A historical milestone in urban development and technology is being remembered today as citizens reflect on the momentous day, 120 years ago, when Bangalore (now Bengaluru) stepped out of the dark ages to become the first city in Asia to install electric street lights.
On the evening of August 5, 1905, a curious and eager crowd gathered near the K.R. Market area (then Siddikatte, near the Delhi Gate) to witness a marvel of modern science. At the ceremonial flick of a switch by Sir John Hewett, a member of the Viceroy’s Council, a cluster of incandescent lights mounted on a towering cast-iron pole blazed to life, replacing the old, soot-stained kerosene lamps.
This grand illumination was made possible by the ambitious Cauvery Falls Power Scheme, one of India’s earliest and most advanced hydroelectric projects. Power was transmitted over approximately 147 kilometers from the Shivanasamudra generating station to the city, initially established to electrify the Kolar Gold Fields.
The project was the vision of the then Maharaja of Mysore, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, and his Dewan, P.N. Krishnamurthi, who decided to utilize the surplus power for the benefit of the common citizens, positioning Bangalore at the forefront of technological adoption in the entire continent.
Within a year of the inauguration, the city had installed over 800 electric street lights and provided electricity connections to more than 1,600 domestic users, signaling a rapid shift from an agrarian town to a forward-looking metropolis.
“The installation of that first electric street light was not just a technical achievement; it was a profound declaration of the city’s intent to embrace modernity and progress,” said [Insert Name of a Local Historian or Civic Leader, e.g., historian Gajanana Sharma]. “It marked the moment Bangalore truly became the ‘City of Lights,’ a legacy that continues today as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’.”
While the original 30-foot cast-iron lamp posts have mostly been replaced by modern fixtures, a few preserved remnants, such as the one standing in the BBMP office premises, continue to serve as a tangible link to the city’s pioneering past.
The day stands as a powerful reminder of Bangalore’s early and enduring commitment to infrastructure and innovation, a journey that began with a single, historic light bulb 120 years ago.
