Monday, December 21, 2009

History on a "sole"ful Sunday morning!

A Sunday morning rendezvous with Bangalore Walkers is a date with Serendipity-You discover that amidst the chaos of concrete and rubble,lies a plethora of stories waiting to be discovered...


On a frosty Sunday morning, I find myself on the steps of a church, in the company of two mongrels and a flight of pigeons.The church is bathed in a hue of pink and ahead I can see an almost deserted road stretch far into the horizon.In my mind's eye, I could be anywhere...On the sets of some European film or in some quaint city in a far corner of the world.But here I am...right in the heart of Bengalooru-M.G Road and making my first discovery that yes, there is a time in the day where M.G road exists sans people,sans four plus two wheelers,sans all!- Out of nowhere materialises a Khadi clad gentleman who as I soon discover would be our sutradhaar (storyteller) navigating us on a "Victorian walk" through the annals of M.G road.Come on, surprise me, the cynic in me seems to say.We are soon joined by a diverse group of both home grown natives and visitors who have made it on time, adhering to a plea of punctuality(after all this is a Victorian walk!!) made by Bangalore Walkers.

From the moment, Arun begins with the introductions, we know that we are going to be under the expert care of a thorough professional.Starting with an exercise that sets the tone for the rest of the three hours,the walk begins by an exploration of history behind,inside and on top of the church.The group is slowly warming up and we are soon like a bunch of excited schoolchildren on a trip.From here, the walk is so well mapped out , that it takes you down M.G road and shows you landmarks and signposts which you would have probably whizzed by a hundred times.After this walk, I am sure to look at these with a new sign of respect, seeing the story behind the scenes.Arun dons various avatars-quizmaster, Hercule poirot doling out clues,teacher,guide and at each point we are all taken in by how history is brought alive.Often, it is only when crossing the road or sidestepping rubble and touts that you realise the present.Arun manages to even make the horrendous violations of the metro construction disappear...weaving his tales and peppering it with dollops of wit and anecdotes.Besides, learning facts about old monuments, the delight is in discovering history that is very much alive behind pop-colored glitzy hoardings.It is also a chance to see many hallmarks that will soon give way to newer structures.The walk also throws up questions about development and makes you wonder if development can weave itself around the stories of the past.Many times, you felt a lingering sense of nostalgia and sadness among the group at how much we are losing in the race for accelerated growth

I would not like to play spoilsport and reveal where the walks take you and what you will discover.But, it is something that would be a wonderful experience for bangaloreans and visitors alike.And yes, the "High" light of the trip is incentive enough for a three hour trek- A breakfast at a surprise location.And as you exchange notes with new found friends and give recopies for idli and sambhar,you realise that with all the technology around, life and history will always be about the human interaction.

Someone once said, "History is Bunk!"-Maybe, but at least on this Sunday morning, I walked away with a sense that history will stubbornly persist and that the past will always be there to discover.

Bangalore walks conducts many other interesting weekend walks.For more information ,log onto their website: www.bangalorewalks.com