The strong and soft side of Rahul Bose

The strong and soft side of Rahul Bose

MUNISH DHIMAN  22nd Mar 2014

Rahul Bose e's one of the literate, refined and accomplished multifaceted personalities contributing each day for some cause or the other, be it on the social, literal or entertainment front. Actor Rahul Bose needs no introduction; he is a powerhouse of new age cinema and one of those talented actors who have proved their mettle not only in Bollywood but in Hollywood as well. On a short trip to Chandigarh, Bose, an accomplished actor, rugby player, social activist, screenwriter, and a director shares his experiences about all the activities he is associated with. Q. Tell us something about your foreign fancy? A. I believe you heard my speech well, but yes, being an English-speaking south-Mumbai kid, studying in America was the only dream I nurtured but it never happened. I was the scholar of my school but ironically, each university I applied to rejected me. Eventually, I got admission in one of the MBA schools, even if America itself is not aware of whether these schools exist or not. But the condition was to get two years work experience before enrolling for the course. Q. When going abroad was the only nurtured dream, how did acting happen? A. To get admission in that college, I stated working as a copywriter and also did theatre in the evening. I found that this [acting] is what I should be doing. Gradually, the inclination towards acting increased and that's how it happened. Q. Was the silver screen ever in your mind while doing theatre, or did it just happen? A. To be honest, it wasn't a nurtured dream. On the basis of my performance in one of my plays, Dev Benegal offered me the film English, August. It was a tough call, but I did it by taking a two-month sabbatical from advertising. Q. Must have been a proud moment for you. A. The movie ran for 50 days at Regal Cinemas, a 980-seater movie hall that shows movies having at least 60% box office collection. Having more than 650 people per show in one of the most coveted cinemas of its times was indeed a proud moment. Q. Was being famous in the glamour industry your priority? A. No, it wasn't ever a priority. I do what I love to do and what gives me peace. Had I wanted fame and that too in the glamour world, I wouldn't ever have played rugby. That gives you scars, stitches and bruises. Q. Tell us more about your love for rugby? A. Initially, I started playing rugby for vested interests. I had this notion that girls easily get attracted to rugby players as compared to others and it happened! With the passage of time, I started understanding the game. I was an individualist but it taught me the biggest lesson of life: that to achieve a bigger goal, one must learn to work like a team. It taught me some of the deepest and greatest lessons of life, which are no less than sheer poetry. Q. Besides cinema and sports, social activism is also your forte. What inspired you to serve? A. I wasn't ever an activist. But yes, I understood everything. It was during the Mumbai riots in 1992 when my social consciousness was awakened and I started realising the senselessness of the bloodshed. But 2002 was the year when I felt that if I could help reduce the pain of people who survived [the post-Godhra riots], and decided to be socially active and joined the NGO Akshara for a couple of years. During my stint, I visited several places when the tsunami and the Gujarat earthquake happened. Finally in 2007, I founded my own NGO, The Foundation. It works for the eradication of discrimination from all walks of life. Q. What is there on the cards for your fans? A. There's a lot in the pipeline for my fans. Vishwaroopam 2 is there; Zoya Akhtar's next is there. I am also doing a movie called Jeene Do and a Bengali movie as well. And yes, the sequel to Mr & Mrs Iyer is also there. Q. We heard you are also going to direct a flick? A. Yes, I am penning down the script of the movie that I will be directing. The project will start sometime in March next year and the good thing is, I have already got half the funds for it. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/the-strong-and-soft-side-of-rahul-bose

Chandigarh’s 1st Lit Fest for Children

Chandigarh’s 1st Lit Fest for Children

MUNISH DHIMAN  22nd Mar 2014

Mitul Dikshit, chairman of the Adab Foundation and Anita Roy, festival director. n a breakthrough in the city's literary landscape, the first ever two-day Chandigarh Children's Literature Festival 2014 is all set to be held on 28-29 March 2014, organised by Dikshant International School in association with the Adab Foundation at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18. The first Chandigarh Literature Festival last year was a big draw for literature lovers, where they got opportunity to hear and rub shoulders with the who's who of the world of letters, drawn from all over the country. The festival was organised with an underlying idea to catapult Chandigarh to the national literary map, by holding discussions, debates, reading sessions, writing workshops and musical soirees. "The Festival is a literary power pack that will take the children on a fairy tale journey worth remembering," said Mitul Dikshit, chairman of the Adab Foundation. "The programme has been designed in an exciting and fun-filled way, featuring talks and readings by famous children's writers, offering an opportunity for children to listen to their favourite books being read and talked about. India's 16 leading children's authors and illustrators are likely to attend the festival. Besides talks and reading sessions by these writers, writing competitions and workshops will mark the rare festivity." Some of the authors expected to attend are Ranjit Lal, Sampurna Chatterjee, Samina Mishra, Priya Kurian, Chatura Rao, Payal Dhar, Sukhesh Arora, Natasha Sharma, Anita Roy, Srivi Kalyan, Devika Rangachaari, Swati Sengupta, Kavitha Mandana, Samit Basu, Arunava Sinha and Simi Shrivastava. "The leitmotif behind the festival," said festival director Anita Roy, "is to enthuse children about reading while exhorting them to develop a habit of reading authors of substance. The fest is aimed at creating an atmosphere where young book fans may feel free about meeting their favourite authors and book characters and enjoy them." A host of other activities that will feature at the event include crafts activity, quizzes and puzzles, guess-the-book reading sessions, story writing competitions, besides other interactive sessions to mark the occasion. These activities were added to the festival with a view to enhance audiences' participation. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/chandigarhs-1st-lit-fest-for-children

DJ Aqeel and Hippodrome to take over the Tricity this April

DJ Aqeel and Hippodrome to take over the Tricity this April

MUNISH DHIMAN  15th Mar 2014

DJ Aqeel at the launch | Photo: TS Bedi t's India's first planned city, but Le Corbusier wasn't thinking about things like nightclubs and bars when he charted out his master plan for Chandigarh. And despite being crowded with people who love to party, a dedicated nightclub was missing from the landscape. Moreover, with most bars that claimed the 'nightclub' tag opening in what were essentially showroom properties, getting enough space to show off your popping-locking has been a problem. Looks like that's all set to change, though. Enter Hippodrome, the newly opened club at the Park Plaza in Sector 17. Fitted with the best sound systems and high technology, this one's a resto-bar by day, and pulsing nightclub after hours. Supervised by one of India's top DJs, Aqeel Ali, there's no question that music is going to be the biggest draw. Speaking at the launch, DJ Aqeel said, "I have been visiting Chandigarh for years, and always felt that it's been missing a place with rocking global music. Being a part of this highly competitive music industry myself, I know what people want, which is why I can say that this is going to be the place to party at in the Tricity." Aqeel is famous for his chart-topping remixes of Bollywood hits. Catch him behind the console at Hippodrome on 5 April. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/dj-aqeel-and-hippodrome-to-take-over-the-tricity-this-april

The women who shun the spotlight in spite of deserving it the most

The women who shun the spotlight in spite of deserving it the most

MUNISH DHIMAN  15th Mar 2014

Anuradha Sharma ave we truly realised the relevance of International Women's Day? What is this day all about? Is it like any other "day", celebrated with aplomb across the country by way of hosting grand parties — a long day of sugar-coated rhetoric on women's liberation and empowerment? So last week on Women's Day,Guardian20 spoke with a wide cross-section of city women who strive every day to help others, their stories often unceremoniously occupying the everyday of womanhood. After working with the HDFC bank for 30 years, Neena Singh left her job to work with psychologically challenged individuals. She says, "After relinquishing the job, I randomly started visiting Nari Niketan, Snehalaya, Ashray and juvenile homes and would prepare reports on the working of these charity portals and mused over the ways and means to improve their better functioning. Gradually, the change I had visualised started emerging. Things started taking place as per my recommendations and I was happy on that account." As the president of the Rotary Club, she took the initiative to educate women in slum areas under the programme Roshani and also installed a women literacy cell. Meera Sharma, an associate professor at GGDSD, strongly feels that a lot more needs to be done for the women in our society, besides imparting quality education to the youth. After college, she devotes her quality time for the NGO Aavahan which she started with more than 1,000 volunteers. Most of the volunteers associated with her are young people. She says, "It is very important to encourage the youth to respect women. If we can change them for the better, the society will follow suit. Following the right approach and right outlook towards social causes and the betterment of the society, which are of paramount importance these days." The NGO organises workshops, seminars and interactions, which are conducted from time to time for people, especially women, belonging to the economically weaker section of the society to educate them, enhance their communication skills and to focus on food and nutrition, health and hygiene, money matters and handling stress. { Last week on Women’s Day, Guardian20 spoke with a wide cross section of women from the Tri-City, who relentlessly try to help others, each and every day of their lives. Sharma says, "To a certain extent, women themselves are responsible for their own state of affairs. Most still follow orthodox doctrines and hence are not able to move ahead with time." Neena Singh (in white) Sangeeta Gupta is a theatre personality and the director of the Roopak Kala which produces plays centred on the problems faced by women. Gupta says, "I have been doing theatre for a long time now. People never raise their voice against evils and most of the women prefer silence over rebellion. So I decided to push these women, mainly in villages, to raise their voice for their rights." Anuradha Sharma, an assistant professor of Chemistry at Post Graduate College Sector 11, Chandigarh comes from a family of educationists. In 2003 she initiated Hamari Kaksha programme from the backyard of her house to educate children. Today, the organisation has four branches, consisting of 25 teachers and several volunteers who come to educate more than 650 students between the five to 15 age group. "After years of teaching," she says, "I have learnt that we can never change the generation if we are not able to reach our roots. After realising that mothers are an integral part of any family and society, I, along with Sarita Tewari, secretary of the organization, started the Sakshar Maa'programme. " http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/the-women-who-shun-the-spotlight-in-spite-of-deserving-it-the-most

The Kailasa affair: Singing from the heart and for the people

The Kailasa affair: Singing from the heart and for the people

MUNISH DHIMAN  15th Mar 2014

Kailash Kher is mesmerising voice transports his listeners through a wide array of powerful emotions. His songs touch the soul. He is famous, yet rustic, grounded and attached to his roots. In his recent visit to Chandigarh to perform during the Rose Show, Kailash Kher bared his heart and soul while interacting with Guardian20. He talks at large about his life, people around him, his fans and about his passion for music. Below are the excerpts of the interview. Q. You make at least one visit a year to Chandigarh. What is the most special thing about the city that brings you here? A. There are numerous reasons to it; the major reason is that this is one of the most glamorous cities I've visited till now. Other reasons include the atmosphere of the city and the response that I get from the audience; every time it elevates me to another level of ecstasy. Q. Is it right that you have sung in more than 18 languages? How has been the experience? A. Yes, I have sung in 20 languages so far. But please don't ask me to speak in those languages because I don't know all of them. Every language is a new learning experience for you and whatever makes you learn is always a great experience. Q. Do you ever keep a target audience in mind while composing a song? A. Keeping a target audience in mind restricts creativity and definitely is a barrier between a performer and his fans. I am lucky that people hear my songs with equal perseverance in pubs, clubs and even in devalayas. Q. How has your musical voyage been when we talk about Kailash Kher, a local lad to Kailash Kher the singer? A. Whatever profession we choose, the family values imbibed in us as kids stay with us forever. I was born in a simple family at Meerut. My parents wanted to see me with a good job and settling down in life. My father used to sing and as a kid I got fascinated by his style of presentation, performance and singing. It was then that I started getting inclined towards music. Though in the course of my life I could not learn music but I learnt what life is all about! Q. You've had your share of struggle in life but getting into the glamour world is a Hobson's choice for most of the star kids, what plans do you have for your son Kabir? A. At present there are no career plans for him but yes, he loves music and tries his hand at it sometimes. Q. You have made appearances in several films. What if you are offered a good role in some movie? A. It is tough to reply. But right now, I believe it's good to concentrate over one thing, which for me is my life and will remain my first love for life: music. Q. You started your career in Mumbai with a jingle that fetched you Rs 5000. How important are radio jingles for you? A. Undoubtedly it holds an important place. It connects me to the common man and it reaches my fans staying even in the remotest areas of the country. Q. What do you have to say about the type of songs that are being made nowadays, especially with regard to the lyrics and videos? A. In the virtual world it has become really tough for the voice to win ears over eyes. Earlier we used to hear what our ears liked but today we hear that which soothes our eyes. Today in the tiff between eyes and ears, even the cheapest things that attract the eyes win. This is indeed bad for music. But yes, a bad thing won't stay forever, you may like it as an individual, but you will never recommend the same to the next generation. Q. Do you think there are good lyricists in the industry? A. Yes, there are several good lyricists who understand the need of the hour and still maintain modesty in their words. From thecurrent era I feel Prasoon Joshi, Jaideep Sahni and Amitabh Bhattacharya are doing a fabulous job. Q. What do you think has been your greatest achievement so far in your career? A. Performing on international platforms that include shows in more than 150 countries and more than 300 concerts in the UK, US and Canada feels like a great achievement. This is all because of the love of my fans. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/the-kailasa-affair-singing-from-the-heart-and-for-the-people

The wondrous life of Yashasvi Balhara

The wondrous life of Yashasvi Balhara

MUNISH DHIMAN  15th Mar 2014

Yashasvi Balhara even-year old Yashasvi Balhara is a child prodigy from Chandigarh. Even at this early age, he has won a wide range of sporting events and competitions. These include skating, tennis, and chess tournaments. But it does not stop here, Yashasvi has recently secured the first position in the International Cyber Olympiad and the International Maths Olympiad as well. His father, educationist Devender Balhara adds, "He is just like other kids his age. He likes going out to play with his friends but books occupy most of his free time." Balhara won his first medal at the age of five, and since then there has been no looking back. Today he has more than 11 medals in roller skating, two district gold medals, a tennis Shining Star title in tennis and several medals in chess championships as well. Balhara's first love remains lawn tennis and he wants to be the number one player in the game, but he also wants to become a scientist. When asked specifically what would he like to invent he said, "I can't tell you that now. Also, there's no point planning an invention right now — what will I do if someone already invents it by the time I grow up?" http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/the-wondrous-life-of-yashasvi-balhara

Those were the good old days of albums and CDs: How comedians tackle piracy

Those were the good old days of albums and CDs: How comedians tackle piracy

MUNISH DHIMAN  22nd Feb 2014

Bhotu Shah Ji Fas Gayi Rehra (L); Bhotu Shah Ji Thand Rakho t is no wonder that like other entertainment industries, piracy has greatly affected comedy. With individual comedy albums gradually disappearing from the markets and shelves of music stores, comedians are finding other ways to keep in touch with fans and followers. Guardian20 spoke to prominent comedians of the Punjabi entertainment industry about how this change has affected them. Jaswinder Bhalla, well-known for his comedy albums Chhankata and characters like Chhatar Singh and Bhanna, believes the industry has changed a lot but is not on a progressive track. With more than 25 albums in the market, Bhalla's last comedy album was released in the year 2009. Bhalla avers, "When cassettes reigned supreme in the market, the industry was flourishing. I launched almost one album every year, sometimes two, but with the expansion of Internet piracy increased and the demand of CDs reduced every year. The physical sale almost stopped forcing the producers to discontinue producing new albums. Comedians got a new lease of life with the boom in Punjabi movie industry. Something that appears once a year becomes a craze among the people, and I strongly believe that excess of everything is bad and the same is happing to the industry as well. Today the replication of similarly themed movies has limited the audience because there is nothing new on offer." Comedian-turned-politician Bhagwant Mann believes the world has shrunk with technology. Mann says, "Today everything is available on the mobile phone with hundreds of softwares. Who would want to buy something for even Rs 10 if he gets the same thing for free? Piracy has reduced the producer's interest and the industry has depreciated, which has affected artists at large. Comedy helps us deal with the excesses of a stressful and routine-bound life. And now when videos are easily accessible through smartphones, the market for CDs has gone down." The comedian released his album last year called Kulfi Garma Garam 2 after a sabbatical of two years. Producers are willingly investing money in movies now as the return rate is still higher than music or comedy CDs. The artists are now forced to produce their own albums to survive in the entertainment industry. Though all these comedians have a whole line of live shows on offer, they still feel that not coming up with an individual album amounts to an irreparable loss.  Producers are willingly investing money in movies now as the return rate is still higher than music or comedy CDs. The artists are now forced to produce their own albums to survive in the entertainment industry. Veteran comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi feels that the way CDs are fading away from the market is rather alarming. "Technology is meant for the betterment of human society. Today you rarely see a STD/PCO booth. Similarly, what was available in cassettes gradually got transformed to CDs, and then to easily accessible content on the Internet. Entertainment is changing every day. The convenience and availability of things for 'free' is taking over conventional modes and is one of the reasons why artists are devising new ways to sustain themselves. Yes, the competition is tougher but technology does not essentially hinder you from staying in touch with your audience and fans." Ghuggi released his last individual album Ghuggi Yaar Gap Na Maar three years ago. Though all these comedians have a whole line of live shows on offer, they still feel that not coming up with an individual album amounts to an irreparable loss. Well-known comic-duo Harvinder Singh and Harvinder Singh, aka Bhotu Shah and Kake Shah released their first album back in 2001. With back to back releases every year, the duo have also been struck with the exploits of piracy in recent times. "Today producers are not ready to invest in albums that go viral on the Internet, the very next day of its launch. We do get several offers for live shows but albums are always an easier way of connecting with larger audiences," they said. The duo released their last individual album Bhotu Shah Ji Thand Rakho two years ago. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/those-were-the-good-old-days-of-albums-and-cds-how-comedians-tackle-piracy

The Sufi singer who renounces any label: Grewal & his musical sojourn

The Sufi singer who renounces any label: Grewal & his musical sojourn

MUNISH DHIMAN  8th Feb 2014

Singer Kanwar Grewal i dassan dosta, parr jey main sufi gayak hunda fer ik mehfil da do lakh kyu lainda bass kuttiya ch gaa ke hi khush rehnda" (Friends, if I was a Sufi singer I would have been content with living in a hut and not charged Rs 2 lakh for my shows), said singer Kanwar Grewal in a candid confession during a conversation withGuardian20, about being dubbed as a Sufi singer. Though Kanwar's musical career is just two years old, it has been a fascinating journey. Here are excerpts from the interview. Q. Did you always plan on pursuing music? A. No, it wasn't planned. Today, I am associated with music only because of my father. I have no qualms about admitting that I was never interested in becoming a singer. But I did enjoy music — I remember dancing to tracks, as carefree as a malang. My father noticed my fondness for rhythm and encouraged me to take up music as a career. Q. How do you perceive music? A. This is a rather tedious question to answer. It is difficult to define music. Music connects me with my creator and with the cosmos. It is something that gives me unbridled inner strength and soothes my soul. Q. What does Sufism represent for you? A. As I stated earlier, I am not a Sufi singer. When I see my Bebbe (grandmother), I realise what Sufism is all about. It is a feeling that disconnects you from the material world and makes you feel one with the universe. She croons as and when she feels like. She cries, dances and even meditates whenever she feels like — this is what Sufism is all about. There is no bandish, it is a medium to connect with your lover, your God. { Commercial success was never my priority and would never be. I love performing live for cheering audiences where I receive a spontaneous response. They shower their love and affection in terms of appreciation.Coming up with recorded albums is just a way to reach out to my fans. Q. Your first album Akhan came in 2013, followed by your second album this year. Has commercial success changed your musical philosophy? A. No, it hasn't. Commercial success was never my priority and would never be. I love performing live for cheering audiences where I receive a spontaneous response. They shower their love and affection in terms of appreciation. Coming up with recorded albums is just a way to reach out to my fans. Q. Your fan base is really diverse. Do you have your target audience? A. I don't think musicians can ever chart out an audience. If your music reaches out to someone, he or she is bound to lend their ears. When I sing, I sing for my Bebbe. This helps me connect with my listeners to a large extent. Q. Is it true that you do not use a cell phone? A. I am convinced that roti, kapda and makaan are the only necessities of human existence and further desires make you greedy and lethargic. I have never felt the need for a cell phone and I have managed just fine without it till date. Q. Who are the musicians you admire? A. I like listening to all kinds of music. I am extremely fond of Mann saab, Nusrat saab, and Sain Zahoor Ahmed. I really enjoy the Coke Studio productions too. Q. Have you been offered any exciting roles in the Punjabi film industry yet? A. Yes, I do get many offers. But I am quite firm when it comes to some decisions. I like performing live and I am happy with my music for now. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/the-sufi-singer-who-renounces-any-label-grewal-a-his-musical-sojourn

Absence of sight is not an impediment for the navigator

Absence of sight is not an impediment for the navigator

MUNISH DHIMAN  1st Feb 2014

The Blind Man Rally, 2013 unique initiative has facilitated the participation of visually challenged individuals in a car rally where they will act as navigators using a Braille route map. Organised by Round Table India, the second edition of the Blind Man Rally is scheduled for today. The rallyists will navigate the city, covering a total distance of 30-40 km. The rally will begin and culminate at Institute of Blind, Sector-26 Chandigarh. Amit Jain, Chairman, Chandigarh Round Table said, "The drivers are unaware of the route and will be dependent on the directions given by the navigators who are primarily students of the school. The navigators too are unaware of the route map and will be able to direct their drivers on the basis of the Braille map. The drivers will maintain a particular speed so that the navigators can guide them to cover a specific distance per minute." "The rally has been structured on basic rally standards and winners will be adjudged on the basis of least penalty points. Surprise check-points (Marshall TC Points) have been set to penalise over speeding or under speeding participants," Jain further added. The same rally is being organised at 20 tabling centres across the country today. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/absence-of-sight-is-not-an-impediment-for-the-navigator

Distorting the countenance of a city: Defacement and urban traffic

Distorting the countenance of a city: Defacement and urban traffic

MUNISH DHIMAN  1st Feb 2014

Instances of defacement at the Rock Garden, Chandigarh rchitectural defacement does not only entail physical damage to built heritage but also constitutes an attack of the cultural ethos of a space. Historical sites and important tourist destinations all over India have been silent witnesses of love birds who have appropriated ancient walls and facades as their own canvasses, and Chandigarh is no exception to this practice. Despite defacement of public property being a punishable crime by law, trees, walls, roofs and even floors have not been spared from the apathetic approach of guests and visitors. Though the Chandigarh administration boasts of implementing stringent laws for the offenders to minimise defacement, has it really contributed towards any change? Nek Chand, creator of the Rock Garden told Guardian20, "It is not only about the Rock Garden, I believe. People should respect the place they are visiting. Today it feels bad to see scratches on doors, stones, walls and even statues I made with my hands and cared for them like my children. There are strict rules, but you cannot employ one guard every 50 meters to keep a check on the public. This should be part of social responsibility." It is worth mentioning that people encourage their kids to cross fences and jump instruction boards at tourist places to get their photographs clicked. This shows that visitors don't even pay heed to the instructions. "Imposing a fine or even arresting someone for the crime is not the solution. There should be strict rules so that people don't dare to repeat their mistakes," says activist Gaurav Chhabra. Then there are other ways in which a city’s aesthetics get mulled. Increasing traffic coupled with the laying of new roadways and the absence of repair in older ones, definitely top the list. The administration has been taking corrective measures for smooth traffic flow, and at the same time to minimise causalities, but it has generated a mixed response among residents.  "Keeping an eye on everyone is not an easy task as thousands of visitors visit a site daily. People write their names on tree trunks and even on walls. Employing one police personnel at every corner is not feasible, so we encourage NGOs and volunteers to educate people not to deface the place," said an official at the Sukhna Lake police post. There are other ways in which a city's aesthetics get mulled. Increasing traffic coupled with the laying of new roadways and the absence of repair in older ones, definitely top the list. The administration has been taking corrective measures for smooth traffic flow, and at the same time to minimise causalities, but it has generated a mixed response among residents. Concrete road projects, mastic asphalt sheets at roundabouts, pathway for pedestrians and cyclists near roundabouts, traffic lights at roundabouts, and automatic traffic lights at various crossings are some of the initiatives initiated by the police and the administration to provide city residents with safe roads. One of the pilot experiments conducted by the UT engineering department, the rumble strips and median gaps at the Sector 20-30-27-19 roundabout, became a nightmare for commuters. The rumble strips earned the ire of residents as the aim to provide a safe crossing to cycle and rickshaw pullers wasn't achieved. Instead, it caused a pile-up of vehicles and only added to the crisis. Besides the inconvenience, several accidents were witnessed on this stretch due to these rumble strips. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/distorting-the-countenance-of-a-city-defacement-and-urban-traffic