Despite all the wealth and intellect that reside in Bangalore, there are no impressive museums or performing arts centers where one can properly appreciate the immensity of art, music and dance that India produces.
There are pockets of good theatre and performing arts in Malleswaram and Jayanagar, and a few small auditoria here and there, but no grand performing arts center one would expect of a place that fancies itself as a metropolis. Chowdiah Hall, the premier venue for performances, is a concrete violin-shaped building tucked inside a tiny lane in a residential area, with unimpressive acoustics (and a casino-themed washroom with lurid red décor). Getting to these halls in evening traffic is a major expedition.
Museums such as the Vishveshvaraya science museum or the HAL air museum are rinky-dink little collections where half the exhibits are outdated and the rest are broken.
The city’s parks are vanishing. Biking is an activity to be recommended if suicide also figures high on your list of hobbies.
The city has a good sprinkling of book stores, but it is depressing to see so many young people draped along the aisle of self-help books reading Who Moved My Cheese?
The greatest preoccupation in Bangalore is making money. The second greatest preoccupation is spending it, usually shopping or eating out. Malls and restaurants are the cultural hotspots of Bangalore.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
You are so right about bangalore. Make money, spend on food and clothes. Infact few days at office in bangalore, I was shocked to see people talk only about food and restaurants. Not much to see, not much to do. Have fun!!
ReplyDeleteNot only nothing much to see or do, but the fact that this doesn't seem to bother most people.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, there are humorless people who say, "If you don't like it, find someplace else." I delight in my life, and I reserve the right to crib my heart out about the things that bother me. Cheers and peace to all!