"Bangalore" got "Bengaloorued"!
The Government of Karnataka has now decided to rename the city from Bangalore to Bengalooru. While this is good for local sentiments and culture preservation, etc. I wonder what difference it is going to make to anything? 'Nothing' is my guess.
Today, I had to drive down to Jayanagar from Whitefield and it was really horrible. The distance of 24.9 kilometres took me 1 hour and 55 minutes (yes, I timed it and checked the distance of the drive) - that roughly works out to an average speed of 12 kilometres an hour, which is pathetically slow! The worst part of the drive was that there are some obvious bottleneck spots along the route, which are easily solvable, but no government has bothered to do anything about it. Anyway enough has been said about the bad roads/traffic/footpaths/general-infrastructure conditions here in Bangalore (it officially becomes 'Bengalooru' only in Nov 2006), in various blogs and newspapers.
Is the name change going to make our journeys any better? Is the infrastructure going to get any better? Are Kannada organizations going to get any benefit? Are we going to be proud of a name change at a time when the city is struggling on so many fronts?
I was just thinking about the cost factor involved in this whole process and realized so many things will be affected. Right from maps to legal documents to sign boards to train/bus boards to events to brandings to brochures to any and every thing associated with 'Bangalore', every thing is going to be affected and the government and private organizations are going to spend a whole lot of money on this process of re-painting, re-printing, re-branding, etc. etc.
And after reading the papers, I don't think it will stop at Bangalore. Already we hear reports of many other cities (Mysore, Belgaum, Shimoga, Mangalore to name a few) being considered for name changes. Being a highly political subject, where will this end?
I know this is a very touchy and sensitive topic, but a simple decision like a name change is not as simple as it looks and is going to cost a whole lot of money, which can be used elsewhere, like developing some local Kannada culture groups (who can surely use the money for cultural activities or other forms of culture development) or giving scholarships to poor Kannadiga students or even just developing the roads (which is surely going to benefit us all)
Anyway my conclusion is - it will be ok if the name is changed now, but it will be really great if the name is changed at a time when Bangalore is flying high after solving all (or atleast most) of its existing basic problems. That way the changed name will reflect a new, clean, efficient and proud city, rather than one down in the dumps. I can picture that historic moment - Bangalore going through a radical change - infrastructure in good shape, traffic and roads in good condition, the metro up and running, airport ready in record time...all this is doable with efforts put in the right direction rather than just on cosmetic effects.
Only then will the city be truly worthy of such an important name change and then all its citizens will feel very proud of 'Namma Bengalooru'.
posted by Sabarish @ 12/13/2005 09:52:00 AM
I fully agree. If only politicians had brains....
@ If only politicians had brains....
Many a times, it is those people who lack brains, get into politics. Some exceptions though.
Totally agree with both of you.
This is as dumb and stupid a decision as dropping ganguly from the team.
It happens only in India ;)
well said sabarish... i totally agree to u
@Sharath - atleast dropping Ganguly had more sense to it.
@Ghana - apparently it has happened around the world also, but I'm sure those cities deserved the renaming.
@Preeti - Thanks for your comments!
Its really very silly.....
Bengalooru sounds awkward and difficult to pronounce for non-kannadigas...
Moreover..The name "Bengalooru " wasn't so common before... It will b difficult initially for all to get along!