The Book of Portraits & Stories
from a Changing City
from a Changing City
The Book of
Portraits & Stories
from a Changing City
Portraits & Stories
from a Changing City
Troubled Rickshaw Driver
“When my auto repair expenses are big, when there are family problems, when I fight with Janaki, I drink more.”
“When my auto repair expenses are big, when there are family problems, when I fight with Janaki, I drink more.”
Gerd Hoefner
Immersed German Corporate
“Anyone coming to India with the hope of making change must come with the intention of staying for at least four or five years.”
“Anyone coming to India with the hope of making change must come with the intention of staying for at least four or five years.”
Aloma Lobo
Champion of adoption
“It makes me nervous that Bangalore will become less accepting.”
“It makes me nervous that Bangalore will become less accepting.”
Sanjiv Shanmugham
Connoisseur of Good Living
“You can love fashion, travel and indulgence, and still value social justice and charity. There is a time and a place for everything.”
“You can love fashion, travel and indulgence, and still value social justice and charity. There is a time and a place for everything.”
Dhobi - C Raju
Washermen Community Leader
"It was preordained that Raju would follow in his father’s footsteps as a dhobi. Today, an elder in the community, he is responsible for its reputation — a role he takes very seriously"
"It was preordained that Raju would follow in his father’s footsteps as a dhobi. Today, an elder in the community, he is responsible for its reputation — a role he takes very seriously"
Devika
Advocate for Artisans
“If you just wear one thing every day that is handmade, you will feel a difference in your life.”
“If you just wear one thing every day that is handmade, you will feel a difference in your life.”
Guru of Happiness
“Bangalore is called the IT City. To me, IT means Inner Transformation.”
“Bangalore is called the IT City. To me, IT means Inner Transformation.”
Patrick Wilson
Nostalgic Anglo-Indian Storyteller
“Bangalore feels like home, connecting with my roots.
I like being here. I can’t think of a better place to be.”
“Bangalore feels like home, connecting with my roots.
I like being here. I can’t think of a better place to be.”
Bangalore is a vibrant city that draws people from all over the globe and from diverse backgrounds. Bangalorean captures this rich tapestry through individual portraits and stories, reflecting the city's dynamic social fabric. Countless interviews and hundreds of photographs were taken to convey the essence of Bangalore, even as it navigates significant changes and challenges.
Each featured Bangalorean highlights a unique aspect of the city, sometimes through celebrating traditional occupations such as washermen, potters, snake-catchers, or kirana shop owners; sometimes by showcasing newer residents, beneficiaries of Bangalore's liberalisation and innovations in technology. The resulting population surge has transformed how Bangaloreans eat, dress, travel, and educate themselves, opening new opportunities - and changing the lifestyles for whole communities, such as the air force retirees, farmers, Anglo-Indians and traditional restaurateurs.
Bangalorean also mirrors the city's distinct characteristics. For example, the city's famous tolerance is evident in the images of devotees from various religions shown side by side on the page, as they live side by side in real life. Activists advocating for adoption, LGBTQ+ rights, and social empowerment are also celebrated within these pages, as are entrepreneurs, who have chosen this city over all others, to build their billion rupee industries.
Whether recent arrivals or descendants of generations past, each individual in this book embodies a unique identity tied to the city: each is a true Bangalorean.
Each featured Bangalorean highlights a unique aspect of the city, sometimes through celebrating traditional occupations such as washermen, potters, snake-catchers, or kirana shop owners; sometimes by showcasing newer residents, beneficiaries of Bangalore's liberalisation and innovations in technology. The resulting population surge has transformed how Bangaloreans eat, dress, travel, and educate themselves, opening new opportunities - and changing the lifestyles for whole communities, such as the air force retirees, farmers, Anglo-Indians and traditional restaurateurs.
Bangalorean also mirrors the city's distinct characteristics. For example, the city's famous tolerance is evident in the images of devotees from various religions shown side by side on the page, as they live side by side in real life. Activists advocating for adoption, LGBTQ+ rights, and social empowerment are also celebrated within these pages, as are entrepreneurs, who have chosen this city over all others, to build their billion rupee industries.
Whether recent arrivals or descendants of generations past, each individual in this book embodies a unique identity tied to the city: each is a true Bangalorean.
Exhibitions at the Museum of Art & Photography
Celebrate the launch of our new book at the Art Museum of Photography in Bangalore—a biography that brings to life the stories of those who call this vibrant city home. Immerse yourself in a digital exhibition featuring stunning photos from the book, meet the authors and photographers behind the project, and connect with some of the inspiring individuals whose stories fill its pages.
More than a book launch, this event is a celebration of Bangalore’s heart and soul. Be part of this unforgettable evening and take home a piece of the city in book form.
Limited space available! Register by emailing bookbangalorean@gmail.com and wait for spot confirmation
Celebrate the launch of our new book at the Art Museum of Photography in Bangalore—a biography that brings to life the stories of those who call this vibrant city home. Immerse yourself in a digital exhibition featuring stunning photos from the book, meet the authors and photographers behind the project, and connect with some of the inspiring individuals whose stories fill its pages.
More than a book launch, this event is a celebration of Bangalore’s heart and soul. Be part of this unforgettable evening and take home a piece of the city in book form.
Limited space available! Register by emailing bookbangalorean@gmail.com and wait for spot confirmation
When: December 15th from 5-7pm
Where: MAP (Museum of Art and Photography)
22, Kasturba Rd, Shanthala Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001
Where: MAP (Museum of Art and Photography)
22, Kasturba Rd, Shanthala Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001
ANNOUNCING THE BOOK LAUNCH!
Order Book
Order Bangalorean.
To secure your copy, please fill in the form below.
To secure your copy, please fill in the form below.
The project team
The smartest people work every day to provide the best service and make our clients happy
- Kaveri SinhjiKaveri Sinhji founded the company One World, with the aim to bridge cultural divides through travel, cross-culture training, workshops, coaching and organised experiences.
During the ten years she offered these services, she continued to indulge her penchant for psychology. history and social anthropology through study and work with cross-culture, offering to bridge the gap of understanding and empathy to foreign businesses and individuals attempting to appreciate the Indian context, and vice versa.
The culmination of all the passion Kaveri has felt during her work as a social anthropologist lies here in her brainchild, Bangalorean. - Melissa ParkertonMelissa Parkerton lived in Bangalore from 2017-2019 with her husband, Tom Wells. She fell in love with the city and was grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many of the people who claim Bangalore as home. Melissa is a graduate of Dartmouth College and has a Master's in Applied Behavioral Science from the Leadership Institute of Seattle.
While in Bangalore, she served as faculty for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, working to reduce maternal and neonatal mortaility in Bihar, developed a mentorship program for the graduates of Shanti Bhavan in Tamil Nadu, and revelled in the opportunity to work with friends to create Bangalorean. - Farrah GillaniFarrah Gillani came from the Garden of England to the Garden City of Bangalore with stints in sunny Stockholm and Luxembourg in between. A one-time employee at Mars Inc, a Cambridge alumnus, and a former online magazine proprietor, Farrah was delighted to turn her passion for writing into her newfound passion for Bangalore and its people.
During her time in India, Farrah worked at Shanti Bhavan, a school dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty, as well as being a VP at the International Club of Bangalore. It was through her interviews with characters in this book, however, that she really started to understand this glorious, multifaceted city. The result is Bangalorean. - Katya AntoniKatya Antoni is a professional sailing and horse polo photographer who, for the past 15 years, has worked with international sports teams all over the world.
After living in India for 5 years, she developed as a documentary photo-grapher. She traveled around India with WWF, Save the Children, and the IKEA Foundation to capture true life in small villages and huge cities. Being in Bangalore for more than 3 years helped her to connect with the city and each character of the book.
Now, Katya is conducting mindful photography courses in Portugal and hopes that you will not only see but feel the people she captured throughout Bangalorean. - Chris PageChris Page, a distinguished member of the Royal Photographic Society, has carved a niche for himself in the realm of photography. His specialization lies in Street and Portraiture photography, where he captures the essence of life and human emotions. His work is not just about taking pictures; it's about narrating stories through his lens, stories that resonate with the viewers and leave a lasting impact.
Bangalore, a city known for its vibrant culture and technological advance-ments, holds a special place in Chris* heart. The city's bustling streets, colourful markets, and warm people have been a constant source of inspiration for his work, and especially in Bangalorean. - Tania Singh KhoslaTania Singh Khosla is the Founder and Creative Director of award-winning design firm, TSK Design.
After receiving her BA in Studio Art from Mount Holyoke College, and MFA in Graphic Design from Yale University, she returned to India to establish the firm in 1997. When design was still nascent in India, Tania made Bangalore her home. and helped pioneer what is now a thriving creative industry. TSK Design has created exciting design solutions for diverse clients and their work has been showcased internationally, including at the VSA, London; Experimenta, Lisbon; Salone del Mobile, Milan.
Tania has been a speaker and jurist at global design events, but it is Bangalore that gave her the first big breaks. She believes that its people are willing to take risks and think differently, and that very spirit of the city she loves is represented here, in Bangalorean.
