It is a little
difficult to write about what a city means to you, when you have not grown up
there, but you have nevertheless made it your home. Scores of people from all
over the country and it is not just because of IT – believe me – have made
Bangalore their home, and love the city so much now, that, they would not move
out, come what may.
It is a city that grows
on you. At the outset, you would think it is small, there are only malls to hang
out, but explore a little more and you will discover a treasure trove. This
post is inspired by this article in THE HINDU. Needless to say, it is also
inspired by the parts of the city that I have seen and experienced.
Bangalore to me is the
soothing pleasant weather that attracts relatives from all across the country.
On a Sunday morning, one can just go to a park with a newspaper or a book and
immerse oneself. One can’t tell the difference between 9 o clock and 12 o clock
and 4 o clock except by the position of the-barely-there
Sun and pangs of hunger.
Bangalore to me is early-morning-long-drives on Kanakpura road,
Mysore road and Outer ring road. The fresh air, serene atmosphere and a city
just waking up is a combination that one can experience again and again. The
beauty of this city is that one never knows, especially along these roads, when
the city ends to reveal villages with all their cattle and neat small houses.
Bangalore to me is BTM
Lake, Ulsoor lake, Hebbal lake and the water bodies that are catchment areas
during the rainy season. These lakes introduce freshness into the otherwise
concrete landscape of the city.
Bangalore to me is the
red BMTC Volvos speeding everywhere, oblivious to the other lesser privileged
citizens of the road.
Bangalore to me is the
metre mela 20 rupees and one and half metre autos. Trust me, most auto drivers
are reasonable.
Bangalore to me is the
gently admonishing remarks the traffic system receives every day, ceaselessly.
Bangalore to me is salpa adjust maadi
Bangalore to me is the
flower show at Lalbagh and the Ganesh festivities in Basavanagudi and Jayanagar.
Bangalore to me is Chitra
Santhe organized by the Karnataka Chitrakala parishath and the thriving drama
culture thanks to the likes of Rangashankara and Jagriti theatre
Bangalore to me is
Toit, Barley’s, HRC, Purple Haze and other drinking holes I have not been to. Also
for their music, interiors and the glamorous crowd that frequent these places…
Bangalore to me is the
long stretch of restaurants along the Jyoti Nivas college road and Indiranagar
100 feet road offering cuisine – North Indian, Punjabi, Chinese, North East,
South Indian, Malabar style, Continental, Turkish, Mexican, Hyderabadi – that would
leave you perplexed
Bangalore to me is
being asked, Samabaara, separate a at
the numerous Sagars and Upahars that dot the city serving one by two coffee, open masala dosas,
kesari bath and chow chow bath. These are the places where you run into toothless
grandfathers reading Deccan Herald slurping hot coffee
Bangalore to me is Sultan school of speech on Radio one
Bangalore to me is
IISc and IIM
Bangalore to me is its
passion for cycling and running and fitness
Bangalore to me is its
youthful energy, its lazy charm, its cosmopolitan ethos and its busy urge to
stay on top
Finally, Bangalore to
me is the pride that one feels when saying Namma
Bengalooru with a hint of We are like
that only
