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

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Reporter's Diary

Of rain and dogs

WHAT IS common between the former Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner and the present one? Their initials (K) and the first letter of their name (J, as in Jothiramalingam and Jairaj).

The difference? While Mr. Jothiramlingam was bothered about heavy rain, Mr. Jairaj is worried about stray dogs.

When it poured cats and dogs during Mr. Jothiramalingam's tenure, he had openly said he prayed to the rain gods to ensure there are no rain-related tragedies in the city. Though Mr. Jairaj has not confessed that he too prayed for an end to the stray dog menace, sources close to him said his only worry is now is the homeless dogs.

Some people, who have known him even during his earlier stint at the civic body, recall that he was bitten by a dog then. They pointed out that if Mr. Jothiramalingam had "rain dosha", Mr. Jairaj had "dog dosha."

Politics of death

IT WAS a tragedy hijacked by some local political aspirants when dogs killed five-year-old Manjunath. On the way to Manjunath's house, the hearse carrying his body was stopped in the middle of the road while people unconnected with the bereaved family and BEML led the protest against the BEML management. Even as all this was going on, the child's body lay stranded amidst all the cameras and sound bytes.

There were also a series of protests, some by former corporators who were evidently cashing in on the death by condemning the city administration and the Animal Birth Control programme. When pointed out that they were also culpable as they had not evaluated the ABC programme when they were in power, they grinned sheepishly and evaded further questions.

The wrong man

CERTAIN EVENTS can have the most incongruous of personalities as the guests, most often leaving reporters flummoxed as to the connections.

But what is surprising is when these guests actually turn up.

So when reporters recently were wondering what the Director of Indian institute of Science was doing at a seminar on quality in education, the man confessed to his weakness.

"I have an inability to say no when I am invited for events. So most times, a day before the event I am nervous and have no idea what to say."

Of course, he does what everyone else does. Turn to the Net.

Swathi Shivanand

Afshan Yasmeen, Swathi Shivanand

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