Charmed by the cosmopolitan feel

Melting Pot

Ratan Kumar lived in the north of Vindhyas in his formative years. Hailing from West Bengal, he served in the Indian Air Force for a decade after which he wanted to do something different. So he joined the Royal Bank of Scotland (ABN AMRO) in Hyderabad.

Soon after, he decided to relocate to Bengaluru. He now holds a top position with Citibank here.

About moving to the City, he recollects, “Yes, we did have problems initially. That is common when one shifts to a large city, but with friends and relatives coming to help, the experience was smooth,” he recalls. The couple live in JP Nagar and have a close-knit group of friends. “The apartment complex where we stay is home to people from across the country who have migrated to the City. A majority are employed in the IT sector.

We have been able to make a close group of friends who share common interests,” adds Shalini, Ratan’s wife. The couple has two children — Aninesh and Anika — who are studying in Presidency School on Bannerghatta Road, Bengalureans may complain about never-ending traffic snarls and garbage in every nook and corner of the City but Ratan says that. development comes with a certain amount of inconvenience. He feels that this is the price one has to pay for progress. “Bengaluru is a booming city and any progressive city has its share of ups and downs,” he reasons.

With more and more people choosing to settle down in Bengaluru, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the City is expanding at a fast pace. “What brought us here was also the cosmopolitan culture of the place and the career opportunities it has to offer in IT and non-IT sectors,’’ adds Ratan.

He points out that one gets a chance to meet and connect with a lot of like-minded people. “We realised that Bengalureans are tolerant when we saw a lot of people coming forward to help us settle down when we first moved in here,” he says. He also hopes the traffic chaos in the City will reduce once the Metro Rail is fully functional.

“A lot of people are aware of carpooling and are slowly working towards reducing the number of vehicles on the road,” he adds. The family unwinds over the weekend at their favourite eating joints. “We occasionally venture out on weekends. Our favourite places are Konark on Residency Road and Sunny’s on Lavelle Road.

The eateries in Koramangala also offer a multi-cuisine experience. One is spoilt for choice here,” adds Shalini. The couple also frequents a friend’s place or the apartment club house for get-togethers. Ratan’s stint with the Air Force has taught him the value of time and the importance of prioritisation which he has passed onto his children as well. “It is a way of life that I continue to follow with diligence,” he concludes.