British Inspired Names in Bangalore City: Collection & Analysis

Abstract

Bengaluru, is celebrating as India’s Silicon Valley, a city of speed, youth, and innovation. Yet, the working spaces and buzzing cafes, lie traces of a different legacy. The names of some of the city’s busiest streets, most visited parks, and oldest markets still reflect a colonial presence. From Fraser Town to Infantry Road, Cunningham Road to Richmond Road, the streets of Bengaluru honour British officials, army divisions, and administrative functionaries. These names became a tool of power and memory. Each of these individuals played a major role in shaping the colonial administration, so their names fixed in the Bangalore’s map. In 2014, though the city's name officially changed back to "Bengaluru". Some of its areas still retain British-inspired names, such as Cox Town, Richards Town, Fraser Town, Austin Town etc. which were named after the British officials. An attempt has been made here to collect and analyse the importance of such names.