Its not C&H, but B&H

Surfing over the Internet, found that Express Group has come up with a new series – Bangalore (B) or Hyderabad (H)? This feature allows people to comment on these cities. Interesting it is!! And, when you say B or H, pretty obvious that IT would come into picture. And so it is.

From the initial days of my engineering, I have read a lot of such articles in many of the Indian/International magazines. Those were the times when N. ChandraBabu Naidu was at the peak in AP. And we were governed by kudkaa (drunkard) JH Patel, who was as pathetic an administrator. Friends in our college always envied Hyderabadis which beamed H as the next San Jose of India. Later on after studies, *joined* the bandwagon of IT pros. It’s almost 3+(7+ years from 99) years now, but still H is not even in touching distance to B, let alone overtaking it. Even though, B has seen pathetic administrators likes of JH Patel(or Dharam paaji), unstable government, no support from central government, very few bureaucratic decisions are taken by Bangaloreans in the Union Cabinet. Still, B is unrivalled as the THE SILICON CITY of the sub-continent.

Seriously pity those, who say H will overtake B in just a few years. Although, H has seen the elite administrators in NC and YSR, they are still way behind. I respect those 2 a lot esp. the way NC changed the look of H. But, one should remember that the brand of Bangalore has been built from the past 20-25 years. It is just that it got its due notice during late 90’s. True, H is growing, but please don’t compare it with B. The NASSCOMM IT exports for the year 2005-06, gave B the top position with a whooping 37,500 Cr INR, where as H was around 12,000 Cr INR(4th place, not even second). Any comparison guys?

Our dearest AP CM YSR says he has shown a growth (IT) of 52% in the last year compared to the last. Obviously if earlier revenues are less, the growth percentage usually will increase by default (considering the economic boom). Its like, my ex-company Country Operations Manager saying that we have achieved incredible growth rate of 100% way above from the likes of Infosys, Wipro or TCS. Actually, the company was around 100+ resources and in a year its 200+. Our mahatma from US tries to relate it. Funnyy!!!

Coming back, stylish batsman from H, VVS Laxman, tries to cover-up the climatic condition, by writing, it’s a *bit* hot during summer. May be he was comparing it with the African Summer lol. I seriously hope, the Shaan of Bangalore Rahul or Anil, writes about the unseen glory of B. Laxmans’ statement was similar to SM Krishna uttering he will change B to Singapore in 5 years. Pity him!!!

Well, I am not conveying that H is nowhere in the IT map. It is and it has to. But, all these comparisons with B is stale and not upto it. Bangalore is a set BRAND, while Hyderabad is trying to be one. If Bill Gates or Bush, plans to visit H instead of B, doesn’t mean it has taken off the sheen of B and mad eH the HOT sellling pancake. Its just due to political compulsions and to a certain extent for all the good work which is being carried over there by the government there. I truly admire that. But, that does not mean B is sitting quiet on its past glory. Altough, it may not be the erstwhile Garden City but it is still Bangalore - Namma Bengalooru.

People in Bangalore would love to see cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai or Pune, keep up the pace with the emerging economy boom. After all, we would love to visualize the technology Quadrangle of Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai with mushroom-like industries creeping up in smaller cities like Mysore, Mangalore, Pune, Tirupati, Madurai etc.,

India in 2020, they say :-)

Continued……