The Indian Express

Newspaper Review by: padhukr

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BANGALORE
Smoking hotTHE status that MG Road enjoys in Bangalore is equal to the enjoyed by the great

soul it is named after. Yet, if the Mahatma were to descend from heaven and take a stroll on this road today, he would frown in strong disapproval. Stylish girls smoking on the sidewalk-still a symbol of being cool, couples heading to the pubs to do what Gandhi thought brought destruction to a family, women soliciting after dark, and so on. But what’s in a name. MG Road would have been as dazzling if it went by another name. Once upon a time, it was called South Parade, owing to its location to the south of the parade grounds. It stretches from Trinity circle to the Kasturba Circle, On one side, around Anil Kumble circle, buildings and places of historic interest such as the LIC building, Koshy’s restaurant, New Arya Bhavan Sweets Shop, K C Das, and Bible Society. Towards the other end lies the Trinity Church, apart from posh hotels like Taj Residency and The Oberoi. Along the way, MG Road is home to several financial institutions but the establishments that pull in the crowds are India Coffee House, Cauvery Emporium, Bombay Stores, Nilgiris Supermarket, Gangarams and Higginbothams. Sprinkled along the sidewalk are vendors who sell everything from junk jewellery and food to cheap footwear to pirated books. On the opposite side, there is nothing but rows of tall trees, which makes the road look spacious and charming. The charm is best savoured from the sidewalk: if you happen to be on the road in your vehicle, you could end up staring at the same shop for 20 minutes, because traffic barely moves there. Deepa Bhasthi

Published: January 30, 2007

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