Life & Style

Decor pieces from Viya
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Triathlete Sam Suresh Chandy was looking for trekking partners to Agasthyarkoodam, South India’s second-highest peak, located in Thiruvananthapuram, in 2020. Unable to find someone in his immediate circle, he spread word about it. Eventually, there were 40 people ready to join him on this difficult climb.

This collective ultimately led to the formation of ITREK, a hiking community that now has 500 members, aged 18 to 75. The group includes civil servants, corporate heads, journalists, entrepreneurs, and students. Their motto: Explore outdoors, embrace community. It focusses on sustainable travel, environmental responsibility, and supporting forest-dwelling communities.

“We are a facilitating engine for people who like trekking. Many people do not know how or where to go for a trek; some do not have people to go with, and some are worried whether they can physically endure a trek,” says Sam, a five-time Ironman triathlon winner, finishing a series of swimming, running, and cycling challenges.

Sam Suresh Chandy
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

ITREK focuses on three aspects— exploring the outdoors to promote a healthy lifestyle, commitment to preserve nature, and allegiance to forest-dependent and tribal communities with an emphasis on ensuring a clean trek without littering and extending a helping hand to forest dwellers, acting as a “window for exchange of ideas with people living in the city.”

ITREK with Avittam Thirunal Adithya Varma during their logo launch
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

“With each trek, we contribute to the community. We mobilise funds for guides if they reach out to us with health or other issues, since they are part of communities indigenous to forests,” says Sam. “They welcome us and speak to us about the forest, the way they live, in the available window of time.”

Health is wealth

Sam says the club advocates a healthy lifestyle. He points out that people who are interested in trekking most often already train daily.

“The group is not limited to treks; we sometimes do sea-swimming too. Thiruvananthapuram has the Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other. It is an opportunity to experience both,” says Sam.

ITREK during a hike at Kurisumala
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

He adds, “Even if it is an elderly person, he or she should be fit to an extent. Fortunately, these are the people who often choose trekking. For instance, during our last trek to Arippa in Kollam, we had Veeramoni Sankaranarayana, a retired banker, who trekked with us for seven kilometres. We ensure help for members of all ages. We will hold their hand and even carry them,” says Sam. “Often older people wish to trek to peaks like Agasthyarkoodam for many years, and ITREK has been able to fulfill the dream of many of them.

During the last trip to Agasthyarkoodam, 75 people from across the State joined the group, making it the single largest group to scale the peak, says Sam. In December 2025, ITREK will be scaling the peak again.

The team has planned four treks — the first one is to Vazhvanthol waterfalls, located 40 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram, on September 21. The itinerary for October has a two-day and one-night trek in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, which includes a night jungle scout with animal sightings, and a full-day trek. There are treks to Munnar and Meesapulimala in Idukki scheduled in November.

“Next year, we hope to have a Himalayan trek,” says Sam.

Published – September 17, 2025 05:00 pm IST

Yohan Chacko and Aarabi Veeraraghavan in Enchantment.
| Photo Credit: RAGHUNATHAN SR

The  ID. Cross Concept 
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The District Transport Office building near the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus depot at East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram, opposite Gandhi Park, presents an unassuming facade. The entry to the newly-inaugurated museum wing in the office is marked by coloured plastic chairs placed on both sides of the pathway. The concrete floors and whitewashed walls paint a lacklustre picture, contrary to the intimidating image of a KSRTC bus, affectionately called the aanavandi.

However, inside the museum, as you look up, you will see walls adorned with wooden frames and multiwood canvases (a type of polymer), all painted with vibrant acrylics. The paintings document buses from 1938, starting with the Travancore State Transport Department (TSTD)-owned models and continuing with KSRTC buses, after the Corporation was formed in 1965. The museum is set in such a manner that people who choose to travel in the KSRTC Swift’s Nagarakazhchakal ride starting from East Fort can see the artwork before the journey.

“The 1938-model bus was driven by EG Salter, or Salter sayippu, the superintendent of Travancore State Transport Department, when it was inaugurated by Sree Chithira Thirunal the same year,” says artist Mahesh Velayudhan. He points to the painting of a green bus, plying across the Karamana bridge, with a TSTD board, en route to Nagercoil from Kanyakumari, and says, “It is said they released 27 buses of these models initially.”

The bus believed to be driven by EG Salter, or Salter sayippu, the superintendent of Travancore State Transport Department to Nagercoil
| Photo Credit:
Nainu Oommen

Mahesh, 53, painted 18 works with the help of two other painters. This includes four buses from 1938, two of which were painted in shades of grey.

Mahesh Velayudhan at the KSRTC Art Museum at East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram
| Photo Credit:
Nainu Oommen

Mahesh was assigned to work on the museum at the instruction of Thiruvananthapuram Assistant Transport Officer, CP Prasad. Previously, he had painted murals of former state Ministers of Transport at the KSRTC central workshop at Pappanamcode. As a painter at the depot, Mahesh paints destination boards, and creates designs on buses like “the Royal View double-decker buses, which were released in Munnar, earlier this year.”

At the museum, Mahesh has painted the 1977 model double-decker buses with the iconic red and yellow colour palette. “It was difficult to find the colours of the buses. We figured out what they were by asking retired transport employees,” says Mahesh.

Another 1977 bus model, longer than the usual KSRTC buses, with a peculiar, slightly raised portion in the middle behind its chassis area is on display, too. “They discontinued it because it was impractical,” says Mahesh.

A 1977 bus model, longer than the usual KSRTC buses, with a peculiar, slightly raised portion in the middle.
| Photo Credit:
Nainu Oommen

“The 1964 Benz model buses in red and yellow were the first ones to come out after the KSRTC was formed,” says Mahesh.

A 1965-model bus, currently used as a depot van for repairs, spare parts, and towing of malfunctioning buses, is on display with a blue-and-white Venad bus. Named after a medieval kingdom based in Southern Kerala, Venad is still one of the most commonly found buses in the State.

The paintings include depictions of pink buses for women, and a ring-road service bus (a bus following a circular route) called the Rajdhani bus, which are no longer in use.

The Rajdhani buses were launched in 2012 April, but was soon discontinued following financial losses.

A painting of the Kaveri boat services, which was controlled by KSRTC till 1985, when the Department of Transport adopted it directly, is on display too.

Kaveri boat service which was taken over by the Department of Transport from the KSRTC
| Photo Credit:
Nainu Oommen

Mahesh says there are four more paintings to be added to the collection, which he hopes to finish in a month.

The artist is also hoping to paint private buses, which were in existence before the state transportation department buses. “One of the first buses was the size of an extended autorickshaw. Since I have got my hands on a picture of it, I would like to draw it soon.”

Published – September 16, 2025 05:00 pm IST

Reunion, a play being staged by the First Drop Theatre on September 20, is about disabilities, friendship, and identities, says Bejoy Balagopal. The play, Bejoy says, seeks to open up conversations around disability-related themes such as assumptions, judgements, tokenism, policy vs practice, intersectionality with gender, invisible disabilities, and more.

“We wanted to talk about these aspects, but also be a play that engages people,” explains Bejoy, the co-founder of First Drop, which produced the play. “The cast comprises individuals with both visible and invisible disabilities, drawing from lived experiences that are raw, real, and deeply resonant.”

The idea for Reunion first emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, says Bejoy, when many performances transitioned to online platforms. “We thought that since we were all doing it online, we could also reach out to the community of people with disabilities to provide them with training in playback theatre: an improvised format of theatre where you listen to the audience’s stories and improvise on them.”

In response to this, people from different parts of the country expressed interest, and were trained online, he says. This experience led to Bejoy and Radhika Jain, also a co-founder of First Drop, unlearning many of their assumptions about disability. The kernel of the idea of this play emerged from these interactions. “Their personal, lived experiences were discussed, and those aspects were made into a fictional story.”

In Bejoy’s opinion, a play based on the lived experiences of people with disabilities could help the audience appreciate the challenges they face daily and also become more sensitive and aware of them.

“We are aiming to get them thinking about these lived experiences,” he says, pointing out that even finding a disability-friendly performance space was challenging. The show, which is happening at Bangalore International Centre (BIC), is not just wheelchair-accessible but will also have Indian sign language interpretation and live audio description, he adds.

Reunion revolves around four childhood friends with different disabilities who reconnect after many years. “They were very close and are meeting after a while in one of their friend’s ancestral homes, which is where they spent a lot of their childhood,” he says.

Through their conversations, jokes, laughter and arguments, the play unpacks the different challenges they faced, and continue to face, on account of their disability, and how it has shaped different responses and approaches from each of them – mirroring the complexities of disability and the empathy that helps to traverse through these complex layers, states Bejoy.

The play will be followed by a panel discussion featuring individuals actively working in this space, including Priti Lobo, Arun Mohan, Madhumita V, and Rakesh Paladugula. “They will pick up some of the things that came up in the play and share their views on what needs to be done.

“It is a wholesome experience for the audience. It looked so real when the characters spoke about it, and here are the experts also saying what we can do as allies and how much groundwork needs to be covered.”

Reunion will be held at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC), Indira Nagar, on September 20, 5:30 pm. Tickets are available at https://shorturl.at/uCvP6, via UPI: 9886185008@ptsbi, or at the venue.

Published – September 16, 2025 02:37 pm IST

A few weeks ago, a blind puppy was seen at a park in Sadashiv Nagar, where she was abandoned with her siblings. Zoha Bin Jung, an equestrian and member of CJ Memorial Trust’s (CJMT) Hennur Canine Squad, fell in love with her and took her home. Now named Bailey, the pup lives happily with two tripod cats, a tripod dog, and an old blind cocker spaniel who was found sick on the streets. “I have only gratitude for such individuals. Zoha went on to adopt another blind husky from the squads to give Bailey company,” says Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, trustee, CJMT.

A child with its pet dog at PET-A-THON to create awareness on animal rights at Cubbon Park in 2022
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu

The non-profit has been working towards protecting community dogs through initiatives such as canine squads, advocacy for animal protection laws, and community programmes, to name a few, and Luna’s case is a win at a time when street dogs have been under the radar. 

The CJ Memorial Trust organized models to take part in the celebration of “Santa Bow Wow-2019” a dog festival at Cubbon Park in 2019
| Photo Credit:
SREENIVASA MURTHY V

If you would like to do more for the streeties around you, there is a lot you can do aside from adoption. “Nobody has homes to take all the dogs that we love on the street. I wish we had, but we don’t. And many dogs are completely happy on the street. Adoption is ideal, but given the population, the scale is an issue. CJMT has launched not only #Indieproud and  #IndieDogDay www.indiedogday, but also the Million Indies Homes Project, which is being supported by the government.” 

At the CJ Memorial Trust Dog Park
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Priya shares examples that demonstrate how the public can create better connections between people and dogs. “There are over 60 CJMT squads all over Bengaluru with almost 5,000 people ensuring that their hyperlocal squads are focussed on neutering and vaccination,” she says. There are also feeding and care initiatives to make sure the dogs are friendly, accessible and responsive to humans. 

A snapshot from the Cubbon Dog Park in 2015
| Photo Credit:
MURALI KUMAR K

At the Cubbon Dog Park that the Trust runs, while it is all fun and socialisation, Priya says, important messages are passed on to visitors such as #adopdontshop, neuter your pet, how to recognise a sterivaxed dog, etc”.

“You’d be surprised how many people don’t know about telltale ear notch that confirms that status. We cover how to interact with community dogs, keeping your kids safe by recognising the ones that are steadily vaxed, calling up Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to ensure that your community dogs are picked up for sterivax.”

This makes them not only more comfortable but also informed and empowered to do more in their own community, explains Priya, who says they also promote #IndieProud that have enabled up to 500 adoptions in the dog park.

“The VIP treatment that Indie dogs and pets receive helps people understand how much we value that, and then allows them to be kind to the community dogs around their own homes. We also emphasise on making them wear  tags so that dogs have a name and number in case they get lost.” People are encouraged to join their local squad, so they can be of help as and when required. 

At the CJ Memorial Trust Dog Park
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Educating people who are indifferent or scared of streeties is another touch point at CJMT. “Very few people are scared of puppies, so that’s a great way to start and we particularly focus on that with children with an event that we run every year called Santa Bow Wow that is specifically focussed on dogs and children. So, catching them early and getting their parents involved, make a huge difference in long-term community involvement,” says Priya, who adds that cats are also part of the problem if you are looking at rabies, so it is important “for all of us to ensure that our cats are neutered and vaccinated too. Otherwise, they multiply very, very fast and kittens die horrible deaths”.

A participant of the Puppy Adoption Camp at Cubbon Park in Bangalore in 2011
| Photo Credit:
SREENIVASA MURTHY V

The Cubbon Park squad also has many ways you can be a part of the movement, aside from rescuing or adopting. “You can start small by making a call to BBMP for a neuter, maybe fostering a dog, contributing towards an injured dog’s hospital bills, etc. But most often we are encouraging people to be aware of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, that prohibit the relocation and culling of stray dogs, and help them realise that they have to coexist with these animals,” says Priya, who also suggests people neuter and vaccinate their street animals.

“This is non-negotiable if you care for your street animals and care for your humans in the community. Our squads are doing this, and you can work with them to ensure that these dogs are safely picked up, operated on, vaccinated, and put back on the street.”

Get in touch with the team on cjmemorialtrust.org/

Published – September 16, 2025 10:20 am IST

The next time you whiz past Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram, pause and take a deeper look at a wall mural on the busy street. Adorning a boundary wall of a government primary school, it is designed by young individuals who belong to marginalised backgrounds, the mural came about courtesy of a project between the non-profit Dream a Dream that works towards transforming education for children in India, and Aravani Art Project, a trans-women and cis-women led art collective. Together, the two organisations “explored what ‘success’ means to young people coming from marginalised backgrounds”. And these stories were the foundation of the wall mural that launched on September 12.

A snapshot of the mural’s making process
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Suchetha Bhat, CEO, Dream a Dream, explains that the mural is a part of Dream a Dream’s Redefining Success campaign that examines how existing systems categorise individuals into conventional narratives of ‘success’ and ‘failure’. “Our life skills programme graduates demonstrate resilience and aspirations, yet continue to face systemic barriers that limit their opportunities, raising a pivotal question: what if success was defined on their own terms?”  

Participants at one of the workshops
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

To explore this, the team undertook a listening journey with over 325 people (students, organisational leaders, government officials, artists, authors, among others, ranging in age from 14 to 65) between 2023 and 2025, “uncovering that success is deeply personal, contextual, and evolving”.

“Our intention now is to create reflective spaces that question this narrative, embrace diverse paths, and inspire a compassionate, holistic understanding of success: one that validates every young person’s unique journey and enables a thriving life for every young person,” says Saba.

The mural at Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The mural project was facilitated via art workshops with 30 young individuals from Dream a Dream’s Thriving Centre. Nandini Rajaramanathan, project lead, Aravani Art Project, says the project brings together people from the transgender community who paint murals inspired by their lives and experiences, in and around public spaces in the city.

“Dream a Dream recognised the depth of experiences these artists have undergone, which will help bring out deeper insights from our young people about their stories of success. They invited us to engage with 30 young people (who voluntarily signed up to be a part of this project) at their Thriving Centre in K R Puram. The idea of a mural emerged by redefining the idea of success through a series of participatory workshops,” she says, adding how the design process has been entirely collaborative, “with the young people shaping the themes, colours, and imagery, while our team facilitates the artistic execution”. 

The mural at Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Saba Ahmad, project lead for Dream a Dream’s collaboration with Aravani Art Project on the Redefining Success Campaign, says the workshops (held between June and August 2025) were “incredibly engaging and thoughtfully structured, offering young people a rich blend of creative expression, personal reflection, and collective exploration”.

The mural at Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

In June, the focus began with a story-building session that encouraged the participants to begin articulating their own stories and how they view themselves, she says, adding that this laid the groundwork for the thematic explorations that followed in July and August.

“The July workshops centred on the theme of identity and safe expression. Activities included self-portraiture, body mapping, and interactive theatre sessions led by theatre director, Sharanya Ramprakash. Subsequent weeks introduced participants to art as activism, covering foundational art techniques, colour theory, and sensory mapping,” says Saba.

“Through storytelling, group collages, and interactive tools like the ikigai chart, participants explored the connection between emotions, identity, and artistic expression. A particularly powerful moment was a storytelling session through the works of transgender artist Shwetha, which opened up conversations about inclusion and lived experiences.”

The mural at Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

In August, the workshops evolved into a more collaborative format. “Participants brainstormed mural concepts through storytelling, group discussions, and screenings of relevant short films. They worked in small groups to create visual narratives and mini comic strips, receiving both peer and facilitator feedback as they refined their ideas,” says Saba. The programme culminated in a week-long mural painting session in early September.

The mural at Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Nandini says the mural is a vibrant “dream landscape — a reflection of the personal journeys of these young people as they redefine success and give shape to their aspirations”. Portraits of the youth, created through participatory workshops, inform the central narrative of the artwork. “Surrounding these portraits, the design incorporates simple elements that capture their participation throughout the workshop reflecting their dreams and personal growth. 

Importantly, the colour palette has been chosen by the participants, making the mural a direct extension of their creativity and imagination.”

Published – September 16, 2025 10:01 am IST

Zaeden in a still from ‘Raaz‘
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement