My article in TOI Mlore-Saffron can be grown in Kudla-14-02-14

Garden enthusiast Richard E Pinto and his wife, Grace are all set to spring a surprise on Mangaloreans with the
Saffron they have grown in their garden. Saffron is generally grown and sent to other parts of India and overseas from Kashmir. Growing saffron in these parts of the country is unheard of, but the former St Aloysius College, Zoology Department head Richard and Grace have done it in their own backyard in Kadri.


Their interest in gardening can be seen from a large variety of vegetables, flowering and exotic ornamental plants in their garden. "It was an experiment which turned successful," said Richard when asked what made him think of growing saffron. " We are interest in gardening and like to grow all kinds of plants. We tried out saffron
and it came as a surprise to see it grow so well," he said.

Saffron is an expensive spice, because the strands are dried female parts of a flower, or stigmas. A kilogram of the spice costs anything in the range of 1.5 lakh rupees in Mangalore.  In these parts of the
country, saffron is used in kesaribath, payasam etc.

The seeds were sown in October by Grace, whose son brought it from abroad. The seeds were BT modified. Of the 40-odd seeds that were sown, nearly 20 have started flowering. In the beginning, the flowers are of yellow colour and as they bloom, it keeps changing and the stigma ends up saffron when it is about to dry. The height of a full-grown plant will be between 8 and 12 inches.

Drain

Plastic and other waste materials stuck in drain at Alake Bridge drain in Mangalore causing stench, breeding of mosquitoes. A local resident recalls this drain had very clean water flowing till recent years. It was common scene here that children learning swimming and enjoying everyday. Published in TOI-11-02-14 

Fest at St Aloysius College, Mlore

Students at fest at St Aloysius college, Mangalore. Published in TOI-31-01-14.

Jelly Fish

A swarm of translucent, free-swimming planktonic carnivores, Jellyfish, have started appearing at Mangalore's coastline near Sultan Battery. Fisheries experts said they are not dangerous as those found in other parts of world and cause only stinging sensation or irritation if humans come to contact with it. This is annual phenomenon which occurs twice in a year, they add.
Published in TOI Mlore edition-25-01-14.

Python

Mari Gowda, security person of Medha Apartments holding the python which made way to the apartment at Mallikatte in Mangalore in the morning on Wednesday. Yathiraj Kadri who caught the python later, said it will be handed over to Dr. Shivaram Karanth Biological Park, Pilikula.
Published in TOI-Mlore edition-23-01-14

Primacy-Candle

Narayanamurthy and Sudhamurthy at the inauguration of rebuilt Primacy Candle Industry in Mangalore on-15-01-14

Eid Milad

Children playing 'Duff' during Eid Milad rally in Mangalore. Published in TOI M'lore edition-15-01-14.