Mysore:
As an Indian soldier during World War II, C K Narasimha Murthy had fought the Allied forces from places like Peshawar. But as an ex-serviceman, he has not been able to fight Karnataka's red tape.
His 40x60 square feet BDA residential site, allotted to him in 2004, has still not been registered in his name.
What's happened with Mr Narasimha Murthy is a grim commentary of our times - a system that lets people in power gobble up acres of prime land, while making a 94-year-old war veteran run around for over six years for a small piece of land that is rightfully his, and for which he has already paid.
The nonagenarian has spent days at the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) office trying to find out when his site would really be his. But each time he is asked to come the next time. That is, travel again from 150 km away at Mysore where he stays with his son.
"Even for an ex-serviceman, they don't give answer. They are simply avoiding, turning me away. I wrote to Chief Minister, to Soldier Board, to Defence Minister, but there was no response. It's my bad luck that's all I can say," Mr Murthy said.
So why is the BDA still not giving him the promised plot?
"It has come to our notice now there are a large number of people who have lost revenue sites, also lost land in that area. We are taking action to clear all this backlog. We will also examine his case and take action," said Bharatlal Meena, Chairman, Bangalore Development Authority.
Meanwhile, the soldier waits. He recalls the time he saw the Mahatma in the year 1941, now only memories left in a state whose attitude to citizens like him is anything but Gandhian.