The Hindu Business Line : Bangalore to be renamed Bengaluru

The decision to change the name was announced by the Chief Minister Mr N. Dharam Singh, at a media briefing in his North Karnataka constituency, Gulbarga.

However, the name change is still one year away as it would have to go through a long legal process, culminating in a notification in the Gazette.

In recent years, three metros have junked their Raj past to become Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Bengaluru (derived from Benda-kalooru, its 15th century name, meaning `baked beans town') is the original name of this once British garrison town. Bangalore just follows those precedents. After all, `Bengaluru' is just how the locals say it in Kannada.

Would the name make a difference? Mr B.V. Naidu, Director, Software Technology Parks of India, Bangalore, "There is hardly any difference in pronunciation between the new and the existing names."

So is the tourism or travel going to be affected?

"Not at all," says Mr Rajiv Ramamurthi, Director, Sales, Taj West End, Bangalore. "I am glad it has happened. It will now create more intrigue among travellers on the ethnicity of the city," he said.

Bangalore, once the city of best roses, would by any name still have its charms for some and thorns for the others.

If the westerner, for example, still loses his job to outsourcing next year, it would be Bengalur-ed: just that small change in the spelling may bring him no cheer.

There are, however, not many who appreciate the change in name. Says Mr Naidu, " The brand Bangalore has been pretty much established globally, I feel it is always better to continue the existing name." No one can say when the problems of potholed roads, traffic snarls and other recent-day ills will be solved. What would happen to the just renamed BangaloreIT.in or Bangalore BIO, the two trend-setting industry events?

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