Tag: Personal Freedom

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Unanswered by Kunal Narayan Uniyal

I read, a lot, both online and the old fashioned paper books. I buy a few but I source most of my books from a library. What I don’t do is review books. The reason is simple, some one has given all they have and more to create something (possibly unique) and I dont think I am best qualified to comment on it. However, I do comment whether I like the book or not, do I recommend it or not and so on… 


Recently, I happened to read an e-version of a book called Unanswered by Capt Kunal Narayan Uniyal, which was sent to me by Novemberschild @romspeaks . The Publisher is Samaya Sakshaya




What sparked my interest was the name… Unanswered. Would it be a Mystery/Thriller/Romance?? Nothing had prepared me for what I eventually read… an intensely philosophical book. It is the author’s spiritual journey put forth in a combination of text and prose. It is the result of extensive introspection and reading of ancient texts. If you are looking for light reading, then this is not for you. 


Capt Uniyal discusses various concepts like Immortality, Morality, Ego, Pain and Suffering, Death, Religion. He has also put forth his thoughts in the form of poems. An unusual and effective style that brings forth his thoughts and ideology as the author has mastery over both prose and poetry. The chapter the got me totally interested was the one dealing with What are prayers and Why do we pray?  Yet another very interesting chapter is ‘The Chosen One’ where Capt Uniyal writes about people who have walked a different path. He concludes this segment with, “…  Know that you are the chosen one; know that you are different; know that you can bring new hope and make a difference to mankind. You are an individual soul, climbing the stairs of evolution, faster and higher than your counterparts. Alone walks the chosen one, who dares to think. But he is surefooted and knows, without looking back, that someday the trail carved by him will be walked upon !…” 


Whoa!!!


‘Unanswered’ is highly recommended for anyone who thinks beyond the mundane existence and is reluctant to read the accepted ‘texts’ for answers to questions that would obviously arise from the said thinking. This book will be the first stage that will prepare the thinker/reader for an in-depth journey into the search for peace, tranquility, truth and maya.  


A word of advice, do not rush through the book, instead read it one chapter at a time. Think, introspect about what the author has to say and reread the chapter if required. Only then move on. 


Stay Happy everyone
🙂

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River Walk And A Cry

Pune is lucky to have not one but two rivers flowing through it – The River Mutha and River Mula. They come together at a spot commonly called Sangam and flow as the MulaMutha to join the River Bhima and then onwards to the River Krishna and eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal. A really long east-ward route for the rivers considering they are pretty close to the west coast of India but then I guess geography must decide their course! I confess my knowledge was very limited till I went on walk called ‘Nadi Kath Che Pune’ with the Prof Ghanekar which was part of the Virasat Pune Heritage Festival 2014. What an eyeopener it was and one that totally changed my approach towards Mutha. I say Mutha because that is the river closest to me but the Mula is not excluded. 


Obviously any discussion about the Mutha is incomplete without a mention of the floods of 1961 when the Panshet dam burst causing massive destruction of life and property, the scars of which may be evident even now. Several ghats along the river were washed away, many trees uprooted, homes and families destroyed forever. 


Nature has a way of making its presence felt, especially when people take it for granted. Many of us don’t even know their names, a sad state indeed. Recently I came across a group of enthusiastic ecology lovers who also love the city of Pune and specifically its rivers. The Jeevit Nadi has taken up the mantle of reconnecting Punekars with its rivers and their Muthai River Walk successfully does that. 

On a chilly December morning I joined a fairly large group of people for this walk which began at the Vruddeshwar Siddeshwar Ghat. The sky blushed with the rising sun to welcome us, an awesome sight indeed. As walks go, the distance covered is not really large or strenuous but it subtly focuses on the sad state of affairs there. 

Pune, river, mutha



Brrrr… 6.8deg C that morning

The guides took us back several thousand years, as they narrated a mythological story about the origin of these rivers. Believe it you wish or dont… either way its an interesting tale. Based on the artefacts found on the banks of the river, the river may be older than the Ganga, they added. 


Phew! 

Standing on the river bed, we are at the lowest spot in the city. On either side, the Mutha can be seen to be meandering in gentle curves through Pune. I had never realised this aspect of the river course till I stood at that spot. 

There are several interesting sites along the river, some historical, some religious but all point to the river’s importance in the daily lives of people of Pune in the days gone by. Bapucha Jhara near the Omkareshwar Mandir is the most interesting as it is a perennial source of water. 


Possibly a couple of hundred years ago, once the city residents no longer had to depend on the river for their water requirements (development of underground water ways by the Peshwas and later due to construction of dams followed by modern municipal water distribution systems), they slowly got disconnected with it. Eventually an apathy has crept into us about our natural water resource and heritage. We take it for granted.


River, Mutha, steps, water
Residences alongside the river had steps leading right up to the bank. Here is one… 


We walked along trying to imagine the flora and fauna that flourished here and not too long ago. Salix  tetrasperma, Wild Date, Cyperus rotundus, Polygonum glabrum, Crinum viviparum, Homonoia riparia are among the riverine plant species, of which only one Salix tree still exists… Avian friends like the Pheasant tailed Jacana, Pied Kingfisher have long left the Mutha… 

The river is dammed hence whatever water is seen flowing on the Mutha is water that has been used – domestically and by industry. Pune is located not far from where the river arises and it is the first major urban settlement on its course. There is no need to describe the pollution we Punekars pour into the river- the sight and smell along the course is sufficient to pierce every conscience. 


On that day, I learnt about the things we can do at an individual level that WILL make a difference. All that is required is a minor change in our lifestyle, in the products we use – one at a time. 

Here are some images that force us to sit up. Think. Act. Today… Instead of the annual attacks of consciences that we suffer on Ganesh Immersion days. 


RIver Walk, pune, river clean up
Mural of the Lakdi Pul seen along the river near the Poona Hospital



Lakdi Pul, river, clean up
Below the iconic Lakdi Pul (photo not during the Jeevit Nadi Walk)



If you are too lazy to walk and prefer a journey from your arm chair then, the following book is for you!

“Muthekathche Pune” by Prof PK Ghanekar gives the history and geography of Pune on the banks of the River Mutha

Obviously there is much that the authorities can do but possibly the will is lacking. I read an article in The Telegraph that the River Thames was biologically dead at one point in time. As a result of massive efforts to clean up and undo the damage, the Thames has become clean and beautiful again. 

Surely we can do something similar here in Pune.

Hyacinth filled river (Photo taken on Anant Chaturdashi 2015)

I have seen some old paintings or photos from the British era that show a beautiful flowing river. obviously Pune is much bigger now, and the dams mean water is used by Punekars yet surely, some of the river’s glory can be restored.  I pray for the day when the River Mutha and Mula regain their beauty. 

So if you are looking for something different to do this weekend, take a walk by the Mutha River. 
Can you hear its cry for help?

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H is for Hirwai

One of the high points of my New York trip was the visit to The High Line which is a unique public space. While I was thoroughly impressed I did not come away with the feeling of ‘why not in my country’.. That’s because I can quite proudly state that my city too has a similar public space created by motivated residents who wanted to beautify their locale. The left bank of the Mutha River runs through Pune and it lay abandoned for many years. As normally happens, the area mostly became a space to throw garbage. Whatever road remained in this part was not suitable for vehicles. A part of this canal area was remade into a regular road for vehicles. Residents of this area formed an organisation called Hirwaee and proposed a plan to turn it into a space for walking, jogging, cycling. They would retain the old trees and plant new ones. Several years and some legal issues later, the rest of the canal area is now a flourishing green oasis right in the middle of the city. The PMC is now looking after this garden.


There are a few covered gazebos, an interesting ‘chess board’ table and plenty of benches which makes it ideal for senior citizens. Mornings and evenings find the place buzzing with health enthusiasts who jog or walk the length of the track. Extensive tree plantation has made this a wonderful place for students of field botany! 

Let these pictures do the rest of the talking… 

udyan, pune
Chess anyone??

A quiet nook to meditate, or introspect perhaps..

Muchkunda (Pterospermum acerifolium)

These yellow balls are flowers! Kadamb (Neolamarckia cadamba)
Seating space

Walking track

Cycling track

Info:
Timing: 6AM to 11AM and 4PM to 8PM
Entry: Free
Rest Rooms: Available (quality and hygiene not checked)
Parking: Some parking slots available 
Location Map here. 


This post is part of my April 2015
AtoZ blogging challenge and I am writing about parks in Pune. You can
read other posts on this theme here.

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G is for Gool Poonawala Garden

G was one alphabet where the garden recall was almost instantaneous. Not because I visit it often but have seen it often! Yet another site on my frequently used roads, only to be admired from the car but never visited. This blogging challenge got me to make a dedicated trip to the Gool Poonawala Garden located in Salisbury Park, Pune. 




This is basically set up as a jogging track. The oval track is surrounded by a wall of Silver Oak and Acacia trees. I spotted a colony of bats living in the Acacias. The centre of the park predictably has pretty lawns and some seating. I did not see anyone jogging but there were several walkers mostly senior citizens and ladies from nearby residential buildings. Possibly the demographic may be different at another time of the day.

Jogging track, Pune
Jogging Track
Plenty of seating
Jogging track, Pune
Look carefully and you will see the bats hanging on these trees

A couple of imposing Ficus benjamina’s loom over the entrance and one is immediately on the track. Turn left or right to jog/walk around the entire site. The park is flanked by the road on one side, homes on two others, but the fourth side seems to be merging into a jungle of sorts that often crops up in land that is not ‘developed’. There is a gazebo that would be ideal for folks to exercise when its raining. Its not very rich in terms of diversity or age of trees but then this garden is more about exercising/jogging rather than botany. Come here to work out, or Yoga or for Pranayama. 

Trees, Udyan, Jogging
A jungle of sorts is seen at one edge of the garden



An great initiative by the PMC for local residents. The Sachin  Tendulkar Jogging Track in Rajendra Nagar area is a similar but smaller garden that people of the area would surely be enjoying daily. 


Info:
Entry Ticket: Nil
Timing: 6AM to 10AM and 4PM to 8PM
Parking: Available and Free
Drinking Water: Available (hygiene and quality not checked)
Restrooms: Available (hygiene and quality not checked)
Location Map here. 

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B is for Bonsai

In general, there are a lot of misconceptions about. So the idea of a bonsai garden would be equally new. I have not visited any of the famous collections – YET – a situation that I hope to rectify in the future….  A ‘B’ post seemed to be an ideal platform to write about the ones that I have seen.  

This garden would obviously be made so that to focus a visitors attention on the bonsai trees and if possible add to its beauty. Here is an excellent in depth article from Bonsai Empire that talks about displaying bonsai trees. 

Here are some images:

Trees at Ssrup Bonsai and Garden

An interesting use of a broken pot at Ssrup Bonsai and Garden

My friends have set up their bonsai ‘gardens’ in building terraces or even in balconies. My own collection resides in my balconies and their places keep changing as the sun moves southwards (in winter) or northwards (in summer). With these constraints, the display is not as I would want it to be but then in a space challenged city, I am not complaining!

My Jade that is still has some way to go…

B is also for Botanical Gardens. Pune has its share of those but sadly despite so many botany stalwarts and botany enthusiasts (not students!), these gardens could have be in better shape. Almost every Science college has one and I have visited many of those.  The one that stays with me for sheer diversity is the Fergusson College Botanical Garden. My ‘Here Maps’ shows me a botanical garden at Spicer College but no one seems to know much about it. I shall have to find out soon…

Have you visited a bonsai garden or a botanical garden? Do share a link in the comments below.
Thanks!

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Book Review: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

For the first time, I began reading a book after I read about it on  Twitter, namely Atul Gawande’s  ‘Being Mortal’. That plus the fact that it was a book written by a medico. We have heard of bankers, engineers, Indian-origin folks who have turned writers but doctors… I find that ‘Being Mortal’ is on the list of 10 best health books in 2014 by The Huffington Post.


Ageing, old age, geriatrics,



The book left me with mixed feelings. I usually like to complete a book in one go but this is of a different category. The reason is not because it fails to hold attention but actually because it does just that. The ideas that Gawande puts forth compel the reader to think, to introspect, to look at ones own life and family and the decisions one has made or have to make. This demanded that I put the book away to gather my thoughts. 


Book Review is not a correct term for the post, I am not really in a position to ‘review’ it. Obviously a lot of hard work has been put in by people much better placed than me in the publishing industry. My Impressions would be a better word, I guess. Anyway here goes…

As the title suggests, the book deals with old age and all that it brings along for the person and people around him*. Aging is much much more than greying hair and wrinkled skin and lost teeth. In fact those are the least of one’s problems. Gawande has drawn extensively on his medical experience to describe how we and the medical world deals with reducing mobility, medical issues like dementia/cardiac/neurological problems etc that are an integral part of growing old. The final chapters deal with cancer and how people react and deal with impending death. 


Aging does not discriminate between nationality, gender, financial status or designation. It happens to all and each one faces different changes and our reactions vary from person to person. How do we accept the restrictions that slowly creep upon us? How does the family react? How do the doctors react? 

As the author has said, not many doctors take up Geriatrics because its not a glamorous stream nor a highly paying one. Probably not as rewarding in terms of achieving medical goals as well.


What should be the focus of medical management? Should the steps adopted be convenient to the immediate care-giving family members? Should it be to make the individual  happy and mentally occupied? Or to enable him to continue a routine that he enjoys and looks forward to?  Or keep him well-fed and safe so that his medical parameters are optimum? The latter often means a strictly regimented routine that defeat the previous goals. Often medical interventions are painful, expensive and traumatic for the patient. At times they only delay the inevitable. Are they even worth while then? Who makes these difficult choices?


In India, families still continue to look after the old and infirm and sending them off to old-peoples homes is not common. Yet. Gawande tends to look favourably on this system that too has its drawbacks. He has analysed the rise and fall of the ‘assisted living’ concept and shared results of several studies that affect emotional states of the elderly. Notable among these is a path breaking ‘experiment’ by Bill Thomas to ‘inject’ life into a nursing home. 


There exists a dire need to make the twilight years dignified, happy, lively and enjoyable. 


The author is brutally frank when describing his feelings when he first ‘met’ death and towards the end of the book describes his father’s final years. He has quoted moving examples of real life people most of them from the USA but those
living in India can easily see similarity in one or many of those. 


‘Being Mortal’ is not a book one ‘enjoys’ because it makes the reader uncomfortably aware about the choices they may have made or have to make. It is not light reading. 


Will I recommend it? Yes. If nothing, it will spur us to plan for our own old age. 
Of course, the best laid plans often do not work because Fate has something else in store. 


Have a healthy and happy 2015 folks!
🙂


*For the sake of convenience, I have used a male reference. It can just as well be a ‘her’. 

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Sunday Shopping

Many people in this city have a tradition of visiting vegetable markets like the Mandai to purchase vegetables for the entire week. I am not sure how or why this practise has arisen but there is no comfort like having a fridge full of veggies. An almost mandatory accompaniment to the veggie purchases is Patties or Misal. Patties can be from Santosh Bakery or Hindustan Bakery (almost iconic outlets) and the Misal can be from Bedekar or Shri Krishna Misal. Click here for an e-food walk of the city and then get yourself out to actually taste those goodies!!

But I digress. This post is not about ready made food rather about the veggies and to be specific, vegetable markets. Over a period of time, places other than the Mandai too have become popular vegetable shopping sites probably because of distance and parking constraints. Several vendors (not sure if they are  farmers of just middle men) set up shops on the street sides near the DRDO circle in Pashan and on Karve Road. The produce here is fresh, fairly cheap and all seasonal (and some unseasonal) stuff is available. There are also the established Mandai in Aundh and the iconic Shivaji Market in Camp.

Pune farmers market
Dehydrated Sweet Potatos, Lady’s Finger, Gawar (Cluster beans)




A new entrant is a farmer’s market near Gandhi Bhavan at Kothrud. Compared to the other venues mentioned above, there were fewer vendors but some of the vegetables seemed cheaper. I use the word ‘seemed’ because I cannot compare same-day prices across the city. My comparison is based on my last purchase! This place looked like a ‘haat’ with lots of interesting stuff. Besides vegetables and fruits there were dals, biscuits, papads, kurdai, pickles, dried vegetables, Bhel, ready-mix for fruit shakes, and a stall selling Pohe and Dhirda for the hungry birds. Here are some images from our visit. Its a good effort and is especially beneficial for those residing near Gandhi Bhavan. 


Direct sales, Kothrud
Fresh pineapple. He readily cuts it up for you

Gandhi Bhavan, farmers market
This weighing scale had nothing to weigh

Farmers market, food walk
For the hungry birds

Happy Sunday Shopping!

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