 people are busy preparing a variety of tribal food items”, he said and added that all tribal delicacies are prepared by experts fro m among the community.
The food mela also features exhibition of a whole range of equipments and articles used by tribals residing in different parts of the State.
The equipments on display include rope used for honey extraction, Net used for catching wild cocks, fish, birds etc.,
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / October 02nd, 2016
Adding to its Clean City fame, Mysuru has bagged the Number 1 position as the ‘Open Defecation-Free City’. It has been recognised as the first city with a million-plus population to achieve this distinction.
For two years in a row, Mysuru has topped the list of the cleanest cities in the country. It was named the cleanest in the country by a nationwide survey Swachh Survekshan 2016, which was carried out under the Swachh Bharat Mission that was launched on October 2, 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It may be mentioned here that about a couple of months back, representatives from the Quality Council of India visited Mysuru for an inspection and had submitted a report to the Union Urban Development Ministry that the city qualifies the parameters of an open defecation-free city.
The report also mentioned about the city’s cleanliness, waste disposal and drainage systems.
The MCC will be presented with the award by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sept. 30 in New Delhi which will be received by Mayor B.L. Bhyrappa, Deputy Mayor Vanitha Prasanna and MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha, according to MCC Health Officer Dr. Ramachandra.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 24th, 2016
A picture from ‘Beluru Halebeedu Shilpa Kalasamrajya’ by Pundalika Kalliganuru.
D.V. Gundappa, a prominent poet of Karnataka, had penned 60 Kannada poems in his book ‘Antahpura Geetegalu’ in 1950 after being mesmerised by the dexterous chisel of the stone sculptures at Belur.
After that poetic attempt, a book, ‘Belu-Halebeedu Shilpakala Saamrajya’, brought out by Kikkeri Publications, Bengaluru, tells tales through the photography of illustrator and photographer Pundalika Kalliganuru.
The pictures in the book are also enhanced with commentaries, verses, and hymns penned by Pramod Nallur and Kalliganuru.
The 400-page book, with around 2,000 pictures, is a compilation of Mr. Kalliganuru’s four years of painstaking effort.
Assisted by other photographers, such as Mahalingu, Deepu, M. Viswanath and Vipin Baliga, the work of the 10th century Hoysala sculptors of the Jakkanachari style comes through splendidly in the book.
“If you see the grandeur of Hoysala architecture you will know that sculptors created more than 1,500 Hoysala temples. Belur and Halebeedu were their signature works. I wanted to showcase them pictorially giving them a huge spread,” says Kalliganuru.
“Amongst the 5,000 pictures clicked in four years, I felt bad that 3,000 could not be accommodated. This speaks of the specifics of detailing in each stone sculpture of Belur and Halebdu,” he adds.
The assortment in the stone art made Kalliganuru present his pictures in 39 chapters with nearly 10 categorisations of the sculptures.
“The carvings are intensely soaked in their explicit details. The only way that I could mirror them was shoot them in both natural sun and in rain where they reflected their true poetry in stone,” says Kalliganuru.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ranjani Govind / Bengaluru – September 26th, 2016
Food trucks may not be new to Bengaluru but one run on women power alone is a novel and refreshing sight. Founder Archana Singh and CEO Praveena Nandu along with the all-women team of five launched the food truck in Bagmane Tech park on Monday. And it is already a hit with customers.
After years of working in corporate communication, Archana left to pursue her two passions- children and food. Heading operations for a pre-school chain, she fulfilled the first. She had been playing with the idea of starting a food truck for two years before she founded the company, 7th Sin Hospitality Services in November last year.
“When the remodelling of the truck delayed the launch, I got an offer from a corporate to run a bistro on their premises.” Archana said. With the bistro up and running, it was time for the truck to roll out. The ‘Glocal’ cuisine they serve at the bistro got the corporates interested.
The food truck too serves the same food. One can find unusual items on their menu- malai tikka pasta, quesadillas with Chettinad chicken filling, paan cheesecake- essentially, global food with an Indian twist. “Since gluttony is the seventh sin, I thought this would be an appropriate name, Our portions are also large, in keeping with this,” Archana said.
Having been independent all her life, she wanted women from all strata of society to be able to experience the same freedom. Most of the women she hires, be it at the bistro, the truck or the central kitchen in Mahadevapura, are from underprivileged families, often school dropouts and victims of domestic abuse. Archana wanted to empower such women to become financially independent and get a new lease of life.
“I believe that with training, unskilled labour can be converted to talented workers.” she said. Professional chefs in the company train the women and according to Archana, now they cook just as well as them. Hemavathi, who studied till class 10, said: “This is my first job and I love the work. It is a new experience for me and it feels good to be earning.”
The food truck will be open for business six days of the week, parking in colleges, IT parks, at events and even birthday parties. On Sundays, the truck will park in different parts of the city to provide free food to those in need of it.
The truck is already grabbing attention of other states with people from Hyderabad and Chennai asking if franchises could be opened in those cities. Praveena Nandu, CEO, said, “It’s been less than a week but the response has been great. People are being drawn in by curiosity and we are being invited for many events.”
DH News Service
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> City / by Meghana Chaukkar / Bengaluru – DHNS, August 30th, 2016
On Nagara Panchami, people offer puja to scorpions and hold them in their hands.
Kandkur village in northern Karnataka worships and plays with venomous stingers.
You may have heard of different kinds of fairs including cattle fair. But this village in Yadgir district of Karnataka on Sunday celebrated a “scorpion fair.”
In this annual fair on Nagara Panchami, people not only offer puja to scorpions, but also take these venomous stingers in their hands and allow them to move freely over their bodies.
This year was no exception with scorpion devotees from the district and across the border in Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh converging on the village to celebrate scorpions.
Devotees young and old, women and men thronged the temple on the village hillock where they first offered pooja to Goddess Konddammai who is said to be a scorpion goddess. Later, they searched for scorpions, which were found in plenty under the rocks and the stones of the semi-arid region.
Having caught the venomous insects, the devotees proceeded to play with them. Some let the creatures crawl over their bodies, some pop them into their mouths, letting the insect rest on their tongues for a few minutes. Children, too enjoyed playing with scorpions, exhibiting no fear.
The devotees’ courage stems from the belief that Goddess Kondammai will save them should the scorpion bite.
If bitten, they apply a paste of herbs, largely consisting of turmeric, on the wound. Shankar, a regular to this fair, however, claims that no serious injury or death has occurred so far at the fair over the years.
Government precaution
The State Health Department, however, is taking no chances. Concerned over such a “dangerous tradition”, officials deployed additional doctors at the primary health centre in Kandkur village.
Dr. Diwakar, District Health Officer, cautioned that scorpion bite could turn out to be very dangerous for children below 10 years. “But people don’t heed to our request to desist from touching the scorpions. Hence, we have kept ready a team of doctors for any emergencies,” he told The Hindu.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / Ravikumar Naraboli / Kandkur – August 08th, 2016
