From-here-there-everywhere

Came across a news item in the Deccan Herald a couple of days back about a study in Finland that concludes that consumption of alcohol is likely to be more if there is a bar in the vicinity. Well, if this were really true, every other resident in Bangalore would have been an alcoholic. Go to any area in Bangalore, whether the items of immediate daily necessities like bread/vegetables/medicines are available or not, a wine shop will certainly be there (may be my definition of “daily necessities” is all wrong).Often the shops dealing in these spirits also have “spiritual” names like Mahalakshmi Wines, Chamundeshwari wines, Saraswati Wines, Tirumala bar and so on. But the tragedy of a bar being too near is that “respectable” folks like me cannot approach them unnoticed by other “respectable” folks of the neighbourhood lest I get branded as alcoholics synonymous. This put me in a very piquant situation once. About three decades back, we were residing in a comparativ

The army has patronised sportspersons right from the pre-independence era in our country. Major Dhyan Chand and Flying Sikh Milkha Singh's names come to our mind immediately. After independence, other government departments like the Indian Railways and even public sector undertakings like Indian Oil, Indian Telephone Industries etc. continued this practice. In the absence of such practice, many of the talents would have withered unsung. In the field of our classical music, the musicians were being patronised by the emperors, kings and rich landlords in the yesteryears. But in and around   40's and 50's, there was a void. With the emperors all gone and the kings losing their kingships, many poor, talented musicians lost their support and were forced to live a life of penury. Just imagine if only the defence forces would had made provision to employ a few talented musicians. With their lively hood taken care of, they could have concentrated on honing their skills. M

(This manuscript of mine,written in mid eighties, was found recently while sifting through my old papers.Being reproduced without any edit not to dilute its sanctity)                                                                           S.M.S.A.T. So here I was at the bus stand, having just arrived from Hospet, all set to embark upon another trip (within the city) which was in no way easier than the one I had just completed. With the little luggage I had, I gingerly approached an autorickshaw. My conversation with the auto-rickshaw driver went like this:- I- Sir,are in a mood to go to some place? AD-(Auto Driver) Well, that depends..... I-Would you mind taking me towards Malleswaram? AD-Of course,I mind. I-May I ask why? AD-Well, you see it is rather late in the night (it was only seven) and I won't get any passenger for coming back. I-Well, Malleswaram is not exactly in wilderness. Somehow, whenever I want to go somewhere I get the same answer. Last time when