JOIN USThis photograph was taken in 1969 in the garden of my house in Malleswaram, just before my departure to the USA. It shows my father S Hanumantha Rao, my mother Nagamma, my wife Kalavathi, my son S Ranganath and me.
This house was built about 125 years ago by my grandfather and it was called ‘Kone Mane’ then, meaning ‘the last house’.
Four generations have lived in this house — my grandparents, my parents, my family and my son’s family.
I am an 85-year-old proud Bengalurean who has lived most of his life in Malleswaram, a rather conservative
sanctuary of temples and age-old cultural organisations. It is aptly called the ‘temple town’ in the IT city. Inspite of recent developments like the dense population, heavy traffic, high-rise buildings and all kinds of industrial establishments, Malleswaram still retains its small parks, a few old buildings and many senior citizens. Bengaluru of the 1930s and 40s clearly saw the difference between the city and the cantonment. We were somehow afraid of crossing over to the other side of Cubbon Park.
The central bandstand is still there but there is silence as the music of the military bands is missing now. My father would take me there on Sundays. I remember there was a big fountain nearby with colours installed inside. It was a visual treat to observe the dancing waters changing colours. As time passed, I ventured almost everyday to South Parade. Places like Parade Café, MG Road, Brigade Road, Plaza, Globe, Bluemoon and Imperial theatres became my daily promenade. Some of my friends and I used to meet in the Coffee House on MG Road and gossip for hours.
Another haunt of mine was the British Council Library and Koshy’s. In fact, I fondly remember Koshy’s as one of my favourite meeting points with friends, some of whom are no more.
I recollect with joy the theatre activities as well, which brought together many drama and stage lovers in the city. Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT) was born in 1959 and it celebrated its golden jubilee recently. I am one of its founding members and held the post of the secretary from 1960 to 1964. The jubilee was a proud occasion for me.
I have been educated at government schools throughout, all in Malleswaram to be precise.
I have had the good fortune to be a British Council scholar twice at Oxford and a Shastri Indo-Canadian Fellow at McGill University, Montreal. I have also studied Sanskrit traditionally in a ‘paathshala’ and know a few European languages.
Life has been rather kind to me and I am grateful for many things. It is the beautiful memories of yore that make me feel young at heart.
(The author can be contacted at 9886290420)