Good morning, Bengaluru!
☁️ Today’s weather: Cloudy through the day.
🧐 Did you know? Sudha Murty was the first female engineer to work for the TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company, then India’s largest car maker.
🕺🏼 Street dance revolution
There is a surge in street dance culture in Bengaluru, transforming its nightlife and cultural landscape.
What’s it about? The vibrant dance scene in Bengaluru is experiencing a significant transformation, with a growing community of street dance enthusiasts bringing a fresh vibe to the city’s clubs, pubs, and public spaces. Lourd Vijay, a city-based dancer, observes a generational shift towards street style, characterised by its radical and ‘underground’ nature. These ‘underground battles’, now a popular form of competition and expression, have evolved from their historically illicit connotations to represent non-mainstream dance events.
- Jasika Chadha, a New Delhi-based freestyle hip-hop dancer, notes Bengaluru’s unique dance culture, emphasising the city’s diverse and active participation in street dance, including working professionals and a higher proportion of women dancers.
- ARDS India, a local street dance school, has been instrumental in organising dance battles and workshops, witnessing an increasing turnout, and plans to elevate the scene with international judges.
Challenges: Despite initial familial resistance, dancers like Jeeva Rekha K have made significant strides, challenging traditional perspectives on dance and career. The scene, however, still faces logistical challenges, such as performing in public spaces, reflecting its ongoing evolution and the need for broader societal acceptance.
👴🏽 Elderly care challenge
Bengaluru grapples with a shortage of skilled caregivers for its elderly population.
What’s it about? The city’s elderly, many of whom suffer from chronic illnesses and dementia, face a growing need for specialised care. Despite the rising demand, there’s a notable gap in skilled caregiving. The city’s population comprises of over 10% of elderly.
- Certified caregivers are better equipped, yet their numbers are insufficient.
- The tough nature of caregiving jobs often leads professionals to pursue other careers, exacerbating the shortage.
1 in 5: Deputy Director of Nightingales Medical Trust (NMT), Ramani Sundaram, noted that one out of every five senior citizens are in need of caregiving services.
🏠 Rising rent driving home purchases
Soaring rental costs in Bengaluru prompt a shift towards homeownership.
What’s it about? A NoBroker report reveals that 42% of Bengaluru residents prefer buying homes due to increasing rents, higher than in other major Indian cities. The trend reflects a strategic response to high rental costs, particularly in areas without IT hubs. This shift has led to a growing demand for independent houses and properties accessible by metro.
- 31% residents in Chennai, 24% in Delhi-NCR, 33% in Hyderabad, 27% in Mumbai, and 17% in Pune wish to buy a house instead of renting one.
- The survey included responses from over 32,000 people.
Seller’s market: The trend reflects a larger market shift in 2023, characterised by a seller’s and landlord’s market, further intensified by the return-to-office mandate.
🛕 Preserving Bengaluru’s heritage
Meera Iyer is on a mission to preserve Bengaluru’s unrecognised heritage sites.
What’s it about? Meera Iyer, a Bengaluru native and freelance writer, joined INTACH to save the city’s overlooked heritage. She was motivated by the public’s unawareness of historical structures, some centuries old. Iyer’s visit to Devanahalli Fort, an 18th-century structure fading into obscurity, prompted her career shift.
- INTACH’s Bengaluru Chapter conducts heritage walks, focusing on engaging locals, including walks in Kannada, to familiarise them with the city’s heritage.
- The team has restored various Bengaluru landmarks and is currently involved in ongoing projects like Mani Villas and Nandi Halt train station.
Community-wide effort needed: Funding remains a challenge for Iyer’s team, with inconsistent government support and difficulties in securing private investments. Iyer aspires for a future where heritage preservation is a community-wide effort, eliminating the need for her role.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you believe in God?
- I believe in God.
- I don’t believe in God.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which place of worship in Bengaluru is your favourite?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union in Bengaluru has ended its association with Namma Yatri.
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is set to inaugurate the CII EXCON 2023 in Bengaluru today.
- Nandi Hills now has electric train services connecting it to Bengaluru.
- The inaugural World Design Protopolis Conclave took place in the city last week, forming part of the Unboxing Bengaluru Habba event.
- A student-teacher duo from Bengaluru secured the second and third places respectively in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2024.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have been to the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP): 25.0%
- I haven’t been to the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP): 75.0% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!