At a time when many parts of the State are reeling under drought, Honnalli village in Gulbarga district has shown the way. Farmers here have raised millets in spite of inadequate rainfall, reports Ananda Teertha Pyati.

With shortage of rain, the State is reeling under severe drought. Farmers from several districts across the State are facing losses. Honnalli village in Gulbarga district seems to be insulated from this problem. This village in Aland taluk has taught important lessons to the rest of the State.

Farmers here are unperturbed by the drought that has affected other parts of the State because they have taken to millet farming, which neither uses chemical fertilisers nor pesticides.

Modern agriculture has meant that only hybrid crops are successful. Also, most farmers depend on chemical fertilisers and mechanisation. Often, in this process of modernisation, traditional crops have lost out. Millets, till not so recently, had very few takers with even scientists terming them as 'coarse grain'!

However, the recent past has seen a revival of indigenous crops. Many farmers are growing and conserving traditional seeds. Farmers of Honnalli village have opted to grow millets, all thanks to the efforts of Deccan Development Society (DDS), an NGO based at Zaheerabad of Andhra Pradesh. This NGO has been striving to motivate farmers in the Gulbarga region to take up millet farming from the last 25 years. To take this movement forward in Karnataka, DDS decided to chalk out the 'Siri Grama' (millet village) scheme.

The Bayalu Seeme Rural Development Samsthe (BSRDS) took upon itself the responsibility of implementing the scheme.

After DDS conducted a survey in Honnalli to check for availability of millet seeds, a shocking fact came to light. Not a single type of millet seeds was available around the villages. Then, DDS distributed various varieties of millet seeds to farmers and they started to sow as soon as the monsoon started. After two-and-a-half months, the crops started to thrive.

"Two decades ago, farmers knew all about little millet, proso millet, foxtail millet and kodo millet varieties. They even cultivated these crops back then. But they slowly forgot these traditional crops because of non-availability of seeds. When we conducted a survey to look for farmers to raise millets, more than 50 people came forward to grow them again," recalls BSRDS director Subbanna Biradar.

Though the region has received less rainfall, the crops have turned out fine. "It has been over 15 years since these crops were last raised here. Now we have managed to raise a successful crop," says farmer Naganna Kori. Little millet and foxtail millet have been sown as mixed crops with red gram in Kalyanrao Patil's field. Owing to water shortage, the area where red gram has been raised is shrinking, whereas the millet crops are thriving.

Another farmer Shivasharanappa says, "After sowing, we weeded the crops twice till now. The crops were attacked by neither pest nor disease."

Seed bank

All the crops are in the harvesting stage now. According to an agreement between farmers and DDS, farmers should return double of the quantity of seeds once the harvesting is done! These seeds will be stored in a seed bank, which will be set up in the village itself. Farmers who want to grow millets may opt for seeds from the seed bank. To spread awareness about growing millets, a 'field day' was observed recently in a millet field of Honnalli. More than hundred farmers participated in this function.

"The production of nutritious food is decreasing along with loss of traditional crops.

People who are aware about health are opting for traditional crops. Millets are gaining popularity among consumers. Farmers must come forward to make use of this demand," points out P V Satheesh, Director of DDS.

The success of the 'millet village' is an example for other farmers and villages on how to achieve self-reliance in the farming sector. Rather than pushing farmers into expensive farming methods, agriculture universities and research stations must come forward to learn the sustainable farming way.

Aishwarya Suresh travels to Ilkal in North Karnataka in search of a traditional handloom weaver, only to realise that there are not many of them left. Power looms, it seems, have taken over.

The Ilkal tradition that dates back to several centuries comes from the ancient weaving centre in North Karnataka that goes by the same name. This small town in Bagalkot district is home to several weavers and artistes, still continuing with their profession.

The popularity of Ilkal sarees is attributed to the patronage provided by local chieftains in and around the town of Bagalkot. The availability of raw materials locally helped in the growth of this tradition. While Ilkal is the main weaving centre, there are also several towns in and around Ilkal, Hubli and Dharwad where looms and weavers are found.

The urge to learn more about weaving and the conditions under which weavers continue their profession led me to undertake an interesting journey to the dusty town. While the hand loom tradition is an ancient one, the region in and around Ilkal in North Karnataka has only about 5,000 hand looms left as compared to a whopping 30,000 even as recently as 10 years ago! The use of technology and the introduction of power looms has not only diminished the use of hand looms but has also taken away the livelihoods of several traditional weavers.

On a power trip!

My journey to Ilkal initially led me to the modest home of a weaver I had managed to find through research. Much to my disappointment, the sarees he had (and it actually turned out that he was not a weaver himself) were not the type of Ilkal sarees I was looking for. My search was for the old traditional rich Ilkal silk saree, completely hand woven. He was kind enough to help me find a traditional weaver.

Somewhere in what I now know as the centre of this little town was a small non-descript looking white structure. No walls, no compound, just this white structure. This was a master weaver's house, I was told! I was welcomed by a loud and deafening sound which comes from the constantly-at-work power looms. Once again a disappointment. Power looms were not what I was looking for!

The master weaver was from a family of weavers. Weaving Ilkal sarees has been this family's means of livelihood for generations. After my initial disappointment over seeing power looms, I was in for a surprise when I saw, tucked away in a corner, four traditional hand looms. My joy knew no bounds! It seemed like I had finally found what I was looking for. A conversation with the weaver revealed that these hand looms were traditional looms set up by his predecessors. However by his own admission, the advent of power looms had forced him like all others to use them in order to stay in demand and be competitive.

The master weaver explained the intricacies of the weave to me and also pointed out the difference between sarees that come off a power loom and those which come off a hand loom.

Ilkal sarees are not only part of an age old weaving tradition, but also are an integral part of bridal trousseaus.

These sarees are also traditionally used for kasuti embroidery which is another interesting craft from the region. The weaver explained that these sarees did not find a very large market in the rest of Karnataka. They are, however, popular in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra thanks to some cultural similarities. Many traditional weavers have moved away from the town of Ilkal for better prospects.

Also the largest buyers of these sarees in Karnataka are large retailers in the Hubli Dharwad area. Here too, the only sarees that really sell are those that are woven on power looms. There are not too many takers for traditionally hand-woven Ilkal sarees, and therefore it is also hard to find weavers who work on hand looms. They are all either working on power looms or have simply given up this profession for better prospects.

My journey to Ilkal was indeed a revelation. I had expected some of what I saw but was also surprised and saddened by the state of affairs at the weaving centres. It was clear that there was a lot of work to be done in terms of recreating a market for these sarees.

Getting there

If you are driving from Bangalore, the easiest way of getting to Ilkal would be to get to Hubli and drive from there to Ilkal.

One can also travel to Bagalkot and drive down to Ilkal. A journey from Gadag is another option. The distance from Hubli to Ilkal is about 130 km and takes just under five hours to get there.

Zero-investment, maximum results

Neither does he use compost on his farm nor does unduly worry about care for his farm. Yet, he reaps rich profits.

All thanks to the curry leaf trees (karibevu in Kannada) that need minimal attention. These trees have become the backbone of his farm and are a major means of livelihood for him.

Meet Shamarao Patil of Garur village in Gulbarga district. He has used intensive farming methods on his 3.5 acres of land. Apart from the curry leaf tree, his land has hundreds of other trees. Patil has emerged as a pioneer in curry tree farming, which seems to be rare in this dry land area.

About eight years ago, he visited a Math in Dhuttaragaon village of Aland taluk where he was drawn to curry tree cultivation. He procured a handful of seeds and sowed them in his farm.

"Actually I was not aware of the variety of curry tree seedlings I sowed. But, it turns out that the fragrance of these leaves is more than that of any other trees. That's why the demand for leaves from this tree has increased gradually," says Shamarao Patil.

Initially he had planted the saplings along the borders of his farm, but now they have proliferated a major area of his land. Interestingly, curry trees work as live fencing and repel insects with their odour.

Patil sells curry leaves once in three months. Each time , the sale fetches him around Rs 10,000. Apart from this, he also sells saplings of curry tree.

Though his land is not very fertile, the trees seem to be flourishing on his farm. Patil points out that he has no time to pay any attention to his curry tree farm. "Curry trees have flourished on my farm, thanks largely to birds that act as major pollinators," he notes.

He adds, "If you look underneath a curry tree, you are bound to find a number of saplings. I take them out along with the roots and transplant them into plastic bags. I sell these at a cost of Rs 8 to 10 per sapling. I have been able to sell about 2,000 saplings every year thus far."

Patil's farm is home to other varieties including mango, drumstick, lemon, pomegranate, tamarind, custard apple, and bamboo. These fetch him a handsome income. And then, there are the curry trees. He earns over Rs 50,000 from 500 curry trees; and that too without any maintenance! Patil has shown that agriculture can be lucrative, if done the right way.

Farmers of Uttara Kannada district's Kalave have set a great example when it comes to conservation of water. They have dug many percolation pits and tanks across the region. Consequently, groundwater levels have improved drastically, reports Sandhya Hegde Almane.

The onset of the monsoon enhances Malnad's beauty. Though a tad delayed, it did keep its date with the region this August. It is a treat to see Malnad's many water bodies brimming with clear water. The story is not the same throughout Malnad region.

Take Kalave village in Uttara Kannada district. This village in Sirsi taluk is located in a hilly region and rainwater flows downhill. The problem of water paucity is cause for concern among Kalave's residents. This, in spite of the region receiving adequate rain.

As a solution to this crisis, local farmers hit upon the idea of digging percolation pits to save rainwater. Thanks to their conservation efforts, Kalave residents have, over the past few years, been using this water during summer. This attempt by farmers turned out to be a success, thanks to grants from Kalave's village forest committee in 2006.

The region has now begun to see a rich overgrowth of grasses. The fertility of the soil has also improved. Arecanut farms, which were earlier withering away, are now flourishing. The efforts of farmers who dug pits and ensured adequate water supply are now showing.

The village forest committee dug pits on 125 acres of forest land with the assistance of the Forest Department. In the summer of 2011, earthmovers were used to dig pits with a capacity to save 8,000 to 12,000 litres of water. This has stopped rainwater run-off near Haranahalli, Keregadde and Handijaddi hamlets. The trenches that farmers have dug on the borders of their fields not only prevent cattle from straying into farm lands, but also save water.

Also there has been a significant increase in the ground water level. As a result, pumping of water by way of electric pumpsets is not required in Haranahalli.

Sreedhara Bhat and Narasimha Dixit, residents of Haranahalli, beam with pride about the achievements of their people, as they explain the benefits derived from these percolation pits.

Farmers' initiatives

While the project to conserve water was implemented with the help of funds from the village forest committee, there's another story behind how the village got its road.
After years of struggle, a road was sanctioned to the region under the Prime Minister's Gram Sadak Yojana.

But to lay a road, there was need for 8,600 truck loads of soil. Kalave's farmers then hit upon the idea of building tanks in the forest and using the soil to construct roads. Thus the village not only got five tanks to conserve water, but also got a seven-kilometer-road without spending a paisa. These tanks can store nearly 1.8 crore litres of water. The tanks are interlinked, so once one of them is full, water flows into the next tank.

Other success stories

Apart from rainwater harvesting, Kalave has seen success on the forestry front as well. In place of acacia that dominates lots of farm lands, the region has plenty of fruit-bearing plants. Acacia is only used as a fence in areas bordering the hill and inside this fence, nearly 25 types of trees including jackfruit, mango and jamun are grown.

This village has 18 tanks that help people in the region combat drought. Every summer, at least two tanks are dug, ensuring that the village does not face water shortage even in summer.

This village can teach us many nuances of water conservation. Shivananda Kalave, an environmentalist, points out that anyone who is keen on learning about the importance of water conservation, should visit Kalave.

(Translated by Bhumika Rajan)

B V Prakash takes a boat ride along River Sharavathi and is fascinated by the picturesque landscape.

Azure sea, palm-fringed islands and boats...no, we are not talking about Kerala, but a slice of beauty in our own backyard. If you have ever dreamt of sailing along the backwater canals of an estuary, how about Honnavar in Uttara Kannada?

Honnavar is a small coastal town that lies on the way to Karwar. Travelling on the bridge across the wide stretch of the Sharavathi forces one to slow down and enjoy the view of a vast blue water body and its pristine islets.

For the discerning explorer though, there is much more to know. A drive to the river bank is a revelation. We realise that we can actually cruise across the river from the banks in Honnavar to visit the tiny islands that punctuate the vast blue river. As the winding roads from the town taper down to the river, we are treated to a sight of quaint rustic houses, tuck shops and a few churches along the way.

The primitive boat jetty has no tourists but for a few villagers who wait to get back to their homes in the island. As the Sharavathi flows on to join the Arabian sea, it broadens and branches out, forming a few islands in its course.

Some of the big islands like Mavinakurve have human habitation. But the tiny islets remain uninhabited. Instead of visiting Mavinakurve, we take a long winding cruise to explore the canals, islets and their verdure. Cruising along the river, we notice that the landscape changes. The picture of the village and the bridge begin to fade. Sailing upstream, the boatman and I cruise past a beautiful island with a green canopy, surrounded by the blue waters. Further up, we sail close to the banks, so as to observe the mangrove swamps.

Mangrove magic

As the river widens and meets the sea, back currents from the sea merge with fresh water and create an estuary. Brackish water of the estuary is ideal for mangrove forests that are found in pockets here. Mangroves are an interesting variety of flora with their unique characteristics. They are usually found along the coasts and estuaries and thrive in saline water. But exposed to varying levels of salinity in the water, temperature and humidity besides tidal waves, they need to adapt to the ecosystem in which they survive. Naturally the diversity of species is rather limited.

Nevertheless, the ecosystem of the mangroves supports a large variety of aquatic animals like prawns, oysters, clams and fishes apart from the minute zooplankton. The most important finding has been that the mangroves have a very high degree of absorption of carbon and act as a carbon sink by letting out more oxygen.

Also by holding back greenhouse gases and preventing their entry into the atmosphere, they counter the effects of global warming and play a significant role in climate change management.

Another advantage of mangroves is that they act as a barrier to tidal wave action and protect the banks from sea erosion. The sediment that gets deposited along the roots of trees and bushes create mangrove swamps, an organically rich habitat.

In recent times, there has been a sustained mangrove afforestation programme in these parts. Apart from mangroves, the banks of this estuary are also fringed with coconut trees. As we begin to sail through narrower canals under a canopy of green, we spot quite a few birds in the woods. We are able to watch herons, egrets and the brahminy kite.

The purple rumped sunbird and coucal that we manage to see are a bonus. The boatman switches off the engine so as not to disturb the birds and begins to sail with the help of a long oar. The quietness and lush greenery make the boat ride soothing for the eyes and rejuvenating for the mind.

Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion, situated in the lush green campus of Manasagangothri, was built during the regime of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV for Chamaraja Wodeyar's eldest daughter, princess Jayalakshmi Ammanni, in the year 1905. A sum of Rs 7 lakh was spent on building this structure. This mansion reflects Greco-Roman architectural style.

The mansion, which was in a dilapidated state earlier, has been renovated at a cost Rs 1.17 crore. Sprawling over six acres, it has 300 windows, 125 rooms and 287 elegantly carved doors along with some priceless artifacts. The renovated structure has been provided with separate drainage for rainwater and used water.

This mansion was initially acquired by the University of Mysore to establish a postgraduate centre in its campus. However an Archaeological and Folklore Museum was established here. It features a sequence of Corinthian and Ionic columns while the interior has a traditional Indian appearance.

There is also a dance hall with a wooden floor and a viewers' gallery. Its roof is about 40 feet high and is decorated with painted glass. The kalyana mantapa measures 40x40 and has a 12-pillar square, designed like a petal shaped dome.

The northern portion of the mansion has a sculpture of goddess Lakshmi, and in the south, under a domed canopy is goddess Bhuvaneswari. Arched colonnades connect different parts of the building. . The entrance on the northern side has stairs that were once used as an alighting platform for cars and chariots. The mansion also has a 100-year-old lift. This edifice is illuminated only on special occasions.

Antiques galore

At the entrance on the left side is the Archaeological Survey of India museum. At the entrance of this museum stand beautiful sculptures of Ganesha and Natya Saraswathi. The inner quadrangle has paleolithic stone implements, upper paleolithic tools from Salavadagi Village of Bijapur District, Neolithic axe, Indus valley antiquities of 2500 BC, stone statues of 12th century AD, Konark sculptures, Gandharva statue of Badami, etc.

There are also gold coins, a Skanda idol belonging to fourth-century Banavasi, a lion of 15th-century Shimoga district, Bhairava statue of Chamarajanagar, saptamatrikas of Varahi, a veeragallu (hero stone) belonging to 17th century-Mysore, idols of Jain teerthankaras, lime stuccos and burial urn of Rajaghatta, a Buddha Chaitanya hall and Vihara rooms. There is a folklore museum next to the ASI museum.

It houses life-size dolls. Some of the dolls have dresses and head gears of the Doddata, Moodalapaya and Yakshagana forms. Garudi dolls, dolls of a Kodava couple in their traditional attire, Dasara dolls and stringed puppets of Bellary district find a place in the museum. There is also a boat made of a mango tree which was used by landlords and an exclusive gallery housing leather puppets.

The museum has several stone vessels and measures used in times gone by. Agricultural and animal husbandry tools also find a place in the museum. Indigenous board games and folk art paraphernalia including budabudike and chowdike find a place in the museum.

The wedding invite of princess Jayalakshmi Ammanni has been placed alongside letters and books of famous personalities. A gallery has been dedicated to Rashtrakavi Kuvempu.

The museum is open on all days except Monday from 10 am to 1 PM and 3 pm to 5 pm. There is no entrance fee. Cameras are strictly not allowed.

Over the decades, the nature of Dasara celebrations has changed. Withdrawal of the privy purse to the then Maharaja meant that Dasara became 'Nada Habba', a people's festival. Drought years made a dent in the expenditure and extravaganza. The socio-economic and political atmosphere in the State has invariably dictated how Dasara is celebrated, observes Sreekantswamy B .

Starting today, the City of Palaces wakes up to its 402nd edition of Dasara celebrations. It will be a season of non-stop festivities with a melange of attractions and culminates on October 24, Vijayadashami (the day good triumphs over evil). Vijayadashami is also the day the much-awaited spectacle of the year, jamboo savari, is held.

An elephant carrying a 750-kg golden howdah ambles along with 11 other jumbos till Bannimantap, the point where the jamboo savari culminates. The celebrations are steeped in history and date back to the time of the Vijayanagar empire.

This tradition was later followed by the Wodeyars, the erstwhile rulers of Mysore. From 1971, the year Dasara became a government affair, till date, the celebrations have undergone many changes. Tableaux with different themes that started from small numbers have now been restricted to 33 (30 from an equal number of districts alone). The City is magically transformed into a sea of lights, with all prominent junctions being illuminated. A sight to behold.

A simple affair

However, this year, the government has decided to make it a 'simple Dasara', owing to the severe drought in the State. The district administration, which also holds the reins of the Dasara High Power Committee with the deputy commissioner as special officer, has decided to do away with certain entertainment-related events like the Yuva Dasara to slash expenditure.

The rituals involving prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari will however be continued. Going by available records, this is not the first time that austerity measures have been initiated for Dasara. Way back in 1816, when Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was the ruler, the then Mysore kingdom experienced severe famine. Echanur Kumar, a journalist and historian told Spectrum that the administration decided to cut down on unnecessary expenditure, without compromising on the rituals involved to celebrate the festival.

Similarly, the years 1983 and 1992, the tenure of late chief ministers Ramakrishna Hegde and S Bangarappa respectively, saw austere celebrations. Needless to mention, the State was reeling under drought on both occasions. Historian Prof P V Nanjaraja Urs recalls the jamboo savari being restricted to the precincts of the palace, for reasons of drought once in later years too.

Traditionally speaking

The story behind the Wodeyars replicating Vijayanagar-style Navaratri celebrations is interesting. Raja Wodeyar defeated Srirangaraya, the samantha (governor) representing Vijayanagar rulers in Srirangapatna in 1610. The year also witnessed grand Dasara celebrations by the Wodeyars with a golden howdah, elephants, a grand army show, lancers on horseback, all in place.

The credit of shifting the celebrations to Mysore after the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799 must go to Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. According to tradition, the king is at the forefront of the puja. Soon after mangala snana (bath), the king worships Lord Ganesha and Goddess Chamundeshwari, and wears a kankana (a sacred piece of cloth tied to the right wrist and worn till Navaratri is complete).

C K Venkataramaiah in his book, 'Aalida Mahaswamiyavaru', a biography of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar (first published in 1941 and for the second time in 2011 by Kannada and Culture Department) describes Navaratri celebrations as follows: "The Maharaja (Nalwadi) accompanied by the yuvaraja (prince) and his brother Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wodeyar and nephew Jayachamaraja Wodeyar walk into the durbar hall at 10 am.

The Maharaja is welcomed by the sardars (bodyguards). He is followed by a member of a royal family holding pattada katthi (royal sword). Members of the royal family, the dewan, palace officers, praja pramukhs (heads among civilians), dharmadhikarigalu (administrators), musicians, priests among several high ranking nobles wait for the arrival of the Maharaja. The Maharaja performs various rituals...It is only then the Maharaja ascends the throne with the help of sardars." The illumination of the palace coincided with the Maharaja ascending the throne and soliders and people outside celebrating the occasion.

The durbar culminated with the rendition of 'Kayo sri gowri sri karuna lahari...', the anthem of the then Mysore State, still rendered during the private durbar of royal scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar.

Dasara of '68

Echanur Kumar whose memory of Dasara in the year 1968 is still fresh says that the State was then on the cusp of modernisation. In addition to the existing attractions, the focus was on new attractions like that of drills performed by the Army Cadet Corps (ACC), National Cadet Corps (NCC), and a part of Mysore infantry during the jamboo savari.

What made it a real celebration was the discipline, he point out. Unlike now, the route of jamboo savari was Doddapete (Ashoka road), via Irwin road, followed by a right turn at Sayyaji Rao road near Government Ayurvedic Hospital Circle and culminating at Bannimantap. There are records to say that, for some years, the procession passed through Ashoka road without any deviations up to Bannimantap via Dr Rajkumar Circle.

"It was a delight to watch the Maharaja inside the golden howdah, and prominent citizens at key places, in front of Devaraja Market on Sayyaji Rao road and just after Government Ayurvedic Hospital, waiting to offer a huge basket of Mysore mallige to the Maharaja. The attendants used to lift the basket with a pole up to the Maharaja who would touch the same in reverence. When it was thought that Ashoka road was too small to accommodate the crowd on either sides, the road was widened, but it was still found to be too small in later years. During such road widening works, the route was changed to Sayyaji Rao road passing through Elgin fountain (now K R Circle)."

Points out P V Nanjaraja Urs, "When the Central government decided to withdraw the privy purse of the Maharaja in 1970, the then Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wodeyar became a commoner. He placed the pattada katthi (royal sword) on the throne, instead of ascending the same. He continued with the same till his death in 1974. The last time he ascended the throne was in 1969."

A group of like-minded and concerned citizens, Jayadevaraja Urs, industrialist F K Irani of Ideal Jawa fame and local body president B C Lingaiah, decided to continue with the celebrations in 1970. They created a replica of the golden howdah, but in wood and placed the idol of Bhuvaneshwari inside and took out a procession from Oval Grounds to Kote Anjaneya Swamy temple in the north gate of the Palace. In the subsequent year, a delegation of concerned citizens apprised the then chief minister D Devaraja Urs of the significance of the festival and succeeded in making the same a government affair. It was in 1971 that Dasara was started with government sponsorship.

A sea of blue

The Tungabhadra (TB) river project at Hospet, Bellary district, was taken up as early as the year 1945 and completed in 1953 at a cost of Rs 130.76 crore. The golden jubilee of the project was in the year 2003.

This project is a fine example of how a national asset like a river could be used without much bickering. Due to security reasons, no private vehicle is allowed up to the dam site overlooking the vast reservoir. This means that one has to walk about a km from the road to reach a vantage point to enjoy the sights of this vast water-body that spreads over 378 sq. km that has brought joy to thousands of farmers who are reaping a good harvest every year.

The presence of this water body has encouraged development of fisheries too. The electricity generated by the hydroelectric project amounts to an installed capacity of nearly 100 MW. A recent addition is the small hydel project of NCL Energy Limited, a private sector company financed by World Bank that generates 8 MW.

The view of the water, the dam and verdant hills makes for a pretty postcard picture. One can see many water birds like kingfishers and egrets. Watching the flight of these birds over the lake is a wonderful sight.

The Tunga Bhadra (TB) Board maintains a number of parks and gardens and a deer park. The aquarium named Parnaja inaugurated in 1999 has 65 species of ornamental fish. The computerised musical dancing fountain is an added attraction during the evening hours.

At the dam is a memorial stone laid by Sir Arthur Hope, Governor of Madras in 1945. Another stone is a memorial to the opening of the TB Board's high-level canal in 1967. General Sir Arthur Cotton, the irrigation wizard of southern India, was associated with this project.

Sir M Visvesvaraya, Papanna and Tirumala Iyengar were some of the well-known engineers who worked on the TB dam project.

A few of the dignitaries who visited the project were late president Rajendra Prasad and former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

The dam has a multimedia theatre showing the various aspects of the TB dam project construction and a few of its features. There is a miniature model of the dam encased in glass. The watchtower on the hillock is closed. There are no eat-out spots or places to stay at the dam-site. So take a packed lunch and plenty of drinking water.

Travel tips

*How to get there: TB dam is 5 km from the town of Hospet, which is well connected by road from Bangalore and other major towns. It has a rail connection to Bangalore and Hubli.

*Local transport: Auto-rickshaw, taxi and bus

*When to go: Avoid summer months of June to August

*Where to stay: Hospet has a number of good hotels.

The Institute of Public Health is trying to help the underprivileged by creating awareness on issues related to health and hygiene. The NGO also conducts free eye care and general health camps, writes Pushpa Achanta.

The National Rural Health Mission has been somewhat helpful, although not very successful in reaching out to people because of lack of awareness. But for the urban dweller who cannot afford expensive treatment, there are a few schemes like the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). Moreover, most people in urban spaces like Bangalore are not even aware of the presence of healthcare centres, some of which are inadequate and understaffed. However the Institute of Public Health (IPH), a Bangalore based non-governmental organisation (NGO), is trying to bridge this gap.

"We aim to educate low-income groups about the basics of health, nutrition and sanitation and also ensure they can access necessary help, especially during an emergency," says Dr Thriveni B S, a community health specialist with IPH.

"Additionally, our community health assistants monitor diabetes, hypertension, respiratory, renal and cardiac problems as well as geriatric, maternal and child health," she adds.

Preliminary survey

In order to bring about a meaningful difference in the lives of economically deprived groups, it is important to understand their existing situation and challenges. So, IPH tried to gather data about diseases which plague residents of Kadugondanahalli (K G Halli) in north-east Bangalore. But when it realised that such data was unavailable, the NGO set out to uncover certain facts. With a population of around 44,000, K G Halli has many daily wage labourers of diverse languages and faiths.

"Beginning in August 2009, we did an action research during which we held discussions with nearly 10,000 families, especially women and youth, to determine social demographics, chronic ailments, expenditure on medical care in Vinobha Nagar, Pillanna Garden and other neighbourhoods. Apart from asthma, liver and heart ailments, we found many persons with high levels of blood sugar and pressure who do not know about the problem or cannot afford its prolonged treatment. There are cases where this has resulted in diabetic foot," observes Nagina, a community health assistant with IPH.

Thriveni adds, "We realised that lifestyle diseases like diabetes also occur because people have unhealthy and irregular eating habits. But the difference between the high and marginalised groups is that the latter hardly know about the condition or its fallout.

Even if they are aware, monetary issues prevent them from seeking medical intervention or following a diet or exercise regimen."

Empowering women and youth

Women like Nagina and her co-worker Josephine play a key role in the fulfilment of the NGO's objectives. Their main tasks include holding discussions with women and youth in every area about the necessity of purifying water before consuming, cleanliness and other precautions that need to be taken for their general well-being. Further, they regularly track and report on the condition of people with specific illnesses as well as the aged, newborns, children, expectant and lactating mothers and the infirm. The NGO employs street theatre, posters, leaflets and a variety of visual aids to convey its message.

"Before I was employed by IPH, I hardly stepped out of my house or spoke to anyone outside my family or immediate neighbourhood. I lacked knowledge about basic medical care and how to seek it. But now, I am able to share crucial information and convince others as well," reveals Josephine, who is a primary school drop-out.

People like Josephine have certainly gained much more than income from their work. "We knew that we must eat food to survive but were not aware of the significant details about nutrition. Josephine came to our school and talked to us and our teachers about the human body, adolescent and overall health and also trained us in theatre and music.

We also enjoy performing and telling our friends and others about the importance of cleanliness and the risks of substance abuse and child marriage. Many of them agree with the fundamental ideas and are practising. But we must also implement that for ourselves and follow up," say Mercy R and V Vignesh who study at a government-run Kannada medium school.

Holistic approach

The NGO has also been conducting eye care and general health camps. It has also started to maintain individual health cards with a record of medical history of the individuals they reach out to. It has also established a collection of books for children and adults and introduced a three-month computer course for school drop-outs. It has built water storage tanks in the neighbourhoods where it has intervened. The organisation has also collaborated with BBMP to ensure regular garbage collection. At present, IPH is creating a referral network which will include both government and private physicians in the areas. Dr Thriveni says, "We have approached local doctors some of whom have agreed to join hands with us. However, progress has been slow."

Also, IPH monitors the proper functioning of BBMP's urban health centres (for out-patient care) and State government run community health centres (providing in-patient services) which also support its activities. In September, the NGO held public rallies, exhibitions and cultural performances in Bangalore to spread its message.

"Our initiatives have succeeded largely due to the participation of youth and women. We plan to take this programme to other identified parts of Bangalore, in future," says Thriveni.

Forgotten crop varieties

Among the many indigenous crop varieties on the verge of disappearing is jowar, especially the variety that goes by the name gatti tene.

Thanks to the appearance of varieties such as Maladandi, Bijapur and Mooguthi, this type of jowar is slowly disappearing.

Also, because the rottis made out of this variety of jowar are slightly hard, an entire crop variety is on the verge of disappearing. This variety is full of carbohydrates and serves as excellent fodder for cattle too. Also, it is a wind and rain resistant variety and can survive tough weather conditions. Crop loss is a rarity in this variety. This jowar has many medicinal qualities. Steps should be taken to ensure that such indigenous varieties don't vanish.

R S Patil

A directory of State's musicians

The second half of the year is a busy time for the Carnatic music fraternity of the State. Artistes and rasikas (connoisseurs) alike get busy with the packed concert schedule that coincides with the festival season. In the midst of this happy bustle, one event holds special significance - the release of the latest edition of the Directory of Karnataka Musicians.

The directory is published every two years by the Suswaralaya College of Music (SLCM), a very reputed Bangalore-based Carnatic music institution founded and run by eminent mridangam artiste 'Ganakalasri' Vidwan H S Sudhindra. Renowned musicians of Karnataka like 'Sangita Kalanidhi' Vidwan R K Srikantan have expressed their appreciation of this compilation.

What inspired him to conceive of the directory? He replies, "Somewhere in the mid-80s I got into this habit of noting down the details of all my concerts including the contact details of the other artistes. Over the years the database became so comprehensive that I was routinely approached for relevant information.

So, at the time SLCM celebrated its annual day in 2002, I decided to publish this in book form. The directory is now in its sixth edition. The data is collated, compiled and published by a committee of very dedicated Carnatic musicians headed by myself as chairman of trustees and principal of SLCM."

The directory does not spell out a hierarchy among artistes or among various sub-art forms like vocal music, violin and mridangam. The listing is strictly alphabetical. Only for the sake of convenience male and female artistes are listed separately in every category. Sudhindra explains, "Listing in the directory is by voluntary submission of the artiste's contact information. We don't charge a single rupee for listing."

The directory also gives other information including contact information of music sabhas, festivals and venues that feature Carnatic music concerts, Carnatic music schools, Carnatic music scholars, travel agencies who help musicians make travel arrangements, hotels, repairers of instruments, studios, media organisations that give coverage to Carnatic music and sound system providers.

A new category featured from this year will be that of contemporary Carnatic music composers. A total of 3036 listings are featured this year, 300 more than the fifth edition. Since the next edition will be out only in 2014, the directory includes a calendar of both 2013 and 2014.

The Directory of Karnataka Musicians is scheduled for release on November 1.

A wildlife video set to a patriotic melody penned by poet H S Venkateshamurthy, and collaborated by popular music director Ricky Kej and wildlife photographer and filmmaker Amoghavarsha,will be released on November 1, reports Ashwini Y S.

Paying homage to the wildlife of Karnataka and its rich natural bounty is a City-based duo which has created the country's first ever wildlife video that pulsates to the rousing rhythms of a patriotic melody.

The footage, which celebrates the State's flora and fauna, is set to the tune of 'Jaya Hai Kannada Thaye', the lyrics of which have been penned by noted poet H S Venkateshamurthy. The video is set to be released on November 1, Rajyothsava, the State's formation day.

Popular music director Ricky Kej, who composed music to this anthem two years ago, took up the project from a strictly conservation point of view, which couldn't have suited wildlife photographer and filmmaker Amoghavarsha better.

"Karnataka is not just its people, heritage or its culture. Its wildlife is as much part of what makes the State so exciting. And since there are many species that help manage our eco-system, they need to be protected. This is our attempt at creating awareness, by bringing conservation issues to the mainstream," says Kej.

Kej's association with Amoghavarsha began two years ago through a common friend. "I have been a huge fan of Amoghavarsha's work. I am a regular visitor to his website. I felt that his work on conservation in Karnataka is unparalleled," he adds.

"When Kej saw my pictures/ footage, he couldn't believe that they were shot in Karnataka. That's when we felt that there was a case to be built, a point to be made," says Amoghavarsha. What followed was over 40 trips to the Western Ghats over a period of 18 months, where the conservationist spent days camping in leech-infested rainforests, braving the abruptness and uncertainties of nature, sometimes over weeks, for a single shot.

"The objective was to take high-definition conservation content to the people through mainstream media, a medium they use to watch something entertaining. Documentaries essentially have a different set of audience.

Our aim was to reach the audience across the State in the local language," adds Amoghavarsha, who hails from a family that's passionate about Kannada. His father worked with the Department of Kannada and Culture for more than 30 years, while his mother is a professor of Kannada.

The video, which prides itself on showcasing the first ever shots of the fresh water jelly fish and the blue eyed bush frog discovered in Karnataka a couple of years ago, also features eight to ten indigenous and endemic species, including the Malabar tree nymph caterpillar, green vine snake, torrent frog and the charming little Indian roller, which has been classified as the State bird.

The species were shot in Agumbe, Sharavathi valley, Jog Falls, Yellapur, Sirsi, Kabini and Bandipur. "Some of the footage was shot in village areas that are yet to be notified as protected areas. It is in regions like these that we want to sensitise people more," said Amoghavarsha. Singers M D Pallavi and Vijay Prakash have lent their voices to this 1 minute 40 seconds music video.

The 1920s marked the rise of Kannada journalism. 'Bhakta Bandhu', a monthly published from Koppal during 1919-21, is said to be the first Kannada newspaper of the H-K region.Srinivas Sirnoorkar traces the history of journalism in the region.

The Hyderabad Karnataka region is known for its vibrancy in the fields of politics, language, literature and culture in ancient and medieval periods. It is the cradle of Kannada language and literature; the first Kannada literary work 'Kavirajamarga' dating back to 850 AD was found here, proving Kannada's antiquity.

The region has seen three mighty kingdoms, the Rashtrakutas of the seventh century at Malkhed, the Chalukyas of the tenth century at Kalyan (now Basavakalyan) and the Bahmani empire of the 14th century in Gulbarga.

The Vachana form of literature originated here. Jedara Dasimayya of Mudanur in Surapur taluk in the 11th century was the pioneer of Vachana literature.

His legacy grew under the stewardship of legendary social reformer Basaveshwara of the 12th century. Daasa Sahitya, another prominent form of literature, essentially of the bhakti cult, reached its zenith thanks to the contribution of daasa trio Vijayadasa, Gopaladasa and Jagannathadasa, all from Raichur district. It is impossible to imagine Kannada literature minus Vachana and daasa literature.

However, when it comes to Kannada journalism, it was Marathi and Urdu which scored over Kannada. It was not without reason. After the advent of the Moghuls in the 14th century, there was a powerful political and linguistic transformation. The establishment of the Bahamani kingdom in Gulbarga in 1347 AD and much later, the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad till 1948, were some factors that shaped the growth of languages other than Kannada.

Early journalism

The first signs of journalism in the region can be traced to the period of Bahamani king Tazuddin Feroz Shah (1397-1422) who had an intense fascination for literature and culture. Feroz Shah, grandson of Hasan Bahaman Shah, founder of the Bahaman empire, was also a poet and calligrapher. He started producing a bi-weekly 16-page periodical of the texts of the holy Quran.

Mohammed Gawan (1463-82) was an eminent prime minister who initiated educational reforms, library movement and even started a university at Bidar. However, not many efforts were made to encourage Kannada.

Rise of modern journalism

Modern journalism made a late entry into the H-K region through 'Gulbarga Samachar', a Marathi newspaper started in 1893 by a certain Parashuram Bodse. The newspaper was modern in terms of content. Scanning through the edition dated July 25, 1901, can provide interesting insights. The paper was sold to poor subscribers at a lower price and to rich subscribers at a higher price.

It had its own ad tariff card. For every line of 16 letters, the rate was one ana (six paise). The edition also has a curious divorce notice. A woman issues a notice in the newspaper seeking a valid medical certificate supporting improvement in her husband's health! If he fails to do so, she warns through the newspaper, the notice would be treated as divorce! Apart from this, the edition contains a serialised article on saintly figure Manikprabhu apart from an article on the Veerashaiva saint, Sharanabasaveshwar. A crime report comprising details of a dreaded criminal and a weather report form the rest of the newspaper.

'Bidar Gazette'

Bidar has the distinction of opening its account in journalism by way of a Urdu paper called 'Bidar Gazette' which was launched on October 8, 1907.

It was Karnataka's second Urdu paper after 'Khasimul Akhbar' (published from Bangalore from 1862). After these two experiments, a few Marathi and Urdu papers hit the stands but did not lost long.

It was in the early 1920s that Kannada journalism gained prominence. 'Bhakta Bandhu', a monthly published from Koppal during 1919-21 is said to be the first Kannada news paper of the H-K region. It was followed by 'Dharma Sanjeevini' in Raichur in 1922. Both were religious papers.

In Gulbarga district, Kannada journalism made a mark in 1925 through the monthly 'Nizam Nyaya Teerpu' . The paper was published from Rangampet in Surapur taluk. It was edited by Gurayya Sugurmath.

Interestingly, it was not a mainstream news paper but devoted to law and justice focusing mainly on the judgements delivered by courts in the Nizam's state. It may provide insights in to the civil and criminal justice system prevailing in the Nizam's dominion.

Today, Gulbarga has become a major publishing hub. After the formation of the linguistic state in 1956, Kannada journalism gathered momentum.