Saturday, June 16, 2018

Nostalgia

I have few questions for old punekars

What is status of old movie theaters in and around Pune like Alka,Arun, Jaihind, Hindvijay, Apsara, Vijay, Deccan, apollo and so on. Few still exist. But we Punekars  have memories. Isnt it?

Have you rented bikes esp small ones for learning cycle on roads in summer?

Did you learn swimming at swimming pools like Mandal, SP, Tilak, shahu, Gopal ?

A trip to Sarasbaug Peshwepark followed by bhel was your idea of ultimate happiness?

Did you think that  camp, Deccan were other worlds, kothrud, pashan, hadapsar were villages on outskirts?

Did you attend Vasant Vyakhanmala, majestic gappa?

Were your picnics conducted at Univ campus, empress garden, shinde chatri, aga khan palace?

Did you select ganesha idol for your house and spend whole night to decorate the seat.

Do you still have artis etc by heart?

Were you awake whole night to take a glimpse of dagdusheth rath ?

Did you roam around streets of peth areas watching Ganpati decoration?

Were Udpi hotels only source of eating out experience?

Did you feel proud of travelling by Deccan queen?

Did you count no of tunnels in Ghat?

Did you travel by ST to places beyond katraj Ghat or by those roads in north east of Pune?

Did you attend political rallies prior to elections on streets and grounds?

Did you see children theatre in summer at bharat or tilak or balgandharv?

Did you join a library in summer to read books in a group along with you friends.

Did you stand in  queue for only PMT bus to sinhagad paytha ?

Did you venture out of house during curfew imposed by super popular TV serials?

Were you fan of then established brands like Chitale, sujata mastani, bedekar misal, etc?

Did you wonder why rangpanchami was always close to final exams?

Did you venture to appa balwant chowk as the schools were about to reopen after summer vacations?

Did you shop at laxmi road before Diwali?

Were you the first one to light cracker on Narak chaturthI?

Did you go to sarasbaug on narak chaturdashi mornimg?

Did you prepare clay fort and decorated it with idols?

Did you enjoy eating faral or helping ladies in the family prepare it?

Was watching TV idea to spend new years eve?

There are many and may memories about life in Old Pune. You may add to this list…..

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Rebirth

Life does not give a second chance to anyone. Few lucky ones get this chance. Change is only constant is a cliche but speed of those changes sometimes dazzles you and you wonder if is it a  virtual reality or plain windmills of god. So as this space (blog) gets its rebirth, let try to do some good work.

On world front, lot of things are happening at speed mentioned above be it US politics, Brexit, Koreas, Syria, Saudi, Iran, Russia, Mexico, Afghanistan. As world enters few treasured months of summer, these are the issues which impact economy and directly the spirits of masses. Good days for some sectors which not for some. Technology scene is intriguing and promises some key inflection points.

Indian summer has led way to Monsoon on which its economy depends. Indian It also awaits paradigm shift thanks to various trade issues. We gear up to 2019, lot of political activities are shaping up. Only time will tell if the  opposition unity as shown in Karnataka is sustainable? Will it be applicable all over. Kashmir issue has turned more violent as it happens in summer. Pakistan is walking tight rope. There seems to be some sinister agenda on left to divide the nation on caste lines. Govt has taken lot of flak on implementation of aadhar linkup, demonetization, GST. Don’t expect more reforms and brave decisions till 2019.

In Maharashtra, SS is acting strangely just like any opportunist party. Even BJP is unsure to position itself due to tradition issues like separate vidharbha, their need to access keys of BMC, lack of local nuances in western maharashtra, marathwada and Konkan.

Pune having voted out NCP and having BJP in control, has got metro. Law and Order, Roads , pollution, traffic,environment, river cleaning etc issues are still in limbo.  Water issue is still a problem each year depending on Monsoon performance in the catchment areas. That reminds me of beautiful season for outings, trekking, tea, kanda bhaji, vad pav, bhutta…

As world will turn into soccer zone staring 14th june in Russia, indian cricket also has a summer to prove in England…..