Bomb Blasts in Bangalore

Breaking news strikes the city of Bangalore; it is reported that there had been seven bomb blasts across the city. The blasts have happened in places like Madiwala, Nayanahalli, Audgodi, near Mallaya Hospital, Langford Road, Sivaji Nagar, Richmond Circle in the IT Hub. The bombs are reported to have been made using gelatin sticks and reason is rumored to be the recent Hindu-Muslim problem in Bangalore.

While the exact details about the situation will flow in through the media; message from the commissioner of police specifically mentions that the public should not panic – and that the situation is under control .

There are traffic restrictions that are effected by the police– you might have to check the specifics for the location / area falling on your way home .

What a sickening thought? Coward bul.ly!!

My heart is pounding…..

Donate your organs – You can gift a life!

I attended the ‘Multi Organ Donation Awareness Camp’ which was about donating organs to the needy recipients. Multi Organ donation can be done only in the ‘Brain Death’ condition, which in medical terms called ‘Cadaver State’. In layman terms, the brain stops working as there is no blood supply to the brain but blood is being circulated to the other parts of the body mechanically using medical equipments. Only in such conditions organs can be donated; Brain Deaths in most of the cases happen due to road accidents.
 
‘Transplantation of Human Organ (THO) Act’ in 1994, of the Indian Legislation; states a declaration procedure, which requires the involvement of four doctors, two from the hospital and two from the government to follow multiple clinical procedures to declare a patient Brain Dead. Astoundingly organs which could be donated are Eyes, Skin, Heart, Lungs, Pancreas, Kidney, Bones, Liver etc; multiple needy patients could be benefited by one Cadaver state patient’s multi organ donation. More information on ‘Cadaver Organ Donation and Transplantation in India’. Institutions like MOHAN – (Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network) Foundation, Chennai, are actively involved in spreading this message to the public. Every state in India has an institution which is actively involved in inculcating the organ donation epidemic and facilitating the needy. MOHAN is a NGO which covers the state of Tamil Nadu; ZCCK is a government initiative for the state of Karnataka. If you would like to check your knowledge on Multi Organ Donation; participate in this online survey. 
 
Gift a life – its good to know that a part of our loved one is still alive somewhere in someone!

Our turn to go School Hunting

Our daughter was growing fast and was past two years; she visibly seemed bored at home. We desperately wanted to send her to a playschool to match her energy and enthusiasm. But by the time we returned from Germany it was late December and all the big schools in Bangalore had closed admissions by Nov-Dec for the forthcoming academic June. We did try our best but had no choice left but to hunt for a good Montessori to spend her initial three years. 

First thing we decided was on the education methodology – Montessori Education system than the traditional nursery. I read and heard from my friends about the benefits of a Montessori system and was more impressed when I personally visited such schools and witnessed how Montessori materials trigger practical learning against the traditional bookish learning.  

We did quite a lot of research with respect to various criteria like Education Method, Commuting Distance, School ambience, and ofcourse not ignoring the quality and reputation of the school. We visited more than 10 schools in and around our area and it took more than 3 weeks to decide on a playschool; just to remind you my daughter is not even in the age of entering pre-nursery. Few schools call themselves Montessori but follow the traditional system. I always made sure to talk to parents whose kids were already studying in the school; the major factor to my decision making.  

Here’s my opinion on few of the schools I visited; hope it would be of some help to the school hunting parents.  

Akshara Montessori School, Ulsoor, Bangalore : Though I was shocked at first on its location on the traffic prone main road; the ambience inside was cool and cosy; I liked it very much and even the reputation is good, but distance was a hurdling stone. 

Geetanjali Montessori, Kagadasapura, Bangalore: New school premises at Kagadasapura is good and even the parent’s opinion was good compared to its branch in Jeevanbhima nagar. I personally liked it, but again distance was a hurdle.  

SSB International School, IndiraNagar, Bangalore: I was not impressed about the school ambience and the Montessori campus of theirs was pathetic.

Little Feat Montessori, Koramangala and Kuddle Kids, HAL 3rd Stage have my positive ratings. 

Finally coming to the point on where I decided to put my daughter was into  Casa Maria, Montessori House of Children, Airport Road; a small but cosy place to opt. My daughter seems to enjoy her time at school, a sigh of relief for couple of years before we start school hunting again. 

Here’s a useful website which has information and reviews on Bangalore Schools http://www.bangaloreschools.net 

Hindi ain’t the Indian National Language?

I happened to stumble on Nita’s blog which titled a post ‘South India is better developed than North India says CNN IBN‘. Being a South Indian and the natural inquisitive human nature curiosity demanded me to read it; was engrossed with the post and the discussions for hours together. Mind boggling discussion I should say which unfolds a treasure of knowledge about India; I was taken back by surprise when i learnt ‘Hindi is not the national language of India but one of the official languages’.

The Official Languages Act, 1963 illustrates the usage of languages for the official purposes and Compilation of orders regarding the use of Hindi/NiyamPustakeng details the constitutional provisions regarding official languages; officially published in http://www.rajbhasha.nic.in/ the website of Department of Official Language – Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India.

How ignorant had I been assuming Hindi to be the National Language or should i say my teachers/my environment ignorant and propagating the myth? By the way am not against Hindi and i personally love speaking and hearing it for its own style or any other language which grabs my interest.

My motive of highlighting this information (1) Let other fellow Indians know this fact, who ‘re ignorant like me (2) Hindi is one of the official languages of India; which means all the other Indian languages hold due respect and importance 3) Especially to those people living on the upper part of India speaking Hindi as their mother tongue try to bring down the arrogance and learn to respect other language speaking Indians; without denying the fact that Hindi is being spoken by a majority of Indians statistically.