Monday, May 21, 2007

Bangalore uncharmed

Am upset.
I got up in the morning thinking of how indisciplined i was, and what i had to achieve today ( call kavi, watch who's the boss, find out when how i met your mother airs.) and important things like that. I made myself a good strong cup of coffee and sat down to read the paper. One of my favorite time of the day.
I read Times Of India and its nearly page 3 all over. I laughed at the picture of the huge burning man on the front page and then i turned over and my woe began. They are breaking down Lakeview , GK Vale and the shops in front of it.Rather they are breaking down the buildings and shifting the establishments elsewhere for two years to make way for a commercial complex ( another mall!!?? do we really need one more?). i detest this idea. Most of lakeview's charm came from the building it was in. It symbolized the lazy Bangalorean. it felt home. Yes i agree the buildings are old. But cant they just be renovated?
Bangalore, i believe has nothing much really to offer a tourist. except its charm. and it is fast losing that. MG road, one of the main tourist attractions wont be the same again. the boulevard's gone. and now these shops? Some day Bangalore will turn into a mechanized city. All concrete, steel and no feeling. These shops took you back in time, where life was simpler and pace slower, where Bangalore didn't really need to have good roads, because there wasn't any traffic anyway.
Ive lived in bangalore all my life, love every bit of it. But its like meeting a dear old friend after years and not recognizing them.i cant recognize Bangalore anymore .I cant do anything to stop these symbols of development and i will mourn deeply the gradual loss of Bangalorean charm. But i will remain loyal to the city. She is my after all my home.

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