When I think of Pune — this is what comes to mind!
A for Aga Khan Palace. A historical landmark that I absolutely love going to because it’s well-maintained, it’s got a touch of history with Kasturba Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi having spent time here. My favourite is the garden outside! What’s yours?
B for Bakarwadis. Created by Raghunathrao Bhaskarrao Chitale who passed away this year, the Bakarwadi for me is a swiss roll, only fiery hot. Made with spicy and sweet stuffing, it’s a snack that most Maharashtrians crave for. Did you know more than 3000kgs of Bakarwadis are sold every day in Pune?
C for The Common Man. Created by R K Laxman, the cartoonist for The Times of India since 1951 lived in Pune and was one of its most famous common men. Did you know there is a statue and a chair named after him on the Symbiosis campus? You can see it while passing by!
D for Drama. The Marathi theatre circuit is buzzing in Pune and the artistic temper is innate to the city. Acknowledged by us as audiences, because we are comfortable in the language and two groups namely Aasakta Kalamanch and Natak Company seem to have found artistes, tickets and revenue coming in.
E for Education. From the Mahindra UWC that opened its doors to the prestigious Kalyani School that comes in collaboration with The Sri Ram School in Delhi, quality education is the reason why Pune makes it easy for anyone to relocate to the city. The fact that schools and colleges from Pune also rank highly on Top 10 charts should make us all feel proud.
F for Fergusson College Road: It’s the road with the buzz in Pune. Named after my alma mater, the old buildings and the beautiful trees in Fergusson College around it make it a pleasure to study and just hang outside class too. Founded in 1885, did you know this was India’s first private college?
G for Garbage Management. I am fascinated by how Pune manages its waste so much better than most other cities in India. From CNG production to Public Private Partnerships, to incentives for self-management of waste, Pune’s way of dealing with solid waste management is making headlines. Me like!
H for Hostels. Living in hostels is the best way to make friends and study in Pune on an affordable basis till you can rent an apartment. The one much talked about was the Trivedi Hostel on Fergusson College – best known for its Sunday feast. Boys only though!
I for Inexpensive! Did you know Pune ranks as the cheapest city in the country to take a three-day weekend break! TripAdvisor India’s latest survey TripIndex cities lists us as the cheapest city for accommodation, tourism, food and in-city travel. I am not surprised!
J for Jangli Maharaj Road. Unusual name? A name that also causes much amusement for any newbie who comes to the city! This road is still buzzing with traffic, shops and eateries.
K for Kayani Bakery. Every Puneiete has always been requested for Shrewsbury biscuits or Mawa Cake or Khari Biscuits from this bakery. What I love is they still shutdown for their afternoon siesta between 1 and 3.30pm and yes, the queues still remain just as long.
L for Lane-Cutting. Driving in Pune is a feat! From lane-cutting to full beam headlights, Pune’s drivers continue to remain the worst. They say, “If you can drive in Pune, you can drive anywhere!”
M for the Mula Mutha River. The two rivers meet in Pune but it divides the city. Much of Pune is divided in terms of which side of the river you live in!
Similarly, I am going to let this divide my column… See you for Part 2 next week. Any suggestions are welcome!
Picks:
Precious Finery: Saucy and sassy. Now Karen Anand is also showing off her stylish side. Did you know the lady behind gourmet food and farmer’s markets is now also retailing her jewellery. Head to her popup at Tertulia today – to check out her collars created with Maharashtrian Khand Fabric and semi-precious stones. Talk about taking a 10-year-old hobby, local tribal art and mixing it with her ubiquitous touch!
Opening Weekend: It’s testimony to Pune’s spending power yet accent on value for money that all of Mumbai’s brands seem to be making a beeline for the city. After Farah Ali Khan’s private showing at Yoo Pune, now Dia known for its fine collection of watches and jewellery makes it way for a showing at The Westin this weekend. Time your clocks people!
Racy Mix: Adding more spice towards the bets on the stylish racing season and the stylishly dressed Pune peeps is the ‘Frog at the Turf’ tomorrow at The blueFROG race. Put together by Govind Thakker and Ishan Bhale, a by-invitation only event – the ‘Frog at the Turf’ this Sunday should be a rocking event with exotic cocktails and super music. See you there!
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