Category: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

** Yaduveer Wadiyar launches Kalisu’s 50th library in Mysuru

Kalisu Foundation, an NGO working for improving reading habits among the children of government schools through building libraries, has built its 50th library at the government high school in Udbur village near Mysuru.

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, scion of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, who is also the brand ambassador for Kalisu Foundation, inaugurated the library on Thursday.

Till date, Kalisu has touched the lives of more than 12,000 students studying in government schools in Mysuru, Bengaluru, Kushalnagar and Mandya. The 50th library has more than 3,000 books in different categories and has artwork of all the important places and culture of Karnataka.

** Helpline for senior citizens living alone in Karnataka

Elderly people in Karnataka can dial toll-free number 14567

Amidst rising COVID-19 cases, the National Helpline for Senior Citizens, Karnataka, has set up a help desk for elderly people living alone.

Elders who are feeling lonely, isolated and emotionally disturbed, and in need of help due to COVID-19, can contact the helpline on the toll-free number 14567, stated a press release, adding that counselors and social workers will offer necessary support and guidance.

** Sharana Mela to be held in Koodala Sangama in north Karnataka

Sharana Mela, an annual gathering of Lingayats, is scheduled to be held between January 12 and 14 at Koodala Sangama in Bagalkot district, the holy place where 12th century philosopher and reformer Basavanna is believed to have breathed his last.

Addressing a media conference in Kalaburagi on January 6, Ravindra Shabadi, State convenor of Jagathika Lingayat Mahasabha, and other Lingayat leaders, including Prabhuling Mahagaonkar and R.G. Shetagar, said that the event would be organised in compliance with the revised COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Karnataka Government.

Activists Medha Patkar and C.T. Bevanur would be honoured with Basavatmaje national award and Sharana Kayaka Ratna State award respectively during the event.

** Documenting History

Meet the Bengaluru-based podcast creators who have made it big at the Asia Podcast Festival 2021.

Documenting the abolishment of Sec 377 and tracing the iconic moments of India’s space history – not just made it to the podcast trend list on Spotify but was recognised at the Asia Podcast Festival 2021. Created by podcast studio, All Things Small (ATS), 377 and Mission ISRO, won the award under the Best Arts, Society and Culture and in Science,Technology and Business category in the Asia Podcast Festival this year. 

Bengaluru-based Gaurav Vaz, founder of ATS, bagged the award for stories that have actually been landmark and historic moments in India’s social and technological space, respectively. However, the moments that transpired behind the mic for both the stories are exhaustive and distinctive. While 377 dealt with the abolishment of Sec 377, an ‘archaic’ law criminalising homosexuality, the podcast team had to navigate the contradictory perspectives within the LGBTQ community itself. Meanwhile, Mission ISRO was a project that spread its wings right in the middle of the pandemic, which meant that the makers connected with top scientists aged above 80 years, over virtual platforms, which made the task all the more harder. 

** Bengaluru creative Shubhashree will guide you on how to pause and reflect to prep for 2022

Illustrator Shubhashree Sangameswaran shows how visual journaling helps reflect on the year gone by and set a personal planner for this year

Intimidated by what 2022 may hold? Bengaluru-based illustrator and visual artist Shubhashree Sangameswaran is conducting a Visual Journaling workshop titled ‘Looking forward, Looking back.’ Also an author of books (Everyday Eco-warrior and (Im)perfectly Zero Waste (co-authored with Srini Swaminathan) that teach us to manage our trash, Shubhashree says visual journaling is simply a form of reflection using words and images.

She adds that even someone who cannot draw or paint can get into visual journaling. She explains, “In fact, you need not know how to sketch or paint for visual journaling or not drawn anything since childhood. One can just draw, paint, simply cut and paste images from magazines, use hand-lettering, or even basic doodli

** Mangaluru: Vaibhav Kamath, Sonal Monteiro bag top honours at ‘SOAD-5 MANGOA’

After a few nail-biting final rounds and some top quality singing, Vaibhav Kamat, Goa was crowned ‘Rai Kogull’ (King Nightingale) and Sonal Monteiro, Shaktinagar ‘Rani Kogull’ (Queen Nightingale) in MCC Bank Ltd SOAD-5 MANGOA’, the Konkani television singing contest powered by MCC Bank Ltd and telecasted exclusively on Daijiworld 24×7 channel.

** Bengaluru income tax officer sends unique New Year calendars and greeting cards

Meet D Kumaresh, a government official, who loves blending arithmetic and creativity to create brain-teasing New Year calendars and greeting cards.

It is a game of arithmetic with some brain-teasers and some titbits that appear informative and surprising. However, this year Kumaresh, who works in the Income Tax department in Bengaluru, has dedicated his eight-page creative to music maestro Ilaiyaraaja and the COVID warriors.