What’s in a name? This is what…

I have many names. Why? The answer to this goes back into the abundance of my history, my geography, my present, and even to my future. So, let us see if you can guess my name correctly!

I am the Bean Town. Once upon a time while on a hunting expedition, a king lost his way in the forest. Seeing him tired and hungry, a kind old lady served him boiled beans. The appreciative king named the place Benda Kaluru (verbatim, the town of boiled beans). Over time the name was corrupted and later was anglicized to give me my official name. Though now again bear my non-anglicized name.

I am also known as Bright Lights, Big City. I was the first city in Asia to have electrical power in 1906. I am known as ‘Neon City’ ever since. Given the daily power cuts (both scheduled and unscheduled) this epithet is losing its lustre.

I am the ‘Pensioners’ Paradise’. I am a youthful place, contrary to this nickname. Over the last two decades, the population has doubled to seven million inhabitants and the median age is under 25. However, before this numerous older Indians relocated here attracted to the small quiet town, with little traffic, no pollution, and a temperate climate, which made me perfect to settle after retirement.

I am on the other hand the Pub City, Party City too. I allegedly have India’s highest number of bars and pubs. It is a legacy going back to 1857 when the beer industry first began. Today, government licensing restrictions end all partying at 11.30 pm and are currently enforcing the ‘no dancing and drinking’ ruled.

I am one of the most Cosmopolitan Cities that India has. As the largest city in the state, I am a multicultural melting pot with immigrants from around the world. You can almost find people from all states of India making their living in this city.

I am the Air-Conditioned City of India. With a latitude of 12.9716° N and longitude of 77.5946° E, altitude 919m, I am commonly acknowledged to have one of the best climatic conditions in India that makes this nickname misleading as it is less likely to need A/C than any other Indian city. Even with the changing seasons, the temperature stays between 14˚C and 33˚C.

I am also called the Science City. In 1907, when Mr. JRD Tata set off to build the Indian Institute of Science (IIS), he left it up to Sir William Ramsey to choose the location. The peaceful nature, temperate climate, and plentiful beer supported his choice to select me. The IIS became the cornerstone of my science and technology base, paving the way for me to become home to many of India’s eminent science, engineering, and medical institutions.

I am proudly the Biotech City too. The double-helix sculpture between St Marks Church and the Bible Society on St Marks Road is symbolic of my newest high-growth industry. The nation’s leading biotech company, Biocon (ranked 16th in the world in revenues) has its headquarters here. Currently, there are over 100 biotech firms in the city.

I am City of the Future. Nehru famously talked about me being the ‘city of India’s future. In the 70 years since, I have certainly become symbolic of the ‘new India’ — intelligent, inclusive, and innovative. However, infrastructure woes (roads, electricity) and environmental pollution problems need to be overcome for the city to prosper and continue to define India into the future.

I am India’s earliest Silicon Valley. My most famous moniker is due to the fact thousands of IT companies are sited here. I also reflect on the aspirations of many residents to be in India’s ‘San Francisco’. Multinational firms, particularly computer hardware and software titans, also established operations here. Home-grown giants Wipro and Infosys (now multibillion-dollar companies) are local ‘pin-ups’ of this ‘valley’.

If you have still not guessed correctly, here I give it away for you. I am the Garden City. I possess a plethora of formal landscaping such as Lal Bagh Botanical gardens and the magnificent Cubbon Park, as well as a heritage of one-acre home blocks with lush green gardens. However, it is the abundance of tree-lined streets, which most support my nickname. The year-long show of sequentially blossoming trees is known as my ‘Ritusamhara’ (it was originally designed at the turn of the century by Mr. Gustave Krumbiegel at the behest of the Maharajah).

Yes, you have guessed it right. I am Bengaluru more affectionately known as Bangalore, the city of dreams, career, success, aspiration, comfort but most predominantly the city that accommodate all.

(The article is authored by Dr Ananya Mitra, PHD, M.Sc., MATM, PGD-HRM. Views expressed herein are her own. The publication may or may not subscribe to them).