Bengaluru in 80 stories: Interview with the creators of the book ‘BANGALOREAN’

BANGALOREAN celebrates Bengaluru’s spirit, featuring striking photos and candid narratives that bridge the old and new in the city’s dynamic identity

Bengaluru of today, in some ways, is a city of contrasts, where ancient temples stand in the shadow of gleaming tech parks. It straddles the old-world charm of its pensioners’ paradise moniker and the bustling energy of its Silicon Valley aspirations. To tell the story, or rather, the multiple stories of the city and its people, Kaveri Sinhji, a social anthropologist and Tania Singh Khosla, a designer, have spearheaded a book, BANGALOREAN. Melissa Parkerton and Farrah Gillani wrote it, and the photographs were taken by Katya Antoni and Chris Page.

The book, released earlier this month, is a culmination of candid conversations, striking portraits, and a palpable sense of belonging. Over 80 people, including autorickshaw drivers, royalty, tech entrepreneurs, social workers, and artisans, are featured in the 340-page book.

The genesis of BANGALOREAN was organic, almost serendipitous. “When we set out, we didn’t call the project BANGALOREAN. That name came later,” Kaveri recounts. Initially, she envisioned an anthropological work — no photographs, just written profiles. A chance encounter with photographer Katya Antoni, however, changed everything. Katya’s images captured during a walk through Dhobi Ghat were so evocative that Kaveri invited her to join the project. “It was only after discussing with Tania that we realised we didn’t even know what to call this project. The name BANGALOREAN came after everything was over.”

Kaveri speaks with fondness about the diverse individuals featured in the book. “VIPs were actually easier to get for me than CB Venkat Raju, who’s shy and introverted and doesn’t want the limelight,” she says. High-profile names like Narayana Murthy and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw were surprisingly accessible. “They are where they are for a reason, right? There’s no delay with them. It was easy to get an appointment, go there, and get an interview.”

Preparation was key. The team conducted exhaustive research to craft questions that had not been asked before. “We knew what questions had not been answered in the public domain. We also asked them, ‘What have you never shared?’” Kaveri recalls. Narayana Murthy, for instance, shared his 12-point plan for Bengaluru, a blueprint for the city’s future that had never been published before, with one condition: “I will only allow you to publish me if you publish my plan,” he insisted.

The book does not just profile tech titans such as Murthy or Mazumdar-Shaw; it also celebrates the stories of everyday Bangaloreans. From the potter in Potter’s Town to urbanist Naresh Narasimhan, the BANGALOREAN team carefully chose each profile to represent the city’s spirit. Tania reflects on the emotional depth uncovered during the interviews. “Kiran is a friend, but some of the things covered in the book, like her talking about her father and his pivotal role in making her believe she could do anything, were new to me.”

The honesty of the subjects was striking to Tania and Kaveri. For instance, Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, laid bare his vulnerabilities. “I’m no saint. Don’t make me out to be a saint. I’m as insecure, jealous, and ambitious as anyone else,” he confessed. “The way the interviews were conducted and the premise of the book allowed the walls to come down a bit with the people interviewed,” adds Tania.