Sentinels of sentiment

Here is a good quiz question: “Name three people of Karnataka origin who made it to the top posts in the armed forces?” I think most would get Field Marshall KM Cariappa and Gen KS Thimayya. We have learnt, of late, that Gen Gopal Gurunath Bewoor, too, had roots in Bagalkot. Gen GG Bewoor succeeded Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw as chief of staff, Indian Army, in 1973.

It should be mentioned, churlish or not, that not one of them is from Bangalore. It would be fair to admit that the inspiration to serve in the armed forces came to Gen Thimayya and Field Marshall Cariappa primarily from the Kodava tradition and the former state of Coorg and no thanks to Karnataka, which didn’t come together till 1956. To join the armed forces is not a Kannada custom and certainly a very, very rare option for the kid that grows up in Bangalore.

A bit puzzling that. The historic Bangalore Cantonment of the Raj, famous sappers of the Madras Engineering Group and Centre, the logistics’ experts of the Army Service Corps and Centre, the defence research and development establishments in the city, the roads — Artillery, Infantry, Cavalry — nothing seems to move the standard issue: a young person from Bangalore to serve in the defence of the nation.

I’m not much of a nationalist and plead guilty on the count myself, but I bring this up because of the extraordinary fuss that is sought to be made about the setting up of a war memorial at the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park. War veterans and former men in the services have been quoted: “Only four eucalyptus trees and one Ashoka tree will be cut for the memorial.”

Apart from the now demolished Cenotaph in front of the BBMP headquarters and the war memorial at St Patrick’s the colonial masters had built, this Indian memorial is the first to be built in the city by the state government. It is in the memory of 1,843 young men from Karnataka who have lost their lives in battle. “We want this memorial... it will be an honour for ex-servicemen and war widows,” says one retired major general.

It is no secret that many wonder and few do snigger that Bangalore, which is such a visible military station in India, does not breed patriotism among its citizens. Two years ago, when the state government promised about six acres of land in the musical fountain site for the building of a war memorial, it seemed like a good plan. It would move its boys and girls to build dreams housed in locations other than BPOs and call centres.

But some residents of the city are upset that the said trees will have to make way for the memorial. The musical fountain park sits in posh Bangalore, surrounded by prime spots on Vasanth Nagar and High Grounds. The annoyed residents have moved court and obtained a stay on the felling of trees. We hear that Mohandas Pai of Infosys, who lives in the neighbourhood, and other citizens, including Congress leaders VS Ugrappa and NA Haris have urged Governor HR Bhardwaj to direct the government to move the memorial to another location.

Where, on to defence land? Could it not be argued that people of Bangalore and Karnataka tend not to aspire to life in the armed forces precisely because the defence institutions in the city are alienated and alienating? And what is the real objection — cutting of trees? Haven’t leading citizens of Bangalore come to terms with the astonishing process of ‘raste agalikarana (road widening)’ where trees are coming to chop, chop, chop all the time? Most recently the green canopy on the margins of the magnificent golf club, the very same locality?

If there is a real issue of chopping down dozens of trees, the case begs a protest. But, honestly, four eucalyptus trees! For a war memorial! Patriot or not, I think we may have  brought upon ourselves a case of excess. I would urge the agitated citizens to reflect upon it a little more before pushing the confrontation to its logical limit.

It also needs to be said that the armed forces are sitting on plenty of real estate in the heart of Bangalore. There have been soft arguments offered at cocktail parties and clubs that the military areas have truly preserved the lung spaces of Bangalore.

I’m afraid that seems neither the intention nor the pride of the military establishment. If they want to put up ghastly buildings with heavy-footed architecture, they will not see the need to consult our government or the citizen groups in the process. Here is an opportunity to bring about a reconciliation between the very vocal civil Bangalore and a completely hidden, but very real military Bangalore.

My vote is for the memorial at the fountain.