Who Am I? Just a Mallu Boy Trying to Find His Way in Namma Bengaluru

“Bangalore gave me friends, failures, faith and a fresh start. This blog is my way of giving something back.”

• Tariq Sallam

Hi there! If you've landed on this page, I'm assuming you're either curious, lost, or stalking me for some reason. Either way, welcome!

I'm Tariq SP (oops, Tariq Sallam. Catch me over coffee and I'll explain that). Born way back in 1977 (yes, practically a dinosaur, but hey, not extinct yet), a Malayali by blood, a Bengalurean by heart, and someone who's been through more career changes than I've had hairstyles.

Let me take you through my story. It's got drama, it's got comedy, and a few not-so-fun plot twists too. So grab a cup of filter coffee, or Suleimani chai (I don't judge), and read on.

How Did Bangalore Win Me Over? From Kuwait to Cantonment

I was born in '77, back when black-and-white TVs were still cool and dinosaurs like me were just hatching. I spent my early years in Kuwait, soaking up the Gulf life. Yalla Habibi! That's where I did my schooling, ate a lot of shawarma (which I still do), and watched more Indian TV shows than I care to admit (thanks, VHS cassettes).

But life took a sharp turn after my 10th standard. I landed in Bangalore. And boy, was it love at first sniff.

I still remember stepping out of Cantonment railway station early one misty morning. The chill in the air, the light fog dancing around the auto-rickshaws, the sleepy charm. It felt like the city gave me a warm (or rather, cool) hug. That first auto ride through the dewy streets sealed the deal. Bangalore had me at "meteru".

What Were My College Days Like? More Outside Class Than Inside

I did my PU at Baldwin Methodist College (a lot of method, not much study). And then, like every good Malayali boy who wasn't good at dancing, singing or acting (I speak for myself, manasilayo), I joined Engineering.

I graduated from BMS College of Engineering as a Mechanical Engineer. Although, let's be honest, most of my mechanical skills were applied to bunking classes and "networking" at nearby bakeries. That included our early morning classes at Brahmin's Coffee Bar and Vidyarthi Bhavan. (Psst... I still visit Vidyarthi Bhavan every Sunday morning. So now you know where to bump into me.)

Sigh! That was life.

When Did the Hustle Bug Bite? Real Estate and Cars, in College

While most students were cramming for internals, I was hustling. Real estate and car sales became my side gig. I didn't know then that it would come full circle 30 years later.

Once I wrapped up my engineering (in four years, surprisingly) and also did a course at NIIT (do they still exist?), I found myself stepping into the world of tech.

What Was My First Real Job? Hello, Indya.com!

I got my first "real job" as a website developer with Indya.com Portal Pvt. Ltd., back when the internet was dial-up and MSN and Yahoo! Messenger ruled our lives. I went on to work with several IT firms over the next few years. But deep inside, the entrepreneur in me was itching. And the itch kept getting stronger.

What Was My First Business? Door-to-Door Dreams

I finally scratched that itch by launching a bi-weekly news magazine. Yup, printed, stapled, and pitched door-to-door by yours truly. I spent eight months pounding the pavements across the CBD, convincing shop owners to advertise. It was exciting, exhausting and, ultimately, short-lived.

But those eight months taught me something important: I had to get back into real estate.

How Did Real Estate Go From Dream Run to Trouble?

I got back into familiar waters. I set up shop in Indiranagar, launched a few real estate portals (back then, getting onto page one of Google was as easy as breathing), and started helping people buy and sell properties. Step by step, I connected with the builders and developers of Bangalore and was happily selling their projects across the city. I even ventured into selling a few projects around Mysore.

Hungry to learn more, I took up short stints at Hanu Reddy Realty, Knight Frank, and even the big leagues at Prestige Group. All of it was to understand the industry better, get structured exposure and sharpen my skills.

Business was good. Too good. That's when it happened. Greed knocked on my door, and I let it in.

What Went Wrong? When Ambition Outran Experience

I thought, "Why sell someone else's property when I can sell my own?" So I jumped into land development. And guess what? I jumped right into a 100-acre land development. Gulp!

With grand ideas, strong contacts and zero experience, I started drawing investments and got into a project that was way too big for me to handle on my own. And then, like a Jenga tower after a sneeze, everything came crashing down. Financially, personally, emotionally, I hit rock bottom.

How Did I Start Again? Reset Mode, Back to Digital

Broken but not defeated, I turned to digital marketing. I took up a course, got skilled, and began working as a content writer for one of the leading WordPress themes. Through COVID and beyond, that job kept me afloat.

But the mess I had created kept haunting me. So eventually, I quit the job and went back to real estate. This time with zero ego, tons of experience and a renewed sense of purpose. No more land development. Just honest-to-goodness estate agency work.

Where Am I Now? The Journey Back to Life

Am I still fixing the chaos I created? Yes. But for the first time in years, I feel confident. I'm finally heading in the right direction, with clarity and calm.

And through it all, my family stood by me. My parents, my sister, and most of all my mother, who deserves a lifetime of thanks and more.

Why Did I Start This Blog, and Why Now?

After everything I've been through, the highs, the free-falls and the caffeine-fuelled comebacks, I knew I had to create something meaningful. Something real. That's how The City 24/7 was born.

This isn't just another blog floating around on the internet. It's my corner of the web, a space where I get to share everything I've learned (and unlearned) over the years, as someone who has lived, worked, struggled and thrived in this beautiful madness we call Bangalore.

So what can you expect here? A bit of everything that makes Bangalore... Bangalore.

• Real estate. Of course! Tips, guides and inside stories for buyers, renters and investors.
• Things to do in Bangalore. Hidden gems, must-visit spots, food joints that deserve awards, parks, walks, weekend plans and everything in between. From the streets of Jayanagar to the rooftops of Koramangala, I've got you.
• Superbikes and luxury cars. Because why not dream big and loud? Seriously drool-worthy machines you can spot or own in the city.
• Rides, drives and escapes. Road trips, bike rides and quick getaways from Bangalore that deserve a spot on your calendar.
• Interviews with the who's who of Bangalore. Business moguls, startup wizards, artists and changemakers: the people shaping the city, and what makes them tick.
• Services that help Bangaloreans. Real estate agents (hello!), interior designers, home loan experts, or someone to finally sort that long-pending documentation. A list of trusted services to make life here easier.
• Guides and local wisdom. Registering a property, surviving your first Lalbagh Flower Show, finding the best schools, gyms or co-working spaces. Practical know-how and hyperlocal hacks.
• My stories. The ups, the downs, and the "you won't believe this" moments of my own life. If it helps even one person avoid a mistake I made, it's worth it.

In short, The City 24/7 is a reflection of my life in this city, with all its flavours, challenges, chaos and charm. Think of it as your unofficial Bangalore handbook, written by someone who's been here long enough to remember when MG Road was peaceful and Koramangala wasn't a parking lot.

So why now? Because now, more than ever, I believe in serving. This blog is my way of giving back to the city that has given me so much: friends, failures, faith and a fresh start.

Same city, new stories, always.

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