Articles by Deepa Mohan

Deepa Mohan is a freelance writer and avid naturalist.

Kingsley Jegan Joseph has created this marvellous version of "Hotel California".  Compliments can be sent  to Kingsley. Hotel Karnataka On a dark desi highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of parottas, rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance, saw a lorry headlight My eyes grew squinty and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night There she stood in the doorway; Wearing nariyal tail And I was thinking to myself, "I'd like Pav Bhaji or maybe some Bhel" Then she brought me the menu, but current went away There were voices from…

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Kingsley Jegan Joseph has created this marvellous version of "Hotel California".  Compliments can be sent  to Kingsley. Hotel Karnataka On a dark desi highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of parottas, rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance, saw a lorry headlight My eyes grew squinty and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night There she stood in the doorway; Wearing nariyal tail And I was thinking to myself, "I'd like Pav Bhaji or maybe some Bhel" Then she brought me the menu, but current went away There were voices from…

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Having missed every opportunity to get one, I finally went to get my Aadhar card along with my daughter today. For a while now, I've been trying to find the centres where the Aadhar card work (collection of application forms, verification of details, collection of biometrics) is still being done. After having found that a number of centers do not do it any longer, I heard from several people about Karvy (on no website did I get this information, alas!) in Basavanagudi.   The full  address of t Karvy Consultants is: +(91)-80-26621192, 41204350  18004258282  No.51/2, Tkn Complex, Vanivilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore…

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Having missed every opportunity to get one, I finally went to get my Aadhar card along with my daughter today. For a while now, I've been trying to find the centres where the Aadhar card work (collection of application forms, verification of details, collection of biometrics) is still being done. After having found that a number of centers do not do it any longer, I heard from several people about Karvy (on no website did I get this information, alas!) in Basavanagudi.   The full  address of t Karvy Consultants is: +(91)-80-26621192, 41204350  18004258282  No.51/2, Tkn Complex, Vanivilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore…

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Aradhana Academy is not on the list of "elite" schools of Bangalore. But here's our experience. I sent this email to Rajane Prasad, Admissions Co-ordinator, and Sister Moly, the Principal of the School. Dear Ms Rajane: There is a FB group called https://www.facebook.com/groups/bangaloreschoolsshweta/Bangalore Schools (closed group, you may not be able to open the link) where parents exchange information about various schools. Here's what Anjana (my daughter, and Kavya's mother) posted: I wanted to write about my experience so far with Aradhana Academy. Some of you may already know that my family has relocated from the U.S. My daughter joined…

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Aradhana Academy is not on the list of "elite" schools of Bangalore. But here's our experience. I sent this email to Rajane Prasad, Admissions Co-ordinator, and Sister Moly, the Principal of the School. Dear Ms Rajane: There is a FB group called https://www.facebook.com/groups/bangaloreschoolsshweta/Bangalore Schools (closed group, you may not be able to open the link) where parents exchange information about various schools. Here's what Anjana (my daughter, and Kavya's mother) posted: I wanted to write about my experience so far with Aradhana Academy. Some of you may already know that my family has relocated from the U.S. My daughter joined…

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We often see vendors like this girl I spotted at the Kanakapura Road/ORR junction, selling large balloons. It could be a variety of (usually Chinese) products: windshield shades, mobile phone charger cords, earbuds, dusters.   Spare a thought for the hardships these people undergo. Obviously, they want to make an honest living, and not beg at the street corners. They get their goods from an agent, and have to pay him a large part of what they earn. In the process, they eke out a very slender living. Do, occasionally, buy from them; you can donate the item you bought…

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We often see vendors like this girl I spotted at the Kanakapura Road/ORR junction, selling large balloons. It could be a variety of (usually Chinese) products: windshield shades, mobile phone charger cords, earbuds, dusters.   Spare a thought for the hardships these people undergo. Obviously, they want to make an honest living, and not beg at the street corners. They get their goods from an agent, and have to pay him a large part of what they earn. In the process, they eke out a very slender living. Do, occasionally, buy from them; you can donate the item you bought…

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I've written earlier, in this post about artisans who make a living by repairing jewellery. On Sunday, two friends and I went to Commercial Street, a shopping area in Bangalore. Off this street is another narrow street, called, quite appropriately, Jewellers Street. Both of them had jewellery that needed repair, so we found a small shop. "Gun Short" is actually a "gunshot", using a staple gun to pierce the ear quickly and painlessly. "Manul" piercing could also be done. My friends showed the shopkeeper the work to be done, and negotiations for the amount to be charged were successfully concluded.…

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I've written earlier, in this post about artisans who make a living by repairing jewellery. On Sunday, two friends and I went to Commercial Street, a shopping area in Bangalore. Off this street is another narrow street, called, quite appropriately, Jewellers Street. Both of them had jewellery that needed repair, so we found a small shop. "Gun Short" is actually a "gunshot", using a staple gun to pierce the ear quickly and painlessly. "Manul" piercing could also be done. My friends showed the shopkeeper the work to be done, and negotiations for the amount to be charged were successfully concluded.…

Read more