Abstract

Urban Transformations: Colonial Legacies and the Modern Identity of Bangalore: A Historical Analysis

Dr. Mahesh Kumar D.H.

Volume: 15 Issue: 4 2025

Abstract:

This study explores the enduring impact of colonial urban planning, administration, and socio-cultural influences on the contemporary identity of Bangalore, a city that today stands as a symbol of India’s technological and economic growth. This study focuses on the period of colonial rule, particularly following the establishment of the Bangalore Cantonment in 1809. The colonial rule introduced a dual-city model, segregating the indigenous ‘Pete’ from the newly established Cantonment area, each governed by distinct infrastructural priorities and urban aesthetics. Through historical analysis, archival mapping, and spatial comparison, the article highlights how colonial-era interventions laid the groundwork for persistent spatial inequalities, civic institutions, and patterns of land use that continue to shape Bangalore’s urban fabric. The research study has two objectives: 1) to study the urban transformations in Bangalore during the pre-colonial and post-colonial periods, and 2) to analyze the impact of colonial legacies on the urban form and development of modern Bangalore. The study found that colonial rule significantly influenced multiple aspects of Bangalore’s development, including infrastructure and public health, administrative structures and governance, socio-cultural dynamics, and environmental conditions.

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