Flag-waving German missionary

You may not imagine statues of western missionaries and reformers carrying (or being made to carry) state flags. Well, you didn't take Karnataka - Bangalore - into account then.

There's this place, where Residency Road and MG Road intersect each other. It's right opposite Bangalore Central. Here, you'll find the statue of a very dignified looking, oldish gentleman. Often have I passed this road and looked wonderingly at this statue. Am sure many people haven't seen it, because one can't look at anything other than the road while driving in Bangalore. It's another thing that people drive like maniacs even when they do look at the road ahead and drive. I look, coz I don't drive! And here was this statue with a flag stuck to it.

Anyway, yesterday I decided to take a closer look at it. I was wrong. It wasn't just a dignified, elderly Englishman, but a dignified, elderly German missionary. I didn't make the connection between this guy and the dirty looking Karnataka flag. Then I saw the inscription on the pedestal. Apparently, this gentleman had rendered yeoman service to Kannada literature. Poor guy! Was that all his fault to get this awful, grimy mop stuck to his robes?

Each day goes by and Dr. Kittel waves this flag at people going by. At cars going by. At dogs that avoid near-collision with cows that just decided to explore Bangalore on their own. I cannot say Kittel's flag waving has done much, because life hasn't changed in this busy part of town - with or without flags!