Tag: Around the city in a MH-12…

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PL Deshpande Garden


The PL Deshpande Garden situated on Sinhagad Road Pune is probably the only one of its kind in Pune. It is open only in the morning and evening hours, charges an entry fee of Rs 5, visitors may not walk/play/sit on the grass and eating is not permitted in the wonderfully clean property.

So obviously this is not a place one can go on a picnic but is certainly worth a visit. I would say visit more than once and in different seasons.

Also called the Pune Okayama Friendship Garden, this beautiful garden is based on the 300 year old Korakuen Garden at Okayama City, Japan. The landscape is designed to give visitors a feel of changing nature throughout the year (do refer to the map at the entrance that gives a suggested route to be followed for the best experience). As one walks around one feels various elements like , stillness, light, hardness etc.

I must add that trees/bushes don’t carry botanical names so my walk around the park was challenging as I tried to identify names of various trees/bushes/ flowers planted here. The landscaping includes a small waterfall, a hillock, several bridges, undulating lawns and several ‘gazebo’ like bamboo structures where one may sit. The tiled walking track also has several benches where one may sit and enjoy the natural beauty.

Word or pictures obviously cannot capture the beauty of this garden. Visit it.
Cheers!

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Mask for everyone…

This candid photo from the Times of India dated 10 Aug 2009.

For those of you who want to learn the correct way to wash your hands, follow this link:
http://www.who.int/gpsc/clean_hands_protection/en/index.html

Stay well!

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Phoren or Indian

The H1NI1 outbreak in India surely owes its origins to foreign countries. Many of the positive cases in India are people who have travelled abroad.
Among warnings issued to people to prevent H1N1 infection is to avoid foreign (phoren) travel.

I can’t speak for other parts of India but in Pune certainly, foreign (phoren) returnees are always looked upon in awe. Lets say till this H1N1 outbreak. Suddenly nobody thronged to visit people returning home from visiting their kith and kin or their foreign holiday.
Those who did, were openly asked questions if they suffered from symptoms, did the people they stayed with suffer symptoms and so on….
Discomforting? Certainly…
Embarrassing? Probably…
Arrogant? Certainly not…

The dilemma is worse with visiting foreign (phoren) relatives (particularly those keen for a desi experience in their northern hemisphere summer).

This weekend there are many more people moving around wearing masks on their faces. Pune girls/women are not new to such facial protection used as they are to tying long scarves or dupattas around their heads.
As we try to protect ourselves will the namaste/ namaskar (an Indian form of greeting people with folded hands) be a more hygienic form instead of the foreign (phoren) hand-shake?

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What(er) on earth?

Puneites misery continues with water supply on alternate days. What is worse is are the distribution anomalies as is the blatant wastage that occurs in the pipelines.

The dailies carry reports of tanker water suppliers demanding above prescribed rates for water. The PMC claims to have taken some steps in this regard.

Now Mumbai too faces a 30% water cut. Click here for details.

Did you know that only 1% of world water is usable by humans. Click here for some interesting information about sources of water.
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Every drop counts

The infrastructure crisis in Pune city continues. Roads, electricity and water take turns in testing patience of Punekars.

Water currently is the chart topper with monsoons playing truant. Though the Met office says June 2009 rainfall met average levels, dams that supply water to the city are drying up and fast. Currently we face a 40% water cut with supply on alternate days.
Through the year the Khadakvasla and Panshet dams that supply water to Pune serve as picnic spots substituting for Mumbai’s ‘chowpaty‘ (beach). The amount of rainfall in the Khadakvasla and Panshet dams is closely reported in Pune dailies.
More constructive action on part of citizens is required.
Saving water in all possible means is of utmost importance at all times.
Install rain water harvesting systems in existing buildings. While the cost may seem high, it would be shared by several people and returns over time would make this investment worthwhile.
Washing machines consume a large quantity of water. Change to manual washing and use the machine only to spin dry the clothes. Else use the ‘economy’ mode available on the machine.
Click here for some tips on saving water at home.
Click here for the latest satellite image of the country to get an idea of upcoming rainfall.
We are paying the price for carelessness and irresponsibility that we resorted to through the years. Simply praying to rain gods or blaming the system now will not count. All round and year round efforts are required at times with some personal discomfort.
Every effort counts to make each drop of water go a longer way.
Do it. Now.
There is no time to lose.
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White Lily and Night Rider

A common feeling among family members, friends is that despite talking all the time we actually do not communicate. With misunderstandings galore there is obviously something missing. Within a home, it can cause a family to break up. 
‘White Lily and Night Rider‘ is an one act ‘experimental’ play that deals with communication  issues prevalent today. Often trust that is the basic premise of all social transactions is lacking. Two individuals may speak, write/mail/message each other but do they really convey what they want to say? Does the other person understand?
Milind Phatak and Rasika Joshi who have also written, directed the play and coordinated the sets and lights have explored such facets.


A couple in their late 30’s chat anonymously on the Internet and decide to meet with the option of marriage. What transpires is both hilarious and poignant. Has the Internet made us afraid of real life issues?  Along with the protagonists we too may question the foundations of relationships… Are we living our real self or is it hidden away inside us waiting for a virtual release? 

Though the play is in Marathi, me thinks this topic is valid for all. 
Make it a point to watch White Lily and Night Rider. 
Best!
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A Dream Come True

They say a person’s age should be judged by how long he lives on in people’s memory rather than how many years he/she spend on earth. In that case, Dr Nitu Mandke continues to live today via thousands of people he had operated upon. An excellent cardiac surgeon, it was indeed a cruel turn of fate due to which he succumbed to a heart attack in 2003. It was his dream to build a cardiac hospital in Mumbai. His untimely death only delayed this effort. The hospital was inaugurated on 26 January 2009 in Mumbai, much bigger than originally planned and inclusive of other specialities as well.

Dr Nitu Mandke completed his school and medical education at Pune. His family and friends organise a program on 31 January each year to commemorate his birthday. The simple program yesterday devoid of undue emotionalism was highly motivating. A fitting tribute to a great human being.
Key take aways:
Like its important to get a good teacher, a teacher too looks out for a good student
Dream big and then stay focussed on your goal
Work towards your target one step at a time
14 Feb is round the corner. It is the Congenital Heart Defects Day. Spend a few minutes learning about this condition. Some congenital heart defects are completely curable and children go on to live meaningful happy lives.
Best!
Archana
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Steamy Affairs


Jangli Maharaj Road is easily the street food leader in Pune. They say that if one eats dinner out each day on this road then one can easily spend a year and not repeat a food outlet. While this may be an exaggeration, family restaurants stand cheek by jowl with roadside thelas, fast food outlets and more.

For foodies in Pune every new entrant is a subject of study!
‘Steamy Affair’ thus came under our scanner. There are no prizes for guessing what is on offer….
A simple standup outlet, idlees are the USP. Ranging from the normal fluffy white to more exotic sounding Kancheepuram, shevai and corn idlees, Steamy Affairs even offers special ‘varai’ idlis for those on a fast. Of course these are restricted to Thursday and Saturday.
Each serving is accompanied by sambhar and chutney and it doesn’t take long to demolish it. While the sambhar could do with more vegetables, it does have a typical ‘Puneri’ taste. Chutney passes muster. 
Besides idlees there is not much else on the menu except few beverages.
Priced between Rs 12 and 20, the pinch to the pocket is bearable.
Certainly worth a visit when in the area.
Yenjoy!!
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Divine music

Pt Rajshekhar Mansoor of the Jaipur gharana presented a wonderful recital in Pune recently. Despite not understanding fine nuances of classic Hindustani fare,   I was totally mesmerised by Panditji’s rendition of uncommon ragas. Compositions in Bhimpalas, Barari, Gouri and Basanti Kedar had us enthralled. A report cited Panditji as saying, ” the only thing a musician can do is to humbly and with dedication request the ragas to come to him. The ragas then decide whether they will come to the musician or not… No one can master them, we are learners and will remain so forever.”

Though Spic Macay works to introduce traditional Indian culture to our youth, majority of the audience was over 50! 

Panditji’s devotion to the art shone through as he did not let poor organisation by Spic Macay and FTII bother him. I hope the organisers take note of their blunders. 
Take care all!
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Sawai Gandharva Music Festival 2008

The annual musical feast for Hindustani classical music lovers begins today as is usual at the New English School, Raman Baug, Shanivar Peth. To be held over four days the 2008 festival is particularly significant as Pt Bhimsen Joshi the founder of this festival has been selected for the Bharat Ratna.

Those of you who could not manage to buy ‘season’ tickets you can try your luck at the venue itself. However do remember that security has been tightened this year. Bags, water bottles and cell phones will not be allowed inside. There are usually many food stalls so hunger pangs should be taken care of.

Here is a brief overview of the program. Please note that the list does not indicate sequence of performance by the artists.
11 December 2008,1600 hours onwards:
Tukaram Daithankar( Shehnai)
Krishnendara Wadikar
Suhas Vyas
Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma (Santoor)
Pt Ajay Chakravarty (Vocal)

12 December 2008, 1600 hours onwards:
Farhan Khan (Sitar)
Anuj and Smriti Mehta
Prasad Kharpade
Devaki Pandit (Vocal)
Malini Rajurkar (Vocal)

13 December, 1600 hours onwards:
Ganesh and Kumaresh
Arshad Ali
Madhup Mudgal (Vocal)
Pt Rajan Sajan Mishra (Vocal)

14 December 0800 to 1200 hours:
Pt Ronu Majumdar (Flute)
Pt Jasraj (Vocal)
Vinayak Tovi
14 December 2008, 1600 hours onwards:
Tejendra Majumdar
Srinivas Joshi
Aruna Sairam
Madhura Dandge
Prabha Atre
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