Great escape from Cubbon Park

Great escape from Cubbon Park

By Janaki Murali
Deccan Herald


Stuck in the heavy downpour, I had to wade through knee deep water near Bal Bhavan, Cubbon park, as my vehicle spluttered and collapsed. It was only seven in the evening, but it was already pitch dark. The only person walking in front of me in the lonely park, was a waiter from Eden Park. I was afraid of him, as I thought I might become a victim of mugging. I had gold jewellery on my person and tried to hide my shining bangles with my dupatta.

But how wrong I was. The person yelled out to me a moment later, as his feet sank in an open manhole. He pulled himself out and yelled out, “Take care, come this way.” He reached out for my hand, and pulled me to the edge of the culvert. I clutched to the thorny bushes and passed the immediate danger only to be faced with another.

Yells and shouts and we discovered there was a live wire floating in the water ahead. A person had been electrocuted. The waiter and I were joined by two women with a child. They were returning from Bal Bhavan. The women were nearly in tears.


“Please let us go together, there will be safety in numbers,’’ one of the women told me. The other one was reciting slokas. A man with his handcart was ahead of us. He boldly ventured forward, even as a group of people beyond the gate opposite Gandhi statue kept yelling instructions.

“Keep to the centre, and you will be safe.”

“Keep off the water.”

Following the instructions, we crossed the water, with our hearts in our mouth. A group of strangers helped by another group of strangers.

We were safe, but who was the person who was lying lifeless in a grotesque position near the parking lot. Did I know him? “Don’t look madam, go home to the safety of your family,” said the guy selling corn.

I couldn’t reply to him, as my throat was choked as I was struck by the humaneness of ordinary Bangaloreans.