I was passing through J C Road when this historic theatre building caught my eye…

Once upon a time, Shivaji Theatre was a major landmark in Bengaluru; today, it is a neglected, dilapidated building. But against the glass facade of the new economy that drives Bangalore today, the statue of Shivaji still stands, defying the present that has relegated him to the dusty pages of history. One can see the sculptor’s name, and the date, 1940…

And right under the statue is a little tableau: here’s the goddess Bharat Mata, giving Shivaji the sword to fight with, as he kneels before Her:

How much longer, with the greed for real estate that we see today, will this historic building stand? Not for long, and that’s a sad commentary on our inability to preserve some of the highlights of our past.