Environment

If you love nature, like walking among trees and flowers, and want to know more about our green heritage, this is the walk for you. If you know absolutely nothing about trees or nature, you will find this walk fun and eye-opening. It is hot and sunny these days and we are constantly looking out for shade under some TREE be it while walking or parking the car...  but, how much do we actually know about the trees in our very own neighbourhood?? Do we ever spend time with our kids outdoors, close to nature, in contact with soil and…

How do the cricketers keep a track of their team mates at the Malleshwaram ground? Pic: Rajesh Kallaje Sports encompass every aspect of life in the United States. From the time we can walk we start playing at least one sport. Historically baseball has been America’s sporting pastime like soccer has been for much of the rest of the world. There are two main sports that parents start their children out on the first, is teeball/baseball and the second is, surprisingly enough, is soccer. As American children get older those that continue to stay interested in athletics expand their horizons…

How do the cricketers keep a track of their team mates at the Malleshwaram ground? Pic: Rajesh Kallaje Sports encompass every aspect of life in the United States. From the time we can walk we start playing at least one sport. Historically baseball has been America’s sporting pastime like soccer has been for much of the rest of the world. There are two main sports that parents start their children out on the first, is teeball/baseball and the second is, surprisingly enough, is soccer. As American children get older those that continue to stay interested in athletics expand their horizons…

One evening, my son and I were at our local library. The place has one of those stubbornly heavy glass doors that basically require you to pull (or push, or vice versa, and yes, I always get mixed up!) and shove, till it slowly deigns to sulkily open. Basically, it is a door you tussle with, but hey, it's good for toning biceps.  Anyway, so there we were, browsing through the Crime section (me), the kids titles (my son), with me shushing him frequently when I heard a noise outside the glass door. A little girl was trying with all…

One evening, my son and I were at our local library. The place has one of those stubbornly heavy glass doors that basically require you to pull (or push, or vice versa, and yes, I always get mixed up!) and shove, till it slowly deigns to sulkily open. Basically, it is a door you tussle with, but hey, it's good for toning biceps.  Anyway, so there we were, browsing through the Crime section (me), the kids titles (my son), with me shushing him frequently when I heard a noise outside the glass door. A little girl was trying with all…

On 31st March 2016, a 40-year-old African Tuilip tree in Indiranagar 1st stage, home to hundreds of parakteets and scores of nests nurturing young ones, was brutally felled by the BBMP. The reason: it was dried up and a possible threat to passers by. Only a stump of the tree remains now. Pic: Arzu Mistry A view of the tree stump from a house it provided shade to. Pic: Arzu Mistry This variety of tree sheds its leaves and looks barren in the summer months – but it's not dead! And considering that Bengaluru is in the midst of one…

On 31st March 2016, a 40-year-old African Tuilip tree in Indiranagar 1st stage, home to hundreds of parakteets and scores of nests nurturing young ones, was brutally felled by the BBMP. The reason: it was dried up and a possible threat to passers by. Only a stump of the tree remains now. Pic: Arzu Mistry A view of the tree stump from a house it provided shade to. Pic: Arzu Mistry This variety of tree sheds its leaves and looks barren in the summer months – but it's not dead! And considering that Bengaluru is in the midst of one…

Having been living in India, and more specifically Bangalore, for almost three months now, I have grown increasingly more comfortable with the social norms and practices here. For the first month or so these norms took some time to sink in and become common practice. For example, the concept of “Indian stretch time”, at home it is considered very rude to be late, or not needing to say thank you every time someone does something nice for you, an omission of “thank you” in the United States is also considered an offense. The following is a story of how, as…

Having been living in India, and more specifically Bangalore, for almost three months now, I have grown increasingly more comfortable with the social norms and practices here. For the first month or so these norms took some time to sink in and become common practice. For example, the concept of “Indian stretch time”, at home it is considered very rude to be late, or not needing to say thank you every time someone does something nice for you, an omission of “thank you” in the United States is also considered an offense. The following is a story of how, as…

This is a story of hope. Of reclaiming a glorious city that had lost its beauty to the plastic curse. Of standing your ground and sticking your neck out for what you believe. Of collective, affirmative action. Of the power of the people that start from you and me. This story begins with the horrendous image of a beautiful city choking on its own garbage and ends with the reclamation of that same city by its loving citizens and thought leaders, who take on the plastic monster by its horns. A couple of months ago, it seemed like Bangalore city…