Russell market, larder of Bangalore

Russell market, larder of Bangalore
Deccan Herald

Russell Market was founded by the English Sahibs in 1927. It continues to be the nerve centre of groceries, meat, flowers and other domestic needs.

In 1806, British troops stationed in the swampy, malaria-prone Srirangapatna, packed and left for their new station – further down in the southern maidan. A few days later, tents were pitched outside Bangalore Fort, and further interior at what is today the Command Hospital.



Cantonment


In time the shamianas and tents were replaced by buildings - barracks for soldiers and quarters for officers and their families. By 1895 the station developed into a full-fledged Cantonment. Soon the British civilians: administrators, traders, educationists, clothiers, butchers, bakers and candlestick makers came in to complete the picture.

The Civil & Military station had within it a peta-like densely populated commercial area. Farmers from nearby villages met traders there to sell their agricultural produce, eggs and poultry, milk and cattle. The residents got their provisions and imported household items from either South Parade or the Cash Bazaar, the present India Garage premises on St Mark’s Road. The bazaar also sold select ‘English’ vegetables, fruits and flowers that the British had brought with them and cultivated in India. With the growing demand, the Cash Bazaar premises soon became inadequate.



Blackpally

Representations were made to the Municipal Commissioner for a larger bazaar, and on the initiative of the Board of Commissioner’s President T B Russel the project got going. On a cleared site in Blackpally (where the Black Death had struck in 1898-99), the ‘Indian-style’ building completed in 1927 and was named after Mr Russel. The grand opening ceremony cost a princely sum of Rs 269 and 8 annas. In course of time Cantonment’s wholesale trade of green grocery was conducted at the Russel Market until the City Market came up.

Wet market

Patterned after the ‘wet markets’ in London, the Russel Market became the definitive address for ‘native’ and English farm produce, meats and fish and other catering needs.

A Market Sergeant managed the day-to-day affairs and monitored the cleanliness, hygiene and service in the premises. On December 24, an annual market show was held here and the committee organised various competitions for the event. “An unforgettable part of the show was the Kamti mithai – coloured powdered sugar pressed into figures of animals, fish, people, roses etc,” remembers old Bangalorean Mr Hosur N Ramakrishna, “Years later we realised that kamti stood for Committee!”, he adds humourously.



Parking problems

“The authorities were kind but also very strict. My grandfather had an excellent business,” says Ameer Nafees Khan of Al Ameen Flowers. Times have changed since then and Afroze, a wholesale vegetable merchant says, “We don’t see many housewives shopping here now because of the traffic and parking problems. Our business survives on hotels, company canteens and catering agencies.”



Flowers

Bhagya, the lady in charge of the flower stall at the entrance says her parents started the business 40 years ago. She has kept the family business alive by custom-making flower arrangements for offices, marriages and other functions.



Vegetables

A petty vegetable vendor says, “Old Anglo-Indians still come here but business is not as good as it used to be when I was a little boy helping my father run the shop. I fear one day the big shops with canned food items will take away our business.” He is partially right. While a lot of old Bangaloreans have this apprehension, many still feel that the ‘canned’ items will never take the place of fresh vegetables.



A century

Will Russel Market be around to celebrate its 100th year? Most ‘wet markets’ abroad today operate in air-conditioned, clean environs. Sheila Appa, who supplies gourmet food to the City’s glitterati says “It will be great to have such a system here too.”

The elegant English lady who descended from horse-drawn carriages and softly called out, “koi hai?” has long left the scene. Her place has been taken by hoteliers, jean-clad housewives and caterers like Sheila who speak in ‘Convent Kannada’ - a hopeful lot for whom there’s nothing like the fresh veggies and fruits from the good ol’ Russel Market.