‘Our city could also become an art and culture capital', says V Ravichandar
Sabha Blr
is proof of that.
The man behind this initiative,
V Ravichandar
, whose social media handles describe him as the 'self-appointed' Mayor of Public Spaces, has also been instrumental in bringing the Bangalore International Centre to the city, and has been part of the organising team of the much celebrated annual
Bengaluru Habba
, held for over a month in the city's public spaces. We speak to Ravichandran to understand his ideas behind these initiatives.
'Everyone knows Bengaluru as the tech capital of India, but it should also be known for its arts and culture,' he states. 'In the recent past, there have been instances where international artistes have refused to perform in the city due to a lack of infrastructure. Bengaluru should not be a city with such issues. We need five times more public spaces than we now have. Public spaces and community centres bring like-minded people together. It is also a space for people who are not from Bengaluru. They can get to know more about the city, and make new friends with like-minded people,' he added.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
10 Mysterious Photos That Cannot Be Explained
True Edition
Undo
Restoring an old building is expensive. If the same space was built on an empty piece of land, the total cost would have been reduced by 40 per cent. But, there is a value of restoring a 160-year-old space like Sabha, which can't be measured by cost
V Ravichandar
About his recent restoration, Sabha Blr, Ravichandar says, 'My motivation was to create another public space in the city. But I had three things in my mind. One was to create a public space in the city for arts, crafts and culture. The second was to protect heritage structures when a lot of heritage buildings are coming down and modern buildings are taking over. And the third was to set an example and inspire others to recreate more such spaces and make more space for art and culture,' he explains.
'Govt should become an enabler for private art-related initiatives' Yes, there is government support and initiative when it comes to creating more such public spaces. However, in my opinion, while our government can do a lot more, they are constrained in some ways. I feel the government needs to increasingly become an enabler by encouraging the private firms to do work on more such developments. For example, the land belongs to the government, but it can invite a private company to restore, renovate and run these spaces as centres for arts and culture.
Best Hindi Movies
|
Best Tamil Movies
|
Best Telugu Movies
|
Best english Movies
|
Best Malayalam Movies
|
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Coimbatore corporation's plan to expand Vellalore ABC centre comes under a cloud
Coimbatore: AIADMK councillors, animal activists, rescuers, veterinarians, and NGOs have raised objections to the city corporation's allotment of 3 crore to improve and expand infrastructure at its animal birth control (ABC) centre at Vellalore. They have demanded that the estimate be scrutinized by experts. In its council meeting on July 31, the corporation passed a resolution allocating 1.99 crore for the construction of four new kennel bays at the ABC at Vellalore. Additionally, an estimate of 96.3 lakh was also allocated for establishing four operation theatres for stray dog sterilisation at the same centre. Another resolution was passed to allocate 71.5 lakh, with 50% contribution from the Operation and Maintenance Deficit Grants Funds 2025-26, for development work at the Vellalore ABC centre. "It is an open scam and it's high time the corporation holds itself accountable for misusing public money," AIADMK councillor (ward 47) R Prabhakaran said. A volunteer of an NGO associated with the corporation said to date, even basic facilities haven't been provided at the ABC centres run by the civic body. He said, "Even providing a fan is considered a luxury for NGOs. If they accommodate 20 dogs per kennel and plan to have four such kennels, the estimate is too high." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo A city-based animal rescuer emphasized that the estimate should be revised. "While there are many loopholes in the accountability of the sterilisation process itself, allocating huge funds for one centre is suspicious. They would just install ordinary tiles, build a compound wall with high fencing, and provide water facilities. Moreover, it won't generate any revenue but only expenses. It's doubtful whether the civic body is genuinely ready to spend on the service. " "It would hardly cost more than 20 lakh per kennel for a 5,000 sq ft area with sophisticated infrastructure like air conditioning," said a private animal breeder who owns a kennel on the city outskirts. Prabhakaran said, "The corporation is not setting up a multispecialty hospital but a facility for stray animals that will be released after 3-5 days. It could rather invest such a huge amount in road patch work, which is the need of the hour." Denying these allegations, corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran said, "The corporation plans to construct a huge animal birth control centre at Vellalore with a capacity of 750 stray dogs. We are planning to increase the number of sterilizations. The accusations are baseless, "he said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Mogappair park neglected, unusable
Chennai: Once a green haven in East Mogappair, a park maintained by Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has now become a safety hazard and eyesore for residents. With broken play equipment, cracked pathways, and crumbling walls, the park is no longer usable, especially for the elderly and children. Despite repeated complaints, locals allege, civic authorities have failed to take action. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Residents said the damaged infrastructure is causing daily inconvenience. "This is the only park in a 5km radius, and it was left to decay. While some of us try to keep it clean, the park needs a complete overhaul. The walls are dangerously weak and could collapse anytime," said S Adityan, a resident and regular jogger. Footpaths are uneven and riddled with holes, causing several senior citizens to stumble, and children to trip and fall on rusted play equipment. The lawn is dry and patchy. GCC officials have said that complaints about park maintenance can be raised by calling 1913. However, locals say that the calls are unanswered most of the time. R Manikandan, a member of the Panneer Nagar residents welfare association, said they had been complaining about the park's condition for months. "Not only has the corporation ignored our requests to restore the space, but the park also became a hotspot for anti-social activities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo After around 8.30pm, people sneak in, drink alcohol, and cause a nuisance. This too needs to be addressed," he said. Outside the park, the situation is no better. Garbage is regularly dumped near the entrance, causing a foul smell that hits visitors as soon as they approach. Stray cows and buffaloes are often seen feeding on the waste, which includes spoiled vegetables and plastic covers. "Despite having enough sanitation workers under the Ambattur zone, garbage is cleared only once in two days," said resident M Roopa Shankar. Ward 91 councillor A Malini said that the issue was escalated to GCC. "An estimate for renovation is being prepared. We are working on a plan to restore and maintain the park properly," she said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Critically endangered Asian giant tortoises find new home in Nagaland
1 2 Guwahati: In a groundbreaking conservation effort, Naga youths have taken on the role of "tortoise guardians" to protect the critically endangered Asian giant tortoises (AGT) in Nagaland's Zeliang community forest. This initiative, announced on Monday, marks a significant step in preserving the species, with ten captive-raised tortoises being introduced to the Community Reserve in Peren district. This effort is a collaboration between the Nagaland state forest department and the India Turtle Conservation Program (ITCP). The Asian giant tortoise, listed as "critically endangered" on the IUCN Red List, faces a dire threat of extinction. The ten tortoises, bred and nurtured at Nagaland Zoological Park, which boasts India's largest captive population of the species, have been placed in a soft release enclosure in the Zeliang community forest. This marks their first exposure to a natural habitat since their birth in 2019. The project plans to release the tortoises in phases to help recover wild AGT populations in Nagaland. Two local youths have been appointed to monitor the tortoises, with plans to transform the area into a tourist destination. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best SIP Plans for NRIs in Lithuania – Get ₹2L Monthly Pension | Invest ₹18K PB Learn More Undo "Local youths from the community have been engaged as "Tortoise Guardians" to ensure the protection of the released tortoises and assist in data collection," said Chisayi, DFO, Peren. After a five-month acclimatization period, the tortoises will be released into the wild, with their movements tracked using VHF-based telemetry systems. This initiative aims to establish a sustainable breeding population in their natural habitat. "Once the pilot release is successful, more individuals will be released to recover the decimated wild populations," said Sushmita Kar, project coordinator, ITCP. The project is part of a broader effort to prevent the species' extinction through breeding programs and community awareness initiatives. "Asian Giant Tortoises, also known as the small elephants of the forests, play a crucial role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration," says Shailendra Singh from ITCP. The Peren site was selected after a comprehensive habitat assessment, highlighting the effectiveness of Community and Conservation Reserves in Nagaland in preserving wildlife. "Protected areas such as Community and Conservation Reserves have been performing well under the joint leadership of the communities and the forest department," says Tokaho Kinimi, wildlife warden, Dimapur.
