My first visit to Bengaluru

It was in the year 1967 that I visited Bangalore (Bengaluru) for the first time. Also it was my first stay outside Kerala.

In 1966 I had finished my Masters degree in Statistics from Kerala University. As advised by my Professor, I registered for PhD. in the University and started working. It was during this time that the Indian Statistical Institute organized a Summer course on Advanced Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes. Though the Head Quarters of Indian Statistical Institute is at Calcutta, a regional center on Statistical Quality Control was functioning at Bengaluru. Hence the Summer course was organized here under the management of the regional center.

My Professor forwarded our (another research scholar also was there) applications for the Summer course, which were accepted. The Summer course was for a period of about 45 days. The venue was the Hebbal Campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences. The participants were either Ph.D. Scholars or lecturers in Statistics from various parts of the country. Our accommodation was arranged at the Veterinary College Hostel. Arrangements for food also were there. The academic schedule of the course was tight, and we had very little time to visit the city. However, the week-ends were set apart for this.

There was a cinema theater, owned by Defense Personnel, adjacent to the Hebbal Campus. We used to go there on Saturday evenings to see English movies. The ticket charges were very low. Small tea shops near the campus also were visited by us in the evenings. They supplied tea as 'one by two'- one tea split into two, which were sufficient for occasional drinking. We used to walk through the small roads see the surroundings. The place was almost a village, and most of the people were staying in hut like houses. They seemed to be laborers engaged in daily wages. Women folk engaged in the affairs of their homes. Children were seen wandering and playing. Since it was a vacation time, they were free.

During the weekends we used to go to the city. Though we visited Raman Research Institute, unfortunately, Dr. C. V. Raman was out of station during that period. We could see the famous Indian Institute of Science. I remember the junction, 'Mekhri Circle', where from we walked up to the Hebbal campus one day. Certain structures reminding Sir. Visweswarayya, the architect of modern Bengaluru also were seen on the way. Only twice or thrice we could go to the city, to see certain important places.

By the end of the summer institute, the organizers had arranged a trip to Mysore and Ooty (Udakamandal, Tamil Nadu). In Mysore the major attraction was Brindavan gardens. At Ooty the climate was little different. The mercury was a bit low, especially during the night. Many of us were not fully prepared to face this situation. Most of the North Indian delegates were having necessary dresses to cope up with the climate change. I had to cover myself with the bed provided in the lodge for sleeping. Since the stay was only for one night, we managed somehow. Next day, after a stroll, we started back.

After this visit I had no occasion to go over there for about five years. Second visit was only for attending the marriage of one of my friends there.