Bangalore

Bangalore is my home town. I grew up here. Went to school here and met Sudarshan here. Most of my friends are here. When I was in the US, I used to always be very excited to meet a Banglorean. B'lore-the Silicon Valley of India...those were the buzz words may be 10 years ago and I assumed that because B'lore is so special everyone knew where B'lore was.
My co-workers in WF used to ask my friend (also from India) where she was from and she would start off "In south India, a state called ..., city...)
But when they would ask me where I was from, I never used to even bother to say India. Just Bangalore. I was cocky enough to assume that people knew enough about B'lore that they knew exactly where I was from.
I am proud to be a Bangalorean in many respects and associate so many memories with B'lore. I run in Cubbon Park almost every weekend. I have so many memories of going to Cubbon as a child and taking the train that they had for children that would go around CP. I love running in front of Vidhan Soudha. I think most times I run there that it is like running in Washington DC and just as beautiful. I love going to Indiana Fast Foods, to Sukh Sagar. Infact chaat has to be eaten only in Sukh Sagar according to me. I always ate chaat there almost all my life. Why eat anywhere else now. I love trying out new cuisines and restaurants but give me Tandoor any day.
Where is all this going you may ask...
I love Bangalore but what the F is happening to Bangalore? Forget about the trash on the roads, it was never clean ...Forget about the traffic...that has to happen with the growth...Forget about potholes...I really dont care... car...But what I care is the PEOPLE. What the F is happening to the people? I remember as a teen ager running in JP Nagar. I used to run for about 30 mins. And we used to have such a nice time doing so. People were friendly. Happy to see the youth being active. But now, running on B'lore streets is becoming a nightmare.
Yesterday, I decided I wanted to run 12K. Why bother going to Cubbon Park, I thought. Why not run near my house in HSR Layout. A few months ago, I had some crazy experiences with the guys on the road. I felt discouraged and didnt do any running on the streets. But yesterday I thought, this is B'lore. Its so cool. Cool people. Cool Cool Cool...
But guess what? B'lore hasnt changes in that aspect. B'lore cannot deal with a woman running. mind you...I was very properly attired. Just plain looking girl, running in tracks and a dri-fit shirt. And what happens?
1. I get whistled at.
2. People were falling off a cab trying to look at me
3. A Indica driver wanted to scare me and came so close
4. A bus driver didnt even try to slow down. I had to run to the pavement
5. And if I wasnt listening to music, I would have heard all the non sense comments
So, what is happening to B'lore? Why are people acting so intolerant towards runners. Why are the men behaving like dogs in heat (sorry dog lovers)? Why are men behaving like penises? Common guys, grow up. Is it the lack of sex ( our society is so hush hush about that and develop such a holier than thou attitude towards virginity and such.) that is leading to guys being sexually frustrated to such an extent that a girl on the road arises in them this non sense behaviour. My friend, who is an awesome runner always talks about how to stop this behaviour as well as groping and molesting on roads when a woman is running and she is an awesome runner in Bangalore. Just dont get it. I see guys running. They wear their teeny weeny shorts. No comments passed. Here we are wearing something totally decent (mind you.. I havent tried running in a Burkha yet) and we are forced to deal with this non sense.
Bangalore has changed. The people have changed. In spite of all the exposure, the men have become dogs.