The other day I was traveling back from work and it was the rush hour traffic in Bangalore. An old couple were trying to cross the road to possibly reach the Ganesh temple which was on the other side. Every time they took a few steps forward, cars & bikes whizzed past honking rudely. Not a single one of them had the courtesy to stop by and let them cross peacefully. Since my side of the traffic was blocked I could see the trouble they were facing and sadly there was nothing that could be done. Bangalore must have been a much pleasanter place to live then [before the so called IT boom] than it is now. The people with whom they probably might have associated should have been friendly and kind, having the time to share each other's joys and sorrows, and enjoy simple pleasures of life.
Low rise homes with sprawling gardens that I grew up in, roads with trees on either side, parks in every nook and corner and pavements covered with dried leaves from the trees– it was aptly called the garden city. Something that would no longer be possible to even think of in this rebuilt modern city - all under the iron rule of "necessity". Malleswaram, Seshadripuram, Sadashivnagar have quickly metamorphosed from being sleepy residential localities to busy business hubs. Today there are mansions and huge apartments depicting the grandeur and substance that has unseated simplicity and quaintness as desirable urban values.
Loud honking, several bikes & auto rickshaws trying to precariously push me out of their way, brought my wandering thoughts back to reality. The smoke from the auto ahead made me choke and hastily I rolled up the car windows. Driving away I could still see the old couple standing patiently for their chance to use the road.
Agreed, this is the age of ‘Papa don’t preach!’ but when the pace of life goes out of control it is no longer called progress but is more a regrettable decline.
3 comments:
Swetha,
U hit the nail on the wall. I hv seen bangalore since 1987 as a student. There were only 2 electronic traffic lights int he whole of MG Rd, Brigade, Rd, Residency rd, St marks Rd, Comm street put together. and they used to operational 2 times a day for few hours. I used to love Bangalore zipping around in my TVS Champ.
Bangalore is not the same now...it is yet another big bad city. Infact due to inhgerently a bad Public transport, it has become worse than some other cities as every one just depends on the roads for transport,. there are no feasible publ transport alternatives yet.
Sweta, quite succintly you have summed up my worries. Wonder what kind of city will the next generation inherit!
Talk about the charm of old Bangalore...Boy!! You summarized it so well...
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