Title: Bangalore Multiplicity
Author: A. Ravindra
Publisher: Gangarams Publications
Publication date: 1 January 2012
A fascinating book celebrating Bangalore’s (Bengaluru) remarkable past. The publication offers a comprehensive look at the evolution of one of India’s most dynamic cities.
According to the book’s author, Bengaluru’s unique character was shaped by centuries of rule under different kingdoms and administrations. The book explores these many dimensions, revealing how they contributed to the city’s distinctive identity.
While Bengaluru is often associated with its founding by Kempegowda around five centuries ago, the region’s history likely stretches much further back. One of the earliest references to “Bengaluru” appears in a 9th-century inscription found on a monolithic stone at the historic Begur Temple. The book also highlights several lesser-known episodes from the city’s past, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s two-year stay in Bangalore and the construction of the city’s famous boundary towers by Kempegowda II.
The narrative traces Bangalore’s political journey through successive rulers and kingdoms. A notable chapter recounts how the city came under the control of Mysore ruler Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar, who reportedly acquired it from the Mughals for three lakh pagodas. Later, following the Anglo-Mysore conflicts and the siege of Bangalore Fort. It gradually came under British influence in the late eighteenth century, marking another significant turning point in its history.
The book also notes that Mahatma Gandhi spent nearly two months at Nandi Hills, adding yet another intriguing chapter to the region’s historical legacy.
