Tales from Bangalore's Heart: When Diversity Thrived

When one of my team members asked me about my thoughts on 76 years of India’s Independence, my mind immediately ran to Brigade Road in Bangalore. A rather strange connection, you might think! But for me as a child, Brigade Road was the live example of India’s unity in diversity that no social sciences textbook could ever teach us.

In the heart of Bangalore, Brigade Road stood as a vibrant tapestry of cultures and experiences woven together by the bustling energy of its people. My mother owned a photography store there, and most of my sister’s and my time was spent shadowing her there. As a child, I was fortunate to witness this captivating diversity firsthand, a treasure trove of interactions that have found a permanent place in my memories.

One cherished memory that remains etched in my mind is the regular visit of a Japanese traveller. One day, he showed us his travel journal with India’s map drawn on it. And where he should’ve marked Bangalore, he had put a dot and written ‘best photography shop’.

Beyond borders and oceans, Brigade Road welcomed several medical students from countries like Iran, Iraq, South Africa, and even Nepal. They all brought with them a piece of their homelands, not just in their films to be developed, but in the threads of culture they wove into our lives.

And within the bustling streets of Brigade Road, the rich tapestry of India’s own diversity thrived too. Students from all over Delhi, Calcutta, Mizoram, Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh and almost every state added their hues to the mosaic. I also remember getting apples sent by an Army Officer posted in Kashmir and biryani by a Muslim family in the city, both regular clients at our store.

The charm of Brigade Road extended beyond the walls of our store. I remember three distinct restaurants, Kohinoor, Sangam and Rice Bowl, owned by people from different communities. However, for us, the only difference between them was the variety of dishes and tastes offered on a single street.

Here was India in its full glory – a mélange of lives, each unique yet intertwined in a cultural union of sorts.

Yet, as the sands of time sift, a subtle shift has occurred. The once-celebrated diversity has given way to a more unidimensional perspective. As our world became more interconnected, an unintended consequence emerged – a sense of narrowing, of losing the kaleidoscope that once was. We've journeyed back in some ways, forgetting the magic that emerged when varied voices harmonised.

But let not nostalgia sour our outlook. Instead, let it serve as a catalyst. Imagine a world where diversity is not just acknowledged but embraced – where each face, each story adds to the rich fabric of our society.

The Brigade Road of my youth beckons us with a lesson, a whisper of what could be. As we reminisce about the Japanese traveller, the Iranian and Iraqi students, the African Doctor, and the myriad communities from our street, let us find hope in the possibility of embracing our differences once more.

Wishing you all a Happy Independence Day!