November 1 marks Karnataka Rajyotsava,our State’s birthday and every year, our leaders deliver predictable speeches about ‘promoting Kannada.’ Every year, pro-Kannada activists demand that “outsiders must learn Kannada.” So, why is Kannada, in its own land, slowly losing its ground? Because we don’t teach functional Kannada. We teach grammatical and written Kannada first instead of…
By Dr. K. Javeed Nayeem, MD Two days ago, there was a very unusual bit of front-page news in my morning paper with a picture alongside, which showed a sizeable pile of garbage dumped outside the gate of what looked like a posh home in Bengaluru. This is a depiction of a very unusual strategy…
Karnataka politics is getting crasser by the day. Gone are the days when disagreements were expressed in dignified words and debates were conducted in sentences loaded with wit and wisdom instead of snarls. Once upon a time, Kannadigas prided themselves on their ‘cultured’ civility. Now, if you listened to our politicians or even the common…
By Dr. K. Javeed Nayeem, MD Many years ago, I had written an article about how cautious and even miserly I have become about lending my books, after having lost three of my most valuable books to friends who did not have the hearts to return them back to me. When I say that they…
Recently, a youth assaulted the MCC Revenue Inspector in his office because the Inspector had told him not to smoke on the office premises. A few weeks earlier, there was a report that three youths assaulted a middle-aged man for honking at them as they entered a one-way street. Earlier this week, I witnessed an…
By Dr. K. Javeed Nayeem The Dasara, our most spectacular annual show, that we Mysureans and all our guests wait for most expectantly, year after year, has come and gone too. With all our guests too gone back to where they all came from, the city roads are regaining their traditional, not-too-busy look that they…
Two killings in three days in Mysuru. A murder in broad daylight. Another alleged rape and murder of a minor. Both in the heart of the city. Once serene, Mysuru is trembling while criminals are fearlessly roaming. Mysuru has witnessed a disturbing surge in lawlessness in recent years — from the murder of Vasumathi to…
Rahul Gandhi is back at it again. He is on a “Whine” tour. Touring South America whining that “Indian democracy in danger.” Ironic, coming from the prince of India’s political monarchy and a party that has no internal democracy! For the Congress, democracy is apparently safe only when they rule India. The moment someone else…
When industrialists recently criticised the government over Bengaluru’s apocalyptic roads, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar thundered back: “Ask the Centre how much money they’ve given Bengaluru, despite Karnataka being the second-highest tax contributor.” Wah, Sirji! Excellent deflection. Except, we Kannadigas have a counter-question: we are the highest road tax payers in the country, what are…
By Dr. K. Javeed Nayeem, MD Ghazals have always been an integral source of relaxation and enjoyment for everyone in my family and although our favourites include legends like K.L. Saigal, Mehdi Hasan and Ghulam Ali, our most favourite Ghazal singer of all time has always been Jagjit Singh, who bid adieu to all his…
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