“Back to Bangalore, happy town” was the slogan we used to sing whenever we returned from our ‘Cub’ and ‘Scout' outings. Oh! What a fall, my countrymen, today from those days of yore. Our family has always lived in Bangalore. With a sense of pride we used to project ourselves as ‘Bangaloreans’. Though we still do feel proud, we also feel ashamed of this undisciplined and haphazard city.
On the positive side, commendably it has been the ‘knowledge capital of India’, ‘weather capital of India’ and very cosmopolitan. Also, Bangaloreans generally are very friendly in nature and soft spoken.
‘Swalpa adjust madi’ (please adjust a little) or ‘Thondre aaytha’ (did you have trouble) are slogans commonly heard and it has become a part of the culture. Normally people here are law abiding citizens but now circumstances have made them rebellious. This trend towards indiscipline is the result of the way the political class has treated this city over a period of time. Very truly the city improvement trust board, now called ‘BDA’ is solely responsible. Bangaloreans had loved and paid reverential regard to the Maharajas when they were ruling. Came independence and that's when the rot really set in. Congress party used to have annual conventions in the city. One such was held in the palace orchards. The beautiful orchards which took years to be developed , built and nurtured was broken up and shared among the politicians and bureaucrats, unconcerned about the destruction to ecology. Another congress convention was held in Dharmambhudi tank bed opposite railway station. Here, the authorities built a bus stand by partially emptying the tank.
It was nepotism which drove politicians to find appointment to their choice of people and they overstaffed professional bodies with undeserving candidates.
Thus in BDA a town planning department was created and this is where those appointees found a place to work with no responsibility, no accountability and pressure of work. They had no professional knowledge of town planning. From them came extensions to the city with improper infrastructure. To compound this situation, I disdainfully draw reference to the unfortunate apathy of the then political rulers towards ecology.
Over the years several lakes were developed in and around Bangalore.
The political class in their quest to maintain selfish voter support, encouraged people to breach the overflow waste-weirs of the lakes and encroach into the lake beds. Rajkaluves were encroached upon. Lakes got eliminated and with that went the salubrious climate of Bangalore. Even during summer, we used to use blankets in the early morning hours.
The chirping of sparrows and other birds was a common feature. I used to cycle from Gandhinagar to BMS college near Bull temple. I have eaten apples grown in our own back yard. Today nobody would believe if I mention that I used to cycle through fog in Bangalore.
It is indeed good to see gardens being developed and the few remaining lakes being revived now. The city has grown with infrastructure not keeping pace with the growth. It is bursting at its seams.
It is only now the administrators have opened their eyes and are trying to improve the situation. We hear grandiose statements from CM that they will make Bangalore like Singapore. I hope they succeed. I hope to see the restored glory of Bangalore before I die.
The reader is a resident of Kumara Park East.