The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Reporter's Diary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Reporter's Diary

Come back tomorrow

MANY BOOKLOVERS were keen on Saturday to listen to two Bangalore-based enterprising journalists, who were to speak on "media and reading habit," organised as part of the recent book exhibition at Palace Grounds.

The event was to start at 6 p.m. The enthusiastic announcer lost no chance to give the information about the event in advance to the booklovers present.

It was past 6 p.m. and the announcer went on "welcoming" the journalists at intervals of every 10 minutes. Every time, she assured that the programme would start soon.

The last announcement came around 8 p.m. and the final word came a little later: "The exhibition and day's events end at 8.30 p.m. All the booklovers are welcome at 10 a.m. tomorrow."

Playing priest, again

MARRIAGES ARE made in the Police Commissioner's office, seems to be the new adage.

The Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) M.C. Narayana Gowda's chamber at the Police Commissioner's office has apparently turned into a kalyan mantap with many pairs of young lovers entering the marital life in his cabin.

On Monday, Mr. Narayana Gowda played priest to the marriage of two young lovers, Devaraj of Bagalur Layout and Mamatha of Yelahanka. According to Mr. Narayana Gowda this is the 11th marriage he has presided over so far.

He says his chamber is always open for the young lovers, particularly those belonging to different castes, who have problems in getting married.

But it is another thing that some of his colleagues, in a lighter vein, say that Mr. Narayana Gowda should be re-designated as Joint Commissioner of Police (Marriages).

Great work

IT WAS an interesting replay of sorts at the inauguration of Mahabharata Utsav at the National College Grounds on Saturday.

Governor T.N. Chaturvedi, who is known for his long-winding speeches, did a great job in summarising what others had spoken before him. He was, indeed, delivering his presidential address. He quoted largely from other dignitaries' speech and elaborated on them.

He ensured that those who came late did not miss the valid points made by those spoke earlier, including Minister for Primary and Secondary Education R. Ramalinga Reddy, the former Chief Justice of India M.N. Venkatachaliah and scholar Bannanje Govindacharya.

A few in the audience were, however, not prepared for this. Some chose to express it by clapping too. But the Governor was unfazed.

He went on with his mission of summarising and did not fail to point out to the impatient segment of the crowd that he is to come back to the venue for the concluding ceremony of the utsav.

Govind D. Belgaumkar,
K.V. Subramanya
and Raghava M.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka