I do agree that as new people come in and as a city grows to accommodate them, there is a definite strain on the infrastructure and resources. Moreover, from a newcomer's point of view, as I know from personal experience from having lived outside, it is very difficult to profess knowledge of a community's various concerns within the first few days of moving in. It takes months, even years, to understand the nuances that are at play in any community. There is bound to be that initial period of tension. But once you feel even half comfortable in any surroundings, you look around, make friends, and jump right in. That's human nature.
There is no reason to believe the newcomers do not have an equal interest in having a rounded, complete, fulfilling life in the city they have chosen to make their home. Newcomers also definitely look for signs of welcome. If given half a chance, many of them would do just that — jump right in. They too would like to live a life of grace and charm, I assure you. They too would like to see the infrastructure improved. They too want the crime rate down. They too want fewer accidents, better schools, better transportation, fewer power cuts and water shortages, parks for their children, safe roads, and justice and liberty for all.
It just makes no sense to believe all the problems this city may or may not have are to be blamed on "outsiders." They’re convenient and handy scapegoats — after all no "indigenous" person uses any of the roads, any of the infrastructure, does not pollute the waters, does not throw trash on the streets, etc., etc. Right?
Instead of looking outward for the sources of our problems, we would do well to look inward, at our own feeling toward this city we've called home for generations. What are our strengths and capabilities? What are our weaknesses? Let's assess those and act accordingly. Let's not blame our weaknesses on "outsiders." Let's not act in haste and look for scapegoats. Let us be a city worthy of our heritage if we so care about it.
Article comments
1 - Matthew Milam
IT Industry booming? I think not. Chicago for instance consistently pushes the PC tech jobs to the suburbs. Why? They can't get anyone out there willing to drive to east hell to get there. People from the city will do it because the jobs are few are far between, but they won't do it for 17 an hour and have to cough up alot for gas.
2 - sujatha
Matthew, the NY Times article talked about the IT industry booming in Bangalore, and it is. The growth is so fast and so large here, that every IT company has jobs to be filled in the hundreds, if not thousands.
3 - abcd
Hi,
Good judgement, i see its the biggest problem bangalore is facing, ppl who do not like anything south indian are coming in search of food but once they have it, why not my family and they too dont like anything south indian, setting up a small community, forget it .. they keep cribing all the time. Same thing in US also, they move in here and crib cos ppl dont eat dal here..
but Bangalore is more hit by the tamil migration starting from SEs to gate keepers.. but Tamils eventully learn & adapt and co-exist without much destruction of ppls pride and ways of life.
4 - Umesh
Hi,
I personally believe that when different people meet there will be a clash of cultures.But this clash was expected to result in new trends in a place like bangalore.
It is the people of the place which make a clash of cultures and opportunity as opposed to a disaster. In 1453 the conquest of constantinople heralded the Reanissance becuase of which we had great advancements in fields of art, science etc.
The biggest example is 'Mona lisa' the greatest work of art in the world. But then,The same clash results in incidents like September 11.
Finally, it is bangalore which will decide where it wants to go.
I used to sincerely believe that bangalore was that sort of place. I'm not so sure anymore. Maybe it is the politics.
5 - sujatha
Umesh and ABCD, thank you very much for your comments.
ABCD, I agree that the "outsiders" have as much responsibility to integrate themselves into the life of a city as do the "indigenous" people to not keep harping on how the "outsiders" are destroying their way of life. That is part of the deal when we travel away from our homes and try to make a living elsewhere.
Umesh, from my vantage point, the riots in Bangalore was the work of a few miscreants looking to create trouble. I don't think they had any agenda in mind other than to smash glass windows (as is the popular notion, these were not just the glass windows of IT companies - many of those windows belonged to "indigenous" companies as well) and create trouble no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the occassion, no matter what the consequences. I wouldn't go so far as to characterize this as a clash of civilizations or cultures although people like Dattani would like to have you belive that.
6 - Kaustav Das
Interesting reading.
I have lived 15 years in Bangalore and pretty much consider Bangalore my home.
And yet barely 3 hrs ago I was assaulted by a group of 20-30 people because I dared to lower the window of my car and admonish a biker because he had come on the wrong side of the road and scratched my car.
This was on the Sharjapur Road - Electronic City connecter road.
My mistake (according to the crowd) was that I was an outsider and that I drove a big car. "We are locals, this is our road you are driving on our road, we will do what we want"
And this is not my predicament alone. Yes, I happen to be the South Head of an MNC and I recruit several well paid people every year.
Should it surprise anyone if my retaliation (in sheer helplessness) is to actually get biased and quietly stop giving Kannadigas jobs.
I think I will do that with glee. And many of you will call it racism. But isn't that exactly how it all begins.