’’We have railroads and cannon and Western clothing. But we cannot forget who we are. Or where we come from...’’ - Emperor Meiji in ’’The Last Samurai’’
You land in Bangalore Railway station and look at the sign post. It is written Bengaluuru in Kannada, Bengaluur in Hindi, Bangalore in English. You check out the name plates on buses coming from Andhra, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Maharastra: In their respective languages, it is written as ’’Bengaluuru’’ or ’’Bengaluur’’.
So, for Indians it has always remained Bengaluuru or Bengaluur. Only the English who could not pronounce it properly, for their convenience changed the name to Bangalore. Why should we live and let go our identities for the convenience of few White men ? Will they change the name of ’’San Jose’’ (pronounced as San ’o say) because we find it confusing and tongue-twisting?
Some people argue that the word Bangalore is cool. It is as cool as Saif(Nikhil Arora) calling himself ’’Nick’’ in ’’Salaam Namaste’’. I was happy when Bombay was changed to Mumbai, Calcutta to Kolkata, Madras to Chennai, Trivandrum to Thiruvanantapuram. Each name reflects regional flavour and regional identities and that is how it should be. Now the time has come for Bengaluuru - Better late than never.
Look at japanese, French, German, they are advanced but still are proud of their languages and adapt the technology or whatever to their languages. But ’’whats in the name’’ you may ask ? Everything starts with the name. Lets take it as a beginning and work towards betterment and enrichment of our culture.
Of course the name change will not make Bangalore roads any better, Will not free the encroached lakes, will not improve the governance. But why are we linking two separate issues here? This decision was taken not so that it improves the infrastructure, but to restore the original name and give a regional touch.
Changes are accompanied with Pain for some. That is how it works. Overtime it becomes an habit as in the case of Mumbai and Chennai. So, Let us welcome ’’Bengaluuru’’, an apt gift for the Capital of Karnataka on Golden Jubilee of Kannada Rajyotsava Day.