JOIN USIt is not often that many people take time off on a Sunday evening to attend a discussion about the City’s lost charm. But nostalgia did prompt the City dwellers to think about ways to revive the allure of the good old Bangalore.
The small auditorium at the Rangoli Metro Art Centre on MG Road turned into a platform of discussion for people from all walks of life, surpassing age barriers. The topic was ‘Bangalore: Past and present’.
The event began with four panelists — retired IAS officer Chiranjeev Singh, author Maya Jayapal, Suresh Moona, the director of heritage organisation Aarambh, and the former president of Film Federation of India, M Bhaktavatsala — reminiscing about the once-pervasive greenery. They talked about the City’s charm — of walking and cycling to each other’s house.
Nostalgia, however, gradually turned into lament. From lack of sidewalks, which makes the City pedestrian-unfriendly, to neglect of historical monuments, many issues were raised.
Singh, who came to the City in 1970, raised a point, “There is no cultural reference point left for young Bangaloreans. In fact, the City is now facing a shortage of water. How can any place sustain without water resources?”
Jayapal reminisced, “As a student I had decided to come back here. But all that (charm) is now lost. Maybe including a chapter on Bangalore’s history will help students know its rich cultural heritage.”
Moona said, “To start with, there should be small documentaries or clippings about Bangalore’s history, which can be played at the airport, railways stations and bus stands. It will bring them closer to Bangalore.”