'I always came back to the city'

Melting pot

Like many other engineering graduates, Rajeeb Barman from Guwahati came to Bengaluru in search of a rewarding job. While he planned to stay here only for a while, the enriching experiences and the comfortable lifestyle in the city lured him to stay on.

 Presently, Rajeeb works as a senior member of technical staff with Advance Micro Device.
He lives here with his wife Anamika Bordoloi, who hails from Jorhat, and children Maayan and Ekansh.

Rajeeb’s seniors from college, who lived here, had only the best to say about the city, be it in terms of the wonderful job opportunities available here or the accepting nature of the people. “I came here and realised that all of it was true. Though I wasn’t planning to stay on, the city’s magnetic charm worked on me. I went to work on projects in the UK too but I always came back to the city,” he says, adding, “We just knew that this is where we wanted to be.”

Humility has always touched Rajeeb and he says that this is one of the things about Bengaluru that bowled him over.

“The people here are accepting of new cultures. From places like Kolkata to Tamil Nadu, I have noticed a certain way in which  people function but here, they are always ready to welcome others into their homes and hearts. It doesn’t take time to settle here,” he says.

Bengalureans are straight-forward which makes living here a pleasant journey, adds Rajeeb.
“If someone says that something can be done in a given time, they usually mean it.”

Rajeeb often interacts with local contractors and politicians for his work and feels that they too are more accessible here.

 “One can easily walk into an MLA’s office and express their concern or get an issue addressed, which is not the case elsewhere. In other states, one often needs references to meet people holding high positions,” he says.

The very fact that there are  ample jobs available here provides a sense of security, feels Rajeeb.
He also adds that everything is systematic here, even on the roads. “I have often seen people coming out of their vehicles, trying to find out what is happening ahead and helping if there is an accident,” he says.

Anamika pitches in, “I have always felt safe here. I was dependant on public transport earlier but now I use my own vehicle. However, nothing untoward has ever happened with me.”

The couple feels that the city has an energetic vibe to it. “From MG Road and the local markets to malls like Phoenix MarketCity, which hosts several events, there is a great blend of music and culture here,” says Anamika.

Though food like ‘curd rice’ with pickle came as a surprise to Rajeeb, he likes the fact that the city plays host to varied cuisines and food habits. “We love eating out, be it at ‘The Leela Palace’ or at ‘Rajdhani’. We also like going to ‘Bhagini’,” he says.

Apart from dining out, the family also enjoys visiting parks. Anamika says, “There are not many places to relax for the kids so we take them out to the parks on 100 Feet Road in Indiranagar. We like visiting the ‘Lumbini Gardens’ too.”

The local markets are a great space to learn more about the local culture and Rajeeb usually heads to City Market or HAL Market to shop.

“My wife loves going to Commercial Street as it provides a range of fashion options for her and the kids.”

Ask the couple where they would like to settle down in the long run and Anamika proudly says, “No other city’s name pops up in our head when we think of the future. Bengaluru has cool people and the coolest climate anyone could ever ask for. What more could we want?”