Bangalore once upon a time

By Dibakar Purkayastha

What is definition of Hinduism?How Sri Sri Ravishankar defined Hinduism?

How it is defined by Padma Bhushan U R Ananthamurthy ?

What is version of MM Kalburgi ?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Apr 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9789362692887

Book preview

Epilogue

H

e checked his belongings for one last time. His belongings mean only three pieces of luggage. One portmanteau and a large side bag are the two that he will require immediately in his new place of posting and the obvious third one is his sleek laptop. Deepak gazed at his wrist watch, there is still time. The flight to Hyderabad is at 1.30 pm afternoon. He has already booked a cab that will reach here by 10.00 o’clock. Rebecca, his wife and son Dhanush left for Delhi about a month back and he stayed here for packing purposes. It is very easy to shift in the present day. Movers and packers are always ready to shift people from one place to another. They pack everything nicely and carefully. So, Deepak had precisely not much to do other than supervising. The flat is now empty. Only two chairs and a small bedstead are lying by courtesy of the owner. The carrier lifted all furniture last night and left for Hyderabad. They will reach there by tomorrow or the day after.

In this flat at Krumbiegel road, he spent little more than three years. All his memories of Bangalore's posting evolved around this two-bedroom flat for which he cleared the rent up to the end of the completed month. Now he will proceed to Hyderabad with memories of the past. Nothing is left behind. Is it true that nothing is left behind? He tried to rethink…..

The mobile phone rang twice. He looked at the number. It is the cab driver. Yes, the time has come. He has to bid goodbye to this city. Slowly he stood up and looked downward. The cab parked near the entrance. The footsteps of the driver grew louder and time haunts him now with relentless determination. Deepak exhaled and followed him slowly with his laptop in his hand leaving behind all memories of the last three years, and of course--leaving behind Krupa……

He strode forward from where he knows there is no return. Deepak clicked the handle of the car and stepped inside. He urged his legs in the narrow footrest and sat on the back seat of the cab and opened his laptop. Now, whatever may be, I have to express one last time to her

This is the time to be truthful……This is the time to be submissive…….

This is the time to say, Au Revoir………

He has walked through fire. He was reduced to ashes, and now he has emerged again. Today he has to complete his sojourn and walk away towards a new journey.

Deepak opened his mailer, clicked on the word draft and sent the long mail he saved as a draft two days before. The mail has been sent with a gentle tap on the touchpad to [e-mail].......

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Chapter 1 Krupa is born

T

he Man stood under the shade of the tin-roofed cemented porch inside an elegantly looking old house, is more alike a castle than a house with high wooden boundary walls from three sides with a high wrought iron gate in front—runs elegantly amid a meandering pathway of red bricks up to the door. This is tall house with its wooden frame began first decade of last century, and added on to, till it is a warren of place without much distinction. It stood  on an eminence on a fine old hillock, surrounded with trees and on a hazy distance of this hillock the Nagmangala village are visible with houses, rows of wretched , small, begrimed, brick houses with tallied roof, sharp angles and blank dreariness.

This grand house  he inherited from his father Gunduvelu who left this world many years back. The man, whom we are talking now,  is tall with hair cropped in a buzz cut and with a drooping moustache to give him a different look.

His name is Gopalakrishna and he is the owner of this grand house.   

The child is born, and it’s a girl child The chorus of ladies reached into his ears. Immediately his face turned dark for a moment, but he controlled his emotion within a second and stood up.

Venkatesh! Oh, Venkatesh! he called aloud a rushed inside with long strides.

"Thatha! Thatha! Nanu barthini" middle-aged dhotra (Panche) clad Venkatesh almost ran fast towards the grand old owner of the house. Venkatesh cannot remember exactly how many years he had spent in this house. It’s almost 35 years probably. He was picked by Gopalakrishna during his boyhood days from Bannur, a small village south of Srirangapatna.  When he was a young greenhorn Gopalakrishna frequently used to go on wild safaris with his friends. The wood was remnant of great forest where hunters used to hunt in earlier days. In this jungle everything was motionless. Old leaves of trees covered the earth and areas were having much more green forest about 20/25 years back. Even a Jay called harshly many little birds would flutter. One of such occasion he went with two of his friends for a wild safari and hunting of wild pigs near the Bannur area. After the daylong fruitless trekking through the forest, they were tired and needed some rest. while they passed by the side of a village all of a sudden, they heard a sound of a passing object, dark shadow of some creatures. They pointed hand held gun a peeped carefully where to their utter astonishment they meet a small boy of around 10/11 years of age who was busy collecting firewood from the deep forest. The fearless attitude of the young lad attracted all three and Gopalakrishna could not resist asking about his identity.

Venkatesh he replied casually while he was busy collecting firewood.

Where is your village?  Curious Gopalakrishna shot the second question. He had already liked the lad and was thinking differently. He was searching for a man Friday for a long time and this boy may be suitable to appoint as a helper in his house. He had multiplied his activities manifold for the last 20 years and he truly needed someone to do all the odd jobs for him. Immediately he thought of taking him to his house at Nagamangala. ‘But, whether his parent would agree? However, he should give a try ’ he thought.

"Alli hogi" (Go there) he pointed his index finger towards the southwest direction.

All three went as per the direction shown by the boy and entered the village. As per directions they reached in front of the small house of Srinivasa and asked for drinking water first.  Rest is a simple story. Srinivasa felt as if God has descended from heaven when Gopalakrishna proposed to him for taking Venkatesh with him. He also promised to take care of his everything even up to his marriage. Venkatesh can come once a year for 15 days to see his father and mother it was also decided.

Srinivasa being a father of nine children was finding it very difficult to run his family from his small income from agricultural land. They were living hand to mouth; so he was rather pleased to get a such proposal as a gift from Gopalakrishna. Since then Venkatesh is staying in this house and regards the owner Gopalakrishna and his wife Sorojamma like his grandfather and grandmother as he has noticed his father Srinivasa calls Gopalakrishna Thande (father). This is the brief  story of Venkatesh.

"Nimdu mammogulu chennagiddini" (your granddaughter is fine) Venkatesh could not hide the smile on his face.

"You shut up! Fool! Krishna Elli idira? (Where is Krishnarao?)

"Avaru alli illa. Nange gothila "(he is not there; I don’t know where he is)

Gopalakrishna thought it is useless to ask this fool, so he strode towards the main door of his house. He passed the sitting area for guests in the front and entered the living room. There he saw his wife Sorojamma going fast towards the rear corner of the house where a makeshift labour room is maintained. She held a saucepan of warm water in her hand. Jaatakarma Samskara has to be started immediately after birth, and the baby should be given Madhu (honey) and Ghrita (ghee) mixed in equal quantities. Mantras are to be chanted before it. Thereafter breastfeeding should be started from the right breast. A pot filled with hot or cold water (as per the season) chanted with mantras should be kept near the head of the baby probably to maintain proper humidity in the labour room. Therefore, Sorojamma was in a hurry, he could guess.

Where is Krishna? I do not see him. He enquired anxiously.

He has already gone to washermen’s colony. Sorojamma was in a hurry.

Why he will go? I would have sent Venkatesh to call Nagesh’. He tried to explain, but Sorojamma had already vanished inside the labour room.

Nagesh is a lower caste that resides outside the boundary of the village as per the prevailing practice and system of the society. A newborn baby has to suck donkey’s milk first before the child would be given the mother’s milk. This is widely believed in this part of the country. So, when a baby is born, the family immediately arranges a small quantity of donkey milk and which is available mainly in washer men’s colonies, because traditionally they are the people who keep donkeys. Gopalakrishna came out from the living room. All ladies are busy inside and obviously, he will not get much response now. He stood near the main entrance where the tender Chrysanthemum plant fully blossomed with its beauty around the gate. Creeper plants snaked up the arced frame of the gate from both sides and it gave a comfortable shadow for bystanders under the shade of the gate where Gopalakrishna is waiting eagerly for his son who had gone to washer men’s colony to get first food for his child.

"Avaru bandidare." (He has come)  Venkatesh shouted from a distance. Gopalakrishna followed his pointed finger and saw a figure paddling a bicycle approaching them fast. Dry brown dust from the dilapidated road formed a cloud from both wheels of the cycle and the rider has been coloured brown. The bicycle reached his gate and slowed down. The rider came down and wiped off his thick hair and face repeatedly to clear the dust. Gopalakrishna could realize this is his son Krishna only. Krishnarao wiped his trouser repeatedly until it is cleaned and then from his side pocket, he held out a small bottle that contained a precious white liquid substance of about 50 milliliters in quantity and shown to his father with a wide smile on his exultant face as if he has come back after winning a battle and reporting the victory to his king.

It was not necessary for you to go there to fetch the milk. You could have told me. I would have arranged through Nagesh’, you know? Gopalakrishna spoke roughly.

The old man will not understand the satisfaction I got by bringing this for my first child.  Krishnarao thought immediately, but everyone was busy and I thought…. He did not complete the sentence intentionally.

Go inside fast and hand over the bottle. The child might be crying for. Father almost thrashed the son. Krishnarao vanished inside the house quickly.

***

Gopalakrishna sat under the shade of an extended sitting area on the terrace. Small tin roof with support of four strong bamboo posts underneath, constructed for a sitting arrangement for all male visitors in his house. One sliding armchair, two armless wooden chairs, three stools and one wooden rocking chair are lying haphazardly for visitors in this covered area. Gopalakrishna occupied his most favourite and comfortable rocking chair placed on the southeast corner. He gazed at the distant paddy field where the village road took a sharp turn towards the main road that connects with Mandya town. It is the hot summer of August and the Sun God is blazing over the sky like a cannonball of fire. Everyone inside the house is very busy with the newborn baby and her mother. Gopalakrishna is not very happy with his daughter-in-law who gave birth to a girl child. He is least interested to see the face of the child now. Only he did his duties whatever is necessary during the neonatal and post-natal period. His ardent wish for a grandson is shattered by lady luck, although he does not have much faith in luck rather he always proudly believes that whatever he has now is earned by his two hands. He owned almost 20 gunthas (half an acre) of cultivable land, livestock comprising 10 milk cows, 20 goats and several poultry and a hatchery in the large backyard of his house, Venkatesh’s untiring care had grown the kitchen garden bigger. Satisfied Gopalakrishna remembers the long journey he undertook more than half a century back. Mandya was declared as a district probably in 1939 while he was a primary-class student. It was the generosity of Sri Nalvadi Krishnarajendra Wodeyar; the cultured and educated King of Mysore during the first four decades of the 20th century was responsible for all development works in the area. He was responsible for building Krishna Raj Sagara reservoir which had virtually became the lifeline of Mandya and its surroundings. It was during his regime the Mandya district was formed. Mahatma Gandhi was so impressed with all his developmental works, that he called King Krishnarajendra Wodeyar ‘Rajarshi’. Senior citizens of the Mandya area fondly remembered King Nalvadi Krishnarajendra Wodeyar as well as Sir M Visveswaraiah, the most famous Engineer cum Statesman who built the Krishna Raj Sagara reservoir as the architect of the district.

During the boyhood days of Gopalakrishna, there was not much education available in Mandya. So, hardly anyone could dream of primary education in a place like Nagamangala.

Gopalakrishna could not get any formal education during his boyhood. But he always followed his father at Achilles' heel to learn the art of cultivation. He accompanied his father early morning at the sugarcane field regularly; minutely observed how a pair of bullocks was enjoined by putting a yoke on their neck and the long handle of iron hoe fitted over the neck which had sharp pointed teeth at the other end. This sharp side is laid diagonally on the soil and his father used to start trashing those animals with expert hands. In front of his astonishing eyes, those bullocks started moving fast and the sharp pointed blade of the hoe started digging soft soil. The whole day young Gopalakrishna noticed how row after row of soil had been dug by his father with those two bullocks and within a day or two the piece of land had been ready for sowing.

Every morning both father and son went to the field after taking ragi or idli on alternate days. Then one morning when the sky was murky with thick dark clouds his father started sowing sugarcane saplings. He sowed in equal distance each small sapling in parallel rows one after another. Each looked like lined-up soldiers in Mandya parade ground he saw last year during June while he went with his uncle there to watch the drill. It was Queen’s birthday he was told by elders. A small boy of 7/8 years did not know that two occasions in a year, that is New Year’s Day and Queen Victoria’s birthday were celebrated with much grandeur during the imperial raj.

Gopalakrishna had learnt the art of thrashing bullocks in the parallel direction both front and reverse within two years. He became a regular helper of his father when he was 10 years old, and by the time he grew sixteen he looked like a fully grown-up man and he knew all art of good cultivation.

Gopalakrishna used to come back home before dusk. Tons of sugarcane sticks were bundled and kept in the backyard of their house. Those are monitored by his father. Since he became old, Gopalakrishna had made this arrangement.  He was looking after the field and he advised his father to stay back at home and take the stock of the produce. His father arranged to bundle those sugarcane sticks and the bundle would be loaded in a bullock cart in the morning. Those loads would be delivered to the Manjunatha Ramanagowda,a wholesale dealer at Mandya who would weigh those bundles and pay cash. Manjunatha used a fraudulent weighing scale which would save at least 3 seers in every mound. Gopalakrishna once went with his father and noticed this manipulation but his age-old father did not believe his words. He had absolute faith in Manjunatha. Manjunatha used to supply those sugarcanes at The Mysore Sugar Company Ltd which was the only organized sugar factory in Mandya during those days and was established in 1933-1934.

He was married in 1946. He was 18 years old a strong Youngman. It was Ugadi time their family went to the Saumyakeshava temple, for a religious visit. The temple is famous for its sculpture, built probably in the 12th century during the Hoysala dynasty as the ruler in this part of the State. The whole day they spent at the temple. They came out of the Rotunda of the temple after offering Puja his father saw a short person in the queue who was burly a square-chested man with a chiseled face and dark hair and a noticeable big moustache that gave him the air of military authority. The man held a Tamra Patra in his left hand which contained all Puja items including coconut and fresh flowers.

Narayanswamy ! Is it Narayanswamy? Is it the same person whom I knew? Gopala’s father screamed with both surprise and happiness in his eyes.

The short man turned his head to the right. His big eyeballs flashed like a searchlight; first, it was an immediate surprise and next a big laughter. Hurriedly he came out of the queue as he could also recognize his old friend. Both age-old friends hugged each other many times in front of the surprised look of their family members.

How you could remember to come here? You have forgotten us, we feel. Do you remember the roads you traversed? You have come at least….. after 15 years, I think

Exactly after 17 years my friend, the man called Narayanswamy giggled and continued This time we had planned to take blessings of Saumyakeshava at any cost He folded his hand towards the sky to Lord Saumyakeshava probably.

His eyes look like Marshal Sahib’s dog. Gopalakrishna noticed. He remembered many years back in his boyhood days he used to go to Mandya town with his father. There was a fashionable bungalow by the roadside owned by one Marshall Sahib as he heard from local people.  They had to pass that bungalow regularly while going to the Manjunatha store yard. On each occasion, he saw a tall and big dog chained near Marshall Sahib’s wooden gate. The size of that dog was not only enough to frighten young lads like Gopalakrishna but acted as a trained sentry of the house. Due to him, no one could dare to go near the gate. Gopalakrishna was afraid of both large eyes of that terrible dog that happened to be a Bull Terrier breed, of course, not known to Gopalakrishna. Now to his all surprise, found some similarity between those eyes with the eyes of this man to whom his father was talking happily.

"Gopala, ikade banni "(Come here) his father outreached his hand to call him.

Gopala went near the group. His father introduced him to that person and he had to offer his namaskara reluctantly. The man called Narayanswamy looked at him happily for a moment and then became busy introducing his family members to his parents.

Gopalakrishna was introduced to the person as Narayanswamy Gowda and was advised to call him Gowda uncle. He did not know anything about this family and his father never uttered about them either. Now it seems both are very close to each other. The man accompanied by a  short and plump wife and a daughter who looked about 12/13 years old stood by his side. They exchanged wishes for each other many times before they departed. When all of them came down from the Rotunda of the temple through the steps his father looked very happy.

Where do they stay? You have never told us of them? Gopalakrishna inquired.

They are from Ramanagara. We grew up together at Nagamangala. During the days of the Mysore kingdom, their family shifted to Ramanagara permanently because agricultural land became almost barren due to insufficient water. The turmoil we faced during those days you cannot imagine also. His father sold all his land and shifted thereat to give a better future for his children.

But, now the water problem is no more. How it was solved? Gopalakrishna looked at his father.

It is the Krishna Raj Sagara reservoir named after the late King Sri. Krishnaraj Wodeyar in whose reign the construction was undertaken, was formed by the construction of a dam across the Kaveri River, which was designed by the Late Sir. M Vishveswaraiah when he was Chief Engineer of the State. It ensured a steady supply of water for irrigation in the arid tracts of about 1, 20,000 acres of Mandya District. He paused a while and continued problem for water for irrigation was solved permanently, but two friends also separated forever, probably .....Ah, it was destined, I suppose, he chuckled and exhaled. Then he gazed at the road and continued walking.

They reached Nagamangala late evening. They changed and sat near the porch. It was the month of March and the evening was cool and comfortable. In-house maids were busy preparing their dinner. Gopala’s father rested his back on his comfortable armchair and Gopala sat on the cemented floor near the junction of the corridor and veranda of the house. A mild cool breeze was passing from the north. Moon snaked a beam through the leaves of a giant jackfruit tree near the left guard wall. His father broke the silence first.

You are already eighteen and fully grown up. He looked at his son with pride in his eyes and continued I have decided that you should marry now, in fact, I have chosen the bride also.

It was a bolt from the blue to Gopala. He could not respond initially. He preferred to keep mum.

Do you have anything to say regarding this? If you say contrary also, that does not matter much, I have already decided.

But......I ... Gopalakrishna started stammering.

There are no ifs and buts. My marriage was negotiated and settled by my father only. So, whatever I have thought would be good for you only. Father gave the final verdict.

But who is the girl whom you..... Gopala contested again.

You have seen her today. Very sweet, intelligent and polite; this is Narayan’s daughter Sorojamma only, I am talking about her.

Have you negotiated marriage in the temple during such a short time? If it is your line of thinking only, I suppose? Gopala got back his strength to resist. But his father poured cold water on him by replying No, both of us decided this and agreed to convert our long friendship into relation. Both have agreed in front of Lord Saumyakeshava. He is the witness of this talk and is the final

Within one month of the auspicious Chaitra Shukla Purnima (25th April 1946) Gopalakrishna tied the knot with Sorojamma, the only daughter of Narayanswamy.

***

His first child Krishnarao was born on 3rd July 1951. Meanwhile a lot of changes they had in their socio-cultural as well political atmosphere during those 5 years. Above all, the country achieved independence from the imperial British colony just a year after his marriage and the country became a sovereign republic in the year 1950. All those white skin so-called Sahibs had slowly left the country. All bungalows occupied by those Europeans had been either converted into the official residence of dark country Sahibs or those have been utilised as office premises of different Government or semi Government departments. Marshal’s bungalow where the bull terrier used to frighten Gopalakrishna during his boyhood days has been converted into the newly launched office of the Peoples Education Society. Gopalakrishna saw all these changes during his youthful days. He always remembered the morning of 15th August 1947; almost the entire village folk of Nagamangala had joined in the mind-blowing celebration of Independence Day at Mandya. In the morning all men dressed in the best available Kachche Panche along with colourful turban and women folk dressed in their traditional attire joined the procession with full zest and zeal. Ladies sang patriotic songs aloud and many men shouted Vandematarm while throwing their fists towards the sky. The whole day they spent in different locations celebrating in different ways. Gopala remembered himself sitting with all male adults in the large compound of their neighbour Shivarudrappa after dusk. They sat all around like a parabola and a neat glassful of Henda (village-made local brew) was given to all. Although Gopala tasted this type of Madya (liquor) many times before, that was the night he had his drink along with his father.

Inside the house womenfolk of the village were busy preparing a hot and tasty dish of pork with masala for their men. Gowdas are generally fond of taking pork while ladies of the clan generally do not take this tasty meat. After an hour or so, two or three large pans containing a heap of cooked pork brought by housemaids for the consumption of those drunkards who saw the food and started cheering in unison happily. The entire house smelled of cheap brew and spicy meat. The patriotism gradually faded away into oblivion with each passing minute.

Gopalakrishna always dreamt of giving his son proper education. He wanted that his son Krishnarao would not be an illiterate agriculturist like him, so he wanted Krishnarao to go to school in Mandya town where facilities for primary education had been started for a few years. Krishnarao attained 6 years of age and both Sorojamma and Gopalakrishna sent him to Mandya for admission at primary school. The first five years plan for the country had been chalked out by the Government of sovereign India under the leadership of the first prime minister of the nation Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951. The development of education in the district was started by a dint of untiring effort of Sri K V Shankaregowda, a famous educationist who founded the promotion of education at Mandya. Krishnarao was admitted to primary class in the year 1957 and within a year Sri K V Shankaregowda had registered the Peoples Education Society thereat with a vision of promoting and encouragement of education, including basic and nursery education, training children, along with many other objectives. So, Krishnarao started his nursery classes followed by the next class and so on. It was out of the question to commute from Nagamangala to Mandya daily, so Gopala had arranged the accommodation of his child at his uncle's (father’s cousin) house who stayed at Mandya. His uncle Purushothama had migrated to Mandya town long ago before independence after getting a job in The Mysore Sugar Company Ltd and had a decent stay at company arranged shelter. Accordingly, little Krishnarao started his school from his thatha’s house.

Many springs and many summers passed like this. Gopalakrishna lost his father while his son Krishna was at middle school. His father Gunduvelu breathed his last on one April afternoon. Gopalakrishna was in the field at that time busy sawing saplings of sugarcane in his field. Venkatesh went running to the field to call him urgently back home. When he came back it was all over. A massive heart attack took away the weak old man barring only mortal remains for family and relatives to do his last rites.

Gopala finished the ritual of his father with the help of his relatives and friends. His father-in-law Narayanswamy was present with all his family members. After a month, all relatives left for their respective places. Again life became regular and smooth. Krishna was eventually sent back to Mandya to continue his study. Gopala always wanted that his first son should not be illiterate like him. So, whatever the circumstances he did not want to disturb his son. Sorojamma had two more sons Karan and Sarath, studying at a lower primary school at Nagamangala, since education had reached Nagamangala by that time.

That was one hot afternoon in the summer of 1964. Gopalakrishna came back from the field at around 3.00 pm. He finish his bath and had his lunch. Now he sat on a rocking chair that was vacated by his father last month and by dint of hierarchy Gopala is now the owner of this chair. The Sun had descended to the west.  Two squirrels were fighting near the jackfruit tree at the boundary of his house in the west. He gazed beyond the perimeter of his house. At the back of his house land rose steeply, so the back yard is sunken and enclosed by a low stone wall. Heaps of cut firewood were kept near the wall used for cooking in their kitchen. Venkatesh was busy swiping the terrace. Suddenly he saw primary teacher Majid Faruqui coming towards his house while holding his both sons Karan and Sarath by their arms. Gopala immediately stood up from the chair apprehending something wrong. Majid Faruqui opened the Iron Gate and came inside. He released both boys and uttered.

School is over and there is bad news. He looked at the inquisitive eyes of Gopalakrishna and declared Our Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru has expired today. Authorities declared a holiday for tomorrow also.

Gopalakrishna looked at the Chrysanthemum plant grown by the rear side of the garden. He breathed out heavily and could utter only End of an era. He did not speak to Majid and strode with long steps towards his living room. 

The news was heartbreaking to him as well as many in the country. Majorities of the countrymen saw a dream with the Congress party after getting independence from the British. They saw a dream of getting a progressive India, modern India under the able leadership of the first prime minister. India progressed rapidly under the social economy of the Congress government. So, the demise of their leader created a vacuum for one and all.

The details came on the Radio news by evening. Since Gopalakrishna does not have a Radio he received the details from the newspaper the next morning only. The media reported "Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India, is dead. At 2 p.m. local time today 460,000,000 people in this country that has been forged on the anvil of this one man's dreams and conflicts were plunged into the nightmare world which they have, in the last decade, come to dread as the ‘after Nehru’ era. According to a member of his household, his death was due to an internal haemorrhage, a paralytic stroke, and a heart attack." It further added

"Parliament, which had reassembled this morning for a special seven-day session, had been told that the Prime Minister was sinking. MPs heard the news of his death at 2.05 p.m. During question hour Mr Nehru was to have replied to a series of questions about Kashmir and Sheikh Abdullah. Mr Gulzarilal Nanda, the Minister of Home Affairs, is taking charge of the caretaker Cabinet. There is to be a Cabinet meeting tomorrow morning. Mr Nanda is the most senior of the Ministers."

The change of leadership in Delhi does not make any difference in the life of people in a small place like Nagamangala. The summer of 1964 passed for them quietly. Krishnarao was sent to Mandya town for better education with much hope parents had proved to be wrong. Although the monthly/quarterly progress report system was not so popular in schools of Mandya during those days, teachers used to report to guardians/parents the progress report of children/wards verbally. So, the report regarding Krishnarao reaching his guardian was not so rosy. The report was relayed in the usual course and reached Nagamangala. Gopalakrishna did not believe this and decided to enquire when Krishna would come back to Nagamangala during the holidays after the completion of the annual examination for class promotion.

***

What all these I hear, Krishna? Gopala questions his son.

What is that?  Krishnarao looked at his father also with a question mark in his eyes.

I heard you are not concentrating properly on your studies.

What are all these nonsense you are talking about? Why you are mumbling? Why don’t you go for taking bath? It’s almost afternoon. When you will have your lunch? All rituals are over for newborn.  Get up and go fast please. Krisnarao expressed with little surprise. This had brought Gopalakrishna back from the past.

Oh! I thought…..well, I was thinking……OK nothing Gopalakrishna got up from his comfortable chair and went inside the house.

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Chapter 2 Essence of the Eighties

R

adha Ramappa works in the Canara Bank retail unit for 5 years. She joined the service on December 2009. She stays near the Padmanabhanagar area in a rented house with her husband. The rent is Rs.5000/- per month comparatively cheaper than other affluent areas of the city. Her parents stay near the City Market area is not very far from their house. Although she was born in October 1984 in Bangalore only, her father hails from a distant village near the Andhra Pradesh border. They are Reddy, a sub-caste of Gowdas. She has one  younger sister also. Radha being the elder daughter of her parents had not faced any problems in her education till matriculation. Her father, Ramappa Venugopal had a sad story at the beginning of his life. He was one of the lucky candidates who qualified for the State Government Assistant Grade post during the late seventies, which was one of the most lucrative and attractive jobs at that time. But he stayed at their ancestral village Achampalli (Srinivasapur) in the Kolar district and as such appointment letter reached him much later (about a month) due to postal delay. Once he received the letter he rushed to Bangalore and visited the State Secretariat where people sitting at the helm of affairs and power. But, it was too late. As per the Government directive, each selected candidate was asked to report within 10 days and after the expiry of another week time the authority understood that one Ramappa Venugopal Reddy would not join. So, they appointed the person who was in the first position in the waiting list panel. Despite of prolonged argument followed by benign prayer with folded hands and lastly shading tears in front of the HR department, Venugopal could not change his fortune. Government rules are very rigid and rulers are stronger than rules. It is said that the judge may move but not the judgment. So, Venugopal after exhorting his best became dejected and went back to Achampalli by the last bus and reached there at around 10.00 pm.

He was already married to Parvathamma in 1978 and was having no means of earning and maintaining his life other than the small share of cultivable land he received from his parents. They were a total of four brothers and parents had distributed equally to all to avoid any dispute in future. That half acre of land was his humble pie which gave him only bread to eat but no butter. It is believed that Man cannot live without bread but, can man live on bread alone? No, it was impossible for Venugopal to meet both ends smoothly. So, he decided to take a bold decision. He shifted his base to Bangalore for a better opportunity and gave his land to one of his elder brothers Prakash to grow with an agreement to divide the yield into halves between them.

After coming to Bangalore, in the year 1979, his first intention was to settle here by any means and for that, he was ready to shed his sweat and blood. Parvathamma had generously given away all gold ornaments in her possession, which he mortgaged to a money lender and borrowed Rs 150000/-. It is said that fortune favours the brave. He was laborious and within six months he could start a small shop for general merchandise. After toiling for one year he could generate some profit from the shop. They were residing in a small shanty near the city market where Radha was born. It was not yet a rosy time for them financially, but both were very happy after getting their first child. Parvathamma wanted to go back to Achampalli during the advanced stage of pregnancy, but Venugopal did not like to trouble his other siblings. Meanwhile, he could make friends with some others in his age group who assured him of all kinds of help during the delivery time and after.

Venugopal had sent the news to his brothers and since he could not move out, two of his brother came to Bangalore with their families. The Namkaran was done as per customs humbly amidst all friends and relations. The naming of the girl child was done by the priest as per samaskarnama and with the approval of all present there and the name was declared by a priest as ‘Radha.’

Those days of 1984 had slowly passed into eternity and now Radha has grown up. She was sent to school nearby during primary classes. Although Venugopal had not had much time to look after her study, Radha was above average in her studies. English medium schools did not mushroom during those days and Radha was studying in a vernacular medium. She was sent to Laxmidevi Ramanna High School near Chamarajpet which was newly started in 1989. Those days the principle of sending children to pre-nursery, nursery etc. was not advent and students were generally admitted at 5 years of age Radha was also not an exception. She was admitted to pre-class I and the next year she was promoted to class I. Venugopal was slowly establishing himself in this city and the hard labour he put into achieving this was commendable. They used to go occasionally to their ancestral village for making holidays. Venugopal could not stay longer period because of his business. This was their routine for many years.

In the year 1995, Venugopal bought a two-wheeler and this helped him to save much of the time that he lost earlier in commuting here and there. Radha now rides happily in the pillion of his father who drops her to school. All teachers were happy with her and praised her a lot. She was good in mathematics which generally girls are afraid of and try to avoid. Radha had dreams to grow big and become an engineer in years to come. She attends her studies hard and never loiters with other girls in her locality.

Today she came back home at 4.30 pm by bus because her father could not get time to pick her up from school due to some business obligations. Radha knows and understands this. In 6th standard, she is quite mature and intelligent enough to manage to come home by city bus alone. Tired, Radha threw away her school bag on the bedstead in their tiny bedroom and came outside for a wash. Parvathamma was taking a little afternoon nap and got up hearing the steps of her elder daughter. Younger daughter Lalitha was sleeping on the bed beside her. Lalitha is 6 years old and goes to morning school in the lower primary class. Radha washed her hands and feet near the tube well at the rear of the extended terrace of their small house.  Then she washed her face and hair completely to clean up the dust particles of the road when she came home despite repeated requests from her mother not to wash her hair at these late afternoon hours which may cause a common cold and would block her nostrils. Radha finished washing, wiped her hair and face line with a cheap towel and entered the room and started poking her younger sister to get up.

***

That was in the year 1995. Bangalore skyline was clear and free. The concrete jungle of high rises and skyscrapers was a distant dream for city dwellers. The city was better known as a pensioner’s paradise. The climate of the city was so comfortable and soothing and the temperature never crossed 25 degrees Celsius. A major chunk of Central Government bureaucrats and large public sector senior retired officials preferred to settle down in this place due to its overwhelming beauty and greenery. The city had about 200 lakes and was famous for its number of lash green parks. Roads had parallel trees lined up its both sides and there was green everywhere. Localities were not polluted like present days and there were more bicycle riders seen in many parts of the city.

Venugopal is sitting in his shop in the afternoon. Today the business is a little bit dull. He gazed outside. The lifestyle of the city is slowly getting changed. Recently, especially in the last two or three years, there is a turnaround in the life of this city was noticed. Slow, but gradually the lazy life of this peaceful hamlet is changing and gearing up for a leap. Small stores are taking a facelift and the new look is seen in many parts. Radha was begging for a bicycle for her from her father for a long time, but he never gave any heed to her request properly. Rather he was busy getting himself more established in this race with the time. He saw his friend Ramesh Babu coming from a distance. He would generally come to his shop for an evening gossip and today also no difference. Venugopal ordered coffee from a nearby tea/coffee vendor. Ramesh Babu pulled the rot iron chair from the corner and occupied it comfortably. Ramesh Babu is an order supplier of stationery items in Government schools and other institutions. So, he has to roam around on his small two-wheelers. Whenever he comes he brings some fresh breathtaking news. Today also is no exception.

Have you heard the price of land at Jayanagar?

"Not really; how much for per gunta now?" Venugopal asked casually.

You are saying Gunta? There is no more gunta now. It is counted in square feet. God knows only the measurement for square feet against gunta. We are backdated now Venugopal, we are backdated. Ramesh