When in Rome..............

In the recent past I met a prospective client. They wanted the interiors of their recently purchased apartment done and sought professional help. A middle aged couple probably in their mid and late thirties. The man was from Jabalpur and the lady from Chandigarh. During our initial meetings I took them around Bangalore to show them some of the projects that our firm had completed. During one of these trips the lady started up a conversation about Chandigarh. I had never been there but had learnt a lot about it in college. Chandigarh is one of the few designed cities in India, designed by the acclaimed Le Corbusier.

She was going gaga over the city and how things were amazing there. I didn't doubt her, I had heard and learnt from books that Chandigarh was indeed very well planned and was a great place to live. But what irritated me was how at every step of the way she was comparing Bangalore with Chandigarh, finding fault in Bangalore at every juncture. In the whole conversation (actually it was a speech cos she hardly allowed me to speak) there was not one good thing she had to say about Bangalore.

But what I don't understand is that if they had a huge problem with Bangalore then why live here, why buy an expensive apartment here and worse, do up the interiors to make it a home. Why not go back to your own hometown which you feel is the most amazing place on earth. I don't understand the attitude where you stay in a city for the job (read as money) and then keep criticizing it and never do a thing to improve it. "When in Rome do as the Romans do". It's not just a fancy saying, it actually makes sense. Ok........... maybe you don't have to do as the Romans do but at least don't come here and spoil it for the rest of us.

The best example is my Dad. He came to Bangalore 40 years back, he made this city his home and now refuses to go anywhere. He still loves his hometown, a village in Kerala, but he knows what this city has given him, "His entire Life", and he will stand by the city no matter what. As far as he is concerned, for him, Bangalore is the best place to live.

I love my city and as long as I my livelihood is here I will do everything I can to make it better. Anyone who feels there are better places to live can find the bus stand and railway station at Majestic and the airport at Devannahalli waiting for you!!!