Changing Image of India - Discussion

Panel discussion at Christ University, India's Changing Identity.

Key points I shared:

1. Our Identity is like the Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri, Brahmaputra, the flowing Rivers and also have changed course over centuries, based on several influences.
2. Our Identity is what Baba Saheb has given us in the Constitution.
3. Our Identity is our Diversity.
4. Our Identity is having different perspectives for the same story.
5. Our Identity is be able to be a believer or non-believer or even be in confusion.
6. Being unapologetically Indian.
7. Patriotic is when you want to see 50% women in Parliament, in Police, in Schools, when you aspire for no malnutrition, no child rapes, no hate etc
8. A Farmer, a Doctor, everyone contributes to the Nation, hence defining Patriotism using Uniform is very narrow.
9. No one person can decide the identity of India, its the people of India who define it.

We need to keep the Conversations going...

Talking Earth - Future Cities

Bengaluru Lakes! Future Cities are impossible until we re-imagine the Lakes and look at Lakes from the perspective of RWH Zones, Water Source, Livelihood and create Vision for the Lakes. 

Water supply to Bengaluru from Kaveri is the most expensive water supply in the world, pumped from over 180 kms upstream connected to over 8.5lac homes via 8800 kms of pipeline network covering 570 sq kms of Bengaluru at a cost of Rs28/KL and heavily subsidized to the citizens by BWSSB says it all.

With over 2lac borewells, only 30% of the water drawn is getting recharged, Lakes are in reality RWH zones with are interconnected. Even though Bengaluru still gets 850mm Rain every year, the same quantity we get Kaveri water we are not able to store for use, and the Lakes are either dead or encroached. The 200 identified Lakes can hold 200-1500ML of water, and on an average each Lake can hold 300ML, effective if all 200 Lakes are revived it can hold 60000ML of water and recharge the depleting ground water tables.  

Lakes are NOT for entertainment, they have to be considered as water bodies, lung spaces, biodiversity zones, and that is the only way to preserve Lakes.

Citizen participation is critical for keeping the Lakes alive and thriving, and if there is one cause that citizens should take up is definitely the Lakes of Bengaluru. 

Water is the Lifeline; Revival, Conservation, Preservation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru would mean making the City what every citizen dreams of! 

Suggestions for Better Bengaluru - BBMP Budget 2019

Better Bengaluru is a dream of every Bangalorean who grew up watching both Development and Disaster of Bengaluru. Citizen participation is critical for making Wards better, lack of quality Corporators is making Bengaluru suffer. 

But we as Citizens, Advocacy Groups, Activists can't wait till we political parties give tickets for better candidates, hence participation to make Bengaluru Better indeed is the need of the hour. 

I personally shared my demands/inputs with Mayor and BBMP Commissioner  and from B.PAC-B.CLIP Alumni Association which is a team of committed Civic Leaders, Activists, Experts who has a single focus to make Bengaluru Better  also submitted our suggestions to Mayor, Dy Mayor, Tax & Finance Chairman and BBMP Commissioner. 

Agara Govt School - School Day

Lack of Resource cannot deter Talent, this holds good for Students of Agara Primary Govt School. Was the Guest at the School Day event of Agara Primary Govt School, and truly enjoyed the programs put up by the Students. Bharatanatyam, Group Dances, Yoga display from students across 1st to 7th standard.