The entire business world was agog yesterday about Satyam’s deals fiasco. My andhra colleague, a Reddy, had once told me that any Telugu family’s ideal groom would be a ‘Satyam’ employee working in US. Well, needless to say, those families will be a worried lot. Looking back at what happened, if anyone can pull off such a coup, its Premji, but I guess he has better business sense than the stalwarts in Satyam Board of Directors. I wonder if the board had a momentary memory lapse while approving such deals. Read on.
Monthly Archives: December 2008
NRI’s work is God’s work
In the days of yore, it was the Maharajas who patronised temple building during the height of their powers. Mahabalipuram, Hampi’s Virupaksha, Ashoka’s Sarnath pillar are a few examples. Now that we have a democracy, I thought that the mantle is taken over by our politicians. After all, ‘Government’s work is God’s work’, declares Vidhana Soudha. But I guess it’s the NRIs who are the neo-Kings. With financial support from Non-Resident Indians, the state government plans to renovate 500 temples in Coastal Karnataka and Udupi. A welcome move considering that even now, in many small villages, economies revolve around the temples. Read on.
Mysore – down the memory lane
Brindavan Gardens
Its always the same. New York residents would have hardly said hello to the ‘lady with the torch’ on the Liberty Island. Londoners would not even have spared a cursory glance at the Big Ben or any other landmarks of their famous city. I received a typical French rebuff when I asked a young Parisian the way to Eiffel Tower in my best broken French.
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- Brindavan Gardens
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- Brindavan Gardens
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- Cone corner at Brindavan
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- Giraffes at the Mysore Zoo
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- African Elephants at home in Mysore
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- Zebras at Lunch
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- Mysore Zoo
Predictably, though I have spent many happy days as a child in Mysore and have made Bangalore my home, my trips to Mysore have been very infrequent. Last weekend’s visit was not just a nostalgic trip but also an introduction of this city to my wide-eyed toddler. Steeped in History, Mysore is famous for its royal grandeur, wide paved roads and a laidback lifestyle. Apart from its palaces, Mysore’s two other most popular tourists destination are its Shalimar-inspired Brindavan Gardens and the Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens; popularly known as Mysore Zoo. My visit to the city was after nearly a decade. The two places had undergone a complete transformation that the places were as new to me as it was to my kid.
The KrishnarajaSagar Dam also known as KRS and the adjoining Brindavan gardens, is situated around 18 km from Mysore. The reservoir and the terrace styled garden were shining examples of engineering and beautification thanks to the efforts of the two famous Dewans of Mysore Kingdom, Sir M Viswewaraya and Mirza Ismail. The Gardens are open to public on all days from 6 am- 8pm, whilethe musical fountain show, which is the highlight of the visit, is between 6.30 – 8.30pm everyday. The garden is mughal-styled; Sir Mirza was possibly influenced by Kashmir’s Shalimar Gardens that he wanted to recreate it in Mysore. And when you are tired walking all around this 60 acres of sprawling greenery, the snack corner provides some much needed grub(chat, ice-creams, gobi manchurian, soft drinks) and an earful from the microphone of the over enthusiastic marketing. A note to cheer all Bangaloreans, the parking space is huge, so dont worry on that front.
My early memories of Mysore Zoo were as a kid to a small smelly place with lot of caged animals. But the Zoo today has undergone a complete transformation. The place is eco-friendly. Visitors are advised not to bring in any plastic. There’s a search at the entrance and the plastic bags are replaced by paper bags at the Zoo’s expense. Once mostly caged animals now roam in huge open areas surrounded by trenches. There are guided tours in an open vehicle that resembles an elongated golf cart for those who cannot walk the entire stretch. It was heartening to see the elephants, both Indian and African, after the infamous poisoning episodes at the Zoo a few years back.
To reach the Brindavan Gardens
Take the KRS Road near the City Railway Station. It takes an hour to reach the place; the last stretch is in a very poor condition. The Musical Fountains are the hightlight of the Gardens and the show is during 6.30 -8.30 every evening. Entrance fee for adults – Rs 15/-, children – Rs 5/- and camera charges are extra.
To reach Mysore Zoo.
The Zoo is 2 km from the Mysore Palace, in the city. Follow the sign boards to reach the place. The Zoo is open from 8.30 – 5.30 on all days except on Tuesdays. Admission fee for adults – Rs 25/-, children(5-12 years) - Rs 10/-, camera charges extra.
Checkmate on terror
Every Indian has been deeply affected by terrorist’s attack on Mumbai. I couldn’t beleive my eyes when I saw the Taj burning; the same Taj I had visited a few months back. Then the gateway area had a bazaar like atmosphere and now it was bizarre. So how do you hit back without a war that’ll wipe away south asia with nuclear weapons? I read this enlightening article by an IIMB professor to how to hit back its economy. It makes sense. After all if the economy tanks, how will ISI raise its funds for the terror outfits?
A moment of hesitation
I stood in front of Kanti Sweets, a place that we frequent for its excellent badam (almond) milkshake. Cajoling my two-year old to have a glass of badam milk takes a lot of patience(unless your two-year old is goody-goody and laps up all the milk like they show on some TV ads). That was when I saw her. Sitting in front of the shop, she looked old, wrinkled and nondescript. She was just one of the millions of beggars we see in the city and choose to ignore. While my kid drank a few sips and I couldn’t help looking at her. She was definitely hungry and had I had offered her a milkshake, she’d have finished it in a gulp. Many thoughts rushed past me. There are so beggars in the city and how many could one help? Also this old lady might be controlled by some ringleader who takes a percentage of her earnings.
Just then, interuppting my train of thoughts, a guy, maybe in his thirties, rushed out of the shop with a plate of hot parantha and asked her if she wanted it. The old lady just gobbled the whole steaming parantha while he watched on. Once she finished, he handed the plate back to the server, came out of the shop and asked her if she needed help in walking across the street, as he was headed that way. He led her out of the place gently like he would to his own family.
I could have done the same thing – its just that I hesitated. Many of us have this dilemma. Should we help the beggars or encourage begging? Many a times I’ve felt giving money to a lady, holding an infant, but checked my sympathy thinking that this might be a ‘borrowed’ baby to increase her earnings given from the soft-hearted middle class. So what is the right thing to do? I would say act what you feel at that moment, like this man who bought the old lady a dinner. Give food, atleast that wont go the ones who control the racket.
