Bangalore Vs Bengalooru

Apparently, there has been an announcement that Bangalore's name will be "changed" to Bengalooru (pronounced Bengalooru), effective from Nov 1st, 2006, the Golden Jubilee of the formation of Karnataka state, of which Bangalore is the capital.

The announcement has sparked a debate in many circles, including articles and opinion polls in the media. Unlike the debates over the name change of most other cities in India (Bombay to Mumbai, Calcutta to Kolkata, Madras to Chennai, Trivandrum to Thiruvanantapuram) and elsewhere in the world (Peking to Beijing, Edo to Tokya, Constantinople to Istanbul, etc.), the debate over the name "change" of Bangalore is happening at local, national and global levels. The debates have found participation from a lot of "outsiders". By "outsiders", I mean people who are not locals of Bangalore and those who are not residents of Bangalore. Sometimes it appears that more number of "outsiders" are debating the topic, than locals. That is because of the position and stature that Bangalore has gained as a major IT hub of India and of the world. The city has even resulted in a new word being added to the English language: Bangalored!

Here's something interesting to keep in mind regarding the name "change" of Bangalore to Bengalooru. It is not really a name change like Bombay to Mumbai and Madras to Chennai. It is more of a spelling change to reflect the correct pronunciation. It is just an adoption of a more Indian, less anglicized pronunciation of the name, and the corresponding spelling.

Further, the Kannada language media has always written and pronounced it correctly as Bengalooru. So, they are finding it a little awkward to explain what the name change issue is all about. For example, a Kannada language article might say something to the effect of, "There is a proposal to change the name of Bengaluru from Bangalore to Bengalooru"! That sure is awkward and somewhat confusing!

Not surprisingly, most "outsiders" are not in favor of the name Bengalooru. Bangalore being a city where the immigrant population is quite high and increasing on a daily basis, many media polls show that the majority of the people of Bangalore are not in favor of the name Bengalooru. When asked, the people who oppose the name "change" give the following reasons:

1. The name "change" involves an unnecessary expenditure of the taxpayers money. The government should instead concentrate on other, more important issues.

2. The name "change" will adversely affect Bangalore's international image and global branding.

3. The third reason is that... well, there is no third reason. Many "outsiders" oppose the name change "just cuz". Just cuz it sounds unfamiliar, just cuz it sounds too local and down-to-Earth, just cuz whatever they feel!

Reason number 1 will be articulated more often and with higher decibels. Reason number 2 is mentioned less often. Reason number 3 is almost never truly articulated because it is less rational and more emotional. However, I suspect that reason 3 is the biggest and most truthful reason for people's opposition. That is purely speculation on my part, I admit. But I think I am right.

If reason number 1 is truly what bothers people, why do they not debate, complain, protest and raise a voice against the government's non-performance, mismanagement and wastage of taxpayer's money on a daily basis? Why don't they raise the voice against the corruption which pervades every level of government functioning in Bangalore and the rest of India? Why don't they urge the government in no uncertain terms to go forward with improving the infrastructure of Bangalore, completing the international airport project which has been languishing for over a decade, implement a badly needed mass transit system, etc? The money that will be spent for the name "change" will by far be less than what is wasted due to corruption and mismanagement everyday.

As for reason number 2, it does not need much debate. Calling Bangalore as Bengalooru will not make or break the fortunes of the city, its businesses and people. Everybody will quickly adapt and move forward. It will be business as usual. The image and brand of Bangalore will remain intact the world over. After all, changing Bombay to Mumbai and Madras to Chennai are examples of true name changes, and those cities were not adversely affected.

The majority of people who oppose the name change because of reason number 3 - conscious or subconscious emotional dislike of the name Bengalooru - should give it some rational thought. If Kannadigas, the people of Karnataka and the local people of Bangalore want to change the name of their city for sentimental reasons, let them do so. Their sentimental reasons are rooted in their feelings for culture and language. Let them feel their sentiments, let them feel their pride. Let others not oppose them or make fun of them just because the others feel that the name is unfamiliar and has a very local flavor. If the case had been vice-versa, if the popular name of the city had been Bengaluru all these decades and people became familiar with that name, and then someone wanted to make Bangalore the official name, there would still be people who would oppose it "just cuz". So, the "just cuz" reasons and opinions should not distort and influence the debate.

Remember, what is happening is not a real change of name. Suppose a foreigner mispronounced your name, and they spelled your name to match their mispronounciation. Wouldn't you want to change the spelling to match the correct pronunciation? Wouldn't you want to teach them to pronounce your name right?

That is the case with the name "change" of Bangalore to Bengalooru!

Related: Bengalooru! Bengalooru! Bengalooru!