Society

I guess the heat was too much and not many volunteers turned up this weekend. Those who did brave the sun did a wonderful job though. Yesterday, 6th April, some eight of us were scattered on the lake bed, bent over or squatting on the ground. We were searching for lurking bits of the Salvinia between the cracks and under stones since even a teeny bit is enough for it to sprout and cover the water in no time.  Fresh Salvinia spotted earlier in the week (Pic: Nupur Jain) Searching for Salvinia (Pic: Usha Rajagopalan) It was back breaking work…

In this season of colours, our lake bed may seem drab, devoid of water but for us at PNLIT, it is a sign of hope. The brown piles of drying Salvinia is the final leg of a battle we've been fighting since Aug. last year to remove the invasive fern Salvinia Molesta and to infuse new life into the lake. The way the BBMP's JCB and the men are working, we are hopeful that the last of the Salvinia will be removed by the end of the week. THEN we can welcome the rain to fill up the lake.In spite…

For two years now the oldest film studio in town has been home to our work… It is time to leave…but before we go… Sign-out rafiki presents a series of performances as a tribute to the space. March, 2013 Thursday 28th The Fabulous Adventures of Aditi and Friends rafiki 7pm Friday 29th Somewhat Like a Balloon Just Theatre 7pm Saturday 30th Woza Albert! rafiki 7pm Sunday 31st Full Meals Tahatto 6pm Jannal & Seethaimark Seeyakkaai Thool Koothu-p-pattarai and PERCH 7pm All performances will be at our space: c/o K K Foundation and Public Charitable Trust 48/3 (Opp. Al Ameen Hospital)…

In this season of colours, our lake bed may seem drab, devoid of water but for us at PNLIT, it is a sign of hope. The brown piles of drying Salvinia is the final leg of a battle we've been fighting since Aug. last year to remove the invasive fern Salvinia Molesta and to infuse new life into the lake. The way the BBMP's JCB and the men are working, we are hopeful that the last of the Salvinia will be removed by the end of the week. THEN we can welcome the rain to fill up the lake.In spite…

For two years now the oldest film studio in town has been home to our work… It is time to leave…but before we go… Sign-out rafiki presents a series of performances as a tribute to the space. March, 2013 Thursday 28th The Fabulous Adventures of Aditi and Friends rafiki 7pm Friday 29th Somewhat Like a Balloon Just Theatre 7pm Saturday 30th Woza Albert! rafiki 7pm Sunday 31st Full Meals Tahatto 6pm Jannal & Seethaimark Seeyakkaai Thool Koothu-p-pattarai and PERCH 7pm All performances will be at our space: c/o K K Foundation and Public Charitable Trust 48/3 (Opp. Al Ameen Hospital)…

In its fourth edition, with a record 61,000 nominations for nine categories in the prestigious Namma Bengaluru Award, 2012 (NBA) which recognizes the "unsung heroes; ordinary people who do extraordinary things so that the city can move forth in to the future" the odds of winning were stacked against everybody.We had been shortlisted last year and the excitement continued this year as well. However, with a great deal of work yet to be done to make the lake ready for the monsoon, we tried not to think too much about the NBA. Our lake was in no condition to receive visitors…

In its fourth edition, with a record 61,000 nominations for nine categories in the prestigious Namma Bengaluru Award, 2012 (NBA) which recognizes the "unsung heroes; ordinary people who do extraordinary things so that the city can move forth in to the future" the odds of winning were stacked against everybody.We had been shortlisted last year and the excitement continued this year as well. However, with a great deal of work yet to be done to make the lake ready for the monsoon, we tried not to think too much about the NBA. Our lake was in no condition to receive visitors…

Each year, for the past few years the Namma Bengaluru Foundation has been honouring those who serve the city in different ways, by recognising them thorugh its annual awards. I've been a jury member all four years, and during this time, I have been fortunate to learn about the work of so many inspiring Bengalureans, and occasionally to be able to work with them too. Namma Bengaluru Awards Jury. Pic courtesy: NBA The first year we received a few thousand applications. The second year the number grew to 14,000 and stayed at that level for the third year too. This…

Volunteers who attended last weekend's deweeding sessions at Puttenahalli Lake admit it was hard, but satisfying work. Though we had dissuaded children from "working", there were several who accompanied their parents and finally joined in.Here is what some of the volunteers had to say, after putting in a good few hours last Sat/ Sun morning.  Shankar Iyer It was a great feeling to get down to the surface of the lake and  "de-weed." I had a feeling that Mother Nature was asking for a small assistance  from our side to help her bloom and extend "her healing effects of calmness" on us for the…

Each year, for the past few years the Namma Bengaluru Foundation has been honouring those who serve the city in different ways, by recognising them thorugh its annual awards. I've been a jury member all four years, and during this time, I have been fortunate to learn about the work of so many inspiring Bengalureans, and occasionally to be able to work with them too. Namma Bengaluru Awards Jury. Pic courtesy: NBA The first year we received a few thousand applications. The second year the number grew to 14,000 and stayed at that level for the third year too. This…