MITRA NEWS

Mitra Library @ Ashram Shala opening on 16 Feb 2012

2012-01-30T14:26:00.000+05:30

Mitra Library to go Solar

2010-08-24T12:24:00.014+05:30

Education is at the core of Mitra’s work. Literacy is, therefore, one of the main thrusts of our program development.

In July 2008, a pilot library project was initiated at a government run primary school in the Warli hamlet of Jarlipada in Dahanu.

Mitra Library was started to help inculcate and encourage reading habits among children who never had the opportunity to read anything more than their school text books.

This co-ed school consists of 150 students in classes up to 7^th standard. Our senior Mitra, Mr. Shashikant Kale , a retired senior citizen of Dahanu, in consultation with the school teachers, built up a list of extracurricular reading material suitable for the children.

The Mitra library was inaugurated with 250 carefully selected books in Marathi and Hindi along with stationery and art & craft material. The Library was soon expanded by 60 books, sourced online from Tulika publishers. These delightful, beautifully illustrated books included Marathi-English and Hindi-English bilingual ones thus fulfilling the teachers’ desire to improve the children’s English reading and learning skills.

The school donated a cupboard to store the educational material and designated special library time into their daily school schedule. The teachers have set up a system to monitor the reading habits of the students along with their reading preferences. This information will enable us to understand the children’s needs and likes which in turn will help improve the existing and future Mitra libraries.

Within three months of initiating the library, the teachers have reported a significant progress among the children, who are enjoying reading time along with the opportunity of being creative in arts and crafts.

Mitra Foundation would like to thank Mr. Kale and the teachers of Jharlipada school for devoting their time for this project with such enthusiasm.

Following the success of our first library, Mitra Foundation is now working on a project of expanding the library programme to more hamlets in Dahanu.

As most of these hamlets do not have access to electricity, Mitra foundation will provide solar lighting to allow students to use the library after dusk .

For more information and donations for the Mitra Solar Library project, write to mitra.energy@gmail.com

The Boy who harnessed wind

2009-10-05T14:29:00.003+05:30

Read the amazing story of William Kamkwamba here .

Wanted - Small Change!

2009-06-23T13:27:00.009+05:30

From Mitra's spring newsletter:
The world is changing faster than Mitras anticipated two years ago, when we set out to raise an ‘energy conscience’ amongst young people and their parents, at schools, campuses and community gatherings.
Not everyone is convinced about the imminent threat of devastation due to climate change but they are more aware of the phenomenon and that helps.
Mitras have observed genuine interest amongst the young, to find ways of living a better, sustainable and useful lifestyle.
Mitras spent a large time of last year interacting with individuals and institutions that are working with the lesser privileged amongst the urban poor and in far flung hamlets.
As a result of our interventions we are slowly building a small but diverse community of renewable energy users who demonstrate that it is possible to lead better sustainable and useful lifestyles.
Key to that goal is of course, education. A holistic understanding of the cause and effect of human activities and ways of reducing our negative impact on society and the environment.
Mitras are pleased to share, with you, a new project in our current battery of carbon neutral campus program.
A library in a tribal school for warli children in Dahanu, Maharashtra. We are so proud of it!
Our update on carbon neutral campus program on page 2 clearly shows the increased awareness and demand for change.
Small change, we believe, is a good good starting point.
Interestingly, small change is all what we got for our fund raising efforts this year.
An area of our work that certainly needs to change.
So, Mitras, through this news letter, is inviting you to chip in, give, donate, small change or a big cheque, but please do.

It will help.

TO READ THE WHOLE NEWSLETTER CLICK ON SPRING 2009 (Newsletter section in sidebar)

Adarsh (ka) Ghar – Smart Home in Bangalore.

2009-02-13T16:47:00.005+05:30

Adarsh's home

Mitras like to practice what they preach. Admittedly, it is difficult, yeah, but we try, because we know every little positive action matters.

And now Adarsh, our carbon free neutral campus program coordinator, has gone all the way by building a smart house for himself.

Powered by the wind and sun, Adarsh’s new house in Bangalore is the best example of how combination of renewable energy and energy efficiency can provide uninterrupted electricity for your daily household needs.

Adarsh’s parents were initially hesitant about the idea of having a 28 foot tall wind turbine on their roof, skeptical about solar panels, dubious about the LED lighting and shocked at the costs involved.

They had no problem with installing a solar water heater, but investing in an integrated renewable energy system was as alien an idea as the mobile phone was 5 years ago.

Adarsh gave them a tour of installations he has done as part of Mitra’s carbon neutral campus program. He did the investment vs. monthly bill calculations to convince them.

But what finally did the trick was the promise of 'uninterrupted' power supply.

You see Senior Mr. Vansay is a big sports-tv addict. His biggest irritation in his retired years is the power cuts imposed by Bescom during cricket matches.

Adarsh installed a 650 watts wind turbine and an array of solar panels rated at 640 watts that would give him 2.5 kw of power for lights, fans and other appliances (including TV, efficient kitchen appliances and washing machine) on his roof. He bought a 48 volt 360ah battery to store the power generated by the wind turbine and solar panels. And most importantly he got a local supplier to design special LED lights for his house.

Yeah, we don’t like them incandescent and we absolutely think that the CFL bulb is a loser’s option. The 120 watts of LED lighting is enough to light up the house (see picture) and consumes 4 times less of juice from the batteries than those silly CFL bulbs would have.

It took 2 days for Adarsh to install the turbine, the panels and a 200 litre solar water heater on the roof. A week to install his specially designed LED bulbs. And 2 months to check and double check before he announced Mission Successful.

Calling all Daddies!

2008-09-30T16:17:00.004+05:30

The Polar Ice sheet is facing unprecedented thinning, sea-level rise is threatening the very survival of coastal communities but there is no reduction in green house gas emissions, in fact it is accelerating every day, every month, every year.
Mitra Foundation is calling daddies (and mommies) to do their bit. Talk to your children. Tell them how your lifestyle has threatened the very survival of the future generations. Apologise. And then find out what you can do. Time is running out. And the tide is closing in. Download the postcard on the right and post it to your friends, relatives, office colleagues. Enlist!

Nandgaon gets second Solar Study Center

2008-05-14T12:11:00.002+05:30

Press Release

Pune, 10^th May 2008: Peepal Foundation, a Pune based initiative of socially conscious professionals have been working relentlessly for over five years to bring hope and cheer in lives of under privileged children and senior citizens, while empowering them to be independent and self-sufficient by providing them with basic opportunity and services to fulfill their ambitions.

Observing the enthusiasm and commitment with which the Jambulne community has been using the Solar Study Center, Peepal Foundation have decided to set up a second such Center in Nandgaon village again located in Lonavla taluka. The center will help the students in their studies, as well as help the community with literacy programmes and livelihood training skills for women.

The concept of Solar Study Centers pioneered by Mitra Foundation, Bangalore is in line with their objective of promoting environment friendly, socially just and sustainable solutions. The Solar Study Center at Jambulne was a pilot project. The acceptance and faith reposed in this decentralised renewable energy system by the community has encouraged us to replicate this concept, thereby providing the basic electricity requirement for educational purposes and general community development.

The Solar Study Center at Nandgaon village is sponsored by WNS Global Services and British Gas and will benefit over 60 students.

“Such projects provide an opportunity for British Gas employees, a part of the Centrica Group based in India, to ally with our offshore partners, Peepal Foundation, WNS and EXL to contribute towards social causes. Our objectives are to support projects which are cost-effective and environment friendly which will in return help communities progress, develop and become self-sufficient,” said Christine Tate, Offshore Operations Manager - Centrica Plc.

Calls for Carbon Neutral Campus Program 2008-2009

2008-04-24T15:19:00.004+05:30

Mitra Foundation is proud to announce the opening of two Solar Study Centers in remote off-grid villages of Maharashtra, hosting a series of climate change awareness events in Tamilnadu and most importantly facilitating installation of about 5 kW of renewable energy at a residential school in Karnataka in the first year of our Carbon Neutral Campus program.

Mitra foundation invites schools and educational institutions in Pune, Chennai and Bangalore for registration for 2008-2009 Carbon Neutral Campus program by July 5, 2008.

Two modules of informative and experiment based programs have been specially developed in line with the syllabus for classes IX and XI. We have already reached over 600 students at five institutions with the aid of audiovisual presentations and field visits to renewable energy park.

The 2008-09 program includes a non-power point presentation, field visits to renewable energy production facilities or parks, energy audits at campuses and recommendation to institutions for collective measures for reducing a campus’s carbon footprint.

We also develop special programs in consultation with school faculties on Climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency for specific syllabus or program requirement of students.

Deadline for applications : 5 July 2008.

Contact : choices@mitrafoundation.org

Centre for Learning gets high on wind-energy

2008-03-19T19:31:00.012+05:30

Yesterday evening, there was applause by students and staff when Adarsh finally clambered down the 65 feet high pole after attaching the blades and hub on the 650 watts wind turbine.

A little later, there were loud cheers and more applause when the turbine adjusted its tail and the blades picked up its first gust of wind and rotated to produce a crackle of electric energy.

The students were busy at their studies this morning when Seema helped put finishing touches to the wiring of the heart of the system, the charge controllers and switchboards. But Mitras quietly applauded and cheered ourselves for a job done, well done.

Together with a spanking new photo-voltaic solar system and a refurbished existing pv solar system, the wind turbine will produce almost 3.5 kw that will provide uninterrupted power supply to all dormitories and the computer lab.

With solar water heating systems already installed at all dorms and the guest house, this is a big, almost there, step for Centre for Learning to get off the grid, be self sufficient and make a huge difference to the way its students perceive energy. And environment. And their role in it.

It is hard to believe it was less than 20 months ago that the Centre for Learning community undertook the ‘Walk to School’ to raise awareness and funds to achieve their objective of installing clean, green, renewable energy sources at their campus.

Mitras are proud of having walked with them so far and look forward to helping them fulfilling their wish of self-sufficiency in near future. Honge oil pressing machine anyone?

Mitras wishes the cheerful CFL community, a happy Holi, a happy Navroz, a happy Id-E-Milad, a happy Easter, and a very very happy Mela celebrations this weekend. And to you too.

Peepal and Mitra bring light to Jambulne school

2008-03-02T11:37:00.003+05:30

On 23rd February 2008, Vasti shala, a tiny school in the small off-grid hamlet of Jambulne (Devgarh) near Pune, became the first Solar Study Center thanks to the efforts of our partners Peepal Foundation, a bunch of professionals working relentlessly to empower the under privileged.

The solar lighting system, Venus, gifted by Centrica Plc, will provide sufficient light for four hours after dusk for about 40 students of this hamlet to study, revise and prepare for important examinations. Peepal Foundation that holds educational and cultural programmes for the less fortunate students in Pune and Senior citizens also plans to use the Solar Study Center to run literacy and livelihood programmes for children and women when the center is not being used by the students.

Mitras will monitor this pilot project for six months for efficacy and efficiency and then replicate it to more such schools and community centers in off grid villages in the hinterlands of the country. Our objective of course is to empower with the right power, in this case solar power, but where possible we hope to use other renewable energy technologies suitable for local conditions.

Besides thanking the folks at Peepal Foundation for helping us realise the first project of our Solar Study Center concept, we will also take the opportunity to convey our best wishes and more power to Vineet Kharat, the force behind Peepal, on his birthday that happily enough coincided with the date of the installation.

Installing Solar Panels at CFL

2008-02-16T15:43:00.004+05:30

Mitras are busy, installations have begun simultaneously at Centre for Learning campus near Bangalore and at our first ever Solar Study Center near Pune. So no time to write, right! Have a look at the slideshow from the first day of installation at CFL instead. And watch this space !

The Story of Stuff

2008-01-24T09:57:00.000+05:30

Mitras highly recommend the new thought-provoking film ' The Story of Stuff' by Annie Leonard as a compulsory viewing for all students. To quote from the official website of the film, The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns.From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. You can download the entire film 50 MB after you have seen the teasers on You Tube.

Can the Bulb!

2008-01-14T20:07:00.001+05:30

Ban the Bulb, the war-cry of energy efficiency activists in 2007, was temporarily silenced in the first week of 2008 when UK authorities raised alarm over potential health and environmental risks caused by unsafe disposal of mercury laden CFL bulbs. (Click on the Warning)

It is true that the incandescent bulb, the original invention of TA Edison, wastes huge amounts of energy.

It is also true that coal fired power plants spew amongst other toxic gases, vast quantities of mercury.

But, it is also true that the only efficient alternative, the CFL bulbs contain around 5 mg of mercury which is a toxic. This hazardous mercury may be released if the bulb is broken, or during disposal.

Efficiency campaigners proclaim that by switching over to CFL bulbs the mercury, CO2 and other toxic emissions from coal fired power plants would be drastically reduced and that the net benefits would be greater than not switching over.

Mitras think that switching over to one hazardous option to reduce another seems pointless when there are other energy efficient lighting options – Light Emitting Diodes more popularly known as LEDs.

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are small, solid light bulbs which are extremely energy-efficient. Until recently, LEDs were limited to single-bulb use in applications such as instrument panels, electronics, pen lights and, more recently, strings of outdoor Christmas lights.

Recent improvements in manufacturing process has lowered the cost of LEDs, and expanded their application. The bulbs are now available in clusters, from 2 to 36 bulbs, and are popular especially for battery powered items such as flashlights and headlamps. LEDs are also available in arrays which fit standard AC and DC receptacles, lamps, recessed and track lights.

LED’s are seen as the next step in lighting, as they last 5 to 10 times longer than CFL’s, have no hazardous materials and last 50,000 hours vs. 10,000 for CFL’s.

LEDs are ideal for use in applications that are subject to frequent on-off cycling, unlike fluorescent lamps that burn out more quickly when cycled frequently.

LEDs can’t and will never be able to match up to the lighting capabilities of incandescent and CFLs, however, if your house is designed correctly LEDs can effectively light up areas using indirect and focus lighting. They are especially effective in lamps for reading. Since they use a miniscule amount of power they are also best suited for areas that need to be lit up constantly and where the bulb is difficult to change.

Because of the low power requirement for LEDs, using solar panels becomes more practical and less expensive than running an electric line or using a generator for lighting.

Since LEDs do not have a filament, they are not damaged under circumstances wherein a regular incandescent and CFL bulbs would be broken. Because they are solid, LED bulbs hold up well to jarring and bumping.

LEDs are currently more expensive, price per lumen, on an initial capital cost basis, than more conventional lighting technologies. However, the government has recognized the need for non toxic lighting alternatives. Mysore lamps, a defunct PSU is probably going to be revived for assembling LED lamps. This should make LED lighting more affordable to the general public.

Meanwhile, it is important that the government make compulsory that all CFL bulb packagings print warning/caution sign, indicating presence of mercury and correct disposal practice. It is also imperative that the 'ban the bulb' campaigners train their sights on manufacturers (and distributors) to set in place collection systems for broken and used CFL bulbs at all retail centers.

Karnatriix - Live Earth CD available

2007-12-08T10:05:00.001+05:30

Mitras are ecstatic. John Anthony, friend and guitar genius of Karnatriix, the man behind the only Live Earth concert in India, that we had the pleasure of supporting to spread the word on global warming and the need for individual action to reduce our carbon footprint, has finally released the album from that beautiful night- Namaste.

If you want to submerge yourself into some really trippy soul soothing fusion music featuring Johny's mesmerizing guitar, Ustad Faiyaz Khan's saarangi , hindustani vocals and wicked percussion, we encourage you to view, listen and acquire the album.

Karnatriix is headed to Europe for their maiden tour. If you enjoy their music then you should write to Johny to wish him good luck.

Counter Climate change not terrorism - Teenagers

2007-12-08T09:43:00.000+05:30

Mitras always knew it and once again it has been proven - the youth today are smarter than their parents. A new survey of nearly 50,000 teenagers from around the world today reveals that 74 per cent of teens believe that global warming is a serious problem and are more concerned about it than any other issue including drugs, violence or war. The research conducted jointly by Habbo, the world’s largest virtual world for teens and Greenpeace examined the attitudes and behaviour of the global teen population towards environmental issues and gave teens a chance to speak out on the most pressing problem facing the world.

Whereas the teens surveyed regard climate change as more important than terrorism (56 per cent versus 46 per cent, respectively) they think that governments consider climate change a lower priority. 33 per cent think governments are ‘very concerned’ about climate change compared to 42 per cent who see governments being ‘very concerned’ about terrorism.

North America has come under the most fire, with 39 per cent of teens citing the continent as being responsible for the majority of greenhouse gases, followed by Europe (24 per cent) and Asia (19 per cent). Despite teens in every country pointing fingers at North America for the crisis (except in Asia where they blame themselves), a quarter of North American teens are still not sure if global warming is even a problem.

Although 64 per cent of teens believe it’s still possible to stop global warming, nearly 40 per cent don’t actually know what’s causing it or how to prevent it. One thing is clear though: teens do not regard this as a future problem; two thirds of those polled believe that global warming will affect their lives in a negative way.

Scientists of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change say that emissions of greenhouse gases need to be halved globally by the middle of this century to avoid severe impacts such as water shortages, floods and the spread of diseases.

The 49,243 teens participating in the November 2007 Habbo survey came from 18 countries. Those completing the survey were given the option of finding out more about climate change at the ‘Habbos against climate change’ campaign group page. 16,000 Habbos registered as the supporters of the group.

Habbo is a richly colorful, multi-dimensional virtual community and game environment for teens. Users join by creating a fully-customized online character called a Habbo. From there, they can explore many public hang-outs, play a variety of games, connect with friends, decorate their own rooms, and have fun through creativity and self expression.

Today’s teenagers are tomorrow’s decision makers and at Mitras we have discovered that they are already heralding a new revolution. Students of Center for Learning and Mallya Aditi school have already taken steps to promote non-polluting, renewable energy to prevent global warming from affecting the lives of billions of people and threatening the survival of countless species of animals and plants.

Mitras are proud to hang out with the smart ones!.

Trees are Dying!

2007-10-02T17:07:00.000+05:30

Mitras are regularly asked, whether planting trees will stop the climate change disaster. We usually like to quote Mr. Oliver Rackham of Cambridge University - " Undeniably, having more trees will work in the right direction - but to a minute degree. For its practical effect (on climate change) telling people to plant trees is like telling them to drink more water to keep down rising sea-levels." :-).
Yes plant trees, but save the existing forests is our message to all our young friends out there and enjoy this Music video we spotted on you tube for Dr. Octagon ft. Kool Keith & One Watt Sun.

Carbon Debit!

2007-09-22T10:30:00.000+05:30

(Courtesy Joy of Tech)

One of of our young members forwarded us this very funny cartoon on Carbon Credits aka known as Emissions Trading. Mitra Foundation will soon release a Dummy's guide to Carbon Trading. Watch this space.

Mitras and Peepal's Global warming rally

2007-08-17T13:20:00.000+05:30

Peepal and Mitra celebrate Independence Day with a Global Warming Awareness rally.

Pune, 15^th August, 2007 : Peepal foundation along with their project partners Mitra Foundation organized a rally of over 1000 students and senior citizens in Pune on Wednesday in Yerwada, to raise awareness on global warming, impacts of climate change and the role of renewable energy in ensuring a safe and clean future.

Students from various schools and senior citizens associated with Peepal foundation took to the streets with banners, posters and placards depicting global warming and its impacts and tips on conserving electricity, as well as a demand to switch to renewable energy sources instead of climate killing coal powered plants.

“The planet is facing a grave threat from global warming. India is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, already northern India is reeling under terrible floods, resulting in a massive human tragedy, displacing millions of people and destroying property and agricultural land worth billions of rupees. More floods, water scarcity, food shortages and a rise in diseases is predicted in the next decade by UN scientists. We have to take individual and collective action to stop this phenomenon, and students and senior citizens associated with our groups are taking the first step by raising awareness on the issues.” Said Vineet Kharat, Chairman Peepal Foundation on the occasion.

“Conservation of electricity, buying energy efficient appliances, using solar water heaters and solar home lighting are some of the more simpler and cheaper options that every individual and household can take to contribute to fight against global warming. Buying locally grown food, car-pools, using public transport, reducing wasteful consumption and reducing your carbon footprint are some other individual actions that will contribute greatly to ensuring a sustainable future.” said Adarsh Vansay, Program coordinator of Mitra foundation.

A Walk in the Park

2007-08-13T05:16:00.000+05:30

With the new school term, Mitra resumed its carbon neutral campus program. The first step towards developing an energy consciousness, in our program is to sensitize the students to global warming and the role of the energy sector, especially fossil fuels, in climate change.

The students of Mallya Aditi International School, got a first hand experience of working renewable energy models at a one of its kind, Karnataka State Level Energy Park developed by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) and TATA BP in Bangalore.

Mitra trustee and guest speaker, Shailendra, introduced the students to global warming, its impacts and the role of nation states as well as individuals in tackling the clear and present danger posed by climate change on entire ecosystems, the poorest of the poor and hapless other species that share this planet with us. He concluded the lecture with a call for replacement of climate change causing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources that will meet our energy requirements to ensure energy security as well as sustainable development, while arresting the runaway phenomenon of climate change.

Immediately after the presentation, Mitra coordinators, Seema and Adarsh, took the students for an invigorating walk in the park, where the students were introduced to the concepts of renewable energy and its applications followed by live demonstrations of various existing applications at the park powered by renewable energy.

The ‘Walk’ through the renewable park began at a solar kitchen that has huge mirror-clad panel which rotates automatically to catch the rays of the sun and re-direct a concentrated beam towards an opening in the kitchen where it is absorbed by a black pot in which food can be cooked. The kitchen also had information on Bio-gas plants that produces methane gas for cooking purposes.

Next was the demonstration of non-pollutiong, electric vehicles, which included a bus that can seat around 15 people and Reva, the famous Indian electric car, manufactured in Bangalore, which is proudly showcased under the array of 8.5 kW solar panels from which it charges its batteries in 6 hours. The students loved the battery operated bicycle which is recharged as you cycle. Some of the students also got an opportunity to zip around in a mini solar powered car.

The power of wind was demonstrated at the 1.3 kW wind turbine, the 1800W turbine that operates a surface water pump to irrigate all the plants in the garden, and a windmill that pumps water from a borewell for storage.

The students were then taken to a unique ‘Power Plant’, a Battery Bank located in a well ventilated room that consists of 72 batteries which stores an amazing 10kW of power generated from solar panels and 1.3 kW wind turbine mentioned above.

The crowning glory of the park is the solar powered house. A combination of BIPV and PV solar panels creates 2.2 kW to power lights, fans, a computer, tv and a small fridge in this off-grid house. Food is pressure cooked in a parabolic solar cooker in 20 minutes. A solar box cooker and a solar dryer are the other gadgets found in this unique house. Besides providing hot water for the house an industrial solar water heater circulates heated water through a nearby swimming pool.

The huge playground in front of the house with its swings, slides, see-saws, etc, all of which run on dynamos and ignite bulbs or play electronic music, was an energetic way to end the walk and reinforce the point that creating clean energy is a simple task.

The students left with a sense of realization that alternatives to our traditional climate change causing energy production exist . Mitra’s aim was not only to guide them through ways of using energy, whether renewable or otherwise, efficiently, but to open their minds into new and innovative ways of creating alternate energy and spreading the word to save this planet and all living things dependant on it.

Karnataka State Level Energy Park is located at the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Garden, Raj Bhavan Road, Opp. the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore.

Karnatriix for Live Earth - A Review

2007-08-12T12:48:00.001+05:30

Nearly 500 people gathered at Bucks Theatre for an evening of fun -- a fun way to show solidarity and take back some tips to help each of us save the earth. Where politicians and scientists have failed for want of commitment, public spirited musicians from Chennai, Bangalore and Madurai rocked a crowd spanning at least three generations. With the planet going to hell in a handbasket, thanks to the climate-warming gases released by wasteful private and elite transport, the musicians who performed today insisted on none of the electricity-guzzling jazzy lights. Indeed, all of them took the train, sleeper class, to get to Chennai. Youth activists associated with Mitra Foundation underscored the motivation behind the concert: "Have fun, but have a care. Use less, consume less. Think about simple things like switching off your lights; taking public transportation or bicycling to work."

Karnatriix's fresh sounds, with "Darbuka" Siva keeping a deadly beat to a trippy rendition of Saint Thiagaraja's Pancharatna keertana, "Entharo" was a masterpiece that highlighted the talents of Dharwad vocalist and Sarangi player Fayyaz, and the lead-guitarist-cum-producer John Anthony. Featuring a number of originals and exclusive renditions of popular Carnatic tunes, the band delivered song after song that underscored relaxation as a way out of the hectic and earth-burning life that most of us live. Karnatriix' performance, short though it was, covered their special numbers -- Angel's Dist, Entharo, Delicately Tuned, Exorcism and Namaste.

John Anthony is an ole time rock guitarist, with the defiance, pride, creativity and dexterity befitting an activist. On more than one instance, he has stepped in to pull off massive shows for social causes. In 2000, in a gesture of farewell to Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior from Chennai, Johnny and his "Banned" organised a "No More Bhopals" concert. No corporate sponsors; free tickets. More than 5000 students rocked peacefully to a series of socially-relevant songs set to invigorating music.

"Darbuka" Siva, a sprightly lad in his early twenties, was a hit. A Radio anchor on Radio Mirchi, Siva's solo percussion performance, -- he starts off testing this bell and that xylophone -- eventually cascaded into a riot of beats that had the old and the young keeping rhythm in their own ways.

Fayyaz Khan, an accomplished Hindustani classical vocalist and Sarangi player from Bangalore by way of Dharwad, punctuated the otherwise instrumental-emphatic performance with vocals flowing from the belly, a sound that touched you awake from the mesmeric music that straddles evolving genres such as new age, electronica, ambient and alternative.

With all four musicians/bands making it clear that they were playing for the planet, the show was set apart from the rest both by the commitment of the performers and the fact that the show was largely sponsored by the five-hundred odd music lovers that bought tickets to attend the show. Performing in the lead-up to Karnatriix' performance were Marana Gana Viji, Manoj from Chennai-based country western band Shoestring, and Rajasekhar, another old-time radical Tamil rocker from Madurai. (Courtesy Nityanand Jayaraman)

An Invitation to Chennai

2007-08-12T12:45:00.001+05:30

Music is a passion amongst us Mitras. It keeps all of us together and fuels our optimistic outlook. So naturally when, musician and friend , John Anthony called us to support a special concert by "Karnatriix" in Chennai, to raise awareness on climate change, all of us jumped on the next train. The concert was held in conjunction with Live earth concerts for climate crisis organised by Al Gore of An Inconvenient Truth.