Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

‘I always dreamt of owning the best cars’

June 16, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Sportsadmin

Personal diaries have always been around. Confidential and distinctive, personal diaries capture some memorable moments, in the life of an individual. However, VP Manohar. a passionate hoarder of machines of all ages, has a list of cars written down in his diary!

It all started when he was a kid. Manohar would write down the names of the cars that he liked and the ones he saw on the roads. Not only did he know the names of the best cars that roared on the streets of old Bangalore, but would also write down the information about the owners of these cars. “I always dreamt of owning the best cars,” says Manohar, currently the managing partner of Southam and Company. He says, “I remember that my father owned just one car. I made sure I washed it regularly.” However, it was in 1967 that Manohar was gifted his first car — the Triumph Herald. He later owned a few more beauties, including a Ford and a Contessa, after which his love shifted to vintage and classic machines.His first classic car was a 1966 Mercedes Benz, a royal blue queen, which ruled the automobile markets for eleven years. “These cars are called classic for the obvious reasons. They were strong and weighed over two tons,” he explains. The second entrant into his collection was the very stylish 1984 Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign. A rare car with twin fuel tanks, it has the glass headlight cover, which is not to be seen in the present-day models.“The old models of Jaguar are better built than the newer ones. This car has twin fuel tank with a button that can switch from one tank to the other. The 1984 model is premium when compared to the recent models,” he opines. After the ‘panthera’ beauty came the beastly wagon — 1946 Chevrolet Fleetmaster. A synonym for luxury, it has a fastback styling, comfortable upholstery and white-walled tyres. A roar of the car is enough to know its majesty. “I have the original keys for this car. I have the bill from 1946 with me too,” he quips.

A love for these classic beauties has turned his house into a workshop of sorts. “The Benz was in a pretty good condition. But the other two needed complete restoration. I would never leave my cars at the workshop. Instead, I would get the mechanics home and my house was altered into a workshop,” he informs.

His Mercedes Benz has driven one lakh miles. He says, “The Germans built this machine ahead of technology and hence it has remained intact, without any rust or wear and tear.” While most of the parts of Jaguar were imported from the US, the Chevy’s parts were available in the country. “I even have the original petrol cap for my Chevy,” he says.

A member of Karnataka Vintage and Classic Car Club, he takes out his cars every Sunday and says he likes the attention he gets while driving these old cars. He has been a part of rallies for many years now. Drawing a parallel to the rallies of the old times, he says, “The rallies of the olden times were tougher. Now it is just a 600 to 800 km rally. But I have taken part in 2,000 km rallies and one had to be a strong driver to take part in them.”

It is his passion that has brought him thus far and inspired him to learn a great deal about cars, from assembling to reassembling. He concludes saying, “I want to own a vintage Rolls Royce in future.”

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Pragna GR – DHNS / June 16th, 2015

The Fête de la Musique is Back

June 16, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, Alladmin

Thimmaiah Road :

Musicians will be jamming it out in various venues around the city on June 20 and June 21 to celebrate the International Music Day.

Since its inception in France in the year 1982, The Fête de la Musique has ramified into other countries. The Fête de la Musique was hosted in 700 cities in over 100 countries not including the country of origin in 2014. In India, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune and Puducherry organize the event on a very large scale. In accordance with each country’s cultural specificities, The Fête de la Musique – International Music Day is celebrated on June 21 around the world. Bengaluru’s first Fête de la Musique took place in 1984 in collaboration with the Bangalore School of Music.

The Fête is free to all and open for all to participate across genres. This year, some venues have chosen to represent certain genres. For example: Church Street Social is going all out to celebrate Electronica and Toit Brewpub has Acoustic Rock acts, whereas SAIACS CEO Centre is focusing on Jazz and Bangalore School of Music is more focussed on Western Classical. This is also the year where a lot of professional acts will be sharing the stage with amateurs – Galeej Gurus, Perfect Strangers, Peepal Tree, to name a few.

Another noteworthy performance to lookout for from a group of young girls from The Baale Mane Trust who will be the first ever female troupe to play the Dollu Kunitha, a Kannada percussion always played by men.

In most of Europe, public spaces host the Fête de la Musique. People step out at cross roads, footpaths, city squares for one big jam session. In Bengaluru, such an idea may not work given our unpredictable weather. This year though, BMRCL official U V Vasanth Rao himself opened up the Rangoli Metro Art Centre (Rangasthala and Hoovina Haadi) as well as select Metro stations for the event. Venues include the Bangalore School of Music, The Humming Tree, Octavium, Big Pitcher, Toit, Church Street Social, SAIACS CEO Centre, Goobe’s Book Republic, Guruskool, The Warehouse, Blistering Barnacles and Alliance de Française.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Shalini Raman / June 16th, 2015

All pets, domestic animals need licence

June 16, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economyadmin

Bengaluru :

It’s not just your pet dog that will need a licence. That cow grazing on the footpath or the buffalo which suddenly parks itself in the middle of the road need one too.

Owners of all domestic animals will henceforth have to get a licence if they want to keep them, and also ensure they are not left to stray on roads and other public places. A dedicated hygienic enclosure is part of the rules under the licensing system.

Exasperated with cows, buffaloes and other animals straying on the roads and blocking up traffic, the BBMP has submitted a proposal to the urban development department seeking its approval for extension of norms to all kinds of pets and domestic animals, including pigs, donkeys, horses etc. Currently, the licence ambit covers only pet dogs, and there is no compulsion as such.

Dr KA Nanjappa, deputy director (animal husbandry), BBMP, told TOI they have provision to impose a penalty on owners of cows and other domestic animals who let their animals out on the streets, as finding the owners has become a challenge. “If the licence is made compulsory, we can give unique numbers to these animals so the owners can be identified,” he added. From 2011 to 2015, as many as 4,730 domestic animals were caught straying on the roads by BBMP officials and a total of Rs 3,35,173 was collected in penalty from the owners.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore / TNN / June 16th, 2015

Belagavi’s tower clock to fall silent

June 14, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinionadmin

Belagavi :

A British-era tower clock here will be silenced forever to enable widening of a road.

Looking to widen Kalmath Road to 45 feet under its master plan, the Belagavi City Corporation has instructed authorities of the Pioneer Urban Cooperative Bank to raze the %part of the building where the tower clock stands. The bank authorities have secured a week’s time to do so.

The clock on the bank’s building on Kalmath Road sounds its bell every half an hour. Residents of surrounding areas, like %Kalmath Road, Ganapati Galli and Maruti Galli, have an emotional attachment with it. The clock helps some manage their schedules.

The building was constructed 110 years ago. In 1939, the bank management awarded the contract to manufacture the clock to Mumbai’s Swadeshi Electric Clock Company. A large bell from John Tailor Company was fitted into the clock 75 years ago.

The bank has employed a person to wind the clock once a week, and to maintain the tower.

Speaking to STOI, bank manager D R Jadhav lamented that the antique will soon become part of history.

In 1940, the management spent around Rs 40,000 on constructing the bank building. Now, the bank pays a like amount %as property tax, the manager said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bengaluru / by Ravindra Uppar, TNN / June 14th, 2015

Maiden Konkani Mahila Samavesh begins in city

June 12, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, Alladmin

Hundreds take part in day-long event including seminar, cultural programme and Kavi Goshti

Mysuru :

Over 500 Konkani women are participating in the first Konkani Mahila Samavesh organised jointly by Gowda Saraswath Brahmin (GSB) Sangha, Mysuru and Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy (KKSA) in association with Konkani Christian Association (KCA), Mysuru at Jaganmohan Palace here this morning.

Inaugurating the programme, GSB Mahila Mandali, Mysuru President Kusuma J. Shenoy was overwhelmed by the huge congregation of Konkani women for the first such meet in city and thanked the co-operation of members of all Konkani Associations in organising the event.

Addressing the gathering, KKSA member and Programme Co-ordinator Mamata Manjunath Kamath asked the women to be united and spread the richness of Konkani language.

Earlier to the stage programme, a procession was taken out by Konkani women from Maharani’s PU College through Krishna Vilas Road to the programme venue. The star attraction of the procession was the tableaux depicting the Konkani tradition and culture.

GSB Mahila Mandali Founder-President Mohini D. Pai was the chief guest.

Konkani Bhasha Mandali, Mangalore President Geetha C. Kini; St. Joseph’s Central School, Mysuru Principal Joyce Lobo; Sugama Sangeetha artiste Anuradha Dhareshwar; Balodayana Higher Primary School, Mysuru Head Mistress Meera Nagesh; Government Higher Primary School, Jyotinagar Head Mistress S.H. Pushpaveni; GSB Sabha Mysuru President M. Jagannath Shenoy; KKSA Chairman Roy Castelino and others were present on the occasion.

The day-long event includes cultural programmes, seminar, comedy play ‘Yeya Hasya’ and Kavi Goshti.

Minister for Kannada and Culture Umashree will be the chief guest at the valedictory ceremony this evening. On the occasion, Konkani Sthree Vibhushani awards will be presented to distinguished achievers in various fields.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Sunday – June 07th, 2015

A global sound with an Indian touch

June 12, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinionadmin

Bengaluru folk rock band Lagori share their thoughts on a one-of-its-kind music venture tying up with international DJ trio Above And Beyond

Music lovers across genres in the city were in for the ride of a lifetime as Bengaluru folk rock band Lagori launched a brand new track in collaboration with Girish Pradhan from hard rock/heavy metal band Girish And The Chronicles on June 12. What makes this collaboration actually epic is that the track and its accompanying music video is a remixed cover of English progressive trance group Above And Beyond’s title track from their latest album We Are All We Need.

Invited by the DJ trio themselves to work on the track, Lagori’s version of ‘We Are All We Need’ is a non-EDM take on it, which, the much impressed Above and Beyond are launching on their YouTube channel, simultaneous to its official release in India.

Comprising vocalist Tejas Shankar, electric/acoustic guitarist Geeth Vaz, acoustic guitarist Edward Rasquinha, bass guitarist Shalini Mohan and percussionist/drummer Vinyl Kumar, Lagori teams up with one of the rising stars in the indie scene – Girish — for the music video that blends a range of Indian elements and rock to its unique soundscape. Tejas says they are excited “in capital letters!” What got Above and Beyond’s attention on Lagori was an earlier cover of their song ‘Sun And Moon’, explains Edward. “We were approached by their label Anjunabeats to do a cover for the title track of We Are All We Need and when we heard it the first time, we knew that it’s going to be an amazing venture.”

Tejas elaborates: “We could relate to this track a lot since it’s about travelling and exploring ourselves. We all love that though we do get bored of touring and each other sometimes,” he jokes. “The song is all about hitting the road and the journey. We thought we could write a nice Hindi version of it and rope in a kick-ass western singer for the English bit.”

Shalini adds: “We retained the original feel of the song so Above & Beyond fans connect while we’ve added a bit of Lagori to it. It’s a nice mashup of Hindi and English where Girish comes in.”

They admit that Girish was the best thing that happened for the track. Tejas emphasises: “We couldn’t have found a better singer. He was our first choice. He came in and nailed it in one take.” Vinyl adds that though it is a non-EDM track going to Above and Beyond fans, it is different and appealing. “When we did ‘Sun And Moon’, we shot the video in City Market among cows and vegetable vendors. It was a massive hit.” Tejas pitches in: “That gave us the confidence that it doesn’t matter if the audience is an EDM listener base or not. At the end of the day if you can relate to the music, it’s good enough.” Shalini sums up: “It’s just our way of saying that if we can relate to EDM by covering their song, the other way round is also possible.”

Shalini points out that they are quite kicked about the video they shot for the track. “We look quite cool in it,” she beams. Tejas explains: “It’s got the whole road feel.”

Edward elaborates: “We shot the video in a garage that services bullets and other bikes. We ride in on our bikes in the biker outfits for the video.” Shalini adds that the first shot is that of a regal-looking sitar player in the midst of all the rugged bikes since the intro of the song has a sitar piece.

Tejas says they have added a whole repertoire of elements in the song – from Indian to dirty garage to even a scene on a railway track. “It’s a neat mishmash of everything.”

“The only challenge in making the video was getting Girish and Edward to ride the bikes,” Shalini laughs. “They have this whole biker appearance but they didn’t know how to ride the bikes.” Edward joins in and says: “We had a lot of cool ideas and some of them turned out to be funny like this one.”

Tejas adds that having co-written the Hindi lyrics for the track with composer Abdul, giving the completely EDM track an Indian feel and taking the challenge up made it a fun process.

What’s the take away for listeners and viewers in ‘We Are What We Need’? Shalini one lines it: “Girish’s vocals and Lagori, of course.” Tejas adds: “And the fact that an Indian band has done something cool like this. This proves that Indian music can blend with a range of other genres.”

The video is available on YouTube and was aired on Pepsi MTV Indies.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Allan Moses Rodricks / June 12th, 2015

‘Mysore Memories ’: A convent school in old Mysuru

June 12, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

by Girija Madhavan

The other day I saw two nuns at a stationery shop in Mysuru — one dressed in a simple brown sari, with a crucifix around her neck and the other in a dress with a veil half covering her head. They were so different from the nuns I had known in 1943, when, as a five-year-old, I joined the Good Shepherd Convent of Mysuru as a day pupil.

In those days, the nuns were mostly English women, wearing the traditional nun’s attire… a white habit belted at the waist with a woollen cord to which a rosary was fixed, a long panel of cloth over the habit called the ‘scapular,’ a tight fitting wimple framing the face, topped by a black veil. A chain bearing a heavy crucifix hung over the scapular. Stockings and sensible flat shoes completed the outfit which was stiff and crackling with starch. Mother Dominic was a stern disciplinarian and could use her cane too. Mother Martha taught the piano and was given to outbursts of temper. Young Mother La Salatte was gentle and sweet tempered allowing small children to sit on her lap, hold the crucifix or even to stroke her clipped hair under the wimple.

I had special piano lessons with Mother Martha and learnt to sing and play two lines:

‘Little birdie on a tree

Shakes his head and

looks at me.’

The notation as I remembered it, went C B C D C B C. But I am told that could not be right. The lessons ended in floods of tears after Mother Martha ‘accidentally’ poked me in the eye. Another song that all the children sang together was, as I later learnt, a hunting song.

‘Do you ken John Peel, do

you ken John Peel,

At break of day, with his coat

so gay,

Do you ken John Peel?’

The last line went into the upper octave and I loved shouting it out with no idea what it all meant.

In those days of the World War, some Anglo-Burman children lived in the Convent. I was fascinated by Pauline, who always wore white stockings. I so longed for such a pair that they were ordered from Bengaluru for me. I put them on without a belt or garter and by the time I walked into class they were forming pouches at the knees and soon drooping down in sagging folds. I began to cry. Children then had their faces powdered with talcum, the popular one being Johnson’s. Soon my face was streaked with runnels of grey and brown where teats washed away the powder. Pauline was beside herself and everyone was tittering until Mother Dominic settled them in neat rolls around my ankles. One remembers a shame into old age!

Years later one of Mother Martha’s successors, a nun who was an excellent pianist, did some innovative work on the piano. This was Sister John Britto. She belonged to a Railway family of the Dorechettis, who had Pondicherry connections. Years ago when we went to visit her at the Convent, she received us in the Music Room and played a few bars of Raga Hamsadhvani for us. The tune was recognisably that of the Kriti, ‘Vatapi Ganapathim Bhaje,’ the room with the cross and the pictures of saints on the wall, an unusual place to hear this composition. Sister John later held a full concert of Karnatak music in Jaganmohan Palace. The piano was set at an angle so that the pianist had her back partially to the audience but her hands were visible to the listeners. She was accompanied by musicians on the mridanga and the ghata as well as a sari-clad lady who kept the tala. Surely this was a Catholic with very Catholic tastes. At 91 years of age, she no longer plays the piano but lives in Bengaluru with a community of nuns who work for St. Martha’s Hospital.

The nuns were very dedicated to their work. They asked for no favours, only asking children who had gardens for flowers for the altar, help with the reredos, or, rarely, to ask the loan of a car for medical appointments. I never knew what became of them because I myself fell ill and stayed in bed for a whole year and stopped going to school to be tutored at home. Our tradition is to acknowledge every teacher, however, short the learning period. To the distant memory of these teachers I tender my salutations.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Sunday – June 07th, 2015

At Ballari, a Museum to Tell Stories of a Forgotten Past

June 12, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Traveladmin

A worker giving final touches to a replica of Sanganakallu gudda, said to be South India’s largest neolithic site, inside the museum

Ballari :

To preserve the stone artifacts found in South India’s “largest neolithic site” located in Sanganakallu village, Ballari, and other places such as Vijayapura and Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, a mini museum is being readied at the cultural complex here.

The goal behind setting up this museum is preserving the neolithic stone artifacts in a scientific manner and documenting them properly to help research scholars. A few artifacts will also be kept on display for the public.

According to Prof Ravi Korishettar, who conducted research on the site in Sanganakallu for 10 years, the site is the largest neolithic site in South India.

The hilltop site is spread over 1,000 acres. However, he told Express that rampant stone quarrying has been destroying the site. At the museum, the artifacts Korishettar found during his small-scale excavations will be preserved.

He said as part of his research, he explored around 40 neolithic sites in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and found artifacts after excavations in 20.

In 2008, he appealed to the Ballari deputy commissioner to take steps to set up a mini museum to preserve the artifacts. The DC approved the proposal, but work was delayed for years due to technical reasons.

But the museum is now nearing completion and according to sources, is expected to be thrown open in two months.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Bhukker Madhu Kumar / June 10th, 2015

Pages from History : Musings on Royal Saint Pipa

June 12, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

by Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, former Head, Department of Ancient History & Archaeology, University of Mysore

Royal Saint Pipa or Pipadeva was the king of a small State called Gagaraunghra. Actually his correct dates are not known but he is said to have flourished in the 16th Century. He was famous as a righteous king and particularly showed great respect to saints and his position did not come in the way of serving them. His family deity was called Jagadambadevi (mother of the earth). According to stories current in that area, Pipa was capable of talking to the Goddess and he even fed her. Thus she would accept the offerings directly from king Pipa.

He led a simple life and never indulged in royal luxuries. He was very regular in reading scriptures and meditation. Ascetics who passed that way would normally visit his Palace and talk to him about dharma. Once a group of ascetics came to the Palace. He welcomed them and made arrangements for their comfortable stay. As usual he went to the temple of Jagadamba for worship. To his surprise she told him that she would take the offerings only after his guests had their food. Accordingly, Pipa offered them food and had their blessings. Then Pipa requested them to guide him to have the darshan of Lord Rama. They told him to start this procedure through a Guru and asked him to go to Varanasi and became a disciple of Swami Ramananda.

Pipa went to Varanasi and sent a message that he wanted to meet him. Ramananda sent the reply saying that his hermitage is open only to poor people and not kings. Immediately Pipa gave up his kingdom and distributed his wealth among the needy and the poor. To test his devotion, Ramananda asked him to jump into a well. Pipa was ready to do that. Ramananda stopped him and went to his Palace. Pipa was impressed by his guru Ramananda and wanted to be his follower listening to his religious discourses. Ramananda disuaded him and told him that it would be difficult for a king who had so much of royal responsibilities to be a disciple of an ascetic because of the hard life involved. He asked, ‘Can you fast for days together because you may not get food at all. Even if you get something to eat, it will be so simple and may be unpalatable because of its tastelessness. That too you have to beg and get the food. Nobody will supply the food.’ Pipa agreed.

But to test him further, Ramananda sent him to a place where no offerings were available. Pipa came back empty handed. The Saint asked him what he will do for food. Pipa replied, God wants that I should fast and try to understand how poor people led their lives days together. This is a lesson for me from the God divine. He fasted but concentrated on reading the scriptures and doing meditation.

In the meantime, Ramananda wanted to go to Dwaraka, the place of Lord Krishna. Pipa expressed his desire to go with the saint to Dwaraka. Ramananda told him that the journey by walk would be highly difficult for a king like Pipa. But Pipa was steadfast in his resolve to go to Dwaraka, the great pilgrimage centre of Lord Krishna. Then Ramananda told him that he could go with him as an ascetic and not as a king. Pipa immediately abdicates his throne and becomes an ordinary man. Hearing this news his wife too refuses to live in a Palace where her husband is not there and hence expresses her desire to accompany him to Dwaraka. Thus both husband and wife go to Dwaraka.

After reaching Dwaraka. Pipa is supremely happy and worships Lord Krishna with all devotion. He refuses to take food and is simply immersed in meditation at the holy feet of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is pleased with Pipa, gives him darshan, blesses him and tells that he would get moksha or salvation if he continued in the same path uninterrupted by worldly desires. Pipa returns to his place.

The people of the State to whom he was a king were surprised and adore him as a great saint. They come in large numbers and pay respects to him. He tells them not to bring any worldly offerings but to come with devotion to Lord Krishna. Some jealous people kidnap his wife but Pipa prays to Lord Krishna who saves her through some pious people. Pipa was very happy and his devotion to the Lord increased manifold.

Another incident is equally interesting. Once Pipa and his wife were passing through a forest and suddenly a lion accosted them. His wife was afraid but Pipa told her that God would reside in a lion also and we should not be afraid of him. Pipa spoke to the lion as if he was his friend and advised him not to trouble the people who did not harm him. The lion came nearer Pipa and licked his feet showing friendship and affection. Pipa patted him and prayed to the Lord to give him a human birth next time and whispered Rama- Krishna mantra in his ears. The ferocious lion became a tamed animal and local people were surprised at this sudden change in the lion. They knew it was the magic of Pipa. It is said, this lion was born as Narsi Mehta in the next birth.

Once Pipa found a vessel full of gold coins. When he mentioned this to his wife, some thieves overheard this and went there to take away the gold coins. But to their disappointment they found a snake in the vessel. But when Pipa went there, he found the gold coins which he distributed among the poor people.

Pipa had a cow which supplied milk to the ascetics. One day some thieves stole the cow and ran away. Pipa ran after them along with the calf and shouted, ‘Friends, you will not get the milk without the calf, please take the calf also.’ The thieves were taken aback and ran away leaving the cow.

Once Pipa went to a friend’s house for food. He noted the absence of his wife as the husband alone was serving food. Pipa understood that she was hiding herself because she did not have decent clothes to come out. Immediately Pipa blessed her and there was no dearth of clothes and food at her house thereafter. Impressed by this, the friend and his wife became devo- tees of Pipa.

Many devotees came to Pipa for advice and guidance. He refrained from giving them discourse or lecture but asked them to lead a simple life following ethical principles. He specially told them to avoid luxury. Rich people can see God if they can serve the poor. God is a friend of the poor people. Many rich people came to him and offered gold and money to exhibit their richness and show their vanity. The first advice of Pipa to such people was to come with empty hand after distributing all money to the poor and needy. Then only one would understand the secret of life. Thus many rich people went away disappointed and Pipa felt sorry for their ignorance of the divinity.

Once a rich merchant came to Pipa and requested him to visit his mansion so that he could show him his wealth. But Pipa did not accept his invitation because he did not want to disappoint the common people. The rich merchant tried to entice Pipa by telling him that his visit may enrich his wealth. Pipa did not go to his house and told him to distribute his wealth to the poor. A disappointed merchant went back cursing him. In the meantime, the merchant incurred heavy losses and became poor. Even then his greed for wealth did not diminish. He came to Pipa and requested him to bless him with original wealth and in return he would give him some wealth. Pipa advised him to pray for permanent divine wealth and not temporary monetary wealth. Ultimately he became his disciple.

Thus Pipa became a household name in 16th Century for his simplicity and religious life. Though he is not known widely in South India, his impact on dharmic way of life is felt in North India. That is the greatness of king Pipa.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Sunday – June 07th, 2015

MAN AND MACHINE – Fiat 1100 charms the millennials too

June 12, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sportsadmin

A still from Pannaiyarum Padminiyum, a film woven around the love for the Premier Padmini. The film had a young director and story-screenplay writer in S.U. Arun Kumar

‘Fiat 1100 Club Bangalore’, has used Facebook to create a wider network of the car’s owners.

“Do not speak ill of the dead” is an often-repeated exhortation. And it is one that usually goes unheeded. But when it comes to automobiles that have gone out of production or ‘departed’, we follow it to the letter, all the time.

Even when the negative features are brought up, they only serve to further glorify the ‘departed’ automobile.

Sujith Thomas, a car enthusiast and an automobile engineer, ‘treasures’ memories of his family’s Premier Padmini stalling in rush-hour traffic, and them pushing the vehicle away from the chaotic blares of horns. There are also vivid and happy recollections of rainy days, when a loose distributor cap would allow water to seep in and cut off the electricity supply to the spark plugs. The Padmini has helped Sujith realise that the world is not as uncertain a place as it is painted to be; there are certain things one can count on. “The Premier Padmini’s radiator hose could be counted on to blow out anytime,” says Sujith.

Sujith will continue to add to these memories, because he is keeping a 1978 Premier Padmini 1100 Deluxe BE on ‘life support’, by connecting with other Fiat 1100 enthusiasts and scouring the scrap yards for spares.

In 2009, he joined three other Fiat 1100 enthusiasts – Arun Srinivasan, Karthik Makam and Karthik M.B. – to form the ‘Fiat 1100 Club Bangalore’, which has used Facebook to create a wider network of the car’s owners.

The club has over 200 members, with the majority coming from Bangalore, and some even from European countries. Sujith has learnt from them that sourcing spares for Fiat 1100 cars in Europe is more difficult than in India. The success of the initiative, according to Sujith, is the exchange of information on availability of spares.

What I find most impressive about the club is that it is helmed by millennials. When the club was formed six years ago, its founders were in their twenties. Sujith is 27 now and the other three are in their early 30s. The majority of the club members are in their fifties and sixties.

It augurs well for the Fiat 1100. It is a crucial time for the car. Unless youngsters carry the baton and pass it on to the following generation, the Fiat 1100 may not have a great future as an antique car.

Sujith, however, does not see anything unusual about youngsters being drawn to the car. He believes it could appeal to any car enthusiast, irrespective of age. “It has more pluses than minuses. The best quality about the Fiat 1100 is its simplicity — due to its simple design, it can be easily repaired by any mechanic. Even the owner, without a profound knowledge about how automobiles work, can understand its mechanism and, if he applies his mind to it, carry out a few repairs on the car himself,” says Sujith.

I am impelled to believe the millennials have done for the Fiat 1100 more than we credit them for.

The greatest tribute to the car has come from a young film director, S.U. Arun Kumar. He was the story and screenplay writer and director of Pannaiyarum Padminiyum, an engaging film woven around the love for this car.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus / by Prince Frederick / June 10th, 2015

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