The city hanging between its gardens and 'IT corridors' - Bangalore Explored

 The speeding highways lead to the IT corridor of India’s Silicon Valley. Ripping through the cloud of smoke, the magnificent slants of modern architecture come into view. Defying gravity (and even geometry to an extent), the glass walled buildings vie for attention as much as those hoardings featuring ‘Namma Bengaluru’. Behind those glass and chrome interiors, the clicks that have given shape to this city work in monotone. Flashing screens, incessant fingering, bustling cafeterias of companies are ever abuzz to feature in the top listing of NASDAQ.  Start-ups find their footing, in the scope and latitude, of Bangalore’s grounds!

Celebrating every small success, the malls, clubs, pubs, eat-outs and the hip ‘n’ happening hang-outs witness a throng of the IT crowd (and of course, the non-IT too).  Pulling out a lavish slice of ‘metro’ Bangalore as from a cheese burst pizza, one sees a goldmine of opportunities. No wonder, Bangalore is a coveted destination for many a wide-eyed dreamer!

But Bangalore or Bengaluru is not just about that which ‘clicks and ticks’! Those mile-long, over-bridges that form an intricate network in the hub, touch base with THE other part of the city- that preserves its classic essence.  Tree-shaded avenues sport the many government enterprises behind high compound walls- from defence to air force (HAL, BEML, to name a few). The freshness in the air reminds us of what the city essentially was popular for- its greenery and gardens. Bangalore was called the ‘city of gardens’. Though the moniker appears a bit jaded because of the depleting green cover, the well-preserved precincts of Cubbon Park, Lal bagh, showcase a slice of the Old Bengaluru.

 The wide green canopy in this part, brings in the sporadic summer showers, without warning. We realized that what appears blue in the mornings, can turn grey by afternoons, with rainclouds gathering from nowhere! (Something similar to London weather, absolutely unpredictable!). That did not make put a damper on our spirits though! The smell of wet earth, only whet our appetite to savour more of the city.  With our hatchets handy, we followed those trails to the city – the good old Kempegowda (Majestic), renowned for its shopping hub and vintage eateries. The ‘Dilpasand’ (a sweet, stuffed bun filled with nuts and fruits) at Iyengar’s bakery oozed with as much sweetness as the Holige. A dash of hotness and spice was delivered by the Benne dosa[smr2] (a popular delicacy) dunked in sambar. Finger-licking delights put us on our mettle to explore KMB. Kempe Gowda, the name took us to where this city burgeoned in its the famous petes or petta.

And, did the discovery leave us wonderstruck? A mud fort built by Kempe Gowda during the 16^th century (1510-1570), enclosed a town dividing itself into petes, or pettas. Serving as a capital town for the Vijayanagaras, Bangalore functioned more as a medieval administrative territory.  With the fall of the Gowdas to the Mughals and Marathas, Bangalore developed more as a centre of trade, artisans and finally, as a political seat of power for Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.

Though the petes paled into insignificance with the coming up of the Bangalore Cantonment, the numerous temples, mosques, dargahs echo the old times. Multi-ethnic communities continue to live here. Heirloom traditions exist to this day, with niche silk-weaving communities thriving in quaint corners of the pete.

An enriching tour of Bangalore’s roots brought us to a wider cultural platform. Though cosmopolitan from every angle, the city still prides in its rich ethnicity of Karnataka. Kannadigas from diverse districts of Karnataka have made Bangalore their second home. A multitude of flavours and colours in art and culture come in, interplaying with the influences of the migrant populace of the IT community.

Ugadi is as much celebrated as Holi, the Yakshgana theatrical artform is as patronized as Bharatanatyam. Ethnic boundaries fade when festivities are around the corner, drawing participation from one and all. 

Celebrating the multi-cultural shades of Bangalore, aspiring students try to make it big in this city. The sprawling campuses of IIM and IISc give wide scope for higher education and career development. The heritage Visveswaraya chain of institutions brought us to the museum of the great scientist and Bharat Ratna recipient- Visveswaraya. The one who engineered marvels like the KSR dam, Visveswaraya laid the framework for Jeyanagar - one of the best planned layouts of Bangalore.

 The city has ‘engineered’ niches where Art of living (yoga, rejuvenation, spa) is elegantly juxtaposed with lifestyle (theatre, pubs, performing arts); and rush-hours can recede into quietude. This is where the metro connects the bustling commercial hubs to the classic parks and gardens. The question that bounces back: “Has Bangalore turned over a new leaf”?  We headed to Cubbon park seeking our answers, from reading aficionados, who congregate in the park once in a fortnight. A mix of the young and old, we saw the Classics pitted against the metro read, each vociferous about their merits! Not changed enough, but we realized Bangalore was on the brink of a transition!

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