A unique city guide
If you're new to Bangalore, it's easy to believe that the city has held on to little of its heritage. After all, listen to a sample of talk on the street, and inevitably it revolves around the city's malls, restaurants and pubs.
Which is why Bangalore Yatri, written by historian Rahman Azer presents such an interesting take on the city. As is obvious from even a casual reading of the book, Azer belongs to the Bangalore of the old world. Thus, the prime highlights of the book are the anecdotes of Bangalore through the ages scattered among the facts. For instance, he says in the book that Winston Churchill lived in Bangalore in his youth, and had to borrow money from local bankers since his salary as a subaltern in the British army did not allow him to maintain the kind of lifestyle he wished. Similar nuggets of fascinating trivia that one wouldn't associate with the city in its present form, abound throughout the book. In much the same vein, the second half of the book carries a series of pictures that transport one back to the Bangalore of 10 or twenty years back. However, Bangalore Yatri retains the basic facets of a city guide, carrying pages of useful information such as train and air timings to and from Bangalore, lists of hotels, art galleries, cinemas, museums, theatres, and even lists of trade associations, mosques, churches and temples.
There are inherent difficulties in the guide. There is a liberal mix of subjective opinion and fact, and the perspective as well as the factual information could do with an update. Still, the guide is interesting for its representation of a Bangalore we hardly ever see anymore.
The Bangalore Yatri is priced at Rs. 150. For details, contact Nayab Publications, 19, 5th Main Road, Bangalore.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
