A Tale of Two Connecting Rivers

 

For a Nutmeg like me to inhabit in the ‘Land of Steady Habits’ that is the Constitution State of Connecticut out of all the fifty states of the US is just a divine Connection. This is a connection defined by two rivers. One of these two rivers is the good old Mula-Mutha running through Pune and the other one is River Connecticut running through this US state that is named on this river.  To define this connect in Mathematical terms,   this is a case of linear correlation:  What Pune is to India is what Connecticut is to the USA. And it was very easy for a diehard ‘Punekar’ like me to assimilate into Connecticut culture.

Let’s start with the parallels in the History.  The name Connecticut is actually a native ‘Indian’ term ‘Quinnehtukqu’ meaning a long land on the long tidal river. Connecticut River originates in Canada to reach this state from north cutting the state centrally to meet long island sound in the south. Initial Dutch Settlers from NY traveled up here to form small colonies in and around the 1610s. The Pilgrims who had landed near Boston and later Puritans who came in after the Pilgrims inhabited the state around the late 1630s during the same time when Shivaji Maharaj entered in the ravaged city of Pune along with his mother Jijabai.  Pilgrims were the colonists from England who formed New England to seek out a new life as they were not so well-off people. Puritans came in later to form new order highlighting conservative values they found wanting in England that was then. These were well-off people. Thus they tried to form order through the order of rules. The first constitution was written here and thus Connecticut is called Constitution State. People from Pune are also famous for writing their own rules in form of boards named ‘Puneri Patya’. This is called the state of steady habits with the affinity to comply with rules and being conservative. People of old Pune were also termed as conservatives but I disagree with that tag as Pune has given the country many reformers. This state is called Nutmeg state as people in this state are eloquent, ingenious, and shrewd that they were able to make and sell wooden nutmegs.   The same can be said about old residents of Pune. Even now Connecticut is called ‘Still Revolutionary State' for its role in American Independence and after. The same can be said about Pune. Connecticut's greatest contribution to the war of American Independence was the fact that it furnished many supplies to the Continental Army.  The state of Connecticut was an essential industrial center for World War II.  Connecticut produced 54% of all ammunition for the United States during the war, as well as producing brass, rubber, and many other things.  Just like Pune is playing its role now in Covid war by supplying Vaccine to the world.

The area of Connecticut is 5543 sq mt which is slightly less than Pune District. Connecticut is located between NY and Boston just as Pune is strategically located connecting regions of Deccan to the coast.  It is a part of the Tristate of NY NJ and CT as well part of New England with Mass, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont.  This state along with the entire New England area turns into heaven in the fall season with fall colors same as Pune turns into heaven in monsoons.  The woods of Connecticut are very famous. The green slopes, idyllic neat villages, rich towns, lakes, forests, rivers make this area very beautiful just like the hills around Pune. This state has a slogan that it’s a state of forests and hills. Winters are harsh and summers mildly hot and sticky but more or less weather is fine due to proximity to the coast just as old Pune weather was in the past.

Before and after World War II this was a very industrialized state making submarines, engineering goods. Many products like Frisbee, Vacuum Cleaner, sewing machine, toothpaste, dictionary, submarine, can-opener were first made in the world in Connecticut. After the 90s it lost its prominence due to taxation policies. To generate revenues this state opened up policies that allowed setting casinos and till recently boasted top two of the largest Casino in the western hemisphere (surprised that Connecticut casinos beat Vegas). Though it is still a financial hub with Hartford, the state capital is called as the Insurance capital of the world. The state which gave the world J P Morgan hosts top financial honchos in the rich NY bordering towns like Greenwich, New Canaan, and Westport. Similarly, Pune became the auto and IT hub of India. The world-famous universities like Yale, Wesleyan, Connecticut College, and UConn are located here. It has a rich sports tradition with loyalties for baseball and football divided between the bigger teams of NY and MA.  UConn basketball history is the richest in the US.  Pune also is known for universities and institutions. US Navy has few big bases in CT same as the Indian army has bases in Pune.

Pune has great Food culture as Connecticut. The world’s first lobster roll and the burger were made in Connecticut. The New Haven in CT is famous for pizza. Celebrities like John Mayer, George W Bush, Meg Ryan, Katherine Hepburn, Mel Gibson, and Meryl Streep are from this state. Many rich businessmen, CXOs, have selected the rich towns of Connecticut to Reside and retire. They say if you are retired rich you are in Connecticut. Pune also was at one time a retirement paradise.

The human mind is very adaptable as it adjusts to the place where destiny leads it. My own life journey started near Mula Mutha River and has reached the banks of this Connecticut River where I have created many memories as well. Life is like a river always flowing with events leaving back memories of civilizations along its banks.