Demise of Bangalore

M. Gautham Machaiah

While there is a chorus to put the bang back into Bangalore, the city itself is suffering from an identity crisis.

Ever since the government decided to change the city’s name from Bangalore to Bengaluru two years ago, confusion has reigned supreme. Even as the rechristening is awaiting Central approval, several private organisations, particularly airlines have gone ahead and adopted the new name, leading to further chaos.

Jnanpith Award winner U.R. Ananthamurthy who first mooted the change of name, is himself peeved. “It should be Bengalooru not Bengaluru, as proposed by the Government,” he says.

The way the city’s fair name is butchered has come as a nightmare to those harping on ‘Brand Bangalore’. The other day, on a flight from Mumbai to Bangalore, the hostess all through preferred to call the city Bangaloru. On landing, the boards across the airport proclaimed, ‘Bengalure International Airport Limited’. However, at the exit of the arrival lounge, there was yet another signage, ‘Welcome to Bangalore’.

Bangaloru, Bengaluru, Bengalooru, Bangalore…

Brand Bangalore. What is that?

Picture sourced from: www.sunmediaonline.com/.../travel.html