Coming to the survey, it was a short one and contained some predictable questions, like “what was your previous mode of transport”, “why do you opt to travel in a Volvo”, etc. The questionnaire also asked if you would be willing to buy a monthly pass if it is priced at Rs.1250, which indicates a likelihood of BMTC introducing Volvo passes soon. The missing but much needed question was “how happy you are with the service.” Neither did the survey ask the passengers to make improvement suggestions. I hope the officers at BMTC include these when they plan a survey again.

I am not sure what actions would come out of the survey, but am glad that at least some one in BMTC decided that they should also go back to their passengers and ask for their inputs. Hopefully they will put some efforts to make commuting in non-Volvo buses comfortable too.

The big slump in demand is evident from all those high rise apartments that are complete and waiting for buyers. Two years ago when Prestige group launched Shantiniketan project near ITPL, it was sold out on the same day when the bookings were opened! Things are much different now and the demand-supply equation seems to be tilting towards buyers. It is easy to find a ready apartment in areas like Marathahalli-ITPL stretch, Bellandur-Marathahalli stretch and JP Nagar 7th Phase. There has been word that it is a similar story in Mysore, where land prices had shot up considerably a year ago but there are few takers of late. But of course, no one wants to talk about it, be it developers or even the media.

However, prices, though have remained stable, do not seem to have come down much along with excess supply. And there are plenty of new projects coming in too. North Bangalore is now becoming a new hub of construction activity. It might probably take a few more months or even a year of low-demand until the prices start looking down. Or if there is a fresh wave of demand like last few years, a reduction in prices may never happen.

Have you been house hunting lately? What are your experiences?

Folks from around Mangalore have something to cheer – the July schedule features a play in Tulu, which is probably the first time in Rangashankara.

All this is going to make watching the movies a good experience for the movie goer. But not everything looks good. The experience of the movie gets better, but the experience of getting to the hall is going to get worse. Except Innovative Multiplex, all the other halls including the ones under construction fall in the region of heavy traffic. We have seen how difficult things have been in Koramangala since Forum and PVR happened. Things might turn out the same way in Trinity Circle and Cunningham Road. The new mall at FamilyMart junction would definitely cause pains at Sarakki Signal. Let’s wait and watch to see how it will turn out.

I did not manage to get any photos, but will carry the camera next time I go that way. And don’t be surprised if Ravi manages to beat me in getting the pics!

The staff there were friendly and warm to the enthusiastic photographers disturbing their daily activities – like bumping into them and stopping them for a photograph, subtly getting the staff to pose and even barging into their kitchen. It is this barging into the kitchen that threw me into surprise. They used charcoal ovens for all their cooking. No LPG or any other means! I wondered why, and noticed that little has changed in ICH since the day the place was opened.

Mahesh, the manager there was friendly and welcoming and explained all about the place. “It is 50 years for our establishment,” said he, “but the building is much older; see it is still strong and does not need any repair but for a few minor patches. They did not even use any cement in the building. But next year, we are closing this place. We have a new building that is nearly ready in Avenue Road. We will be moving there.” I asked why did they have to move and if it has something to do with the Metro work. He said the owner of the building wanted them to clear the place, and will probably build something new in its place.

Charcoal ovens

So it is another year or so before another landmark in Bangalore is going to come down. Savour the place as much as you can before it is gone!

Off topic, I was seeing all the Metro Rail construction going on, replacing the greenery on the other side of MG Road. It is difficult for me to understand all the noises that are going on about tree felling and construction activity. It is true that the lane is a great landmark of Bangalore fondly recalled by all of us. It is true that some trees have to make way. But should we not sacrifice little things in life for a greater cause? A Metro Rail is a hundred times more beneficial to the environment of the city and we must keep that in mind. I am a treehugger myself, but a little thinking tells me easily that the green patch is giving way for something very good. I suggest people protesting against tree felling to spend the same time in 1) Trying to find another place and plant more trees, and ensure that they actually grown up 2) Push or protest if necessary for BMRCL to restore the greenery once the work is complete.

* Let’s use public transport as much as we can. It is not as hard as some ugly people try to project it, really.
* Let’s remember that polythene bags are one of the meanest things that comes to our hands. Taking a cloth bag for shopping is easy, really. And if we are on some impulsive shopping, let’s at least pack everything in single bag, instead of taking home a dozen polythene packs.
* Garbage sucks. It is not worth leaving it on the road; not even in front of neighbor’s compound. Let’s throw it in the bin.
* Let’s use water as much as we need. Let’s not waste a drop.
* Let’s switch off those lights when we don’t need them.
* Let’s switch off the comp when we leave office, Every Day. Let’s switch off the monitor when we leave for lunch.

Let’s make every day an earth day. Let’s be selfish and keep our house – the earth clean and tidy. Like an ad from Royal Dutch Shell says, “Don’t throw anything away. There is no ‘away’”.

On the daily commute back from work, I would go on the outer ring road in the section between Jayadeva hospital and the right turn towards JP Nagar near Mandovi Motors. There was a large and empty stretch of land a short distance after Shopper’s Stop which was primarily occupied by wild shrubs and infamous ‘Congress’ giDa. The stretch was just like any other empty areas in the city on which you would bother no more than giving a passing look. Our real estate barons would have different thoughts on it but let’s not get into all that now.

One fine evening, all those shrubs were gone, and in its place there were tents. The typical blue plastic sheeted tents that have now become ubiquitous in the city, since the days of construction boom. I presumed there is some big building coming up nearby and the workers are settling themselves to start the construction. Along with the plastic tents, I also saw a few thatched roofs which was unusual. A few days went and it did not look like there was any construction activity happening nearby. But I noticed that the newcomers were entrenching themselves. They were slowly working on making improvements to their settlements. Some of the roadside settlement owners had opened shops selling a few things, flowerpots for example.

A month passed and things remained as they did, and nothing remarkably new seemed to happen. On one evening, there was a sudden transformation again as it had happened on the first day. All the plastic tents and thatched roofs were gone. And in the place were coming up small housings, no bigger than the area of a cubicle or two. And this time they were permanent structures built with bricks! It all happened very quickly and the next day we again had ready houses with people living in it! A few more days and there were a couple of signs around the area announcing the local “Dalita Sangharsha Samiti”, “Dada Saheb Ambedkar Samiti”, etc.. When transformations happened, they were sudden and quick, whether it was formation of settlements in plastic tents or construction of brick houses.

Today if you go on that road, it looks as though the slum existed there for many years. It would be difficult say that they don’t own the rights for the land. Even if it was your own property, you would not feel too good about evacuating the area.

Well, all these observations now make it fairly clear for me on the question of origin of slums. I shall refrain from drawing a conclusion, which I shall leave to your discretion.

Image from Vijaya Karnataka

Tejaswi is no more with us but his works on nature, birds and literature, and his eye of fascination towards everything will continue to remain an inspiration for us. May his soul rest in peace.