FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM

We are truly pleased to place in your hands, the first of the four quarterly issues of HARMONY, which has been revived after a hiatus of 3 years. We plan on bringing the issues out in the months of January, April, July and October every year.

HARMONY aims at disseminating news of events in our neighborhood among residents and to provide, from time to time, information frequently needed in our daily lives. It aims to highlight the achievements of children in our community and to provide a platform for residents to air their views or share nuggets of information (on anything under the Sun). Another objective is to periodically provide information on matters of health.

An exercise of this nature can not succeed unless residents send in their contributions of news with which they are associated (like sub-committee reports, achievements of their children, anecdotes from travels etc.,), articles on subjects of common interest, creative writings, reprints from other sources (including humorous anecdotes) and photographs of events. The contributions may be sent in electronic form or as hard copy to any member of the Editorial Team. Those interested in placing advertistments are requested to contact the editorial team.

The Editors hope that the recipients of this issue of HARMONY like the contents therein and would actively participate in giving form to future issues.

The past year has been an eventful year for most of us. Let us resolve to make 2011 a year in which all of us will enjoy good health and achieve success in our endeavors.

~ Mr. S.M. Subba Rao (vepuaala@yahoo.com)~ Mrs. Supriya Singh (supriyasingh@gmail.com)

~ Mrs. Renuka Konchady (konchady@yahoo.com)

HARMONYVoice of RMVRWA

January 2011

FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS DESKS:

Our park Our residents

Our street

OUR COLONY, OUR PRIDESarah Samuel, Vice President RMVRWA

There has been a remarkable makeover in the general appearance of RMV colony, thanks to the tireless persistence of our President, Dr. Jagadeesh Belur. The entire committee has been behind him in the effort of bringing about this welcome change. Some of our ladies spent great many hours getting it just right. Hats off to them.

A great deal has been achieved but there is much more to be done. We need support of our residents to become members of our Association and help in our efforts in making our colony the best in Bangalore and to be good neighbors to one another.

How do we do that?

By observing the following-1) Your household garbage is collected on time.2) Your garden cuttings are cut and bound neatly to be collected.3) The driver uses the bucket of water to clean the car and not the hosepipe.4) Resist the temptation to wash your driveway daily.

Conserve power and water.Keep your environment clean and green and preserve the earth for our children and grand children.

SHOULDERING CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY IN OUR AREA S.M. Subba Rao, EC Member

1. Roads• Care for the stretch of road opposite your residence through pourakarmikas. Care for the plants and trees

on the road, like your own plants.• Instruct your staff to walk your dog at the far edge of pavements. Dog excreta can cause deadly diseases

of the brain, liver, kidney and other organs.• Remember our roads are not race tracks - we have old people and children too, you know!

2. Water• Please educate domestic staff about conservation of water.• Have you implemented rainwater harvesting (RWH) in your premises? With most of the road surfaces

asphalted, recharging of aquifers is severely limited and you can surely do your bit.

3. Green cuttings• Please do not dump cuttings of large trees and plants on the roads. Inform the BBMP supervisor of the

area (Mr. Suresh: 9844535588).• Lawn trimmings and green leaves may be handed over to the SHOWS workmen.

4. Security• Please verify the previous track records of any new employee you engage for any services. Avoid

employing children below 16 years of age.

6. Debris• Debris resulting from repairs/ reconstruction of your residence should be disposed promptly by using one

of the listed agencies. Public roads/ pavements should not be used as storage areas for debris.

7. Residents views• Complaints/ Suggestions for neighborhood improvement may be recorded in the register maintained for

this purpose by Shri Prabhu.

8. Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC)• Residents of our area and visitors enjoy the public amenities provided here. Since BBMP does not fund

the expenses for the maintenance of parks, salaries of manager and gardeners, materials for small rectification and the like, RMVRWA mobilises the required funds through AMC on voluntary basis, the amount being proposed and approved at the General Body meetings. To ensure that this burden is fairly shared by all residents of our beautiful neighborhood, the Executive Committee appeals to all residents to pay AMC as applicable to the plot size.

• It is clarified that AMC is an annual charge and is not to be confused with the membership fee, which is collected on a one-time basis.

9. RMVRWA IS YOURS• RMVRWA strives to work for the common good of all residents. Please participate actively in our efforts to

make this a model colony.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT by SHOWSHandling your household waste

Shalini Shenoi, President SHOWS

Managing the enormous quantity of sold waste generated in cities has been a great challenge, and almost a losing battle for civic authorities. The cities are expanding much faster than the civic utilities can cope up. Dumping grounds are inadequate to receive these vast quantities of garbage. Garbage is often dumped in empty plots, roadsides, lakes and ponds etc. causing health hazards. Even the garbage taken to the so-called dumping grounds create problems by contaminating the ground water and polluting the environment with bad odor and poisonous gases. The areas around the dumping grounds become unfit for living and the trucks that transport the garbage often emit smoke, causing air pollution.

It makes sense to tackle this problem in a decentralized way, which minimizes the need for dumping grounds and transportation.

SHOWS has been striving to tackle this problem in RMV 1st Block for the past 15 years. SHOWS aim has been to reduce garbage going to the dumping grounds to the barest minimum, and so far SHOWS has been able to reduce it to less than 15%. It is possible to reduce it even further, if our residents segregate the garbage at source into 3 different parts.

1) Biodegradable- all kitchen waste. This is being composted at SHOWS park. Residents are urged to make use of this compost, which is of very high quality and is sold at Rs. 6/kg.

2) Dry waste should be separated into e-waste and recyclables. E-waste is very dangerous to the environment if it is thrown with the regular garbage. When people sell old CD’s, floppies etc. to junk dealers, they take what they can recycle and throw the rest wherever they like. SO PLEASE DO NOT SELL YOUR E-WASTE OR MIX IT WITH OTHER GARBAGE. Please keep it in a separate bag and give it to SHOWS helpers. Large electronic waste like computers & TV’s may be handed over to Ash Recyclers. (Tel no. 98800 33979)

Recyclables- all other dry waste can be recycled, so it should be placed in the red or dry bin and handed to SHOWS workers.

3) Biomedical and other Bio waste, which is harmful to the environment, should be handed over separately to SHOWS workers.

A segregation list is given at the end of this article.

SHOWS is unable to handle road sweeping and garden waste due to lack of space, neither is it able to recycle (green) coconut shells. We will be grateful to residents who come up with suggestions for disposal of leaf mulch and green coconut shells.

Segregation List

WET WASTE DRY WASTEBIO WASTE E-WASTE

Vegetable peels Syringes Batteries Telephone & other billsFruit peels Shaving blades Bulbs Tickets (bus, train, Tea leaves Ear buds Tubelight chokes plane)

Coffee powder Band-aid Printer cartridges Envelopes & lettersFlowers Finger nails Broken A/C adapters Pamphlets

Leftover food Diapers Audio & Video Soap wrappersFruit seeds Used condoms cassettes Toothpaste carton

Sanitary pads Cds & DVDs Paper wrappersPencil shavings Floppy diskettes Cardboard boxes

Match sticks Dry cloth items Other small electronic Computer printouts(mopping cloth, torn items Paper plates

Eggshells cloth etc.) Chocolate wrappersCoconut shells Plastic bags

Bones Plastic toysHair Plastic utensils (bowls,

plates, cups)PET bottles (coke, soda

mineral water etc)Milk pouches (washed

and dried)Garbage bagsBubble wrap

Aluminium cans (Coke,beer etc.)

Bottle caps Spray cans Tetra packs Comments: Food packets (cleaned Bones (to be placed in Comments: and dried)

Comments: separate paper packet) For large quantities or Thermocol & styrofoamCoconut (should be large items, contact packaging and cupsplaced in a separate sanitary pads (should Ash Recyclers at Glass bottlesbag as this will be be placed in paper 080-25548037 or Bangles

used as fuel) bag/wrapper at 9844064634 Mirror

OTHER DRY WASTE

Diapers, used condoms,

ANNOUNCEMENTSThe "Musical Night" has been cancelled due to logistics. Don't lose heart, .....a colony event will be planned later in the year.

Collection of garden cuttings, to be left on the sidewalk outside your house, is scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays of the week.

SMALL STEPSFiona Karle, EC Member

RMV Residents can now boast about having pothole free roads lined with painted sidewalks and sprawling trees. However, we should not stop here. We must ask ourselves-

How can we as individuals further contribute to making our layout even better and a role model for other neighborhoods across Bangalore city?

We can start by taking a small step. If every resident made it his/her responsibility to get watchmen/maids to sweep the roads just along the width of their compound wall, we would have litter free streets. This little step hardly takes five to ten minutes every day. Coupled with timely and proper disposal of the collected waste it will go a long way in maintaining the beauty of our layout.

Neighbors living opposite each other can take turns to cover the same stretch of road to avoid duplicating effort.

Let us take the initiative to address civic issues by uniting together towards resolving and finding workable solutions.

After all RMV is our on personal getaway from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore. Let us take pride in our very own sanctuary!

CREATIVE CORNER

To my Pomegranate with LoveLeela Krishnaswamy

My pomegranate tree straddled my garden handsomely, when in the pink of youth. I grew possessive of it when I tasted the luscious fruits it began to bear in a couple of years, a joy that was to last until the squirrels began to think in unison with me. And then it was their turn. As my share of fruits began to dwindle, I would trim the tree each year to its bare trunk. With the arrival of the warm season my tree would burst into perceptible life and begin to yield again. My tree just would not give up, on life that is. It ultimately succumbed to the repeated onslaught on its very being.

My tree taught me a great lesson that stood by me in my time of need. We all age, albeit slowly. Our eyes, legs and heart will age but it is when our spirit ages that we need to stop to search for and celebrate that which is life. This becomes manifest when boredom becomes a constant companion and the need for change as an adjustment to realizing fails to register our minds.

It was during this hyphenated period in my life that I saw the totality of birth, life and death in a single framework that my tree provided me with.

It taught me the most precious definition of life: that everything past youth and/or health does not automatically become a precursor of death. Birth and death are inevitable and are co-implicated processes. Now I look forward to the drawing of each day with the enthusiasm of a child and ensure that I live life to its fullest.

Having celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of my fortieth birthday, I’m beginning to enjoy the world around me. I am caught in a time warp of that year. Like my tree, I took forward to each summer that brings in a welcome rejuvenation. The next question you will ask of me would be “How many summers would you like to see?” I’d then say, “Is ka to koi anth nahin.”

That makes me a hound dog relentless in seeking happiness.

YOUTH CORNER

The Valley Of The Clouds

Through the open window,The mountain breeze calls me,In it’s lovely voice it tells me,

Of crystal clear streamsFilled with the sweetest of water,

In a lovely valley filled with misty cloudsOf every colour, shape and size.

It tells me of ancient treesWith lovely leaves of lovely greens,

Of beautiful caves filled with priceless gems,Of groups of lovely valley horsesStanding tall, strong and proud

Jumping over lovely streams as if they had wings

And in the same lovely voice it tells me of the Valley Of the Clouds

where the lovely sky and mother earth meet.Of a kingdom of lovely princesses

And handsome royal princesIt rips my gaze away from my boring book

To the valley of the clouds.

 by Maya Singh Age:12years

Temple Elephant

Gray cumbersome behemothAmidst towers of white and gold

WatchingThe minuscule two­legs rushing past,

So wrapped up in their livesThey fail to notice

The wise ancient gazeOf the elephant

Following them and lingeringOn the spot they disappear.

Some wander up to himAnd with permission of his warden

Offer fruits and coins and other thingsHoping for some blessings

From the elephant godBy serving his distant kin.

Standing all day, watching, watchingThe elephant shuffles his tired feet,

The white marks on his forehead crumbling away,The hateful chain still not yielding.

As the sun begins to set,He shuts his eyes and ruminates

On people, facesWho caught his eye that day.

Then he feels a gentle tug,Repeated harder, harder.

He opens his eyes and trudges offInto the blood­red eveningDisappearing for the night

And the reappearing next morningTo watch again.

by Tarini KonchadyAge:15years

When I was on holiday in my home town Udupi, I saw an elephant at the Krishna Temple there. It was a little disconcerting to see it standing there, because in India, you hardly ever see anything stay still for long. It was just   watching   everything   rushing   past   it,   without showing any inclination to want to be part  of  it.  That stillness amidst  chaos  inspired me to write   this  poem. Hope you like it!

FOR YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR HEARTH

Recipes contributed by Asha MalkanAjwain Delight

Ajwain leaves blended with mint and coriander leaves with the flavour of citrus makes a tasty and healthy drink.  This drink aids in digestion and is an excellent analgesic for abdominal and menstrual pain. Makes 2 servings.

Ingredients : 4  Ajwain (carom) leaves 1 tbsp  Mint (pudina) leaves, chopped1 tbsp   Coriander leaves, chopped½ tsp   Black salt2 tbsp   Sugar1 tbsp   Orange juice, freshly squeezedJuice of a lemon, freshly squeezed2 glasses  water

Instructions:• Blend the first five ingredients with half glass of water for ½ minute on high.• Add remaining water and blend for ½ minute again.• Add the freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice and stir.• Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the prepared drink.• Pour into glasses, garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves before serving. 

Tip: Honey can be substituted for sugar.~~~~

                                                      Gooseberry Drink

A highly healthy drink made out of gooseberries and mango ginger, it helps purify the blood. Rich in vitamin  C,  this drink also helps improve eye sight and delays greying of hair.Makes 2 servings.

Ingredients:2  medium  goose berries2  fingers  mango ginger½ tsp  black salt2  tbsp  sugar

Instructions:• Grate the gooseberries and mango ginger.• Blend the grated ingredients with ? cups of water.• Add sugar and black salt to taste.• Strain the fibrous blend to get the prepared drink.

Tip:  Consume straight out of the blender without straining so the roughage can aid digestion.

TO TICKLE YOUR FUNNY BONE

One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and drove off along the route. At the first few stops - a few people got on, a few people got off, and things went generally well. However, at the next stop, a big hulk of a Pathan got on; six feet four, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the conductor and said, "Pathan doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back of the bus. The conductor didn't argue with the Pathan, but he wasn't happy about it.

The next day the same thing happened – Pathan got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the next.......

This grated on the bus driver's nerves. He began losing sleep over the way the Pathan was taking advantage of the poor conductor. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses: karate, judo, and all that good stuff. By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself.

The next Monday, the Pathan got on the bus again and said, "Pathan doesn't pay!". The driver stood up, glared back at Pathan, and screamed, "And why not?".With a surprised look on his face, Pathan replied, "Pathan has a bus pass."

Management Lesson: Be sure there is a problem in the first place before working hard to solve one.

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“I don’t consider myself bald. I’m simply taller than my hair.”Thom Sharp (from Reader's Digest)

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Travelling down the interstate and needing to use the restroom, I stop at a rest area and head for the toilet stall.

I barely sat down when I heard a voice from the other stall say: "Hi, how are you?"

I'm not the type to start a conversation in a restroom and I don't know what got into me, but I answer, somewhat embarrassed, "Doin' just fine!"

The other person said: "So what are you up to?"

What kind of question is that? At that point, I'm thinking this is too bizarre so I say: "Uhhh, I'm like you, just travelling!"

By then I am trying to get out as fast as I can when I hear another question: "Can I come over?"

This question is just too weird for me but I figured I could just be polite and end the conversation. I reply, "No..I'm a little busy right now!!!"

Then I hear the person say nervously... "Listen, I'll have to call you back. There's an idiot in the other stall who keeps answering all my questions!

(Cell phones, don't you just love them...)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOR YOUR BODY AND SOULContributed by Shali Chandana