I came to Pune because I hoped that it would give me the space as a writer and artist to be myself. I had already had my affairs with other cities which had left me with difficult-to handle-hangovers. Kolkata was an intense dose of cultural overload. Delhi was khadi-clad and over-networked – there were more plugs than sockets. Chennai kept falling asleep and then waking up with a song and dance either by a politician or a superstar. Mumbai was a hive where the drones searched for a non-existent queen bee. So I found myself seeking refuge in Pune. I didn’t think that it would be more than a mere sojourn but I was willing to give it a shot. I thank my lucky stars the shot was on the mark – between the eyes, as they say.
There was space to walk, to think, to be secluded, to meet kindred souls, to find audiences and readers. I discovered that to truly understand the cultural spirit of Pune, one has to be patient. Nothing happens in a rush, in a hurry. Things happen quietly and in small intimate doses. Unobtrusively. There’s no big bang but continuous rumbles and heartbeats that keep the cultural cauldron bubbling. This is ‘village’ life at its best. You force the pace and you are left stranded on the sidewalk, wondering what went wrong. But you open yourself to the city’s many cultural possibilities and you’ve found your home.
Pune is a global village. I’m saying this with my tongue where it should be and not stuck in my cheek. From whichever side of the globe or the country that you may come – once you get here, the ‘village’ draws you in with its numerous intimate spaces where common-interest communities effortlessly come together. From small theatre companies performing in miniscule spaces to art exhibitions in restaurants to open air dance performances to campus bands with raving audiences to book readings and play readings in cafes and residential foyers… it is amazing the diversity we’ve managed to pack into this city. The local embraces the global magnanimously.
Consider the carefully curated work that The Loft has managed to offer its dedicated patrons or the eclectically mixed bag of events that the itsy-bitsy teenie-weenie Pagdandi hands out along with delicious coffee and brownies or the movie fare that Lost The Plot has cultivated or the occasional gems that Artsphere manages to dish out or the countless homes that have opened their doors to regular informal gatherings. There are individuals out there who don’t do it for the green bucks but for the sheer love of it.
And the good news is that with the world blowing through our city, we are left with few isolated islands. The vision and the spirit of the city is growing – accommodating the new without rudely jettisoning the old, creating robust blends of styles and themes… the hallmark of a vibrantly evolving cultural identity.
In the real sense of the word, Pune isn’t a city, it’s a state of mind.
Randhir Khare is an awardwinning writer, teacher, artist and storyteller who has mentored a whole generation of creative talent. He is Director of GyaanAdab, Pune’s Premier Cultural Centre. Randhir Khare will write every Monday for Pune365.
- Randhir Khare: I am my own Competitor, says Sudipta Mukherjee - November 9, 2016
- Randhir Khare: Art is now a commodity - November 2, 2016
- Randhir Khare:A Curious Adventure - October 19, 2016
