Good morning, Bengaluru!
đ¤ď¸ Todayâs weather: Sunny with a light breeze.
đ§ Did you know? The Wellesley Bridge, located across the Kaveri on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, is an ancient stone bridge built in 1804. It was named after Marquis Wellesley, the then Governor-General of India.
đ Rising Beyond the Ceiling
A new book records the contributions of Indian Muslim women to nation-making.
Story so far: International health and development expert Dr Farah Usmani launched the Karnataka edition of Rising Beyond The Ceiling (RBTC) on Saturday. The book is a repository of the stories of 100 Muslim women achievers in India across 15 fields. RBTC seeks to subvert the monolithic categorisation and stereotypes of Muslim women in India by highlighting their contribution to nation-making.
- Usmani conceived the idea when a journalist claimed to have never met an Indian Muslim woman. She decided to record Muslim womenâs achievements in law, sports, the Indian Armed Forces, literature, civil services, entrepreneurship, and other fields.
- Politician Margaret Alva, the chief guest at the book launch, believes that RBTC is a pathbreaking initiative to make the heterogeneity, agency, and achievements of Indian Muslim women visible.
Stereotypes: Often, Muslim women in India are considered socio-economically backward, oppressed, and tied to caring for their children. These stereotypes produce dangerous outcomes when people begin to unilaterally view them as objects of pity or fantasy, disregarding the diversity and weight of their voices.
Why it matters? National histories sometimes marginalise the lives and achievements of women, particularly those from minority groups. Prevalent stereotypes render it difficult to recognise Muslim women as a heterogenous group with varying experiences and occupations.
- A book centralising Indian Muslim womenâs narrative can shatter preconceived notions and provide young women with inspiring role models.
đ¸ Bengaluru in Focus exhibition
An art collective captures the many faces of the city through photographs.
Story so far: Bangalore in Focus, a segment of the 6th edition of Whitefield Art Collective at VR mall, captures the cityâs many moods through a series of photographs by Bengaluru-based photographers. It allows people to showcase their view of the city and capture its essence.
- The art collective started its preparations a month before the festival. Over 2,000 pictures were clicked and sent to the collectiveâs call for entries.
- One of the selections was an entry by Kartik Handral, who photographed sun rays falling through leaves at the Lalbagh garden.
Why this matters? Bengaluru is a big city with a vast and heterogeneous population. The idea behind Bangalore in Focus is to record the diversity of lenses through which people view the city. It is a way for citizens to visually explain their attachment to Bengaluru.
đ Night sky watching at IIA
The IIA will host a skywatching event to improve public engagement.
Story so far: The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) plans to grow its public outreach programme with a sky-viewing facility that will open at its Centre for Research and Education in Science and Technology (CREST) campus on Tuesday. Under its outreach programme, the IIA formed a team to brainstorm, document, and disseminate information about the instituteâs activities.
- The campus will host a free night sky watch event from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The observation space, an observatory dome, and a telescope are set up for the opening.
- The institute hopes to organise more science-based activities on its premises. Their long-term goal is to develop science-themed malls, parks, or other public spaces.
Why though? The opening sets the stage for more programmes showcasing astronomersâ work at the IIA. The institute also recognises the merits of creating science-based public spaces to encourage public engagement and interest. Its two observatories in Tamil Nadu already receive adequate footfall.
𪧠Protests to save GTS Tower
Citizens and conservationists want to preserve the land surrounding the GTS tower.
Story so far: On Sunday, Bengaluru residents staged a protest against the demolition of a rock formation adjoining the 220-year-old Great Trigonometrical Survey (GTS) Tower near Jakkur. They demanded the Bangalore Development Authorityâs (BDA) immediate intervention.
- In May 2022, the BDA allocated 2.75 acres of land near the GTS tower, comprising rock formations, a lake, and a reserved pasture, to Siddheshwara Education Trust for 30 years.
- According to residents, the BDA ignored allotment norms and the landâs historical, geological, and scientific significance. The critics have attempted to file a complaint several times but couldnât reach the BDA higher-ups.
Why this matters? The site allotted to the education trust adjoins a historically significant scientific endeavour. In 1800, Lt Col William Lambton used the tower as the centre point of a 137-year-long land survey. Besides allowing the surveyors to map the subcontinent, the tower also helped clear misconceptions about the earthâs shape.
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Do you believe in astrology?
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đď¸ In other newsâŚ
- âš135 toll fee is fixed for cars on the first stretch of the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway.
- The Ayush Arogya Camp aims to encourage farmers to build gaushalas near their land.
- Illegal political banners are still a major challenge for the BBMP.
- 60 to 65% of students in Karnataka are below average in reading proficiency.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz endorsed an exchange of specialists with India.
đď¸ Local Lounge
Yesterdayâs Poll:
- I have climbed up trees: 66.7% đ
- I have never climbed up a tree: 33.3%
Thatâs it for today. Have a great day!