Controversies do not seem to be getting over for Bangalore New Airport. Ever since the plan for a new Airport was conceived, there are arguments, counter-arguments, public interest litigations, agitations and public demonstrations. After weathering all the earlier controversies, now the Bangalore New Airport is facing a naming controversy.
What’s in a name? opined one of the famous English literary figure – Was it William Shakespeare? Wordsworth? – whoever it may, after all what’s in his name? What is important is: had this great poet survived to see today’s agitations and demonstrations for the naming ceremony, he would have never said that line.
Look at the kind of controversy this naming issue is generating. If we take a deep look into this – we realize that every caste, community, political group is active in generating this controversy. May be after analyzing all this only Mr. Bruner has washed his hands off by making a statement that Central government only has the authority to name an airport !!.
The vociferous Vakkaliga community, backed by its politicians and so-called social activists, want this airport to be named after Kempegowda. No second thoughts – Kempegowda was the founder of Bangalore; was known as good administrator and it is important that he be remembered for generations to come. However, for that, don’t we have enough of memorials in his name?
Here comes the Dalit voice, who wants this airport to be named after Dr. Ambedkar. Hello friends, why an airport in Bangalore has to named after Ambedkar ? What’s his contribution to Bangalore – or to its airport ? he is not even from Bangalore – right ? He is a person of national importance – and this nation has created and is also creating so many more memorials in his name. Don’t bring him down to the level of a State or a Street.
The other majority community of Karnataka – Lingayat’s want this airport to be named after Basavanna. God – what is the connection of Basavanna, who was one of the famous social reformers, to an airport?
Muslims do not want to be left behind in this issue as well – they want this airport to be named after Tippu Sultan!. One group of people from the arya vaishya community want this airport to be named after one of their community person, who was an aircraft engineer during the early part of 20th century!. There were some group of people who want this airport to be named after matinee idol Rajkumar as well.
Though there are enough good reasons to name this airport after Visweswaraya, it is pity that neither the authorities nor any group of people have taken up this matter. One reason is that he is from Brahmin community; and this community has never shown their collective bargaining power unlike all other communities. Since Brahmins as a group are not politically vulnerable to these gimmicks, none of the political parties have given any thoughts to this issue as well.
Bharat Ratna Sir M Visweswaraya is from Devanahally taluk, a great engineer who is considered to be architect of modern Karnataka and Bengaluru; it is through his efforts that Bengalurians have drinking water today and so on. Is it not a right thing to do by naming this Airport after him? Or is it that I have also added one more dimension to this naming controversy ? Hope not.
What’s in a name? opined one of the famous English literary figure – Was it William Shakespeare? Wordsworth? – whoever it may, after all what’s in his name? What is important is: had this great poet survived to see today’s agitations and demonstrations for the naming ceremony, he would have never said that line.
Look at the kind of controversy this naming issue is generating. If we take a deep look into this – we realize that every caste, community, political group is active in generating this controversy. May be after analyzing all this only Mr. Bruner has washed his hands off by making a statement that Central government only has the authority to name an airport !!.
The vociferous Vakkaliga community, backed by its politicians and so-called social activists, want this airport to be named after Kempegowda. No second thoughts – Kempegowda was the founder of Bangalore; was known as good administrator and it is important that he be remembered for generations to come. However, for that, don’t we have enough of memorials in his name?
Here comes the Dalit voice, who wants this airport to be named after Dr. Ambedkar. Hello friends, why an airport in Bangalore has to named after Ambedkar ? What’s his contribution to Bangalore – or to its airport ? he is not even from Bangalore – right ? He is a person of national importance – and this nation has created and is also creating so many more memorials in his name. Don’t bring him down to the level of a State or a Street.
The other majority community of Karnataka – Lingayat’s want this airport to be named after Basavanna. God – what is the connection of Basavanna, who was one of the famous social reformers, to an airport?
Muslims do not want to be left behind in this issue as well – they want this airport to be named after Tippu Sultan!. One group of people from the arya vaishya community want this airport to be named after one of their community person, who was an aircraft engineer during the early part of 20th century!. There were some group of people who want this airport to be named after matinee idol Rajkumar as well.
Though there are enough good reasons to name this airport after Visweswaraya, it is pity that neither the authorities nor any group of people have taken up this matter. One reason is that he is from Brahmin community; and this community has never shown their collective bargaining power unlike all other communities. Since Brahmins as a group are not politically vulnerable to these gimmicks, none of the political parties have given any thoughts to this issue as well.
Bharat Ratna Sir M Visweswaraya is from Devanahally taluk, a great engineer who is considered to be architect of modern Karnataka and Bengaluru; it is through his efforts that Bengalurians have drinking water today and so on. Is it not a right thing to do by naming this Airport after him? Or is it that I have also added one more dimension to this naming controversy ? Hope not.
1 comment:
I thought that that the name "Bengaluru International Airport" for final. However,if it is not,then Visweswaraya International Airport is a fine choice of name for BIA. I did not know that he was from Devenahalli region.
However, if the name is not changed soon then the name Bengaluru International Airport will stick. Once people get used to a name - the official nomenclature does not matter.Mumbai is Bombay for many, many years after its name change.Not many even know that Ooty is Udhagamandalam (or for that matter even Ootacamund).Who knows that Panjim is Panaji. Calicut is still Calicut not Khozikode.Tiruvananthapuram is still Trivandrum. How many know that Burma is now Myanmar or its capital is Yangon not Rangoon.
Closer home Bengaluru is still Bangalore for everyone (has the name been officially changed?).Arvind Mills paid a ransom (perhaps) to get the name of CG Road (in Ahmedabad) to Arvind Mills Marg. CG Road remains CG Road for all Ahmedabadis (or is it Amdavadis). And, it is Vadodara or Baroda.
Closer home,in Bangalore, are you aware of Pulakeshi Nagar? No? Well, Pulakeshi Nagar is Frazer Town.Try telling an auto driver that you need to go to Pulakeshi Nagar.
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