Development or Dementia ?

I studied my bachelors in fine arts in the “oh so famous “Chitrakala Parishath” the very idea of being able to study art wasn’t enough to survive, I learnt in those five years of my adolescence and amid all this hush was the fact that the college was situated in the heart of the city opposite to the golf course and was a scenic place if I may say so. The trees around the golf course became an integral part of my life. One because as I lived very close by I used walk around the golf course in the morning hours and another it was the place I had to pass through everyday to get to college. This let me tell you is a great stretch, a lane of pine kind of trees rising up above the nets of the golf grounds and from behind came a variety of bougainvilleas in every shade and color. This made for a pleasant alternative from the tormenting college rules.

It was under these trees I had my most wonderful drive in the rain moments and creative ideas discussed with friends and classmates. The bougainvilleas were almost unreal, they made a havoc of colors along with the green of the pines and stretching till the ground and the footpath, unlike many footpaths in Bangalore were actually neat and usable[ probably because its near the CM’s house]. This whole fantastic atmosphere was short lived, one because I left college and another a dreaded truth I saw lately. I have since shifted and as my course was done I never visited the spot as often, on a not so fine day I was to go to Opus where a friend was performing for the last time in Bangalore with the Barracuda blues [a local band rising to fame]. When I was passing through my favorite stretch I put my head out of the car to see it in full view but a horrific sight struck me which I probably will never forget.

The trees were cut, the walk way was gone and the road was extended. This was probably what they call development – that is to kill or cut anything that is beautiful that exists so that isn’t worth living. The city I knew once is dying out; the things I used to enjoy doing can’t be done as the ambience isn’t there. This made me frantic but it wasn’t the end of the terror for me for the evening the police had made it almost impossible to reach Opus almost every road leading to it was a one a way the underpass in the junction is a stupid idea which I don’t even think was required the roads are filled with slush…. Now let me tell you if this were to continue we would be left with concrete sunrises [as my dear friend Sandhya puts it] we would have all varieties like continental Thai and Chinese platters available but not a decent chai wallah left …… so lets make it a point to do a wee little bit [whatever is in our little hands] and I am sure we can make the difference required [small waves made a tsunami ]………

So here is to all Bangaloreans……. Please do your bit……