Monday, February 26, 2007

Lets Keep Ulsoor for now.....

Ulsoor....

Hmmm....Ulsoor lake. Just type "About Ulsoor Lake" in google and here comes the description from the first search result.
"Kempe Gowda II constructed Ulsoor Lake during the second half of the second century. This 1.5 sq. km lake is dotted with islands, extending over an area of 125 acres. The picturesque lake is located on the Northeastern fringes of the city and is an ideal place for boating and shopping. A Ganesh festival is organised in August / September. It is a major tourist attraction with a boat club, where one can hire out cruises with stops at some of the tiny islands that dot the lake. A place of prominence in the early years of the century, the lake was then known as "Halsur" or "Alasur". It provides a welcome break from busy sightseeing and shopping. One can go for a swim in the nearby swimming pool that is part of the recreational complex near the lake. You can also go to the nearby Gurudwar, the largest Sikh shrine in Bangalore."

Finished reading it. That was for a reader who has no clue of the real Bangalore and has come here for a visit .. a visit to the garden city of india. But for the people of bangalore .. ups.. Bangaluru (my sincere apologies to those hardcore Kannadiga's) the lake is more sort of a pleasant morning or evening walk spot, a jogger's paradise, a romance point.

Kadalappa Uncle and Aunty, both retired from service, might be in their 60s. Done with all their family duties but yet so alone..why? Chlidren have gone abroad. For them the lake is not just an evening or a morning walk. They feel so happy and independent when they take that walk.

Who are these two guys? Ah! Rajath and Javed. I call them "the Gumps". Running every morning, trying to beat the other. But none of them is ready to give up. The more they run the more they get charged it seems. They just love to run by the lake.

Is it 6:00 pm? Yes it is. The couples have started pouring in. All tree shades, benches, all places one would love to sit for a while, are occupied, and people don't even think of walking an extra lap around the lake hoping that you will get to sit for a while. These will be occupied till the lake is closed. So you can go home if you are done walking or jogging... bbye see you tomorrow.

Now I turn the page and come to the flip side of the coin. No doubt that the lake's eternal beauty tempts people to be around for a while. But unfortunately it is also a hot spot for all the anti social elements. Some super star dies, this place becomes the number one Red Alert area. Saddam was hanged, the Muslims come on a rally and guess what the Hindus do the same the next day as they need an equalizer. Irony is they don't even care why Saddam was hanged. Bloody hypocrites.. do things as if its a game show. And the lake again becomes a red alert spot.Burn two wheelers destroy public property and satisfy their vanities.

And how can I forget the Cauvery Issue. Trust me if some social body makes a survey hardly 1 in every 300-400 Bangalorean will have a good insight of the dispute and will have a strong opinion. Rest all are being driven either by the crazy politicians or somebody else's idea.

Its really sad to see the city fall like this and I don't know where is this really going.

Thats all I am going to write for now.... So I ll just say .. To Be Continued.