MY EXPERIMENTS WITH KANNADIGAS . Review on Bangalore

We – my friend and me – were going to Delhi from Bangalore and our seats were next to those of a Kannada family from outskirts of Bangalore. We knew bit Kannada, but was promptly minding “our own business” for most of times. But whenever Mr. Farmer and family took food they promptly asked whether we took it or not. He even forced us to take some Roti and Dal curry, carried along with him. Roti was dry and Dal curry was cold.. but that might be one of the wonderful lunches I have ever taken. It was flavoured with innocent and selfless love…

Bangalore.. Most of you call it as Garden City and Silicon Valley. But for me, it is not both. I went to Bangalore as a student and came out as a student. I hardly visited the famous Gardens twice. Also my knowledge in software-hardware aspects is not so sound. Bangalore is something different for me.

I know the places like Brigade road and MG road as highly westernized with good pubs and McDonalds. Cubbon park and Lalbag are beautiful. Bangalore is having most beautiful State Legislature and the Secretariat – mighty Vidhan Souda. The nearby Nandi hills is a splendid tourist spot.. But..

But I love this city, because of its people. Naïve and loving. Most of the Kannadigas I ever me – be professors, students or common men – exude great warmth and friendliness. Never I felt alien-ized. Great friends, I got in this city. Many were sons of farmers, who worry about price of tomato and rain of June. The element of “I-don’t-care” attitude was less and I loved it most.

Food was different – completely for a Keralite. First time I was taking Muddai, Puliyogra, Chitranna, Kesari-bath… I couldn’t adjust with it even after 2 years. But that only means that my food habits were different.

Kannada is a wonderful language. I like its simplicity, but yet to practice its use. But it will be difficult for a first timer to travel in city due the Kannada names in buses. But you can surely ask a nearby Kannadiga for help – he will be more than happy to do it.

And the city is getting bit crowded, especially in evenings and morning. But Bangalore is fast developing and I knew the traffic will be superb within a decade. But my friend from North Karnataka complains the Government develops her capital city only. (At least so much! A Trivandrum fellow asked from me. Be jealous my home city!)

If I dislike one thing in Bangalore, that is Pollens. Pollen content in city air is so high that it make me sneeze during most of the spring time. Especially at places with abundant growth of Parthenium (Unfortunately there was not even a square meter in my campus without Parthenium). But if you are coming for a short visit and are allergic to pollen, a nasal spray will help. (I used Econase for a while, but heard it has bitter side effects. So seek a doctor’s opinion).

One more thing I dislike – Kannada movies. May be my wavelength (again) does not match with that of Bangalorians, I have yet to like any of this genre. Shiva Raj Kumar and Jaggesh fans.. please forgive me.

So, meet you next time in a Muddai parlour!