अमेरिकेतील सदाशिव पेठ: कनेक्टिकट

जेव्हा आपण अमेरिकेचा  विचार  करतो तेंव्हा डोळ्या समोर काय उभे राहते  .  तसे म्हणजे आपण अमेरिकेचा विचार किंवा अमेरिकन आचार केंव्हा करत नाही हा उपप्रश्ण.  इथे आचार म्हणजे लोणचं नाही. आचार म्हणजे अनुकरण. प्रत्येकाच्या आयुष्यात अमेरिका किंवा अमेरिकन गोष्टींचा प्रभाव हा असतोच  ते राहू द्या. अमेरिका म्हणजे  डोळ्यासमोर येतात ते  न्यूयॉर्क शहर , स्टॅचू ऑफ लिबर्टी , मॅनहॅटन , ग्रँड कॅन्यन , वेगास , गोल्डन गेट , बे एरिया, हॉलिवूड, लॉस अँजेलिस डिस्नेलॅण्ड . आपल्या कामा-व्यवसायाकरिता आणखी पुढे गेल्यास न्यू जर्सी , सिएटल , शिकागो , डेट्रॉईट, टेक्सास, फ्लोरिडा. आपण भटके विमुक्त असाल तर नायगारा, अलास्का , हवाई पर्यंत डॉलर उडवून स्वतः विमानाने उडता .  तसे तर आपण भारतीय खूप ठिकाणी पसरलो आहोत पण मला हाडे पसरायला जागा मिळाली ती अमेरिकेतील  सदाशिव पेठ म्हणजे कनेक्टिकट  राज्य.  मी हाडाचा सदाशिवपेठी पुणेकर असल्यामुळे असेल कदाचित.

कनेक्टिकट राज्याला  अमेरिकेत लँड ऑफ स्टेडी हॅबिट्स (land of steady habits ) असे म्हणतात. म्हणजे ह्या राज्यात लोक सरळमार्गी  नियम पाळणारी पापभिरू असतात. मुख्य म्हणजे राजकारणातील प्रचलित विचारसरणीचे पालन करणारी असतात.  गुगल ट्रान्सलेट वापरून कन्झर्वेटिव्ह ह्या इंग्लिश शब्दाचा अर्थ   मराठीत पुराणमतवादी असा होतो. पण ज्या सदाशिव पेठेनी   इतके सुधारक, क्रांतिकारी , नवमतवादी दिले तिला पुराणमतवादी म्हणणे चुकीचे होईल. पुराणमतवादी च्या विरुद्ध म्हणजे पुरोगामी . सदाशिव पेठी लोकांना मी पुरोगामी कधीच म्हणणार नाही कारण सद्यपरिस्थितीत ती एक उपहास किंवा चेष्टा झाली आहे  . एक मात्र आहे कि आपल्या मराठी विश्वात पुण्या ला जे स्थान आहे ते इथे  न्यू   इंग्लंड भागाला आणि जे स्थान सदाशिव पेठेला आहे ते कनेक्टिकट ला.

Gear Up

Two thirds of 2019 is gone and we head towards last four months of the decade. This is the time to gear up. Gear up to celebrate the festivities waiting for the remainder part of the year. Gear up to recoup after long summer and unprecedented rains, cyclones, floods. Gear up to face new challenges like economic downturn, emerging market dynamics, wars, terror, extreme polarization and so on. Gear up to meet personal goals targets that we usually plan for the next Calendar year. This calendar change would usher in the new decade of 2020s. Lot was said about 2020 as landmark in human history. But signs are dangerous as we stand precariously to let our offspring live in a world and an environment they cannot salvage to continue their existent. The latest fires in Amazon forests have led us into an irreversible situation for climate and environment. It’s high time for the world to gear up, unite and fight the things to minimize further damage, do things to help us recover the situation. As we usher in celebrations, we pray to the Lord of Wisdom and Remover of Obstacles to help us do that. Ganapati Bappa Morya

तो डोंगरांचा काटकोन व ती लांब रेघ

तो  डोंगरांचा काटकोन व ती लांब रेघ

शनिवार आला आणि माझ्यातला आनंदयात्री जागा झाला. वातावरण अगदी मराठी मॉन्सून  सारखे चिंब. हवेत पुणेरी गुलाबी थंडी सारखा सुखद गारवा . नुकताच आलेला वसंत ऋतू नावाचा  पाहुणा ह्या वर्षचक्रात शिरल्याचा पुरावा म्हणून काही दिवसांपूर्वी निष्पर्ण असलेल्या  वृक्ष्यांनी पानांचे  हिरवे   किंवा वेगवेगळ्या  रंगांचे   शेले पांघरले होते.  नेहेमीप्रमाणे पर्यटनाची साद घालताच जिवलगांनी होकार दिला आणि  आमचा  रथ  घराच्या जवळ असलेल्या द्रुतगती  रस्त्यावर   मार्गक्रमण करू लागला. स्वछ गावे , सुंदर रस्ते,  घरे , आलिशान ईमारती , दुकाने, बागा , झाडी , चढउतार  सगळे होते . सारे काही सुंदर आणि रमणीय होते. जिवलग  तेच होते . नव्हता  फक्त डोंगरांचा एक काटकोन आणि एक लांब रेघ . 

घरी सुरेख कांदा भजी होते .  पिठले पण छान होते ,  भुट्टा करायला कणसे पण मिळतात . चहा पण मिळतो . ताक पण  जमते . सगळे काही असते पण नसतो तो  डोंगरांचा काटकोन आणि ती लांब रेघ

आता इथे मावळातील आंबेमोहोर तांदूळ हि मिळतो त्याच वासासकट. आंबा पण मिळतो . वास्तविक आंबा न  आवडणारी माणसे देव बनवूच कसा  शकतो हेच कळत नाही.  चितळ्यांची बाकरवडी, बेडेकरांचे लोणचे सगळे मिळते पण नसतो तो डोंगरांचा काटकोन आणि ती लांब रेघ

इथल्या घराच्या  मागे एक तळे आहे , चोहीकडे छोटे जंगल आहे .  चालायला सुंदर   ट्रेल आहे, बसायला  पिकनिक चे बाक आहेत, बार्बेक्यू चे ग्रिल्स आहेत. सगळे काही असते . नसते ती पश्चिम टेकडी, झाडे , पार्किंग  मैदान , हनुमानाचे  मंदिर  आणि त्यावरून दिसणारी ती पसरणाऱ्या शहराची बशी आणि   तो  डोंगरांचा काटकोन आणि ती लांब रेघ

माझ्यातला मराठी पुणेकर

• ·         जगाच्या इतिहासात महाराज हे सगळ्यात महान आहेत असे मानतो
• ·         पाऊस आला कि भिजलेल्या  मातीच्या वासाची   आणि ओलसर ढगांमध्ये  सिंहगडावरच्या (अथवा कुठल्याही सह्याद्रीतल्या डोंगरावरील) कांदा  भाजी गरम चहा ची आठवण काढतो
• ·         चार मित्र गोळा झाले कि अमक्या किंवा तमक्या गडावर ट्रेक चा प्लॅन करतो
• ·         उन्हाळ्यात हिमालय ट्रेक व  त्याच्या तय्यारी साठी  पर्वतया 'करतो '
• ·         दोन किंवा तीन वाक्यातून एकतरी  पुलं चा  विनोद टाकतो
• ·         मृत्युंजय , स्वामी, राजा शिवछत्रपती, छावा , पानिपत , श्रीमानयोगी ची पारायणे करतो
• ·         मधूनच एखाद्या रविवारी शांतेचे कार्टे , सौजन्याची, वासूची सासू, गेला माधव, वस्त्रहरण नाटकांच्या dvds बघतो

Summer of 14

Things got haywire this summer with usual summer trips, business, marriages and events. Sorry for the break.

At the start of summer, I had written in this blog that how important this summer is mainly due to the elections. We eagerly await monsoons here in this part of world. Schools are set to begin next week. Transition of seasons makes you feel nostalgic about something as transient as time spent. I just remember New Year ringing in and we are almost half way down the road. First World War started 100 years ago. 20^th century which shaped our generation is almost a forgotten just as the great wars, cold war, Berlin wall, opening of Indian economy and finally Y2k. Tinaeman square celebrates silver jubilee this summer. It was 1989 then. It was also 1989 when someone as unknown as Michael chang won French open and this year it’s known face of Nadal at Roland Garos. It was 1989 when i did my first Himalayan trek after 10^th exam. It was 1989 when India had the last non coalition government and it is 2014 when we have same again.

25 years is a long time. It is a quarter of the century. It is also a one third of human life on an average. We 89ers (as we call them at school to batch passed xth in 89) have spent that much time in our education, career, and family life for those many years. This summer we had opportunity to revisit that in form of a nostalgic trip. Our gen next has grown to their primary school. I still remember day in 1990 when karsevaks were shot at and we heard BBC radio reporting then due to DD blackout. Rajiv Gandhi govt was on verge of ouster and protagonist was the dangerous man called V P Singh. To admit even thought leaders had imagined him to be real Hero forget about teenagers like me. But he ended up leading nation to disaster followed by some worst governments leading to 91 crises. 91 saw another good PM in P V Narsimharao who was force behind liberalization executed by Manmonhan Singh. India changed after that irreversibly.  BJP grew in 96 after failed 13 day experiment and 13 months one in 98.  Meanwhile people like H D Devegouda and I K Gujaral won the roulette.  NDA govt in 99 became first non congress govt to complete full tenure and had some great push towards infrastructure and development under Vajpayee prior to stumbling on India shining disaster. Last 10 years have been shambolic with India story at its rock bottom. Corruption at high , populist subsidies, direction less non decisive government out of coalition games.  I remember day in 86 when we walked from school which was 7 kms away due to strike of transporters. That day as we passed by sarasbaug, we saw people distributing pamphlets of in Ayodhya movement. Latching to that movement, from strength of 2 in 1984 shok sabha till 288 on May 17^th in 2014 much water has flown under Ganges.

After the resounding success of BJP under Modi on May 17^th, I have been closely observing media, thought leaders, politicians who had put Modi under continuous scrutiny and abuse for last 12 years. In fact I never believed US and European governments to be so fool hardy to be influenced by these thoughts. But then west govt always have played in hands of hidden expansive religious agenda. All these people now had started being what i term as ‘cautionist’. These are very clever people. In every article or chat they proclaim to have open mind about Modi’s actions (which have been great and need to be lauded upon) , but every praise comes with a foot note of caution. So they have a chance to retreat to their original positions in case something happens in future which they have been scaring people about. But if things go as per development vision of Modi and Modi fulfils promises he made, then they don’t have to lose face. Maybe now only old congress stable of Iyers, Digvijays are still following ostrich policy but all those doyens of media, intelligentsia, and activists have fallen in place. Though some cried accusing Indian voters to be fantasists, but no one was there to hear these voices. Even foreign media saw a change in stance. Mankind has always been pro winner. There is no one who supports losers. But life is a great leveller. Losers have turned into victors and vice versa. What matters from now on is performance, performance and performance as Viday Balan said in dirty picture in different context. And within a month Modi has proven that he can do it. Though this month had strange controversies like Smritu Iranis education, Gen Suhaag vs V K singh, UP rapes, Pune killing, Beas tragedy and riots over fb posts ( seems some sinister agenda here as we face assembly elections in Oct), tragic death of Gopinath Munde and add to that bleak monsoon predictions and delay in monsoon. This government has its hands full mainly due to inherited economy. Hope Acche din aayenge. Only time will tell.

Analyzing the elections, no one predicted such a margin of victory. I think people were really fed up with inflation, lack of opportunities, corruption, non decisions on key issues. And young voters really made an impact. They don’t have any baggage of obsolete idealisms. They care only about growth and opportunities. They care a damn about history. One may also accede that polarization worked especially in northern states of UP and Bihar but a stage was set for decisive government without political compulsions. Modi had caught that imagination as someone who can be trusted to deliver on promises after 12 years of Gujarat (some may call marketing of Gujarat). I was initially sympathetic to Arvind Kejriwal and AAP to provide some option but somehow these people don’t come out as someone with honest interest to change systems. Many foreign supporters and arm chair philosophers have fought with me on various forums on putting BJP and Congress in same boat vs AAP.  I am also scared by their funding patterns which can undermine national security. But the AAP made a self goal by running away from Delhi and some arbitrary decisions to fight from Varanasi. The organization was young and needed time. Anyways they can still play a role of effective opposition as compared to some regional satraps or a dead party. They need valid policies not driven by egos, direction and should have patience. Their supporters barring few have vanished from social media for now. But am sure they are licking their wounds to return on every negative point about new government.  So for new government the mantra is to perform or perish.

IPL happened this summer. Some credibility was won back thanks to some intervention by court and involvement of Gavaskar. Initially no one cared but as we saw some terrific cricket on field by Maxwell, Miller, that catch by Lynn, people started being interested. There was some good batting by Uthappa, Pandey, some scintillating chases scripted by Pathan and Mumbai Indians, some tight bowling esp by Narine, Bhajji, some great fielding. Many young Indian cricketers did well.  I feel this was best IPL in terms of cricket and felt honesty in efforts. But then cricket is on sidelines for a month thanks to carnival in Brazil and already after first 11 matches we have seen some great action. Big names have delivered. Absolutely a treat till july 14^th. Then we will change focus to an important series in England. Nadal created history and Wimbledon will be drowned amidst soccer action as it happens every 4 years. Shumacher is out of coma just to end on good news for sport lovers.

Pune voters have uprooted cong and NCP and same trend continued in Maharashtra. 42 seats is not a joke. That shows anger of people. Hopefully we will see govt change in Mumbai as well. But state politics has a twist in tale after Munde tragedy. LBT issue also needs resolution. And four months is long time. Pune has a minister, but no one has any say on BDP, Metro, Old city development plan, PMPML revival. As we near monsoons, concretization of roads has taken pace. I am not sure who is driving this and for what reason?

This was again hot summer worldwide, with lot of violence in Nigeria, Sudan, Iraq, AfPak, Egypt, Syria, Vietnam, Thailand, and Ukraine. Even Brazil had demonstrations against world cup. US had many gun attacks. Of course summer has just set in the northern world.

On personal side, I had lot of action both on leisure and work side. But as always it’s your children who are the happiest people during summer. This year was not an exception. Eagerly awaiting Monsoon to turn this part of world into heaven......

Half cooked year

13 started with slogans that this year belongs to you (saal tera hain.) Year started with outrage over Nirbhaya. Obama took over his second term. Indian economy sluggish and Govt at helm paralyzed. What has happened over the year? Year of 11 was revolution. Year of 12 was year of failures. I would define this year as semi cooked. We had semi finals of elections won handsomely by opposition and has given rise to another uncooked player called AAP.  Government tried to be decisive but again failed on all fronts the situation being undercooked. BJP has shown hope in declaring PM candidate who definitely will mean business irrespective of empty rhetoric of unacceptability around him making him appear semi cooked again. Year 14 will be landmark as we will see finals and finally someone will complete the process.

On International front, Obama took over his second reign which took severe beating during standoff on healthcare reforms which were found undercooked, Snowden snooping accusations. But then did some diplomacy with Putin and Iran over Syria and Iran nuclear. Thankfully US economy has shown signs of recovery due to inherent basics. China continues to be aggressor across East Asia and had unstable issues with India. Though Chinese growth story is not impacted by global recession as it has Indian story but some sheen veered off. Also basic issues of freedom and separatism impacted it internally. Arab revolution countries continue to be unstable like Egypt, lybia. Syrian crisis now has taken serious turn. European economy has done very little to show signs of recovery though Northern countries remain solid as usual. Pakistan the perpetual migraine had elections and Nawaz Sharif returning but with imminent afgan pullout things stand fragile and its warning for India as well. SAARC neighbours had their set of problems where India has to be very careful especially in Bangladesh, Srilanka and Maldives. The ASEAN movement participation was the only positive for India.

On domestic side, country remains indecisive, paralysed and corrupt. On defences matter we remain weak as our soldiers were killed and mutilated. On foreign policy we remain weak. We had new scams and old scams returning. We have dual power centres: MMS vs Gandhi family. We had corrupt UPA allies having their pound of flesh. We had good for nothing ministers. In any other country, this kind of performance had no chance of returning to power in 14. But in India, things work differently and our voting patterns, politics we cannot say that for sure. BJP won in 4 states (I include Delhi as its largest party). System has shown what good meaning executives can do. People like them. I don’t say BJP is incorrupt but Nation had done well from 99-04 under Vajpayee and UPA1 reaped benefits before destroying economy since 09 under UPA2. AAP is new entrant and its largely driven by individual egos. The success in Delhi can be attributed to situation in Delhi which saw public anger during Anna agitation and Nirbhaya protest (13 saw more cases like Gudiya etc). But their agenda seems more flawed than communists and even UPA in terms of free lunch promises. The idealism can sound good but my advice to AAP is to be more mature and wait till 19)

Indian economy has gone worse and if you add impact of faulty UPA promised of food security, RTE etc, 2014 sounds worse. Only hope is elections and reforms which can be as a part of election agenda. Also RBI under new leader remains firm against politics. Slowdown has impacted various sectors. IT industry has taken up new challenges in cloud, mobile, healthcare.  Many new products are emerging from India. Good reports out of silcon valley also help us indirectly. Education though suffered thanks to political intervention. Aviation industry has some new hope after kingfisher debacle in form of tata ventures. World business has some new paradigms opened by internet 3.0 Analytics, Big data and social media 2.0. Core manufacturing, clean and non conventional energy have taken centre stage

Environment continues to suffer and we have seen more catastrophes in 13 than any other year. In India we had a semi man made disaster in Uttarakhand where thousands of people lost lives. Worldwide Hurricanes and earthquakes pounded people. It’s high time people do something to mitigate and help future generations.

On sports side, to start with cricket we had God retiring. Cricket will never be same. Nostalgia hit us when we actually realized that how we have evolved along with Tendulkar as a country. Of course in 12 we had seen lowest point of home defeat against England. 13 saw revival which again is half cooked. We won at home vs Aussies. New team India won champions trophy and few odi series. But the real test (or final) will start in SA during Dec 13 and later in Eng, Aus, NZ in 14. But new generation has sown some promise. Bowling continues to be a worry. On world scene Aussies are reviving and England seem on decline. SAF continues to rule but unless they have some ICC silverware they will not be treated as champions.  Viswanathan Anand’s reign ended in Chennai. Leander amazed everyone by winning US open doubles at the age of 42. Saina struggled. Hockey team struggled. Politics and drug again hampered other sports. Lance Armstrong was disgraced and corruption in soccer and tennis also saw its ugly head. IPL in India was disgraced by spot fixing as well.  Federer had an ordinary year when Joker , Murray and Nadal shared the spoils. All look forward to big year for Indian cricket with away series, ICCT20 and biggest soccer carnival in Brazil .

On cinema, again new directors and genres tried but stars and half cooked idiotic comedies in 100 crore school ruled. Hollywood also continues to have vampires and werewolves to rule though there is new trend of cinematic dramatization of classics. Marathi drama saw top actors performing but we lost many stalwarts. Art and Music saw some new entrants with promise.

On state front, even in later of 14 we will have finals.  Its really time to change this governance where there is corruption, law and order situation is so grave that activists are murdered in broad daylight even i city like Pune. What can you expect from such team of self serving leaders? Do we have option? New parties again serve interest of their leaders with large egos. Opposition is totally divided. Its high time people unite and provide stong option. Thankfully 13 saw good monsoons as compared to the draught situation in 12. Hope irrigation scams wont impact in 14.

City of Pune saw man made tragedies like Shindewadi. BDP, new DP, BRT, Metro, water situation remain unchanged. City lacks leadership and hope in 14 we have one. Expessway and National highways around pune continue to be death traps. We wish real change in 14

On personal side, this year saw a landmark birthday celebrated in that stature. I had change in address which again was landmark. I was able to do some service to society and IIT almamater. Professionally and personally things went well though hectic towards end, though some issues remain uncooked for 14. Need full attention, intent to make those fully cooked in 14 which seems to be the final frontier on all counts.

Lets hope 14 brings all those changes and cook the broth fully. Bit it comes with warning that if cooked more it will be burnt. And thats a possibility as well.

First Day First Show

Wait is finally over and here is the grand release.  I am not referring to any film here. I have stopped watching movies on the weekend of their releases.  I need to study reviews, get feedbacks from the brave hearts to decide if I should invest my time, money and efforts to watch any movie. Last few movies which i had to see without my proper due diligence were disasters eg; Jab Tak Hain Jaan, Race2 etc. Here is my salute to the indomitable souls, who have to compulsively hit the first weekend at the cinema halls, especially for the big ticket movies.  Indian film industry should honour these fans if they had any method to track this tribe of people. With internet, network, i am sure there lies a start-up idea. Is anyone listening in the valley?

Coming back to the point, I am referring to many things here;

Firstly Monsoons were released in my town. The pre curtain raisers and paid review shows were amazing. The light and sound show was furious and disastrous to some extent where people tragically lost their lives. Time for us the people to say enough to builders, administrators who are responsible for the hill dredging, tree cutting, bad roads, electricity failures, water logging. Monsoons kept their date with Pune on 7^th and have arrived officially as per IMD. These days no one believes IMD forecasts but then one reads the analysis the day after. Hope this year all drought pone areas get the rains, dams are full and economy is better.

Secondly BJP2.0 was released in Indian political space. Gone are the days of old era of Atal, Advani which took BJP from 2 seats in 84 to power in 1998 riding on Hindutva wave. As declared by SC of India, Hindutva has nothing wrong and its aim to correct past wrongs done by oppressors rightfully, constitutionally and non-violently. It is against no community but towards equality which was victim of wrong interpretation of word secularism though created intentionally earlier by British and later by congress, socialists and leftist’s think tanks. Now BJP 2.0 has unleashed Modi and his corruption free, development agenda which has many takers in National scene. But what congress does is to polarize community by beating the riots bandwagon as its counter modi strategy. And media is always bought on congress line since independence. Thus we see large section of media which used to hate Advani and his rath yatra politics, turn into Advani supporters. It’s always good for Democratic Party to have difference and register it. Whether anyone in congress which supports democracy has right to challenge High command? Lot of questions but then trial by media is only for certain brand of thoughts. And those who chose to oppose central Gandhi-Nehruvian ideology were vilified by media. Starting with Bhagat singh, then with Savarkar, Bose and to an extent Patel, everyone suffered same fate. But then hope BJP 2.0 settles down dissent democratically for the sake of change which people of India deserve.  And finally for those who again start good old debate titled “ But what about justice for Gujarat riots?”, Baba Ramdeo has an equally compelling arguement. If Modi is to be accused of 2002 riots, so has to be Nehru for 1947 Partition riots , Rajeev Gandhi for 1984 Delhi riots, Sudhakar Naik for Mumbai 1992 and finally Tarun Gogoi for 2012 Assam riots. Though agreed one wrong thing should not set precedent for another but Indian politicians are to be blamed across the spectrum for riots at various stages in independent India. There is sinister agenda to single out Modi and 2002. As one of my friend said, all riots are equal but Gujarat riots are more equal. One interesting fact though wanted to share is that after Riots have declined since 1998 when BJP took power  as compared to earlier congress history.

Lastly new India team was released at Champions trophy. Plagued by fixing controversy and vested interests, Team India has only way for deliverance is by winning the Cup. Indian Cricket organization was never transparent and fans deserved more always. But now that media is more active and so are various counter interests, things are coming to light and only thing now can be done better is to create transparent organization, legalizing betting and set new criminal laws to help punish culprits. But the fixing is old as game itself. Not just cricket but every other major money spinning sport have witnessed same. But first day first show was impressive especially fielding. I have never seen Indian fielders running out two south africans in past. Batting was good with new approach by dhawan and rohit. Only worry is seam bowling which always was a problem with exceptions of zaheer, Kapil and shreenath. Let’s hope India goes all the way.

 

Did you like my first day first show review....

New Stadium in Pune

Had to chance to visit new stadium in Pune. Lovely stadium. Good ambience and facilities. Its bit away from city but at manageable distance. Public transport is pathetic anyways in Pune so private vehicle is only possible mode (though PMPML initiated special buses) .
The match vs the champions CSK was good. PWI bowling and fielding restricted total to 155. Jessi Ryder stayed anchor inspite of pathetic running between. He never let asking rate climb to unmanageable number. And find of season steven smith completed the hitting and winning. Crowd was electric and behind home team. I dont know why some mature adults behave insane when they see camera. That has been my pain point for all stadium matches. Also the family men and singles were so crass ogling at guest cheerleaders. The comments to players though were witty (eg. when raina came to field someone asked where is rames, the sures-ramesh jodi famous from cadbury or their rivals i dont remember. ad recall lost due to emphasise on humor), but most of the time comments were not so dignified esp to foreign and away players. Ashwin had torrid time esp after his fight with smith. The PA system though is not upto mark as it is in some other venues. Music played was good and added to fun quotient.
The problem is see with this stadium is they have planned only for night matches. ifwe have ODI, for the first half crowd excpet those in main section have to face direct sun rays. Another is the parking management. we had to wait 2 hrs to even imagine we could move our car. some better management can help as they have good parking space. Even stadiums like wankhede which is in the heart of city has better systems. I remember when i was in korea during WC soccer 2002 in Busan. The entire crowd of 90,000 was cleared in 30 mins falt. ofcourse they had metros directly having station on ground and private vehicles were parked at 4 directions with guranteed access to each car parked to exit.
But the field, other facilities are good. Food people were moving around with infated (300%) prices. ofcourse thats their logistics. They dont have change so i lost some money as guy promised to return change and never was seen.
Anyways good match and support for Dada boys. Road ahead midway seems tough but dada had given the team a purpose and inspite of not being able to partcipate in auctions they have posed good challenge to top teams like Mumbai, delhi, chennai. With clarke joining things can definitely improve. I cannot wait for match at eden gardens where dadas boys play KKR . i am sure PWI will have home support.

Pune in new Millienium

In came the famous expressway thanks to vision of Bal Thackrey. That changed Pune by having utmost linkage with sister city and all in things from Mumbai found place in Pune. Pubs and parties in pune had people driving from Mumbai coming in. Many new pubs and clubs started in Pune. Nightlife with happening college crowd is what drove people to Pune.
Old pune found this bit neocouture and wannabes there tried to match the peers. Hinjewadi was fully operational and all majors were there in Pune. Dotcom had created varying notions about epune and various portals came in lanscape. Chatting was in. Reliance and BSNL ventured into mass market for mobility bending and twisting rules. BJP finally came into power with stable support. Vision of golden quadrilateral improved other roads as well connecting Pune to cities like Nasik, Kolhapur, Nagar, solapur. Lot of migration happended from interior maharashtra to Pune for edcuation and IT jobs as well.
Then came the dotcom bust with many techies impacted. But again by 03-04 things returned to glories of 05-06-07 a bull run in Indian market. Real estate went unreal in these years and property values doubled trebled from 01 rates. Interest rates went down in these years resulting in Housing boom. drought like situation in 02-03 turned into floods in 04-05-06. Rains started changing patterns. water supply of pune was dependent on dams and rains. But for increase in polulation made these systems inadequate. Now you see tankers plying in socities in fringe areas. As we enter last year of 00's world is amidst recession and many here have suffered. Industrial belt is place for the fittest. banking is tainted, finance and markets are bad words.
Pune started with load shedding in 05 and i suffered a lot. Many enterpreuners suffered. Till now situation has not changed. This has added another dynamics in Pune life. Pune had Only one private FM channel throughout these years but since last few years there is a competition.
Mumtiplexes first started in 01, now we have 5-6 such multiplexes which are another hangouts.
Still Tapris are mushrooming esp for out of home student/professionals. Theme parks have not done that well here. Tourism has increased to places close by and its a foul if you are in Pune especially on long weekends. farmhouses have risen. Foreign population has increased.
A new positive trend has emerged on social front with committed volunteers for environment, civic groups. Its fashionalbe now. But still rampant is phsycophancy involved in flex board. Every demographic group is now militant about its pride and honour and tolerance of dissent has reduced. Old Pune was much more progressive and tolerant. But now we have a paradox; accepting each new trend, technology we have fallen back on horoscopes, superstitions. Maybe life has become more tough and human mind is very weak. And family instititions are falling resulting in support and communication systems being on downside.
People spend more time online than with family. Connectivity increased in pune. we got VOIP, chats, videos connecting to members of families overseas. A reverse migration from US started in mid 00s with many professionals coming back (after taking oath of US citizenship) to get best of both worlds (very typical to NRI mindset). many international luxury brands , malls, started filling the scene. cars came in.
Law and order started becoming issue with rampant burglaries, murders. This was an indicator of rising divide betweens haves and have nots esp migrants from other parts. Traffic now is pathetic though there are some uplaudable initiatives launched. real estate with recession has got a correction. But change has been enormous and all inclusive. name a field and you have it.
Board exam are mere formalities with multiple CETs. Many new branded schools with people preferring ICSE/CBSE over State board. admission for pre-primaries are major stress factors for parents. Hospital situation got worse with no much added capacity. Though new hospitals came in but still there is undercapacity. health insurance became more popular. But noble profession became more unethical and money minded.
Gyms and health routines like walk, etc became in thing. Holidaying abroad became more feasible than domestic tours.
On ganesh festival side, more awareness and regulations have setin. more festivals are socially concsious. But new things have arised like dahihandi, navratra toran, dandiya, year end etc. These are DJ nights with processions/celebrations.
Pune has now involved in terror activities with some evidences linking have been established. With all defence establishments and central govt bodies, it has considerable threat.
But Pune has still retained old charm in those localities, manageable commuting distances, reasonable weather, lot of avenues for professional as well extra curricular activities.
But will pune sustain this growth. whats in store post 2010 as we head into next decade?
Need some good governance, active citizenship, beyond politics forums to make that happen.
But always you have a hope. world lives on hope. Hope this recent crisis is taken care of as we head into next decade.

Pune of 90s; An outside view

Continuing on Pune city.
In came 90s with a lot of political uncertainty with eras of VP singhs, devilals and chandrashekhars. Assasination of Rajiv Gandhi resulted into congress headed by Shrewd PV Narasinharao into power. manmohan singh had no alternative but to liberalize and though not many credit PVN for what he did but according to most keen observers in politics it would not have been possible under anyone elses leadership. Coming to topic, Liberalization came in. came in MNCs, Brands, Cars , TV Channels. India was now exposed to world. Muliple channels started. I remember craze for B&B, Baywatch etc... Zee started Bollywood top ten etc with some bold serials etc. In mid 90s to late 90s pune got taste of Macdonalds, Pizza Hut, Dominos and many brands. Colleges started mushrooming. Many outsiders started sending their children to Pune in these colleges. Mainly Engg, medical and MBA.
I meanwhile did the reverse migration going out from Pune to kharagpur for education. I thus lost everyday experience of Pune in 90s till 01. But i was either a vacationer or weekender throughout this span. Thus every vacation visit resulted in finding new changes. MG Road, Deccan now were hangouts for these collegians. Flats in Kothrud, aundh etc were shared by this crowd. These hostelites acted as role model for citilities (another COEP term). Intercollegiate drama fests etc attracted more intensity, sponsorship. Ganesh festival went from bad to worse with noise and pollution levels, unrestricted crowds. This is the time there was alround development in adjoining areas like Kondhwa, wanowrie, kalyani Nagar, Viman Nagar, Vishrantwadi mainly cosmopolitan look and feel.
On IT scene by early 90s few software companies really got push from Y2k, early to mid 90s were formation years and by mid 90s we had strong bodyshopping model. Everyone had US dreams. earlier only iit/coep crowd used this route through scholarships. But now companies started sending bodies. Every house had someone sent to US. US grooms were in thing in marraiges.
Cars started rolling in. Maruti 800 was height of status till early and mid 90s. In came Santro, Zen, Cielo, esteem. But Roads were same. two wheelers came in with more than 100 cc etc. small scooties with terrorist like clad females riding them was a common site. cycles started vanishing. Then came the opiom of masses: Mobile phones. having cell phone was height of self importance. rates were 16rs/ min and cost of handset was 10 to 15 k with those bulky models.
Mumbai Pune AC coaches were introduced by Metrolink. But road travel was still messty. i was stuck many times for whole night in such buses.
Migration from peth to kothrud was not complete. Thus Kothrud, aundh societies were in things. Big builders got bigger. many big schemes were planned which materialized by end of 90s like woodlands, karishma, swapnashilp, girija shankar, parisar.
Hotels started mushrooming on J M road. Out of Pune Dhabas got popularity. Chandani chowk got prominence. Sinhagad got accessable with more vehicles. At single advent of rains people started flocking. weekend outings started to be popular to lonavala, mahableshwar, konkan etc.
We got first Pub in Pune TDS. Camp was ultra modern with fancy shops, branded stores.
Cinema was still single screen with Rahul, westend, among top. Cinema turned romantic from action in this period. Yashraj scored hot with Darr, DDLJ. Hum apke was phenomenon. Aamir, shahrukh, salman came in. Songs were big, NRI crowd tastes were introduced.
Its in late 90s that companies started making Big in Pune. Industrial belt of PCMC went through crisis in mid 90s but recovered thanks to Indica project which took off in late 90s. Plus companies innovated in energy, biotech etc. In mid 90s lot of core engineers shifted to IT. There was a craze to do SAP. Hinjewadi became operational by late 90s. expressway was inaugurated in 01 and that marked another phase of Pune of new millenium.
If 80s were meant in preserving pune of old though with a small window of growth in mid 80s, 90s meant change throughout and all around. It was the beginning of end of old time charm of Pune and ringing in of a new Pune which still has mixture of old habits out of nostalgia, new dynamics, resignation to change and insecurity of future.

Old Pune (my generation: 80s in school)

As promised in my earlier post, there needs some special mention on Pune for old timers sake.
PL Deshpande had one observation about Pune. Immense Nostalgia, a typical phrase meaning 'things were different in old times' can be heard from Pensioner block, Offices, houses, and as well schools. Even youngsters/toddlers have something defined as 'their own time' as per PL. Thus one can conclude that generation gap widens in pune after every 4-5 years. Thats a fact as we are seeing a tremendous change in our social fabric since 90's. IT is one of the drivers here in Pune. I have most of my classmates /friends coming from modest old wadas now living international lifestyle thanks to IT revolution. This is one side of story. On other side, we see a uncontrollable growth with a lot of migration from all over india zeroing on Pune. Pune did have slums and 'slumdogs' esp Dandekar bridge, Janawadi, etc. But now its expanding in fringe areas. Pune still carries old charms like greenary. In fact i can say pune is now better in terms of forestation esp on hillside. I remember that ARAI hill, warje hill were barren when i was in school. now they are green. Threat is from builders and corporators who have construction plan (DP) on hill slopes . environmentalists have objected rightfully. But city in itself has lost green cover owing to construction. But things have not gone beyond repairs. Climate has changed since 05, heavy and unpredicable rain pattern., very hot summers and non existant winters are the order of the day. Earlier winters used to be severe and we used to enjoy in our school days. it was cold , we used to wear sweaters even in daytime, nights were fun inside blankets. Summer evenings were marked by cool breeze, rains were moderate.
Old city had old wadas. wadas were lifestyle. hanging around with wada mates at sarasbaug, sambhaji park was in thing. Today it must be CCD, barista. Camp area had old city charm and outing to camp was an event. chole bhature from mona food, sandwiches from marz etc. Now camp has lost that charm a bit with mushrooming of similar MNC joints all across. Deccan was the most happening place. Kothrud, Aundh, baner were other cities just like what we have PCMC today. Sahakarnagar was the most fashionable address for middle class and Deccan for upper classes. Old city masses migrated from peths to these areas (kothrud, aundh, baner, sinhagad rd) in mid 80s when there was some boom thanks to rajiv gandhi liberal window. STD booths were around with quarter charges post 10 pm. many icecream joints in summer. Mobiles were not there (how did we live then must be question to todays gen). we used to hire VCRs to see movies collectively in wadas. ganpati fest has regained some sensibilty. in our time it was uncontrolled noise pollution etc. But we used to enjoy drama etc at our wada ganapati which many people still do even today in societies. Diwali was much polluted and boisterous those days. Today maybe due to cost or awareness its down a bit (still beyond acceptable limits). we got into hoteling in mid 80s thanks to my relatives (esp ones from Mumbai). Till then we were restricted to dosa or max a thali plate with all family together. Alka or rahul were the most happening movie theatres to see good western movies. still i remember the hype around guns of navarone, or where eagle dare or absent minded professor etc. Hollywood movies those days were much better (thats my opinion, experts may differ and debate). Hindi movies meant Bacchan. Now we have variety. Drama had only bharat, tilak and balgandharv. we preferred bharat as it seemed that a play gets better performances there. There were lot of good chidren dramas. summer vacations meant learning bicycles (by renting them for 50 ps per night), cricket at sp ground in evening, swimming batch, mangoes and playing cards. Miss those acutely. Trekking took popularity thanks to YH, Yuvashakti. Pune Mumbai journey meant Trains and not expressway. Road travel meant ST. Deccan Queen had great charm with Omlette toast as high point. Asiad Buses started in mid 80s. Shopping meant laxmi rd esp for clothes. Groceries meant local vani. A lecture/speech was still meaningful evening entertainment. Going to mandirs with grand parents meant incentive of prasad. Sunday evenings meant TV movies. We had only DD. But quality was much much superior than millions of channels today. Marathi DD was excellent: gajra, even amchi mati (agro show) had very entertaining Gappa goshti, Kilbil, Saptahiki, Chayageet. serials started in mid 80s with yeh jo hai jindagi, humlog, ramayan, kathasagar, vikram vetal and many such varied enjoyable shows. we had many quizes : Quiztime , sports quiz etc. whats the good word as well. real quality.
Experts can add more points for 80s. Next in this round will be 90s and then 00's. will talk to old timers from old wadas of what was like in 70s . seems like it was more fun then. every generation has nostalgia about Pune. And i am sure every town has that. But traditionally P L had some soft corner for Pune as he was bit harsher on Punekars and that too sadashiv pethis like me which still feel was unjustified. But PL is PL who can say a word. Buck stops there.