Good morning, Bengaluru!
đŚď¸ Todayâs weather: A few thunderstorms here and there are likely.
đ§ Did you know? The property on which the Bangalore Palace stands once belonged to John Garret. He founded the Central College and authored an early Kannada translation of the Bhagavad Gita.
𧹠A mural to break barriers
Girija Hariharan painted a mural on the Lahe Lahe building to foster social change.
Two worlds: People living on the two sides of the alternative art space Lahe Lahe building in Kodihalli live in two different Bengalurus. While one straddles the upper-class, swanky part of the city with pubs and restaurants peppering the roads, the other resides at the intersection of thatched roofs and tarpaulin tents. This is why Lahe Laheâs founders commissioned artist Girija Hariharan to build a mural that portrays inclusivity.
- Samana, the 50×60 public mural on Lahe Laheâs facade, has several portraits, including locals, a Lahe Lahe performer, and a dancer from Dharavi in Mumbai.
- Co-founder Mansee Shah Thard expressed dissatisfaction at the fact that although the art space sees high participation, the absence of the local community is apparent.
Bridging the gap: Lahe Laheâs founders hope the mural will propel inclusivity, or at least a conversation about it. Lahe Lahe is hosting workshops to bridge the gap between the visibility of the underprivileged community and the elite. The first such workshop will be held next month by Moji Lala, a migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh who runs a nursery.
- The workshop will focus on plant maintenance. Moji Lala will teach participants how to water them, spray pesticides, and apply fertiliser.
đď¸ Building the Bengaluru brand
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has hinted at the revival of the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF).
Story so far: On Monday, Shivakumar met with legislators and parliamentarians to deliberate on forming a vision group similar to BATF. He emphasised the need to restore the brand of Bengaluru and tackle essential problems like drinking water shortage, solid waste management, and traffic management.
- Officials have been instructed to devise plans of action to solve encroachment, manage floods, and ensure transparent silt transportation.
- Meanwhile, the Rajajinagar MLA, S Suresh Kumar, highlighted the urgency of banning flex banners, managing underpasses, tree pruning, promoting cycling, and banning plastic.
Whatâs BATF anyway? It was established in 1999 during SM Krishna’s tenure as Chief Minister of Karnataka. BATF was a partnership between corporates and the government to accelerate Bengaluruâs development and build its brand.
đ§âđ¨ Flash tattoos become popular
Flash tattoos are at the forefront of moulding tattoos into a creative form of storytelling and expression.
Whatâs it about? Tattoos are a versatile mode of communication. While they were once insignias of affection for loved ones, they have now evolved into a form of self-expression and art. Flash tattoos have allowed for greater intricacy and creativity in tattoo designs. They are pre-made tattoo designs that permit minimal input from the customer.
- At last monthâs Puncturewala festival, homegrown tattoo artists had a repository of flash tattoos which, once chosen, were never repeated. They are the signature marks of a tattoo artist.
- Some question whether flash tattoos are meaningful at all. Bidipto Das believes they are, as tattoos acquire meaning over time.
Beyond festivals: Flash tattoos are gaining traction in tattoo studios too. Browsing through pre-prepared designs helps minimise confusion before getting a new ink. Suresh Machu, the founder of Machu Tattoos, has created an extensive catalogue of customised flash designs, with 40% of his customers opting for them. They start at âš1,600.
đ Holes in the free bus travel scheme
The government has issued guidelines for free bus travel for women that overlook the needs of the ones who need it the most.
Mixed reception: On Monday, the Karnataka government issued guidelines for the Shakti scheme, which offers women free travel in the state-run road transport corporations. They clarified that women have to apply for Shakti Smart Cards on the Seva Sindhu portal to access the Shakti scheme. But activists arenât happy with this.
- A member of the Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV) said that itâs a radical move which can have a transformative effect on womenâs visibility. But the government has added an unnecessary hurdle.
- It will be difficult for women from the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households to use the Seva Sindhu portal. The scheme is also restricted to domiciles.
Tell me more? Until the cards are issued, women can use any central or state government-issued identity cards to get a âzero ticket.â Except for BMTC services, the government has set aside 50% of the seats in all RTCs for women.
đ Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever taken a sleeper bus?
- Yes, I have been on a sleeper bus.
- No, I have never been on a sleeper bus.
â Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What are some habits youâve acquired from your parents?
Reply to this email with your answers.
đď¸ In other newsâŚ
- The toll staff on the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway have to endure threats and abuse.
- Read about how the St Charles Womenâs PU College celebrated World Environment Day on Monday.
- Travellers beware. A cyclone will cause heavy rainfall and gusty winds on Karnataka’s coasts.
- Residents complain of sinkholes and road cave-ins in 110 spots near Banashankari.
- The Karnataka government clarified that free power is only for domestic users.
đď¸ Local Lounge
Yesterdayâs Poll:
- I have been on a double-decker bus: 57.1% đ
- I havenât been on a double-decker bus: 42.9%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which medieval ruler do you like the most?
Vedant: âRana Pratapâ
Sriranga: âPulakeshi 2 of the Chalukya Dynasty. He was responsible for Aihole, Badami and Pattadakallu.â
Thatâs it for today. Have a great day!