<p>Bengaluru is the city in which I have lived since the 1950s. Circles were a defining factor in traffic movement at major intersections till a few decades ago, since replaced at major junctions with traffic light controls. Traffic was restricted to moving on the left of the circle. These were large to less large islands as required in the area surrounding and enclosed within a boundary of iron spikes. More prominent ones boasted a traditional British-style lamppost standing tall, shining their quartet of lights on the surrounding periphery. Fortunately, a few still remain in prominent parks and places.</p>.<p>Circle names were in keeping with the area in which they were situated or named after prominent persons of the era, viz. Richmond Circle, Shoolay Circle, Dairy Circle, Minerva Circle, Hudson Circle, Mekhri Circle, and so on. In fact, stores in the area at times carried the same name as the circle close by.</p>.<p>Many of us old-timers still do, in fact, give directions using these circle names to people who were familiar with general routes, especially old friends returning from abroad who get foxed by the plethora of name changes. There now exists an Anil Kumble circle with a prominent signboard at M G Road and St Mark’s Road, where, in fact, no circle exists; it is a traffic light-controlled junction. Anomaly alright, but the name is well known and has stuck.</p>.<p>The circles were aesthetic to the eye, with their neat gardens within, presenting to passers-by a riot of contrasting colours, shapes, and hues of blooms that burst forth from Coxcomb, Cannas, Larkspur, Salvia, Cosmos, Marigolds, Hollyhocks, Snapdragons, Phlox, and Daisies to name a few. Gardeners who maintained these circles worked with pride and were often to be spied within the folds of the blooms while busy attending to them. In due course, some of these circles were adopted by corporates as carers and continued to thrive until they systematically vanished, making way for traffic light-controlled management.</p>.<p>Circles were so neat, blending into an easy-paced city that Bengaluru was when it was Bangalore. Garden City and Pensioners Paradise were apt names, which we thought youngsters a half century ago imbibed as well as the nomenclature describing the laid-back charms of the landscape. In my day I have cycled around circles, graduated to scootering around them, and finally driving a car too. We followed the rules, complied with the use of cycle lamps initially kerosene oil lit, and evolved to brighter dynamo-powered ones when dusk set in. Headlights were blackened on the top half and were blinked or dimmed when necessary against facing a sudden glare. Drivers who did not heed rules were not many, and those who did err were promptly hauled off to a police station to be sternly warned against repetition, plus often fined.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Contrastingly, while the circles of yore were exotic, today’s traffic and its management are chaotic!</p>
<p>Bengaluru is the city in which I have lived since the 1950s. Circles were a defining factor in traffic movement at major intersections till a few decades ago, since replaced at major junctions with traffic light controls. Traffic was restricted to moving on the left of the circle. These were large to less large islands as required in the area surrounding and enclosed within a boundary of iron spikes. More prominent ones boasted a traditional British-style lamppost standing tall, shining their quartet of lights on the surrounding periphery. Fortunately, a few still remain in prominent parks and places.</p>.<p>Circle names were in keeping with the area in which they were situated or named after prominent persons of the era, viz. Richmond Circle, Shoolay Circle, Dairy Circle, Minerva Circle, Hudson Circle, Mekhri Circle, and so on. In fact, stores in the area at times carried the same name as the circle close by.</p>.<p>Many of us old-timers still do, in fact, give directions using these circle names to people who were familiar with general routes, especially old friends returning from abroad who get foxed by the plethora of name changes. There now exists an Anil Kumble circle with a prominent signboard at M G Road and St Mark’s Road, where, in fact, no circle exists; it is a traffic light-controlled junction. Anomaly alright, but the name is well known and has stuck.</p>.<p>The circles were aesthetic to the eye, with their neat gardens within, presenting to passers-by a riot of contrasting colours, shapes, and hues of blooms that burst forth from Coxcomb, Cannas, Larkspur, Salvia, Cosmos, Marigolds, Hollyhocks, Snapdragons, Phlox, and Daisies to name a few. Gardeners who maintained these circles worked with pride and were often to be spied within the folds of the blooms while busy attending to them. In due course, some of these circles were adopted by corporates as carers and continued to thrive until they systematically vanished, making way for traffic light-controlled management.</p>.<p>Circles were so neat, blending into an easy-paced city that Bengaluru was when it was Bangalore. Garden City and Pensioners Paradise were apt names, which we thought youngsters a half century ago imbibed as well as the nomenclature describing the laid-back charms of the landscape. In my day I have cycled around circles, graduated to scootering around them, and finally driving a car too. We followed the rules, complied with the use of cycle lamps initially kerosene oil lit, and evolved to brighter dynamo-powered ones when dusk set in. Headlights were blackened on the top half and were blinked or dimmed when necessary against facing a sudden glare. Drivers who did not heed rules were not many, and those who did err were promptly hauled off to a police station to be sternly warned against repetition, plus often fined.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Contrastingly, while the circles of yore were exotic, today’s traffic and its management are chaotic!</p>
