Whitefield: Bangalore, Changing of the Old Guard

As in every story, there comes a time when the hero rides off into the sunset, and so it isfor Whitefield. I am not being bleak, but that is the truth. The very atmosphere haschanged, the old timers look out of their windows at the dust on the leaves of the treesand bushes, some dying of a parched thirst of the soil. The gardens no longer can be adisplay of joy, but of envy to the 'developer', always with a hawk eye on property, to'lynch' and to 'quarter' the once quiet bastion of the pensioner. Antique chandlers are fewand scattered around. One old house ' The Waverley Inn ' (which Churchill visited whenhe came to Whitefield) still cheerfully blooms under the loving eyes of Mrs. Lousie

D'souza who admires her vast garden. Another old owner Mr. Louis D'Silva (Ray, Desmond, Bernard) also has a love for his big plot and his threehouses within them going down the generations in style. Whitefield has changed so much, commercialision has taken roots as part of economicadvances, but at what cost. Basically, there are no 'pioneers' left to challenge the changes and to recreate the dreams and passions of the Anglo-IndianSettlers who first settled here. Go to the History of Whitefield and you will see actually who it belongs to, and who has taken what from whom today.

Some of the changes that have taken place in the recent years, say within the last decade, is the introduction of the smaller units of houses, especiallyfor those who found that the land was cheaper than Bangalore, and with a little hardships one could live quite comfortably. The Government had putsome emphasis on infrastructure and water pipe lines were laid and roads done up. Sai Baba ashram and hospital added a new invitation to people tocome to Whitefield to visit and stay. Later, because of the vast expanses of land available with all the 'estates' and 'farms' going dry, land was convertedinto housing colonies towards the Railway Station and what is now internationally known as the " Software Technology Park " (shortened to IT Park)was formed, with the Government of Singapore putting in some resources I think. Software developers and companies were all housed into one largecomplex and this has become an IT City by itself. Transport arrangements are being made through the running of busses for the employees who returnto Bangalore City every day.

In the early days, going to Whitefield from Bangalore was like a picnic, in fact it really was. Today, it is just another short trip of about 45 minutes to anhour depending on the traffic jams, oh! yes, there are traffic jams, because all the roads are not fully catering for high volume traffic that flows out fromhere, also there is a perpetual construction of buildings going on along the route. Our Blues band, the Chronic Blues Band, had a concert at IT Parkgrounds on environment day (sorry, a screw up, nobody seems to have photographs of any of the bands that played - Roberto on drums, a band from SriLanka and us!)

Some say that Whitefield has changed for the better, perhaps; but at the expense of the old age pensioners, it was a little gruesome. Presently there is asurprise for old residents of Whitefield who haven't visited for a few years. The Inner Circle that had a water slushy/dry pond which was used byresidents for building of houses, now has a new look. A lush green park !! No I am not joking, I was equally surprised to find this as my earlierphotographs clearly give a barren look , now it's unbelievable. Perhaps some good has finally come down to the residents of Whitefield. I even saw awaterfall, I did not venture closely in case I was hallucinating!! The Whitefield Club is as is where is, no billard tables, discos, pubs or bowling alleyshave crept in from the 'IT' influence, as yet ( though scope is there), Whitefield is still the same sleepy settlement, with a taste of both worlds!! ThisPage is put up for Bangalorewalla's 7th Anniversary , hope you enjoyed the glimpses into the past and future.

Ron's e-mail: Ronnie 1 (or) Ronnie 2

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Thought for the Day: " Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For youshall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leapfor joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, Fon in the manner their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woeto you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did they fathers to the falseprophets." Holy Bible: Luke 6:20-26

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