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Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Locked – up Guns and Unlocked Goons
India is really a wonder land like no other and amid our medley of colourful and vibrant States; Bihar stands out as the most bizarre. Among its many attributes which are simply too many to be dealt with at length here, its lawlessness and its people’s long-standing fascination with guns, both legal and illegal stands out. There, the status of any man or even woman of substance is measured by the number of guns he or she totes. Similarly, the stature of a politician there is indicated not by the number of elections won but by the number of gun-totting security personnel around him or her. Read On

Vikram Muthanna: Hairy Tales
Now getting back to my beard, I have come close to shaving my beard, but I stop myself just so I can go to another gathering and see if I can arouse anymore new reactions. My father, of course, after the beard had grown to a good thicket, in all goodness suggested I stop looking like a hermit. My mother said I must look “decent”. My only answer was “what's the big deal, it's my face and my facial hair and more over Jesus Christ had a beard and so did Leonardo da Vinci. One was the son of God and the other was a genius.” Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Re – Visiting Ajjimane
Two summers ago, I wrote a very short piece about the joys of children visiting grandparents during summer holidays versus the present trend of spending them at summer camps. Within a day of having written it, I regretted it. I regretted it not because I felt that I had written something wrong but because I had written it as a small part of a two-piece column instead of as a full - length article. My brief passing reference to the topic drew such an immediate and unexpected response from readers who all felt that I should have dealt with it in a little more detail. Read On

John Pilger: Australia’s Hidden Evil Empire
In our city itself we will find a number of students who ventured out and returned after spending lakhs of rupees while many hang-on for the sake of saving face back home. Please see the editorial in this issue. The following article by one John Pilger was sent to us by one of our readers Maj. Gen. S. G. Vombatkere (Retd.) under the heading "White Superiority". The original text has been substantially edited for reasons of space. Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: A Cheer for Democracy
Remember the election when the entire South India went against the Indira Gandhi-led Congress? The voice of the people was heard but the Janata Party that came in didn’t do a good job and tragedy prevailed when all its leaders later succumbed to corruption. The people did their part; but there was no accountability in place to keep the politicians on the straight and narrow path. I believe that is what we as Indians should focus on. Funnily enough, here in the US too, we are having elections. Though the candidates are dressed in expensive clothes, the mud slung is still black and brown in color. If a nation that has more than two centuries of democracy under their belt is still evolving, don’t you think that India still has a chance? Read On

Prof. A. V. Narasimha Murthy: Trial of Warren Hastings
Many of the Governor Generals and Viceroys of British India were notorious for their arrogance, superiority complex and above all corruption. In fact, some of them were ordinary officers not even with good background. Such people, when got vast power in a foreign land, saw the wealth of the Maharajas, their own low and poor background made them corrupt and greedy. However, some of them had good qualities and are remembered for their services to this country. Read On

Vikram Muthanna: The great outdoors
It's that time of the year again when kids celebrate and parents stand confused. The kids love the fact that exams are over and its two months of bliss. While the poor young souls are thinking that life is going to get a little easy, the parents sit around confused as to which summer camp to put the kids into in order to keep them busy and off their nerves. I guess kids need to be kept busy, but not too busy. Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Election Euphoria and After
Another needless election has been thrust upon us. I call it needless for two reasons. Firstly, this whole exercise of re - electing the same set of sloppy legislators all over again much before the expiry of their terms at an astronomical cost to ourselves is nothing but a cruel joke being repeatedly played on us of late. This time it was entirely because of just one family’s unwillingness to share power with its erstwhile allies as agreed upon earlier. Read On

Prof. A. V. Narasimha Murthy: Karnataka and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka also known as Simhala and Ceylon is familiar to Indians as the abode of Ravana who was killed by Sri Rama in the Tretha Yuga. Its nearness to South India had practically made it a part of the Peninsula politically and culturally for the past two thousand years and more. Though now a days we feel as if it is far away, in the ancient period, our kings treated Sri Lanka as a next - door neighbour and waged wars frequently. Read On

Prof. A. V. Narasimha Murthy: Three distinguished Settis of the past
The origin of the profession of trade should be taken as old as the man himself. Its earliest form and nature have not been recorded in our inscriptions or literature. Ever since the declaration of the Vaishyas as one of the Varnas in the hymn of creation (purushasukta) of Rigveda, the merchant class gained a high status in society and developed in all parts of our country. Read On

Ravi Kumar: Want to own an apartment?
Having no financial constraints, you may want to buy an independent house, in which you are your own master, as opposed to, in an apartment building. However, we have to basically understand very clearly that, buying an apartment will be like buying a bus with 20 to 30 other persons, as equal owners, having the same rights as you have and these other owners will most likely be total strangers, with very different life-styles and language to yours. Read On

Ex - Sgt. Mandetira N. Subramani: Rum Punch and Music in Air Force
Well, a rum punch is a punch that knocks one out cold. You get such a solid “kick” that it could be called the mother of all kicks, so to say. It is also a sucker punch that hits below the belt. When you trade punches in a boxing ring you know what you are giving or going to get in return. But when it comes to the rum punch you don’t know when it’s going to hit you or where. Read On

Prof. A. V. Narasimha Murthy: Divine origin of Dynasties
If we have a Minister, MLA, MP, IAS, IPS officer as our relative (even remote) we try to connect ourselves with him or her. Unfortunately, some of these persons have become so notorious and corrupt; people hesitate to announce their closeness to these persons mentioned above. What a fall! The first important and imperial Indian empire was that of the Mauryas famous for Chandraguptha, Ashoka and Kautilya. Unfortunately their origin was very humble. Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Hurting to heal and cutting to cure
Much is being discussed these days both in and out of the press about what ails present day medical practice. And since imagination is the only limit to what people can talk, unfortunately what is being discussed on the streets outside the constraints of newspapers is naturally much more than what we see in print. Read On

Rahul: Another Child Prodigy
Rahul, son of M. S. Manjunath and Anu Manjunath, residents of JP Nagar, chanted Gayathri mantra, when he was just two years and six months of age. "I was wonderstruck when Rahul chanted the Gayathri mantra, as I had never taught him. He had just overheard me chanting the mantra in the puja room and chanted it. Realising this capacity in Rahul, I slowly started enlarging his horizon. He started reproducing whatever I taught, in no time, while he played, he ate or bathed," says his mother. Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: A time to heal ourselves first?
Today unknown to most others, life for every doctor, both good and bad, is a constant and stress-filled struggle between sound sleep and a sulking conscience; between moral values and material needs and between a groaning belly and a grumbling society. Therefore, it will be no surprise to me if my children, disillusioned and disheartened by what they have seen and experienced, prefer not to become doctors. Read On

Dr. (Lt. Col.) Y. N. I. Anand: Role of Doctors and Pharmaceutical COS in the present commercialized society
Those with demoniac qualities resort to insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance and strive to collect by foul means hoards of wealth for sense of gratification. I often wonder whether we, the doctors, have transformed from the former to the latter over the decades! Time was when the Doctor was compared to God. Today also they are compared to God but only the God of death, that is, Lord Yamadharmaraja. Read On

P. Manivannan recalls his demolition days in Hubli
If everybody asks for time and it is granted, the very demolition drive will come to a halt, thought Manivannan and gave orders to go ahead with the demolition of his family friend's encroachment. To ensure the staff is not put into embarrassment of any kind, Manivannan himself went to the spot. He explained to his friend the reason for the demolition drive and the consequence if it is halted even for two days. The friend was not convinced. “I can't mix friendship with my duty”, explained Manivannan. Read On

T. J. S. George: Why One Man’s conscience mattered to all
Who is Free India's most courageous judge? We'll have to recall the terror of the Emergency era to appreciate Hans Raj Khanna's claim to that title. Those were days when the police could pick up any one and torture or kill him and no questions could be asked. There would be no information either, for news was censored, telephones tapped. People were scared to meet in street corners or coffee shops. Fear stalked the land; there were informers everywhere. Today's generation would hardly believe that such conditions existed in India. They not only did; Indira Gandhi's India was quite brazen about it. Read On

Prof. A. V. Narasimha Murthy: Narasimha Maheta of “Vaishnava Jan to” Fame
Vaishnava Jan to tene Kahiye was the hymn of his life for Mahatma Gandhi and it had become a part and parcel of prayer. He considered this song as consisting of the essence of Hindu philosophy and ethics narrated in a simple and easily understandable language. Hence it is a capsule of ethical principles. Thus this song, written five hundred years ago, became popular and gained currency because of Mahatma Gandhi. Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Melodious Reminiscences
Doctors’ families and spouses should pardon me if I am touching a raw and painful area in their lives but most people say that we doctors lead pretty dull and isolated lives. Very often I have no other option but to agree with them as they are not very wrong. Read On

Vikram Muthanna: Musings on Women’s Day
It's Women's Day and I was worried that my wallet might lose some weight. Valentine's Day has just gone by and we men haven't yet recovered from that fiscal blow and already another day that favours women? But then I was relieved to know that this was a day to celebrate women's achievements and talk about women's issues. Read On

Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy: Chamalapura Thermal Power Plant: Can we afford it in a green belt?
Following widespread protests from farmers and citizens living in the region, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has decided to hold a public hearing in its office in Bangalore on Mar. 6 on the proposed Thermal Power Plant in a tiny village called Chamalapura in H. D. Kote taluk. Dr. Bhamy Shenoy, a noted energy expert, explains here how costly it would be to generate power from thermal plant and how cheaper from other sources. Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Let’s have governance rather than “Governors”
The truckers' strike among other things was also to pressurise the government to retract its recent order making speed governors mandatory for all transport vehicles. Although I too feel that considering the conditions of our roads and the density of our traffic, speed is one of the major causes for the growing morbidity and mortality on our roads, I somehow feel that the government order in question is next to useless. Read On

Prof. J. R. Lakshmana Rao: Einstein and Religion
Einstein once said that "Religion without science is blind and science without religion is lame." These words are often quoted by those who hold that both science and religion are equally important in life. They claim that the eminent scientist subscribes to their view. On the face of it, they are justified in their claim. Read On

GTN: National Science Day: Yet another ritual!!!
Why in Free India no such great men of science have come to light in substantial numbers? What prevents our young talents to pursue their studies in the field of science? Where are the Ramanujans, Ramans, Chandrasekhars, Khoranas etc. that are lost in the mad pursuit of technology seen currently? When will our talents stop facing the West to realise their dreams of a comfortable (?) life? Read On

Prof. A. V. Narasimha Murthy: Narasaraja, Wrestler King of Mysore
Wrestling, a martial sport of India has a hoary antiquity going back to almost the beginning of our history. Our epics Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas portray wrestling in all its glory. Bhima is considered to be the greatest wrestler of Indian tradition. His fight against Jarasandha has been graphically described in Mahabharata. Hanuman was not only a great wrestler but was also elevated to the level of the God of Wrestling Read On

Mysore Zoo: Zoo Director speaks
Spread over 100 acres in the heart of the city, housing 1,164 animals belonging to 146 species from 30 different countries, it is the only old Zoo in the country which could expand its area within the city, from 10 acres since its creation in 1892, with just 30 animals. It is categorized as one of the 57 large zoos among 126 recognized by Central Zoo Authority (CZA), a statutory body under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. Read On

Parents Beware: Inappropriate advertisements in kids' channels
Recently I was sitting with my kids and watching TV when I saw this advertisement come on. The animated advertisement shows a fairy - tale setting wherein a young girl in a full - length, puffed - sleeve, frilly pink dress skips through her village and into the woods to collect dates. There she finds a bar of Lux Provocateur soap and slips into the lake to bathe, thus “unbinding her sexuality and awakening her lust”. Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: A Visionary and his Vision
Thanks to our culture of “Job Security” our babus need to work briefly only before getting into their government jobs and never after. Consequently we have the world’s largest “non – working” work force draining our already gasping economy. Lastly and most sadly, the laws of our land and our legal system too in their existing form with their innumerable loopholes and technical limitations are all too well known only to favour the transgressors. Read On

Residential School for Policemen’s Kids: Will Kempaiah’ s dream project take shape?
This is what happens if the officers are transferred illogically at irregular intervals. The Residential School for the Children of Policemen, the dream project of IGP Kempaiah, for which he donated the entire share of the reward money he got for his struggle in nabbing the forest brigand Veerappan during STF operations, is crying for attention. Read On

Parrot Talk
Curious to know what the future holds for you? Here is a cheap and easy way. All you need to do when you visit this fortune - teller is to tell your name, place Rs. 5 before him as dakshina, sit back and watch! "Dear Parrot, please come out of the cage and pick one card for Saheb", says the fortune - teller. Read On

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Remembering Ramanujan, a Wonder
Famous Mathematician, G. H. Hardy, told of S. Ramanujan, "This poor and solitary Hindu pitted his brains against the accumulated wisdom of Europe". Srinivasa Ramanujan, as most of us know, was one of the most brilliant Mathematicians, 20th Century Europe and the world collectively saw. Read On

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Musings on Ramaswamy Circle
But on this fateful day he was a different man. Perhaps he did not like the school urchins accosting him in public. An argument seems to have taken place between Deputy Commissioner and Ramaswamy. It is said that Nagaraja Rao told Ramaswamy in a stern voice “drop the flag”. But unfazed by this command, Ramaswamy told the DC "Drop your pistol first." Read On

Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy: India’s NGOs and the Art of Living’s Ravishankar
Recently I had been to Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Ashram located close to Bangalore to take part in what was announced as an NGO meet to discuss environmental protection and access to social justice. Within few hours of its inauguration, I fled from his ashram, which was looking more like a jail with several security guards and hundreds of spy like volunteers. Read On

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Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Some thoughts on Sri Krishna
For us the Hindus, Sri Krishna is the Supreme God, an incarnation of Vishnu himself in the Dwapara Yuga. He is the hero of Mahabharata, Bhagavata, Harivamsha and many puranas and has endeared himself to the masses since he took his birth long long ago. Thus we respect him and worship him as the Supreme God. But from the point of view of history and antiquity, lot of research has been done not known to ordinary people Read On

Muthappa Rai’s New Avatar
Muthappa Rai, the former underworld don who reformed himself as a good Samaritan after abandoning his underworld activities since few years, has announced the launch of a social service organisation Jaya Karnataka, which will strive for the cause of Kannada and rural development. Addressing a media conference at Hotel Grand Ashoka, he clarified that his organisation is totally apolitical and would not be a mouth piece for any political party. Read On

Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts
Someone aptly said "Anyone who says you can't see a thought simply doesn't know art". Art, with its many facets has invariably been the medium of reflection — of imagination, expression and timeless beauty, although its dimensions have seen tremendous change, diversity and expansion over the decades. Modern and contemporary Indian art has become a major focus in the international art scene. Indian art has gone from success to success, beating record prices time and again not only in the country but also in numerous art capitals of foreign countries Read On

25 Years for the Love of Art
CAVA completed 25 years of service to art in 2007. The Silver Jubilee was celebrated over a period of one year from December 2006 to December 2007. A series of programmes marked the celebrations. Former Dean of CAVA V.M. Sholapurkar inaugurated an “Alumni Art Workshop”. Read On

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Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Matriculate but Articulate “Doctors”
While low profile quackery is always sheltered under the three tiny letters “RMP” suffixed to the name of the practitioner, high profile hoodwinking always thrives under outlandish fake foreign degrees including MDs and PhDs from USA, UK, Italy and Germany in subjects as impressive as Cardiology, Diabetology, Dietetics, Nutrition, Cosmetology and God - knows what. In some “posh” clinics run by “specialists” patients are first shown on a computer or a laptop an impressive synopsis of what malady they have and what madness it can lead to if not addressed adequately. Read On

Mysore Industries demand more benefits in State Budget

Reviving Sanskrit
Sanskrit will exist like it has existed for centuries but its unviability will never make it a popular spoken language and commercial chanting in Sanskrit will only make it more exclusive and less attractive, unless, of course, being a pujari pays better than being a Software Engineer, a Business Executive or any of the new age money spinners. "Bhagavaaneva Rakshate Samskrutham" — “God save Sanskrit”. Read On

Mysore in the Sixties: Vani Vilas Road
It started off at the Court gate and rolled down, really down. Most of us painstakingly negotiated the "court up", which was almost impossible to surmount especially when we were riding doubles. It had two parks called Manuvana on either side, which seldom saw people but was in charge of a khaki - clad watchman. Read On

Old - World Charm of Vontikoppal
This particular locality is probably the most well - known address in Mysore almost as internationally known as Mylapore for Chennai, Matunga for Bombay and Basavanagudi in Bangalore. As a matter of fact, there is even a Vontikoppal Association in the San Francisco Bay area! Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Keys of Kingdom
All of a sudden the key topic in the news seems to be the Key of the Holy Kaaba in the possession of Syed Sha Waliullah, a gentleman residing at Sedam in Gulbarga District. It is surprising that this relic which is said to have been in the possession of his family for the past so many centuries has never made it to the news any time in the past. Incidentally this man is an uncle of my very close friend Dr. Syed Hasan Hussaini Jagirdar who was one of my former hostel-mates Read On

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“Satisfaction kills artiste’s creativity”: Dev Anand
What motivated you to make R. K. Narayan's novel The Guide into a legendary movie? As a film maker, it is my job to be searching for good stories. After reading the marvellous creation of R. K. Narayan, I called the great writer from California in 1965 and R. K. Narayan told me over the phone from Mysore that he was thrilled to receive a phone call from me and at once, told me “I will give you the rights to make the novel Guide into a movie!”Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Martyred and Quartered
I am writing about this again today as public memory is woefully short and this is an issue that merits mulling over again both by citizens in general and those in power in particular. Every country today maintains its own fighting forces and every country in the world invariably remembers its war veterans and martyrs and also ensures a permanent place of honour for them by naming important landmarks in its towns and cities after them. Read On

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Elephant in our tradition
The statement that “Aswathama's elephant was killed” has a special significance in Mahabharata. Buddhism and Jainism have also given a divine status to elephant. In fact Buddha is symbolised as elephant in Buddhist art. Our national emblem, Ashoka Chakra, also has an elephant carved on it. Elephant has played a significant role in our history. Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Humble Philanthropist goes home
In the passing away of Bellur Subbanna this week, we have lost a very modest and humble philanthropist who like all true philanthropists was hardly known except to the handful of people who were closely associated with him. Although he bid adieu at the ripe old age of 94, having lived a full and purposeful life, his death is indeed a loss considering the fact that he was continuing to do good to the society almost till his end. Read On

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Piltdown Hoax
One intelligent labourer put a hundred year old coin in the layer which belonged to 2000 years B. C. The labourer was warned not to repeat such mistakes hereafter. But compared to this poor labourer who resorted to this minor mistake just to earn some money as tips, the author or authors of the Piltdown Man stands condemned causing disrepute to the science of anthropology. Perhaps nobody will have the guts and courage in future to repeat another Piltdown. Read On

Mysore in the Sixties: The Legendary 100 Ft Road
Immediately after that was Dr. Sanjeev Rao's Narasimha Pharmacy (which also was where RKN's creativity took place), then there was Krishna Flour Mills leading on to the legendary Seethavilas Choultry. Even today very few people know who stayed in that choultry or who are staying now? All these were on the right side of the road. On the left was Subbarayanakere. (Did that kere ever have water?). It only had various temple kind of structures and the swimming pool. Who was Mr. Subbaraya, anyway? Read On

Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) S. G. Vombatkere: Power Crisis during coming summer: Artificial and Avoidable
But this power shortage is artificial and avoidable. If all the available capacity is generated and if some basic steps in demand management are taken, there will be no power shortage this summer. Not only that, There should be no power shortage for many years to come. Read On

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Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Some thoughts on crossing the Ocean
There has been a debate going on in Karnataka regarding crossing the ocean in the context of a particular Swamiji. It is our intention here to examine the problem from the historical perspective and not to offer any solution. Bharatavarsha or Chakravarti Kshetra was an area bounded on the three sides by sea and on one side by mount Kailasa. Hence, crossing over was a taboo. Read On

Modi’s Triumph: What Next?
He asked, unabashedly reminding the electorate about what he had done for them and the State. He asks: “Who brought electricity to your homes?” “Who ensured water supply to your field?” “Who brought motorable road to your doorsteps?” The crowds with frenzy would shout in one voice, “Narendra bhai, Narendra bhai”! “So, Modi tells them, “vote for me!” The populace voted for him. No incumbency factor. Read On

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Padapuja: Some Historic Tit – Bits
Worshipping the feet of great men and washing them has been an ancient practice in India going back to the times of mythology and epics. This practice does not seem to have been in vogue in other ancient civilisations. Though it is difficult to understand the antiquity of this practice in India, it is certain that this practice was in vogue during the Vedic period, about 4000 years ago. Read On

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Father of Epigraphy
Though their writings are valuable, they suffer from two defects: Some of them undermined our culture deliberately and made adverse comments, while the other more sympathetic group did not understand the innate nature of our tradition and habits and made mistakes in evaluating our culture. This is the story of the past. Read On

Role of Expectation in our relationship
These are the days of Gurus, Preachers and Management Consultants. Lot of stuff is spewed at the captive audience where materialism and spiritualism are made to look like twin brothers. Of course, they are. Gurus and Godmen make as much money, or even more, as a management consultant makes. Best of luck. The fittest will survive and make more money than the other. Read On

Mahabharata and Karnataka
However, the wise Dharmaraja knew that Duryodhana, cruel, selfish and greedy as he is, would not keep his word and would not handover the kingdom as promised. Sadly our B. S. Yeddyurappa (BJP) did not have the wisdom of Dharmaraja. Therefore, Dharmaraja, knowing the evil nature of Duryodhana, concluded that he would get his kingdom back only after a successful war with Duryodhana. That was how and why Dharmaraja went about acquiring special weapons (Divyasthras) with the help of Vedavyasa. Read On

Sri Sri Ravishankar to conduct Meditation Camp in Mysore
Since time immemorial India has been home to exceptional men and women in all walks of life. In the modern times, to rejuvenate the values of life as advocated in the Vedas and scriptures of India, proponents of spirituality emerged. Sri Ravishankar, also known as Guruji, the founder of The Art of Living Foundation is one of them. Art of Living brings to mind the picture of a man with a long beard and tress, clad in whites with a "Rudrakshi mala" around his neck. He is Sri Sri Ravishankar. The Art of Living is non - profit non - Government service organisation founded by Sri Ravishankar in 1981 Read On

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Mir Sadik, the betrayer
Print and electronic media in Karnataka are generously using the epithets traitor, betrayer, breach of trust, treachery, untrustworthy, stabbing in the back etc., to describe certain events and persons in recent political happenings. This is nothing new in world history. Perhaps treachery is as old as man himself. Our tradition believes that this was less in earlier yugas but is rampant in the Kaliyuga in which we live. Thus the traitors are condemned from all sides. Read On

Disability is not a hurdle to him
Disability has never been a hurdle for Mithun, who says, “Nothing is impossible and it is up to us to prove it”. Mithun S. Pai, an employee of Infosys at Bangalore, has proved this with firm determination, iron will and unparalleled support from his parents, sister and his teachers and is now sailing through life successfully. We have an inspiring story of 22 – year - old Mithun Pai, who is born with a congenital profound hearing impairment but has turned out to be a true role model for the disabled today. Read On

Field Marshall K. M. Cariappa’s Australian posting cost Coorg its statehood
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had promised the people of the erstwhile Coorg State that nothing would be done to change their status without their approval. In the event, this was not to be, Coorg was amalgamated with what is now Karnataka. When father returned (from Australia) in 1956, the die had already been cast, so there was nothing that could be done to put the clock back. Read On

The story behind Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamijis Bonsai Garden: It was father’s inspiration
The innocent lad, who unknowingly tasted the sweet poison kept on the floor in a corner of the house, went into coma. The father, who knew anti - dose, went to the forest, brought some green leaves and prepared a medicine. The boy was administered with the medicine and he gained consciousness after three days. Read On

Impressive Ranga Pravesham
There are beautiful descriptions about the women in all stages of life. The natural fragrance of womanhood at different points is a subject of expression to many Sanskrit poets. But the teenager — Shodashi has a special. In English the girl entering 16th year is referred as a "Sweet Sixteen doll" whereas in Sanskrit she is described as Apsara. Praapteu shodashe varshe kumaarim apsaraa bhaveta - any girl who completes 15 years and enters the 16th year is a "Shodashi". She is naturally so attractive and beautiful that she can be compared with the Heavenly Apsaras Read On

Nandigram: The scene of Bloodbath
But Bharata refused to take over the kingship. The kingdom should rightfully go to Rama. He would never agree to deprive Rama of his right to lord over all the territory coming under the kingdom. But today values have changed. Legally speaking, all land belongs to the State and the peasants can only cultivate the land said to belong to them. What can the State do with the land? It cannot till. So the farmers are 'de facto' owners of land in a way. Read On

Kannadigas betrayed
The past few weeks have witnessed encore of the epic Mahabharata in Karnataka politics. That event of Dwapara Yuga has been enacted in a virtual action replay. The people of Karnataka were betrayed by our elected representatives. Karnataka can as well be rechristened as Kurukshetra. The only difference is in the final outcome. Read On

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Hindu deities on foreign coins
A group of people of Greek origin came to India two thousand years ago. They are called Indo-Greeks in our history. Though they introduced Greek deities on their coins, they depicted Lakshmi on some of their coins. The gold coins of King Azes have Abhisheka Gajalakshmi standing on a lotus with elephants on either side sprinkling water on Lakshmi. Read On

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Dewan Poornaiah
About sixty years ago my grandfather's house in the 100 ft Road (now Chamaraja Double Road) collapsed due to heavy rains. Fortunately there was no casualty. Immediately my grandfather went to the Palace office and met the Mokhtesar of the Maharaja's Government and explained the position to him. The officer permitted the entire family to stay at Poornaiah's choultry or Sita Vilas Choultry but take food at the former for one month or till they arranged a house. In just two hours time the family was rehabilitated at Poornaiah's Choultry. That was how the then Maharaja's Government worked. It reads like a story today! Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: A tale of two cities
After a long gap of many years while I eagerly went there again hoping to see a very inspiring kind of transformation, I returned not only completely disappointed and disillusioned but also a little alarmed. Alarmed that we too in Mysore are slowly heading in the same direction towards growth that our available roads, recourses and civic amenities cannot sustain for long. Read On

Circus Life…..
“Jeena yaha marna yaha iske siva jaana kaha..” these are the lyrics from the Raj Kapoor's movie “Mera Naam Joker”, where he sings about his life being in a circus. Yes, if life is a circus in the hands of God, Circus itself is life for the people involved. Read On

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Fight between Good and Evil, Bali Style
Dasara is just over. The good has triumphed over evil. Let us hope! Yesterday I was cleaning up my desk of its weekly muck and ran into a printed literature given to me at Bali where I had been. Surprisingly it is the script of a “Barong and Kris Dance” representing an eternal fight between good and evil spirit. Read On

Let the Government fall, but not India!
Indo - US Nuclear Deal. Is it dead or just in a state of suspended animation — a term now familiar in Karnataka. What is important? Future of India or the future of UPA Government? Who is afraid of who? Is UPA Government afraid of its fall? Is UPA Government afraid of communists and left parties? Who is the Prime Minister of India? Read On

Dr. Anil Sangli: Does your child find it difficult to concentrate?
Is your child not paying attention to instructions? Is your child unable to organise his / her school work? Does your child leave his /her chores and homework unfinished? Is your child having trouble paying attention to and responding to details? Is your child inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive? If so, your child may be suffering from a ADD or ADHD. Read On

Dasara and After
Curtains came down on this year's Dasara festival in the city on Sunday. It seems many felt the absence of Ministers and their coterie at the various functions a blessing. The absence of Ministers sent a message that nobody is indispensable in a system. The show goes on. This Dasara also highlighted the importance of bureaucrats. Read On

Get Rounded @ Ground Zero
Mysore' s Planet X has become synonymous with fun, excitement and entertainment. This favourite hangout has a new feather in its cap, which will keep you grounded for hours and is all set to give you a true gaming treat. Walk into Ground Zero and you will be taken in by the ambience, which will give you the feeling that you are on a Star Trek set. Read On

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Sculptural heritage of Mysore
A Sculptor breathes life into a lifeless stone or a metal by making it an eternal piece of art with his creativity. They become popular during the course of time. But how about the sculptors who have carved them with so much of pain? Read On

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy: Vachana Bhrashtas in our history
Unfortunately people disregard pledges and agreements infatuated by the lure of power and ask for the pardon. Tippu Sultan wrote to the Jagadguru of Sringeri "People commit atrocities smiling but suffer the consequences weeping!” How true! We do not know what the divine Judgment would be on all these but history has condemned then all. Politicians may' say that everything is fair in politics, but the tradition does not accept this dictum. Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Government House or Government Stable?
Over the past several months I see at least four overworked and underfed horses regularly tethered on either side of its main gate every evening and all through the night. If you go there fairly early in the morning and look a little to the right you will see another three equally miserable beasts tethered to the compound wall entirely blocking the footpath. Read On

Dr. Anil Sangli: Can a Villager obtain specialized treatment without travelling to City?
Tele - medicine is becoming an international trend for health care, home health care and has reduced the time and cost of patient’s transportation and helps in fine tuning the management strategy in rural health areas and emergency services. It reduces the burden of inferior health care access, with utilization of technology and obviates the insurmountable obstacle of geographic isolation Read On

Dr. Javeed Nayeem: Heritage Walks: Will they work in Mysore?
It is high time all these hidden artifacts are pulled out and displayed for the world to see their worth. If we fail to act now and revive its former glory, I’m afraid that very soon the once world famous Mysore Dasara may no longer be Mysore’s exclusive show. It may in fact just become an acronym for Does Anyone See Anything Really Attractive? Read On

Mysore City Corporators must emulate their Indore city counterparts
In Karnataka there are any number of NGOs, strategically located in Bangalore, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada mainly, each focused on a single concern. It could be evicting tribals from their ancient home and hearth, deforestation, environment, wild life and even here specifically focused on tiger, so on and so forth. They have their funding agencies from abroad and also from the State or Central Governments. Read On

T. J. S. George: Performance matters, but not in politics
Earned greatness has its ups and downs. Bestowed greatness has only ups, no downs. It was not long ago when Dhoni performed badly in a string of matches. Irate fans punished him