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BENGALURU: In a compelling panel discussion titled Should a country speak a single language?, Indian literary critic GN Devy and writertranslator Deepa Bhasthi, in conversation with moderator Samanth Subramanian, argued that multilingualism is not just Indias reality but one of its greatest strengths. Drawing on personal experiences, the speakers highlighted the richness of Indias linguistic landscape. One panellist described growing up speaking Kannada, Kodava and Tulu, and later learning Hindi

BENGALURU: Around 100 people gathered at Freedom Park on Saturday to remember Atul Subash, a software engineer and artificial intelligence professional who died by suicide on December 9, 2024, at his apartment in Marathahalli. Atul had reportedly left a 24-page death note and an 81-minute video in which he mentioned his troubled married life and ongoing divorce proceedings. The event was organised by the Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF). People from across the country came for the event. Man

BENGALURU: DG&IGP Dr MA Saleem has issued a memo to all unit heads across Karnataka, directing them to take effective steps to curb corrupt practices among police personnel and restore the integrity of the force. The memo was sent after Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara visited his office on Friday and warned that police personnel involved in corruption would be dismissed. Saleem said it was deeply concerning that the names of some police personnel have recently surfaced in cases of robbery, theft

BENGALURU: Economic pressures, social expectations, and patriarchal norms are profoundly shaping the emotional lives of boys and men in India, leaving many struggling with fear, responsibility, and the weight of family expectations. These issues were at the core of the panel discussion What Do Men Fear? Peeping into the Male Mind, held at Bangalore Literature Festival on Saturday. Speakers Dilip Pattubala, co-founder of the Centre for Men and Boys, South Asia; Kartikeyan V, psychoanalytic and or

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has issued detailed instructions to strengthen the Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) system across the state, following an ICMR study and review meetings held on April 21 and October 18, 2025. Reliable cause-specific mortality data is essential for policymakers, but currently, only 26.73% of registered deaths in Karnataka have a medically certified cause. The new guidelines follow the Karnataka Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules,

BENGALURU: Additional Chief Secretary for Urban Development, Tushar Girinath, informed that with grants from both the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and the state government worth Rs 4,800 crore, Bengaluru roads will be developed. By May, 928 km of roads will be blacktopped. He also said BDA will execute the work on the short underpass from Hebbal worth over Rs 2,000 crore. He clarified that the underpass will only run parallel to the proposed Tunnel Road. Girinath, was speaking at a press me

BENGALURU: At the Bengaluru Literature Festival, writer and MP Sudha Murty offered an intimate look into her writing process, creative evolution and the life philosophy that underpins her latest book The Circle of Life. In conversation with writer Vani Mahesh, Murty reflected about how her understanding of human nature and long-term friendships shaped her latest work here on Saturday. Murty speaks about the deep understanding of human nature in her writings and what inspired her to revisit an ol

BENGALURU: A jail warder at the Bengaluru Central Prison in Parappana Agrahara was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle cigarettes and a prohibited narcotic substance to inmates. The warder, identified as Rahul Pati, was caught red-handed by personnel of the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF) near the main gate of the prison on Friday around 6.50 pm. During the inspection, KSISF staff reportedly found two packets of cigarettes and about 60 grams of a narcotic substance on

BENGALURU: Manhar Bansal, a final-year BA LLB (Hons) student from the Bengaluru-based National Law School of India University (NLSIU), is among the six Rhodes Scholar-elect from India for 2026. With this, Bansal has joined the hallowed ranks in NLSIU with 25 other scholars who received the prestigious academic honours in previous years. Bansal will head to the University of Oxford in October 2026 to join more than 100 scholars from around the world to undertakefully funded post-graduate studies.

BENGALURU: Bengaluru is set to host the much-awaited Bangalore Literature Festival, inviting book lovers, writers, and literary enthusiasts to celebrate reading and writing under the winter sun. The 14th edition of the festival would be held in Freedom Park, aims to bring together authors from Karnataka, across India, and around the world, creating a platform where diverse literary voices can meet and converse. This time the fest is being held in Freedom Park to make it more accessible to people

BENGALURU: Minister for IT/BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Priyank M Kharge, along with senior government officials including Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao, met CXO representatives of leading companies operating along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) corridor at a Town Hall organised by the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA) in Bengaluru on Friday. During the interaction, industry leaders flagged key issues such as last-mile connectivity to

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday directed contractors to complete the Blue Line Metro corridor within the revised deadlines, warning that firms failing to meet timelines would not be considered for future government projects. Shivakumar issued the instructions after inspecting ongoing construction at Kodigehalli, a key stretch of the 58-km line connecting Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport. The government aims to complete the KR Puram to Silk Board section by

BENGALURU: Thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Friday as Terminal 1, known for its iconic design, descended into chaos, overcrowding and exhaustion, resembling a refugee camp. As 292 IndiGo flights were cancelled and abrupt disruptions continued for the fourth day on Friday, there was little clarity and passengers frustration only grew. Arguments broke out between passengers, airline staff and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel.

BENGALURU: St Johns Medical College Hospital marked its 50th anniversary on Friday with a Golden Jubilee event held at St Johns National Academy of Health Sciences Auditorium. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy spoke about the institutions early development, noting that land for the hospital was acquired when the surrounding areas were still farmlands. He referred to the role of Christian missionary groups in setting up educational and health institutions. He remarked on St Johns policy of not r

BENGALURU: A city-based advocate and a former convener of Bajrang Dal have filed police complaints seeking an FIR against Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan for obscene gesture, public indecency, insulting modesty of women and disturbing public order. Advocate S Owaiz Hussain of Sankey Road and Tejas A Gowda of Jayanagar 1st Block have filed the complaints. In his complaint, Hussain stated that he is filing the complaint on behalf of the general public seeking immediate registration

BENGALURU: A 38-year-old engineer died by suicide after jumping on to the tracks at the Kengeri Metro Station of the Purple Line around 8.15 am on Friday. Metro services were immediately suspended and resumed only at 9.40 am, disrupting the commute of a large number of IT employees. The victim was identified as Shantagoud Police Patil, residing in an apartment in Doddabele. He was a native of Devara Hippargi in Vijayapura district. The victims wife, Preethi, identified her husbands body at the R

BENGALURU: Policemen involved in corrupt practices will not only be suspended but also dismissed from service, after their involvement is verified, warned Home Minister G Parameshwara, here on Friday. He was addressing the media at the state police headquarters on Nrupathunga Road after flagging off three Hygiene on Go mobile sanitation vehicles for Bengaluru Traffic Police. On nearly 130 policemen being suspended in Bengaluru, he said the only way to stop corrupt practices is either through sus

While its easy to fall into nihilism about the environmental crisis, as corporations and governments bigger and more powerful than us go back and forth on environmental action, individuals and communities across the world are deciding that enough is enough and taking charge of their environment. It is this spirit of resilience that All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) is set to showcase with over 86 films from 39 countries to be screened across Indian cities, kicking off with

Nothing Like Lear , a solo clown piece by actor-director Rajat Kapoor, strips William Shakespeares tragedy down to its emotional core. The play, first staged in 2012 and starring actor Vinay Pathak, has quietly built a long life of its own, travelling across cities, without losing its intimacy. As the duo gear up for their next show in the city, Kapoor speaks to CE on approaching King Lear through vulnerability and using the language of clowning to excavate themes of power, ageing, madness and f

BENGALURU: The Center for Digital Public Goods (CDPG), IIM Bangalores knowledge and research hub on digital public goods (DPGs), and Protean eGov Technologies Ltd released a report titled State of Digital Public Infrastructure in India on Thursday. Addressing the audience, Professor R. Srinivasan, Chairperson of CDPG, IIM Bangalore, said, Through this report, we highlight how the same foundational rails that support identity and payments are now quietly reshaping the financial and healthcare lan

BENGALURU: While the high court is hearing matters related to the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, now dubbed the Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC), affected landowners have strongly condemned the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for pushing misleading information to the courts, media and the general public. PRR Raitha Haagu Niveshanadarara Sangha said this systematic media campaign is seen as a desperate attempt to influence the judicial process and mask the projects profound legal and

BENGALURU: At least 99 IndiGo flights, including 54 arrivals and 45 departures, were cancelled at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Thursday, leaving hundreds of flyers frustrated. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) website showed a dismal 19.7% on-time percentage score for the airline. Scores of passengers remained agitated and confused at KIA on Thursday, a situation that was only compounded by the lack of transparency on the part of the airline. I purchased 110 tickets for a flight

BENGALURU: Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao instructed officials to formulate a comprehensive plan to completely prevent sewage from entering the K-100 waterway that runs along KR Market to Bellandur tank, under the Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley network. Speaking after inspecting the K-100 Civil Waterway from Anepalya Junction to Shanthinagar Bus Stand, he said sewage is under control in most parts of the K-100 route. Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Wate

BENGALURU: Mahalakshmi Layout police have arrested a couple, who managed to smuggle 18.59 kg of hydro ganja worth Rs 18.60 crore out of high-security Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). The accused have been identified as Shafiuddin Sheikh, 34, a mechanic, and his wife Sara Simran, 26, a homemaker, from Kammanahalli. Preliminary investigations revealed that Sheikh and Simran were mules, who carried hydro ganja from Bangkok. They were offered free travel, accommodation, and additional payment

BENGALURU: A 65-year-old mentally distressed man died by suicide after strangling his bedridden wife to death at their house in Subramanyapura police limits on Tuesday. The deceased have been identified as Baby, 65, and her husband Venkateshan, a retired BMTC bus driver. Thecouple lived with their son Anil Kumar on 3rd Cross Road at Chikkagoudanapalyain Subramanyapura. Police said the incident came to light after Anils wife returned home from school with their child around 12.45 pm on Tuesday. S

BENGALURU: In a classic case of the fence eating the crop, a head constable attached to the Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS) allegedly stole Rs 11 lakh from a car belonging to an accused in a cyber crime case, which had been seized and parked on the premises of City Police Commissioners office. According to police sources, the head constable has been identified as Jabiullah, who was serving at the CCPS under the Central Crime Branch (CCB). Police had arrested an accused in a cybercrime case on

BENGALURU: Hebbagodi police have arrested two men who learned theft techniques from YouTube and broke into a businessmans house and decamped with Rs 1.14 crore in cash and 16 grams. The accused are HK Srinivasamurthy (39), a resident of Vigneshwara Nagar and native of Bengaluru South district, who owns an apparel shop in Chickpet, and BN Arun Kumar (39), a resident of Magadi Main Road who works as an electrician. The police said that on November 8, the duo broke into the house of businessman Sun

BENGALURU: The Jalahalli police have registered an FIR against an unknown Facebook user on November 29, for allegedly creating deepfake videos of President Droupadi Murmu and cheating the public into investing money through a fraudulent link. According to the police, a sub-inspector came across a video on Facebook in which a user named Dune Dream had posted a clip of the President urging the public to invest money. The video falsely claimed that the President was urging people to invest Rs 21,00

BENGALURU: In three separate operations, the Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) seized 10.36 kg of MDMA crystals and 8 kg of hydro ganja, worth approximately Rs 28.75 crore. Two foreign nationals were arrested in two of the cases. Police said the seized drugs were stockpiled for sale during the New Year celebrations. In the first case, 25-year-old Nancy Omary Lawa, a Tanzanian national, was arrested based on a tip-off. Police raided her house and found 9.25 kg of MDMA crystals

BENGALURU: The Whitefield police have arrested a couple on Wednesday after a 45-year-old man ended his life at his residence, leaving behind a death note accusing three people of issuing multiple notices over a land dispute and mentally harassing him. The deceased Murali Govindaraju, a resident of Whitefield, was working in a private firm. The arrested accused are Shashi Nambiyar (64) and Usha Nambiyar (57). The police said Murli had purchased a land in 2018 from a relative of the couple, Shashi

Far away, a musical sound passes through the breeze. It is 1999, and Ek Pal Ka Jeena drifts into homes through open windows and half-shut doors, bouncing off scooter radios and living room cassette players. Soft. Unhurried. It does not push its way into the noise. It stays. Almost without announcement or assistance (like social media), the song becomes an anthem, stitching itself into a memory across cities and generations. On screen, a debutant Hrithik Roshan moves with electrifying ease, the c

The rich, creamy taste of chocolate melting on the tongue blends with the sweet memories of birthdays, Valentines days, anniversaries and holidays we hold dear whether your treat of choice is bitter and dark, creamy and milky or nut-filled and full of surprising textures. While most people may think of Belgian or Swiss chocolates as being the best you can get, in recent years, Indian craft chocolate has emerged and wooed the palates of Indian chocolate lovers. The Indian Cacao and Craft Chocola

BENGALURU: Experience is the best teacher. Using all the good and bad experiences a group of parents and students have come together and launched an App to help students and parents find the best career paths, courses and colleges not just base don the wards' marks but aptitude, interest and skill. Conceptualised in 2024, the Appli app was launched in March 2025. The teams had participated in Elevate 2024 and were one of the finalists in the Karnataka category. Post pandemic, the internet and mo

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court dismissed the bail petitions filed by five accused in connection with the murder of Shivaprakash aka Bikla Shiva. Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav dismissed the petitions filed by K Kiran, Vimal Raj B, Madan R, Pradeep and S Samuvel. They challenged the order dated October 17, 2025, passed by the trial court. The trial court rejected their applications seeking to enlarge them on default bail and extended time for investigation and for filing of final report under th

BENGALURU: Activists of Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Karnataka, and family members of Darshan, 22, who died due to the alleged torture by Viveknagar police, have demanded that a judicial inquiry be ordered into the case instead of a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Following the illegal detention and custodial torture of 22-year-old Darshan, who died on November 26, the Viveknagar Police Inspector and three police personnel were suspended on Tuesday. Addressing

BENGALURU: Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will get 4,500 more electric buses under the PMs e-Drive Scheme with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) finalising bids last month, according to Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma. The minister was responding to a question by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya in the Lok Sabha. Surya had sought details on the number of buses sanctioned, funds allocated, operational status, and the reasons

BENGALURU: Following the Supreme Court direction on listing of street dogs by various institutions like schools, colleges, hospitals, factories, playground, bus depots and others, at North City Corporation, 802 such institutions have responded, and overall 1,042 such dogs have been identified. The dogs will be relocated to shelters as per the SC order. Meanwhile, Pommala Sunil Kumar, Commissioner, Bengaluru North City Corporation, said that the details and locations of all street dogs within the

BENGALURU: The Bengaluru East City Corporation, under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), has started cracking down on errant property owners who construct buildings violating the sanctioned plan and adding unauthorised floors and tenements. It has listed 11 buildings that will face action. Already, action has been taken against five buildings in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment. One of the buildings in the Whitefield ward had its illegally constructed top floor demolished. A senior corporat

After watching The Ring at Rex Theatre in Bengaluru, my friends and I were so terrified that we decided to sleep in the same room. At one point during the film, overwhelmed by fear, I even considered walking out. Gore Verbinskis 2002 American adaptation of Koji Suzukis 1991 novel reshaped American horror cinema. The plot revolves around a cursed video: anyone who watches it will die within a week unless they make a copy. This concept might be one of the first instances of a viral video! Its intr

Among the many things Bengaluru is proud of nurturing is the annual gathering of literature enthusiasts at the Bangalore Literature Fest (BLF). With many renowned voices and, of course, new books and bibliophiles basking in the smell of books, this years theme feels timely Space. For founder and curator Shinie Antony, this idea guided every step of the curation. As she notes, The central vision this year was space to breathe, to express, to think. The choice of venue also sealed the idea. She

In Karnataka, where audiences regularly hop between Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi cinema, a movie poster isnt just a marketing tool anymore; it has become a symbol in the language conversation. Recently, actor Upendra defended the Kannada-first stance, stating the need for the language to appear on all film posters released in the state, echoing tensions that surfaced months ago when a Telugu poster of actor and politican Pawan Kalyans Hari Hara Veera Mallu was torn down. This has

BENGALURU: Following a directive from the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), the education department has asked all schools to issue transfer certificates (TCs) within 15 days of receiving applications and warned of strict action in case of failure. The circular read, It is the primary duty of the school principal to issue the transfer certificate within 15 days, so that the students are not deprived of their educational activities without violating Section 5(1)

BENGALURU: A special court has sentenced a retired Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the then Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), V Venkatesh, 73, to three years simple imprisonment and ordered him to pay a fine of Rs 59.86 lakh, as charges of possessing disproportionate assets (DA) to his known sources of income and abusing his official position have been proved. Judge Nandeesha RP, Special Court for Lokayukta Cases, passed the order. Venkatesh was AEE of Uttarahalli Sub-Division of

BENGALURU: Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao has directed his officials to expedite the disposal of pending e-Khata applications under the five city corporations. Addressing a virtual meeting on Monday regarding issuing of e-Khata, conversion of B-Khata to A-Khata and property tax matters, he said a separate helpline number 94806 83035 has been designated for e-Khata-related complaints. He directed officials to ensure that all complaints received on the helplin

BENGALURU: In a desperate attempt to save her mother found hanging from the ceiling fan, thinking she might still be alive, a 10-year-old girl used a kitchen knife to cut the saree used for the suicide, but the woman was already dead. The incident took place early on Monday morning in Madanayakanahalli. The woman had had sold her gold jewellery and left a suicide note, stating that the amount be used for the care of her children. The deceased has been identified as Saubhagya (31), who worked as

BENGALURU: As the Greater Bengaluru Authoritys (GBA) Climate Action Cell and Resilience Plan (BCAP) pats itself on its back for the revival of a dead lake, experts point out that there is nothing like a dead lake. They also say the corporation has been able to revive only a portion of the lake, while a large portion continues to be encroached and utilised for other purposes. BCAP officials termed it as Bengalurus first-of-its-kind dead lake revival project of the GBA. On Monday, officials posted

BENGALURU: Following Bengaluru South City Corporations official order that schools must conduct a survey of stray dogs on their premises, private schools have strongly opposed the order and written to GBA Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao, saying they have better responsibilities to fulfil. Shashi Kumar, president of Associated Management of English Medium Schools in Karnataka, said, This is too ridiculous for GBA to direct schools to survey a dog count. Schools were not even a party when the c

BENGALURU: Samajwadi Party MP from Uttar Pradesh Rajeev Rai on Sunday criticised the traffic authorities in Bengaluru, saying that the traffic management here is the worst and the city has the most irresponsible, useless traffic police. Tagging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he posted on X: Im sorry, but you have the worst traffic management and the most irresponsible, useless traffic police. They dont even pick up phone calls. Here is the SS (screenshot) of my attempt to speak to them, none of th

BENGALURU: The department of youth empowerment and sports (DYES) on Monday distributed 30 Ekalavya, nine Karnataka Kreeda Ratna and nine Lifetime Achievement awards for the years 2022 and 2023. Winning a medal in Karnataka, even though it houses seven crore Kannadigas, is not impossible, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was the chief guest at the event. I focused on many sports but succeeded in nothing. My advice to the youngsters is that you choose sport and stick with it, he said. On the

BENGALURU: The state cabinet will on Thursday discuss Justice Michael DCunhas final report on the deaths of Covid-19 patients at Chamarajanagar District Hospital during the previous BJP regime. The retired HC judge on Monday submitted a 165 page revised report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, which also contains recommendations to take action against the errant staff at the hospital. On May 2 night, 24 patients died due to oxygen shortage at the hospital and the staff was accused of misconduct an