Published Paper Details:

This research article delves into the historical process of colonial urbanization in Bangalore, emphasizing the critical role played by British colonial authorities in reshaping the city's spatial, infrastructural, and socio-political landscape during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Prior to British involvement, Bangalore existed as a modest regional center under the rule of South Indian dynasties and later, the Wodeyar kings of Mysore. However, the British arrival in the early 1800s--specifically the establishment of the Bangalore Cantonment in 1809--marked a pivotal moment that would redefine the urban trajectory of the city. Colonial governance prioritized strategic military needs, administrative efficiency, and economic extraction, leading to the construction of infrastructure such as railways, military installations, roads, drainage, and telegraph lines. These developments, while modern in form, were primarily designed to serve colonial interests. The creation of the Cantonment also introduced a physical and administrative division between British-occupied Bangalore and the native town (the "Pete" area), governed by the princely state of Mysore. This led to the formation of a "dual city" characterized by socio-spatial segregation, racial hierarchies, and uneven urban development. Drawing on archival documents, historical maps, municipal records, and scholarly interpretations, the article analyzes how these colonial interventions established a lasting urban legacy. It argues that the British approach to urbanism--marked by control, surveillance, and segregation--laid the groundwork for many of the infrastructural and spatial inequalities that persist in contemporary Bengaluru. Moreover, the paper reflects on how colonial-era institutions and planning ideologies influenced the city's post-independence transformation into a major administrative, military, and later, technological hub. By unpacking these layered histories, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of urban modernity and postcolonial identity in Indian cities.