JP Nagar

  Girish Karnad's "Bikhre Bimb" at Ranga ShankaraGirish Karnad's hugely successful play, "Bikhre Bimb" (in Hindi) will be staged at Ranga Shankara, on Sun, 29 May '11.Bikhre Bimb is among the most successful plays produced recently in India. The play has seen more than 100 shows and has been invited to all the major festivals of India. Arundhati Nag's masterly portrayal of two characters in a skillfully conceived plot has won her accolades and since its opening, Bikhre Bimb has been invited to, and performed at, all major theatre festivals in the country. It won the awards for best playwright, best…

  Girish Karnad's "Bikhre Bimb" at Ranga ShankaraGirish Karnad's hugely successful play, "Bikhre Bimb" (in Hindi) will be staged at Ranga Shankara, on Sun, 29 May '11.Bikhre Bimb is among the most successful plays produced recently in India. The play has seen more than 100 shows and has been invited to all the major festivals of India. Arundhati Nag's masterly portrayal of two characters in a skillfully conceived plot has won her accolades and since its opening, Bikhre Bimb has been invited to, and performed at, all major theatre festivals in the country. It won the awards for best playwright, best…

When we were children, the term ration card (or family card) meant something crucial for survival. From our family's short stint in Mumbai, I recall that it was mandatory for school admissions too. Well, it was perhaps because it was the only acceptable document that proved the identity and location of a person and his or her family members - not many had passports, telephone connections or driving licences. And there were no voter identity or income tax PAN cards then! Further, the gas connection was usually in the name of either the husband or wife. Importantly, the family card…

When we were children, the term ration card (or family card) meant something crucial for survival. From our family's short stint in Mumbai, I recall that it was mandatory for school admissions too. Well, it was perhaps because it was the only acceptable document that proved the identity and location of a person and his or her family members - not many had passports, telephone connections or driving licences. And there were no voter identity or income tax PAN cards then! Further, the gas connection was usually in the name of either the husband or wife. Importantly, the family card…

  It's rare to find a book written for one city, that can be used as a ready reckoner for several others! But that's the case with "Just Look Up....to see the magic in the trees around you", a very handy booklet written by Sadhana Ramchander, and published by Blue Pencil Creative.The book may be aimed at children...but it is very useful for adults, too, who'd like to look around them at the common trees in the cities.Many "handbooks" or field guides are rather unwieldy to take along with one on one's outings; especially if they are hardbound. Sadhana's book is…

I find that BBMP/BMTC combination has been experimenting with various designs for bus stops...but still, a very vital piece is missing from almost every bus stop that I see. This...is a board that should, at the very least, announce what bus routes are going through the stop. Why is there no provision for this essential piece of information on any bus stop, when there seems to be so much space devoted to advertising?Another instance of the BMTC/BBMP being less user-friendly than they should be. All it takes is a little imagination..or observation, when our top officials go junketing to Singapore…

  It's rare to find a book written for one city, that can be used as a ready reckoner for several others! But that's the case with "Just Look Up....to see the magic in the trees around you", a very handy booklet written by Sadhana Ramchander, and published by Blue Pencil Creative.The book may be aimed at children...but it is very useful for adults, too, who'd like to look around them at the common trees in the cities.Many "handbooks" or field guides are rather unwieldy to take along with one on one's outings; especially if they are hardbound. Sadhana's book is…

I find that BBMP/BMTC combination has been experimenting with various designs for bus stops...but still, a very vital piece is missing from almost every bus stop that I see. This...is a board that should, at the very least, announce what bus routes are going through the stop. Why is there no provision for this essential piece of information on any bus stop, when there seems to be so much space devoted to advertising?Another instance of the BMTC/BBMP being less user-friendly than they should be. All it takes is a little imagination..or observation, when our top officials go junketing to Singapore…

"Sumin", as my young daughter used to say, is what I do regularly in the summer. Sumin is such a great all-round exercise; and if there is a pool in your own apartment building, like I have, you don't have to brave the city traffic to get to the pool, either. A quick change of costume, and there I am, ready to slip into the pool (this is a nice way of ssying that I am still afraid to jump in!).I still do only the backstroke, as it gets far less water into my Ear-Nose-Throat system, and the other compelling…

"Sumin", as my young daughter used to say, is what I do regularly in the summer. Sumin is such a great all-round exercise; and if there is a pool in your own apartment building, like I have, you don't have to brave the city traffic to get to the pool, either. A quick change of costume, and there I am, ready to slip into the pool (this is a nice way of ssying that I am still afraid to jump in!).I still do only the backstroke, as it gets far less water into my Ear-Nose-Throat system, and the other compelling…