This morning, we went to an Independence Day event at school. As you are all aware, the weather around the world is becoming increasingly erratic. There are cloud bursts, flash floods, earthquakes, wildfires, landslides, etc., happening all around us. But we in Bangalore, who are blessed with a wonderful climate most of the year, are busy fighting for petty things in this beautiful city. We have to just carry our umbrella, jacket and sunglasses because the weather is unpredictable, but that’s it.

The heat in Delhi is bad, but we, in Bangalore, open our umbrellas within a minute of the sun’s appearance.

The humidity in Goa is killing, but we, in Bangalore, cannot tolerate even a little moisture in the air.

The people in Mumbai go to work even during the monsoon season, but we, in Bangalore, get a holiday when the weatherman issues a red alert.

We are definitely spoilt for choice, but how are we welcoming newcomers into the city? Are we creating an infrastructure that allows them to live here comfortably? Do we have a proper system in place so that one does not have to go running around the city when they need something specific?

A non-Bangalorean who has come here for work has forgotten the real meaning of ‘smooth roads’, is traumatized if they don’t know Kannada and is miserable driving 30 km through messed-up traffic every day. Business advertisement boards are ruined if they don’t display the information in 60% Kannada. Malls are forced to shut until they display their names in Kannada.

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Once I wanted to go to the mall with my baby. It was pouring, so I had one hand holding my baby against my waist and the other one balancing an umbrella. I walked to the rickshaw stop and asked some of them if they would go to my destination, which was merely a few kilometers away. They began quoting such exorbitant prices that I was forced to go back home and wait for hubby to pick us up.

Being a person whose roots are half from Karnataka, even I was forced to cry while looking for a rickshaw on my birthday. Hubby decided to take the car to work, so I decided to take a local rickshaw and meet him for dinner (again with my daughter in tow). There was no Uber or Ola back then. Instead of helping a mother get to her destination, they said they didn’t want to go there. I had to walk for kilometers before I got a kind driver who finally took us to our destination.

After that, I swore I’d walk but not take a local rickshaw if I could help it. After that, another time, I had even walked 5 km back home because I didn’t get a rickshaw. This time, no one was with me.

As per recent research, Bangalore has become the second most stressful city to live in. I won’t be surprised if it has already topped the list this year.

What amuses me the most is that despite the city’s lack of hospitality towards its fellowmen, on 15th August every year, a flag is hoisted and the national anthem is sung. Besides important buildings being lit up with the colours of the Indian flag, there are cultural performances, patriotic speeches and grand parades.

BUT…

From our side, from Bangalore, Karnataka, with our actions throughout the year, are we truly displaying unity in diversity?

This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop for the theme Happy Independence Day!

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Bohemian Bibliophile.

^{Photo by Studio Art Smile.}