'Please forgive us, Gowdre': Redditors discuss current state of Bengaluru on Kempegowda Jayanti
As Bengaluru marked the birth anniversary of its visionary founder, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, netizens took to Reddit to reflect on the city's transformation, from a laid-back garden town to a bustling tech metropolis. The occasion, Kempegowda Jayanti, became more than a commemoration; it sparked a candid conversation about what the city has gained, lost, and continues to grapple with. Nadaprabhu Kempegowda's Jayanti is celebrated on June 27(ANI/ PIB)
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Often celebrated as the man who laid the foundation of modern Bengaluru, Kempegowda was praised in several posts for his foresight in urban planning. One user explained to newcomers, 'Kempegowda founded Bengaluru and envisioned a city with interconnected lakes, which prevented flooding and helped keep the city cool during summers.'
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bengaluru/comments/1ll99ev/happy_birthday_gowdre_please_forgive_us_for_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
But alongside admiration, there was a deep sense of nostalgia and regret.
One of the most emotional posts read: 'Happy birthday Gowdre, please forgive us for the current state of Bengaluru.' The line struck a chord with many, opening the floodgates to a heartfelt discussion on how the city's rapid expansion has left long-time residents feeling alienated.
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A local user shared: 'As someone born and brought up in Bengaluru, I hate what the city has become. Others may like it, but for us locals, it's changed beyond recognition. There was a time when traffic was minimal, the weather was lovely — and we didn't even talk about it much, it was just normal. The city had people from different linguistic backgrounds even before the IT boom, but it wasn't this frustrating.'
He went on to add a sobering concern about the city's future: 'If Bengaluru keeps expanding to the outskirts places like Ramanagara, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Dabaspet, and Magadi, what will be left of its core identity? I fear the population density will choke every part of the city.'
Others chimed in with similar sentiments, recalling a Bengaluru of tree-lined roads, slower days, and a more cohesive cultural fabric, something they feel is being diluted in today's startup-driven, traffic-jammed urban sprawl.
Interestingly, the post also attracted newcomers to the city who admitted they weren't familiar with Kempegowda and his legacy. 'New to Bangalore and trying to dive into Kannada history — who is this?' one asked. The thread soon turned into a mini history lesson, with users detailing how Kempegowda established the city's early layout, built lakes, and erected towers to demarcate the city's boundaries — markers that still exist today.
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UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today's answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at The Ken-Betwa River Link Project represents a significant milestone in India's river interlinking initiatives, aimed at addressing water scarcity in drought-prone regions. Discuss its potential benefits and associated ecological and socio-economic challenges. Discuss the evolution of the term 'yoga' in Indian literature—from the Vedas and Upanishads to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. Introduction — The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction. — It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts. Body — It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content. — The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points. — Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. QUESTION 1: The Ken-Betwa River Link Project represents a significant milestone in India's river interlinking initiatives, aimed at addressing water scarcity in drought-prone regions. Discuss its potential benefits and associated ecological and socio-economic challenges. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) envisions moving water from the Ken to the Betwa rivers, both of which are tributaries of the Yamuna. — The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-kilometer tunnel. According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the project will provide yearly irrigation to 10.62 lakh hectares (8.11 lakh ha in MP and 2.51 lakh ha in UP), supply drinking water to about 62 lakh people, and create 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — The Ken-Betwa Link Project comprises two phases. Phase I will comprise the construction of the Daudhan Dam complex and its component units, including the Low Level Tunnel, High Level Tunnel, Ken-Betwa Link Canal, and power plants. Phase II will include three components: Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project, and Kotha Barrage. — The notion of joining the Ken and the Betwa received a significant boost in August 2005, when the Centre and the two states signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding for the creation of a detailed project report (DPR). In 2008, the Centre designated the KBLP as a National Project. Later, it was added to the Prime Minister's package for the development of the drought-prone Bundelkhand region. — The project is in Bundelkhand, which includes 13 districts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. 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