Bangalore Gored
Little India magazine put out a duo of articles in it’s January 26 issue about Bangalore. The first half of the partnership is called “Bangalored,” and is about outlying cities outstripping Bangalore as a world tech capitol. For years “Bangalored” has been a word used by American tech workers to describe the changing of the guard taking place now that skilled Indian workers are being given more and more important jobs from American companies. But now, Bangalore is being Bangalored:
Even small towns like the textile center of Coinmatore is attracting big companies like Cognizant Technology. Wipro has already branched out to communist-ruled Kolkata and bought huge chunks of land near Delhi.
Bangalore’s big rival, Hyderabad, scored a big win last month when Wipro, India’s third-largest software explorer, signed an agreement with the state of Andhra Pradesh to acquire 100 acres of land in the city.
“It is not as if people are running to Hyderabad. But businessmen do weigh their pros and cons,” said K Ratna Prabha, information technology secretary of Andhra Pradesh.
The second article, called “Bangalore Gored” is about a possible name change to Bengaluru. According to the article, the change would be affected because the new name is closer to the traditional pre-British name, Benda Kalura. This would not be the first time an Indian city has changed it’s name. For example, Bombay has become Mumbai- Calcutta has become Kolkata. To me, though, the juxtaposition of the two articles suggests the name change may be more of a branding decision. Americans, sick of being Bangalored, or not wishing to Bangalore their workers, may be better disposed to Bangaluru.
On the other hand, Bangalore has become a well-known brand, and a name-change may actually jeopardize that brand.
“…we have spent 15 years building Bangalore as an international brand and going back to the native name could hurt that brand,” [Bob Hoekstra, who heads Royal Phillips Electronics in Bangalore] said. “It is like going from Philips to Philippos.”
Another group is upset about the name change, too: travel agents who feel that the name change will confuse tourists and lead to a trend of renaming every city, town, and street in India.
“Bangalore is a lovely name. Why confuse Tourists?”
Yet, slowly buy surely, all of India’s new city names have been catching on with Indians and foreigners. The name change would coincide with next year’s golden jubilee celebrations of Karnataka’s formation.