Advertisements stuck on walls

The sight of advertisements printed on paper and stuck on walls, lamp posts, tree trucks, etc all across Bangalore city is very irritating and ugly.

It just shows how small businessmen take the administration totally for granted. It also exposes the utter lack of efficiency of the corporation -- BBMP -- officials. This is not the way a great city like Bangalore should look.

The authorities should call the telephone numbers on these ads and ask them to remove the notices. In case of violation, they should levy a fine.

The policy should be well-publicised and officials should make sure it is adhered to.

Bangalore overcast

Expecting heavy rains anytime or at least by evening. Must be the impact of depression on India's east coast. Bangalore gets good northwest monsoon, and it rains rather heavily September to November. I hope the Bangalore corporation has adequately cleared the drains. Or elese we are going to have massive flooding all over the city.

Ulsoor Lake

The other day I was passing by the Ulsoor lake. It gives one such a wonderful site and a great place to relax and refresh oneself.

How I wish this place was promoted by the Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation as a tourist spot.

Wikipedia entry on Ulsoor lake is here.

The administration can spruce up the area; charge a nominal amount for entry to the area; have well-maintained food courts, play areas etc & print pamphlets chronicling the history and development the centuries-old lake.

Man falls into hidden drain, washed away

A couple of days back, when it was raining heavily in Bangalore, and
the roads were flooded, an elderly gentleman had to rush back early
home from his office as his wife had taken ill.

As bad luck would have it, near Fraser Town, he steered his motorcycle
to an area on the road where there was water. Little did he realise
that there was a huge drain left open by careless civic officials.

Before he could realise, he plunged into the big drain in which water
was gushing. Some people who saw it, tried looking for him. But the
force of water was such, he and his motorcycle had been swept away.

The next day, the motorcycle showed up a few metres away. A search led
to the unfortunate man's body as well.

When I read this news in the paper, I was so moved. Still no one in
Bangalore has heard a word of apology or regret from any civic
official. No effort to find out how that drain was left open, or who
could be responsible for that.

If Mr Yeddyurappa and his BJP wants to make Bangalore a
well-administered model city, and if they want to score well in the
upcoming civic polls, then he must make sure that there is
accountability in city's administration. Remember, monsoon is
approaching and a number of roads in Bangalore are going to get
flooded.

Bangalore, Karnataka vote for BJP

I am glad that BJP won in the three urban seats in Bangalore. No wonder, actually. The two other parties -- Congress and JDS -- are in a mess. Both, especially JDS, ruined the good city during the past 5 years. BJP during the past one year has been trying its best to develop the city.

It must now treat this verdict as one of confidence vote and deliver on the trust reposed in its MPs. It should put Bangalore and suburbs on the fast track to progress. It should also guard against anti-BJP forces, who are out to make life difficult for it.

BBMP elections are around the corner. Winning elections is one part. But Bangalore, being a global city, needs to look like one. And BJP should take it upon itself this comtment to the people of the city in particular and nation in general.

UPA wins; Manmohan Singh remains as PM

Manmohan Singh will continue to be the Prime Minister of India. All
the results aren't out, but the ruling UPA and friends have
comfortably romped home, in India's first past the post electoral
system.

Result is not a surprise since exit polls predicted this. But I
thought, since there was no wave in favour of any group, NDA, headed
by BJP may just inch ahead. But that was not to be.

Advani's hopes of being a PM have also crashed. He would have been
better than Singh. BJP has a number of bright leaders. UPA has got the
benefit of doubt. NDA's campaign also wasn't effective enough to
counter the Sonia-Priyanka-Rahul onslaught.

Anyway, I am happy that there will be a stable govt. The results have
left no room for wheeling and dealing. Now let's hope, Congress will
infuse fresh blood and govern India efficiently.

Enrolling for voting

Unlike earlier years, this time there is an increased awareness among the youth for voting. This is primarily because of the high-pitched campaign being carried out by the media -- both print and electronic.

The thrust of the campaign is that each citizen has a democratic right to exercise his or her franchise, and all of us must make use of that. By making use of that right, during the elections, we are actively participating in the governance process. Not that if all of us vote, all our problems will be solved. But at least we can feel satisfied that we did responsibly take part in the process which put a government in place.

Now with Lok Sabha elections coming up next month, a lot of people -- especially the youth -- are getting themselves registered for voting. There are a number of NGOs that are helping in the process. One of them is Jaago Re! One Billion Votes. It's helping a number of first-timers go through the process of enrolling themselves in the electoral process. I have an electoral card and have been voting in Bangalore during the past 10 years. Those who approached Jaago Re! said it's a wonderful site and people really help you out.

Good to see this enthusiasm in the the democratic system in India, which already is so vibrant, and an envy of the international community.

Bangalore getting hot

It's just February. And afternoons are so hot. Yesterday I was on my way to my friend's house around 3 and I could feel the air so hot. Today evening there is no breeze either: hot or cold. April May will be really bad this way. I dread how places like Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi etc will be.

Bangalore was, I am told, once upon a time an air conditioned city. Greenery is gone, so many buildings have come up. Blaming urbanisation makes no sense. It's hypocrytical also. Since a good number of people of Bangalore are immigrants, not just from outside Karnataka but outside Bangalore itself.

The only way is to retain and promote greenery in the city as much as possible.

Enjoy your heart out on Valentine's Day

This year's Valentine's Day in Bangalore will be unique. People never knew about, now know; boys and girls struck by love are going to curiously excited about mushing around specially on this particular day.

The guys who are opposing beautiful expressions of pure love, aren't humans. They could only be something worse than even animals. When the world is bing threatened by hatred and violence, what better than pure love.

The fringe right-wing groups like 8ajrang Dal and the new Ram Sene have people who are insensitive, cynical and personification of everything negative and retrograde in this world.

The forces of good are far stronger, that's the big hope we have.

Hope every day is so peaceful

I opened my eyes. I was lying on my bed. It was dawn. It was very quiet. I realised it was Sunday. How easily recognisable the day is, because at least the early mornings are so peaceful. I am lucky that I live in an area that is not crowded though only less than 10 km from city centre.

The holiday mood is literally hanging there in the air, you can feel it. It's so relaxing. Don't feel like getting out of bed. This is the first Sunday of 2009. Hopefully this year Bangalore will be quiet and peaceful even as it grows. I dragged myself through the day, watch TV, talked on the phone to my friends. The day is over.

Looking ahead to 2009 with hope

First of all, a happy 2009 to you... Thanks for reading my blog... Hope you will come back again and again.

How quickly 2008 went by... I don't know if you also felt the same... Some people say if you felt like that it means you had a good year. It was a good year for me actually. I got a promotion, a hike before the recession set in... Lucky that way since I dont think for another two years I am going to get anything.

People say 2009 can be bad for economy. Let us hope for the best. Bangalore will collapse if the economy collapses. Hope I will have my job even if I don't get a hike.