Karnataka - Bangalore

Reporter's Diary

What's in a name

OUR CITY fathers like their counterparts across the country revel in changing names of roads and roundabouts. Some appear apt and are well appreciated by all; Anil Kumble Circle is an example.

Many other name changes are never really absorbed into the psyche of most Bangaloreans. Pulikesinagar still remains Fraser Town to most. But people of erstwhile Gangenahalli are proud to be habitants of Ganganagar now. The fact that a part of Shivajinagar was almost derisively called Blackpally can be safely forgotten now.

Infantry Road is yet to reconcile itself to being called Bhagwan Mahaveer Road.

Fortunately for many of us, the city itself being renamed Bengaluru poses no serious problems; that is how it has always been referred to in Kannada and in the Kannada media.

Still, tricky

RAILWAY UNDERBRIDGES are tricky places for the motorists. Of course, many of them are too narrow for any big vehicle to pass through. Last month, we even had a truck caught right under the bridge next to the Cantonment Railway Station. But this is not just about motor vehicles getting trapped; this is more about the mental ability to pass under the bridge.

If you have in the past noticed vehicles, particularly the two-wheelers waiting for a train to pass the bridge, you know the reasons. With gaping holes in the bridge, the motorists expect the worst to fall off from the passing bogies. You are often reminded about the notice attached to the compartment toilets: Kindly avoid using the toilet at stations. But did anyone think of making some notice of a similar sort for trains passing across bridges over busy roads.

In recent years, the Railways have thought it fit to cover those gaping holes to reassure the motorists. But despite those coverings, you could still spot those motorcyclists waiting for the trains to pass above. Perhaps, there is a need for some psychological counselling.

A ploy?

A WOMAN and her daughter approached two men recently in Shivajinagar saying the girl was short of money to pay her admission fee and that her academic career was in danger. The men thought it was a ploy to get away with some money and they walked away unmindfully.

A while later, the men wondered whether the case was genuine. They went back and found the women. They offered to help them on one condition that the women furnish the correct name and address of the college so that a cheque could be written to cover the fee.

But the women said the college may not accept a cheque. Then these guys offered to accompany the women to the college the next day to pay the fee in cash to ensure the girl's admission.

However, the girl could not name the college properly nor could she give the address. The men grew suspicious again. They showed their office to the women and told them to come back with all the details the next day. The girl and her mother never did so.

K. Satyamurty,

Rasheed Kappan

and Govind D. Belgaumkar

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