Noted Kannada film actor Jaggesh loves Bengaluru. The actor, who is also known as the Navarasa Nayaka (master of nine emotions), is also a crusader for trees in Bengaluru.
He has been instrumental in planting over 100 trees in and around his residence in Malleshwaram. The actor talks about his love for the city, the traffic and disappearing lakes and gardens.
Karnataka : Bengaluru : 09/04/2018 . Aerators installed to improve aquatic life in lalbagh lake in Bengaluru . Photo : Bhagya Prakash K
What are your earliest memories of our city?
Srirampura is what comes to mind. That is where I spent most of my childhood. It was a quaint, calm area. There was just one bus that would pass through our roads just twice every day and we played on the roads as they were empty.
Today, you cannot even stand on Srirampura main road. It is just brimming with vehicles that zoom past.
Your opinion about Bengaluru today is ...
It has become an IT hub. People are finding work here and in turn, the youth from rural areas have all left home to come and work here. Most of them work as drivers in the city. So our fields are left abandoned and farming is dying. The plus point is that our city has developed so much in every aspect for the better and that is good.
What bothers you the most about our city?
The parking issue bothers me a lot. Today every house has two to three cars parked in front of their homes, and these block the roads. I feel the government should issue land specifically for parking and collect a monthly rent from people, it will benefit everyone. People will get ample parking space and our roads will be clutter free. The parking system practised in malls, will work perfectly. This system should be implemented in every area. However, this will be a success only if people and the government work together hand-in-hand, with total co-operation from both sides. If this is not addressed, driving will become hell.
BENGALURU - KARNATAKA - 01/01/2019 : FIRST MORNING OF 2019 - early morning walkers brave the cold mist weather at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden, on the first day of this year, in Bengaluru on January 01, 2019. Photo: K. Murali Kumar / The Hindu
Anything you would want to bring back?
The greenery. We used to have so many lakes and parks which have all been killed. So I would want to revive the lakes and gardens. The dream is to have parks and walkways for people. A green lung space in every locality where children can play and the elderly sit and relax in the fresh air.
As of now we have very few green oases left in the city, which include Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park. We need to do our best to protect them.
As told to
Shilpa Sebastian R
