JOIN USMukul Kumar was impressed by what he heard about Bengaluru during his BTech course in Bishnupur and this is what led him to move to the city in 2010.
What made him stay on was the pleasant character of Bengalureans and a potpourri of interesting experiences in Bengaluru. Mukul, who hails from Patna and works as an IT engineer with TCS, lives here with his wife Ankita Sarkar, who hails from Kolkata and works with TCS too.
“My college seniors vouched that it was the best place for any IT professional,” he says. But it wasn’t just this that led him to make this his second home.
“When we started working here, we realised that the city boasts of a wonderful mix of people,” he says.
“During our initial days, when we were looking for a place to stay and for recommendations to eat out, everyone was ready to help us,” he adds.
Ankita agrees to this. “People here are very respectful and this is evident in various ways. For instance, in a bus, most people offer seats to elders or pregnant women without being asked,” she says.
“Bengalureans like maintaining a good rapport with each other and are very humble,” she adds.
“Though I came to the city in 2011 because Mukul was here, the city blessed me with many happy moments,” she notes. The couple vouch that the city has been extra-kind to them.
“People here have no bias to outsiders. Anyone who comes and settles in Bengaluru quickly adapt
to the ways of the city,” he says.
“The most honest people live here. There have been multiple times when I have lost something and got it back,” adds Ankita.
Drawing a parallel to the culture back home, the couple feel that Bengalureans are broad-minded. “They mind their own business and do not interfere in other people’s affairs. It’s a fine balance here,” says Mukul.
Though the high cost of living may have been a surprise for Mukul initially, he realised that the city was one of the few places where everyone could find everything. “The public transportation system is really good here and so is the availability of a wide variety of food and places to hang out. The medical facilities are also great,” he lists out.
The duo love to travel and frequent places like Ooty, Mysuru and Coorg whenever they have want to get away from the concrete jungle.
“There are many parks here which have proved to be a respite. Though the green cover has decreased, the city still has more lung space compared to other places,” he says.
During the weekends, apart from watching movies at multiplexes and visiting malls for shopping, they like visiting the HAL market for fresh vegetables and Commercial Street for other needs.
“The markets are very lively and colourful here,” says Ankita.
The duo only have praises for the city. “Bengaluru has a certain magic to it. Be it following social etiquette or creating a good cohesive environment, living here is a smooth ride,” sums up Ankita.