The Ambivalent Legacy: The Role of British Governor-Generals in the Cultural and Temple Landscape of Colonial Bangalore (1800–1857)
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The British colonial period (1800–1857) marked a transformative phase in the evolution of Bangalore’s cultural and religious landscape. As the administrative and military hub of the Mysore region, the city became a focal point for British experimentation in urban planning, architecture, and heritage policy. The Governor-Generals of the British East India Company played a crucial role not only in shaping the political and economic spheres of Bangalore but also in redefining its cultural and temple spaces. Their interventions-ranging from temple restorations and spatial reorganizations to cultural appropriations-reflected both admiration and ambivalence toward native traditions. This paper explores how the British Governor-Generals’ policies and attitudes toward temples, culture, and urban design contributed to the emergence of a hybrid colonial-modern identity in Bangalore. The study draws upon archival records, government reports, and scholarly interpretations to reveal the ambivalent legacy of colonial engagement with Bangalore’s sacred geography.
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