On Independence Day, when the tricolour was flying across Karnataka, another symbol of identity was drawing an extraordinary crowd in Bengaluru - an HMT watch. A queue stretching nearly 2 kilometres reportedly formed as people waited to buy HMT’s special-edition watch featuring the Gandaberunda and Kannada numerals.
It was not a queue for a concert, a smartphone launch or a major sporting event. It was for a wristwatch. And that, perhaps, is what makes the scene so striking.
Why would people wait 2 kilometres for a watch?
For many buyers, this is not simply about telling time. The watch brings together three things that have a strong emotional connection in Karnataka - HMT, the Gandaberunda and the Kannada language.
The two-headed Gandaberunda, a powerful symbol associated with Karnataka, features prominently on the dial. Kannada numerals replace the conventional numerals, giving the watch an unmistakably local character.
For a generation that remembers HMT as a trusted Indian watch brand, the design also brings back a sense of nostalgia. For younger buyers, it offers something different a piece of Indian manufacturing history presented through Karnataka's cultural identity.
From an old favourite to a new craze
HMT watches once occupied an important place in Indian households. The brand became part of everyday life for generations of Indians, long before international watch brands became widely accessible.
Over the years, however, HMT watches moved from everyday utility to something of a collector's interest. The recent popularity of the Karnataka-themed models shows that the emotional value attached to the brand has not disappeared. Instead, it has found a new audience.
When Kannada becomes part of the design
The Kannada numerals are perhaps the most immediately noticeable feature for many buyers. A watch is normally designed to be universal. This one deliberately makes a statement about where it comes from. The Gandaberunda adds another layer to that identity.
Together, the symbols transform an ordinary wristwatch into something that can be read as a small expression of Kannada pride. That appears to be one reason the watch has generated so much interest among enthusiasts.
Kumaraswamy highlights the popularity
Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy also drew attention to the watches in an Independence Day social media post. He described HMT as a brand that has remained close to the hearts of Indians and praised the company's association with innovation and excellence.
Referring to the recently produced Karnataka-themed watches, Kumaraswamy highlighted the Gandaberunda and Kannada numerals and noted the enthusiasm among watch lovers purchasing them. His post added a political and public dimension to what was already becoming a popular consumer story.
More than nostalgia
The Bengaluru queue also raises a larger question: what makes an old Indian brand relevant again?
The answer may lie in the combination of heritage and identity. HMT provides the nostalgia. The Gandaberunda provides Karnataka's cultural symbolism. Kannada numerals provide a distinctly local touch.
And Independence Day provides the perfect backdrop. The result is a product that appeals simultaneously to collectors, HMT enthusiasts, Kannada admirers and people looking for something that feels distinctly Indian.
A different kind of Independence Day story
Independence Day is usually associated with flags, patriotic speeches, parades and memories of the freedom struggle. This year, Bengaluru's HMT queue offered another image.
People standing patiently for hours to own a watch may seem like a simple consumer trend. But behind the demand is a deeper attraction - the desire to own something that carries a piece of Indian industrial history and Karnataka's cultural identity.
A two-kilometre queue is therefore not just about a watch. It is about what the watch represents. An Indian brand. A Karnataka symbol. Kannada on the dial. And a generation discovering that an old name can still make people wait.
On a day celebrating India's freedom, the HMT watch found its own way to become part of the celebration - not just as a timepiece, but as a piece of identity people wanted to carry on their wrists.
Keywords
HMT Independence Day watch, HMT Gandaberunda watch, 2 km queue Bengaluru, HMT watch Bengaluru, Kannada numerals watch, HD Kumaraswamy HMT, Citizen News Puttur