Citizen Matters, Bangalore: Shivajinagar, unity in diversity

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IN AND AROUND

Shivajinagar, unity in diversity

The multi-cultural mix, the market buzz, the colours, the squalor, the noise and peace – Shivajinagar is a microcosm of the city itself.

By Poornima Dasharathi

30 Oct 2008, Citizen Matters

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Churches, mosques and temples; kabas, payas, idli and dosas; furniture, jewellery and what have you- Shivajinagar is one of Bangalore’s oldest and busies areas, claimed to be the safest too. Most frequented for its meat market and best bargains for anything under the sun, Shivajinagar is a melting pot of multi-cultural India, where people of all religions work and live in harmony. The famous Russell market, Chandni Chowk, Kamraj, OPH Broadway and Seppings roads are all located here.

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4 Comments

[03 PM, 30 Oct 2008] Deepa Mohan

Enjoyed the post very much! Used to traipse these bylanes in earlier decades...

[06 PM, 30 Oct 2008] Meera K

What is the old name for Shivaji Nagar (shown in Gopal's pic) - I can make out "Government Model Tamil..."

[09 PM, 31 Oct 2008] Poornima Dasharathi

Thanks Deepa.The bylanes are colourful and provide a great walking experience.
Meera, Shivajinagar was known as 'Blackpally' in the olden days. This was the worst hit area during the Black Plague.
The board in the photo states 'Govt Model Tamil Primary Girls School, Blackpally, Bangalore'.

[11 PM, 08 Nov 2008] SUDHIR

The point to note is that pally in the native language of Bangalore (a mix of kannada-telugu) is also the same as in pally Tamil. In those days, though kannada-telugu was the main language spoken in Bangalore, some seventy kms south was kongunadu where people spoke a mix of kannada-telugu-tamil. But the tamils of shivajinagar were primiraly recurited and transferred from Madras by the british and never integrated with the local population. So wonder if the pally is that of native telugu or migrant Tamil origin.

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