Bangalore is a city in India that presents a view of realistic India. It’s people have embraced the global viewpoints and opinions according to what suits them. People also have a broader perspective on accepting people of different ethnicities and countries.
While there are quite a few who have travelled to other countries and lived there before returning back to the city, there are also a huge number who haven’t moved beyond Bangalore or Karnataka.
Due to the influx of the mixed population and parents who have seen the best schools abroad, there have come into existence since the last 6-7 years a number of International schools. Of course a huge number of CBSE, ICSE and State curriculum schools also are ensuring children in Bangalore are going to turn as ambitious, intelligent and independent as their global counterparts.
We Bangaloreans love food. The number of eateries that have dotted the city’s locales are enough proof that many who live here earn to eat out! Name a cuisine from the country or the International ones, you are sure to find a restaurant that serves you right. While there are many who close down too as we people cannot tolerate ‘bad dishes” and restaurants that do not offer value for money; there are also a sizeable chunk who may not look chic in size or looks, but offer ‘yum’ South Indian food. If you visit Bangalore you cannot miss eating at a darshini- our standing and eating culture.
And there are the posh cafes and eateries who make dining out a special experience. In between we also have mid sized eateries that have literally come up in every single neighborhood in Bangalore and are presenting global cuisines at reasonable prices, are clean but do not pay too much attention on ambience.
Coming to the attire worn by most people in Bangalore, the traditional ‘panche’ by men and ‘langa davani’ has literally vanished and sometimes seen either at homes or for festive occasions by young girls. The mall culture that sprang a decade ago has a bit gone overboard and with the number of malls in the city. Youngsters love to be there in these so called ‘hangouts’. Yes they do ensure they come dressed sharp, chic and extremely fashion conscious.
Most women that I observe on the road will not part with their leggings collection to any other garment. Yes a lot love to wear smart kurtas and leggings or long and short tees with again leggings. Size doesn’t matter, shape doesn’t matter. Bangalore women feel legging as a garment that has been introduced in their lives is something that is irreplaceable when it comes to comfort. Men too are getting fashion conscious due to better incomes, wider exposure to fashion trends though still a huge number prefer the trouser-shirt attire for most days at work.
Bangaloreans may have been termed as laid-back by Mumbaikers and Delhites but today there are many who are really hard-working and it is definitely becoming a entrepreneur city with a number of new businesses. If the BPO industry showed Bangaloreans that people can work even at night, today’s active working force (according to me between 23-50) are showing being at the right time, right place holding on to the right idea and starting it is the spirit of the new Bangalorean. It’s also about starting something new, interesting and help in bringing that feel-good factor.
The city has a number of sane individuals (thankfully) who believe in conserving some percentage of the green city tag and also some who want to promote Indian art forms and its culture. There’s theatre, classical music, classical dance, Indian artifacts, paintings -art galleries, Karnataka cuisines, a few good Indian films- in this city. There is demand and there are takers for all these along with global art forms.
As I have come to understand, many (educated, well-read, open to new ideas and adopt new attitude shifts when required) are able to converse intelligently with any individual from the globe. Bangalore has a number of Kannadigas but also it is home to many people who have come from various other states and made this city their home since the last few years or since a last few decades.
The expat population is also too minimal to be ignored and thanks to them we have wider exposure to culture, better command over various foreign languages, cuisines and attire. Many enthusiasts are learning French, German, Japanese, Chinese at authorized centers and even International schools are giving this option to their students.
I have lived in this city for over 30 years and take pride to call myself a Bangalorean. I have been a PR professional, a part-time radio jockey, an independent writer for publications, a content writer for hospitals and a few more…
Now I think it’s time for me to take on what I love further in life . Travel. So let me begin at home, move around the city, soak myself in various cultural activities, write about my bangalore and surely invite women travellers from India and other parts to join me in visiting and re-visiting Bangalore. If you like further what I would write under this category I can be your travel guide.
Hopefully will be writing a lot more Bangalore. thanks for reading.