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Gentrified: A tale of paradoxes and crowded streets

Writer's picture: Aparna VarmaAparna Varma

Updated: Apr 26, 2022

Abandoned structures that have stood for decades pepper amongst the chic cafes.



One step, two step, three clap-boom. One step, two step, three clap-clap. Every stride has a rhythm. The vibe’s electric. The crowd’s frolicking. I catch the beat to a song on one stride only to be transported to a different musical era in another. We Bangaloreans love the MG road-Brigade Road- Church Street trio, don’t we? Shantala Nagar is considered by many as the beating heart of Bangalore, with shuffling feet like fish in the ocean and happy faces in eateries and pubs all drowned by the annoyed honk of a car.

A quick scroll through the history of the neighbourhood is a reminder of Bangalore’s colonial past. Shantala Nagar was part of the cantonment established by the British separated from the Pettah area by Cubbon Park. The region has a massive tree cover and beautiful colonial- style buildings.

The commercial spaces range from new facades built with the eagerness of a teenager to old restored structures whose insides have been whimsically animated, demanding to be called quirky. Amongst these buildings and signages that fight for our attention, stand old, abandoned structures that, I believe, nobody has the heart to demolish. Hanging on their elevations are old hand written signages now half eaten by dry, brown stilt grass. The broken metal gates are chained together to keep curious folk like yours truly and vagrants at bay. We overlook these buildings, but they subtly add to the charm of the streets. More importantly, they speak volumes on the subject of gentrification.


What is wrong with all the fun our city streets are having?


What is gentrification? Let me explain it with the context. Anecdotes float the air, reminding us of how Church Street once used to be a calm residential street with sparing storefronts, an ideal parking spot for the busy MG Road. I remember the small stores on Church Street that sold merchandise while a lane on MG roads housed art emporiums and book stores. Today, Church Street is no longer the quiet servant to MG Road, and the tiny stores and emporiums are now sparse. In its place is a zesty ramble of pubs and eateries with people filled to the brim. This is gentrification.


Well, isn’t it all good? What is wrong with all the fun our city streets are having? Why do I use the term gentrification and not revitalization?


Revitalization is the retention of existing communities and involving them for the betterment of the neighbourhood. Gentrification, on the other hand, centres around the displacement of people either directly (by increase in rent) or indirectly (by social exclusions -displacement of existing communities by the influx of high-end restaurants).

Gentrification is a controversial topic in urban design. It’s economically hard to argue against but socially hard to argue for. Which side of the spectrum do I lie on? I’m unsure. I do love the new energy and life of the place while simultaneously adoring the abandoned shelters and their eccentric charm peppering the busy streets. A paradox sums up my conundrum: the nostalgic tales of a bygone era reminds me of a song by ABBA, just like the one blaring out of the chic cafés!


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