Tulasi Thota – a lost Malgudi in Bengaluru

After reading this blog “Tulasi Thota”, it will bring different feelings, depending on who you are. If you are one among those who grew up in old Bengaluru, it will pull you back by decades.  If you are a devotee visited the famous temple there, it will make you spiritual and if you are some one new to namma Bengaluru or who has not explored the original essence of our city, you will wonder if this was a true locality ever existed or just an imagination write-up . 

From many days this topic was lingering in mind and finally thought let me give shape to it and here you go.

Imagine a locality, which had a big, century old temple in center and in surrounding roads, old styled line houses, covered mostly with Mangalore red tiles as roof. Very few houses had 2-3 floors and rest with only ground floor.

A park, with plant nursery and music band stage  for performances.  It was also known as chick lalbagh due to its size and huge trees. There was also an ice cream factory near park which used to make local cones and candies.

A playground, better known as PT ground ( because of most the Physical Training class of schools were happening there) one of the biggest at that part of town and only place for all, with two huge trees giving shades to children playing. 

A big water tank between park and ground, which ensured we didn’t go thirsty with regular supply of drinking water. Even in wells, which most of the houses had those days, was having water with 5-10 feet to ground level. Yes, that’s true. Today even after going 300 feet we don’t have water in bore-well.

One govt. school – Poornaiah Chatra and one private school – Saraswati Tutorials was source of education for not only citizens of Tulasi Thota, but entire population from nearby areas.  Children used to play in the ground said above or on the roads, ranging from lock – key, hide & seek, lagori, during morning or even late evenings without fear of traffic (though close to majestic !!) .

It was next to chickpet, alankar plaza, KG Road etc., hence shopping was just a walk through, for whatever under sun we wanted to buy.

And for those who wanted to relish food, it was endless. Starting from the mouth-watering masala dosa of Malabar,  poori of Udupi Bhavan, Idli Vada of Megha darshini to the Chaats shops, catering all types of churmuri , snacks we wanted ( not able to find better than those, still )

Talking about the temple, due to which locality got this name, it was one of the biggest shrine in old Bangalore, rather a complex of multi deities. It had numerous programs, which also created a kind of bonding among the people who resided there, joining together to celebrate. Lakshadeepotsava (festival of Lighting Lamp), Procession of Chariots, Yearly Utsavas ensured good time and also gave opportunity to serve as volunteers.  It had plenty of mango trees along with a very huge jamun tree. It was the target practice place for us, to ensure fruits are down in very few stones.

It also had big pond with couple of tortoises. It used to be feast to eyes, to catch the rare glimpse of those creates venturing out sometimes. The Puliyogare and Sweet Pongal, served as Prasad in temple, was the best and might remain the best, forever.

People talk about safety in our city, now..!! However, every year during the annual Bengaluru Karaga, most of us, used to be awake entire night and walk to the nearby main roads, post mid-night or early morning for glimpse of the processions. Never heard any such nuisance being created or fear, what media speak about our city this days.

One of the favourite sport children (even elders) had was flying kites. Come summer, almost every family had representatives on whichever terraces available. It was not just flying kite , but it was battle,  by preparing threads,  embedded with  glass powder on it   (called maanjaa),calculate the budget and purchase of kites with different cost, to win the sport by cutting down other kites using our  powdered threads. When stock of kites got over, look at sky in far places hoping someone else cut down kites will reach us in wind.

We knew almost everyone in the locality. People used to share landline and happily inform neighbors whenever call was made (though rare and we still waited for post man in afternoons to deliver our cards and inland letters). There were multiple gang of children and youngsters, actively engaged.  I still remember, only one house had VCP those days, and used to be the only place where can watch home-alones to tom & jerry cassettes. The house used to be bustling with children, still no elders cribbed (or we didn’t bother). There were many days I used to have breakfast, or dinner at friend’s house, without even second thoughts.  

This was also an historic place. In 1892 - 93, Swami Vivekanand, on a visit to Karnataka, had stayed in here. It also had patronage from some of the kings who ruled.  

It was like a dream come true kind of situation, it was like the famous Malgudi Day stories, with so many positive aspects surrounding us.

You must have noticed, many places I have used past tense like was, had etc. wondered why?

Tulasi Thota was a small area in heart of the city. When I say, heart, it literally means it, because it was less than 1 km from Majestic Bus Stand compound and 2 kms from City Railway Station, yet, there lived a peaceful locality for many decades before the sea of changes which hit our city in late 90's and early decade of 2000.

When the so called change happened, though it bought some positive impact by providing jobs and economy, it also damaged the original charm we had in this city and same happened to Tulasi Thota.

Now, whenever I visit this place, it makes me driving through nostalgia lane. Thanks to the land prices, all old houses demolished and converted to shops. Water sources are gone, thanks to over exploitation of underground water. Park been reduced to half of its size, and those huge trees are chopped for metro line.

The roads, we used to play endlessly, has become too congested with shops and traffic occupying most of the time. Entire locality is covered in dust due to vehicles and constructions.

Many of our favorite eateries have given way for reasons and most of the residents vacated the locality.  Even the temple has undergone change!!

It is that conflicting feeling when you get while  visiting a familiar place close to the heart but not able to digest the truth which has happened nor able to recognize any one around. This is the place where I grew up for more than twenty five years before moving out, it has become a nostalgic part of my life along with others who shared similar time there. There is no turning back, it will never get the lost glory.

It’s the little Malgudi, we lived in, a story to tell.