Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: magarpatta

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Friday, February 24, 2012

PUNE

PUNE

A Most Neglected City

Musings on Living in Pune

VIKRAM KARVE

They may say that Pune is a most modern metropolis but in actual fact Pune is a most neglected city and does not have facilities and infrastructure commensurate to its population. (I think Pune is the seventh largest city in India after Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore).

Do you know that Pune is not a UPSC Examination Centre? If you want to give an UPSC Examination to join the Civil Services or the Defence Forces you have to go all the way to Mumbai which is the nearest centre. And just imagine, they call Pune the Oxford of the East.

Yesterday there was a full page advertisement in the newspaper announcing the Launch of the 50^th Passport Seva Kendra. You will be surprised to know that Pune does not figure in the list of 50 cities where modern IT enabled Passport Seva Kendras have been established under the National E-Governance Plan in consultation with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) despite the fact that Pune is touted as the IT City of India, the huge presence of TCS in Pune and, most importantly, the fast growing cosmopolitan population for which the existing abysmal desolate archaic one-room passport office is grossly inadequate. But the powers that be chose to ignore Pune and rewarded much smaller places, some of whose names you might not have even heard of. In fact passport offices in bigger cities like Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad have been given a sizeable number of Passport Seva Kendras but Pune does not get even one. (It is interesting to note that Kerala has the largest number of passport offices and passport seva kendras in the country, more than any other state).

Despite having so many industries and travellers, Pune does not have a proper dedicated commercial airport and has to depend on the Air Force Airport at Lohegaon. Forget about international flights, most of the time you have to go to Mumbai even to catch domestic flights as there is hardly any connectivity from Pune. Rail connectivity from Pune is pretty inadequate too considering its diverse migrant population.

Public Transport in Pune is probably the worst as compared to other comparable cities. There is no metro rail nor do there seem to be plans to start one in the near future. The bus service is pathetic, almost on the verge of collapse. Owing to the poor public transport you are forced to buy your own vehicle to commute which further adds to traffic density and makes traffic problems even worse. The pitiable conditions of the roads which are permanently dug up and are most inadequate for the burgeoning traffic makes commuting the biggest nightmare in Pune. Traffic accidents are on the rise and so are stress levels due to road rage and frustration while driving. As I once told a friend of mine – “the best way to travel in Pune is to go nowhere”. As far as the traffic problem is concerned, Pune seems to be on the verge of collapse. Sadly, no one is thinking of building walk-to-work townships integrating workplaces and residences in self-contained campuses.

Earlier Pune was a peaceful and disciplined city, but crime and indiscipline seem to be on the increase and Pune is no longer the safe, secure and courteous city it once used to be. Pune is no longer the laid-back salubrious Pensioner’s Paradise with temperate weather, clean air and verdant green open spaces; but sadly Pune has metamorphosed into a sweltering hot, grimy, polluted, unhealthy, dirty, crowded concrete jungle with hardly any greenery left. There are hardly any places to walk anymore and cycling is dangerous due to the chaotic undisciplined traffic.

I wonder why this step-motherly treatment is meted out to Pune. Is it because of its proximity to Mumbai? Is it because no one is interested in Pune?

You may not believe this but I will give you one more example. Wakad, just a stone’s throw from the famous Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park at Hinjewadi, still does not have a BSNL Landline connection so all the high-tech IT Techies are deprived of fast Broadband Internet Connectivity at home and have to make do with slow USB internet. More than one year has passed since we made a request and applied for BSNL Broadband connection but it is taking ages for BSNL to lay a simple optical fiber cable landline. That’s the laid-back couldn't care less attitude and slow pace of infrastructure development in Pune for you – no one seems to be bothered.

But there is one thing I just cannot understand. Despite the deteriorating quality of life, people from all over keep flocking to Pune and settling down here. Quite a paradox isn’t it? The quality of life goes down but the population goes up and this puts additional strain on the meagre infrastructure and facilities which makes the quality of life further deteriorate. A vicious cycle indeed. I wonder what attracts so many people to Pune. Maybe the places from where they come are really so terrible, the facilities out there so poor and quality of life out there are so bad, that in comparison their hometowns they find Pune a slightly better place to live in. But one thing is sure. Considering the crumbling infrastructure and worsening state of affairs in Pune, those who still want to relocate to Pune must be having a very strong reason to do so.

There is one more thing I cannot understand. Why are the property prices so high in Pune? Everything is expensive in Pune, but buying an affordable house has become almost impossible. Real Estate rates have gone through the roof. Considering the appalling infrastructure, inadequate facilities and unexceptional quality of life, is there any justification or rationale for such high prices? Well, Dear Reader, I just cannot fathom the answer to this paradox and I will let you answer this question and enlighten us with your views.

Is it Requiem for Pune?

Well, as a die hard dyed-in-the-wool optimist Punekar I still hope for the best and say: “Long Live Pune!”

VIKRAM KARVE

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

Did you like this article?

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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
vikramkarve@gmail.com

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

MY FAVOURITE SHORT STORIES Part 7 – WHY I AM GOING TO BOARDING SCHOOL

Let me take the liberty of including one of my own short stories I wrote a few years back. I don't know why but I love this simple story and let me tell you that it was really liked and appreciated by so many of my readers. It is a small girl's tale, narrated in her own words. I foresee this happening around me in Pune, especially in the context the careerist, money-oriented and ambitious IT Techie Couples proliferating all over Pune due to the IT boom.

Please read the story and tell me if you liked it.

WHY I AM GOING TO BOARDING SCHOOL

Short Fiction – A Story from the pages of a Diary written by a Small Girl many years ago...

VIKRAM KARVE

It all started when God took my baby brother away.

Poor thing...my poor baby brother...

God took him away even before he was born...

And Mamma was never the same again.

She changed forever.

We were so happy then... before God took my baby brother away...

A happy family - My Papa, my Mamma, my loving Granny and cute little Me.

We all lived in a cute little house in a place called Madiwale Colony in Sadashiv Peth in Pune.

In the morning Papa caught the company bus to his factory in Pimpri and Mamma walked me down to my school nearby on Bajirao Road.

And the evenings we all went to the Talyatla Ganpati temple in Saras Baug, played on the lush green lawns, and if Papa was in a good mood he would treat me to a yummy Bhel prepared by the man with the huge flowing beard at the Kalpana Bhel stall at Tilak Road crossing on the way back.

On Sundays we would go to Laxmi Road for shopping, Misal at Santosh Bhavan, Amba ice cream at Ganu Shinde and, maybe, a Marathi movie at Prabhat, Vijay or Bhanuvilas.

And once in a while, Papa would take us on his Bajaj scooter to Camp, or a ride on the Jangli Maharaj Road, or to picnic spots like Khadakvasla and Katraj lakes, or up Sinhagarh Fort, and once we even went all the way to Lonavala; Papa, Mamma and me, all riding on our beloved and hardy scooter.

It was a good life, and we were happy and content.

Two things are a must for a happy home – first, you must love your home, and you must always want to go home because your home is the best place in the world for you ... and, second, your home must love you, your home must want you to come home, beckon you, yes, your home must welcome you and wait for you to come back, be happy when you come back and want you you to live inside it.

Our cute little house in Sadashiv Peth with all the loving people in living in it was indeed a happy home.

And I had lots of friends all around.

One day they all said Mamma was going to have a baby.

Being a girl myself, I wanted a baby sister to play with, but Granny scolded me and said it must be a baby brother, so I said okay – I would manage with a baby brother.

And suddenly one day, when Mamma’s tummy was bloating quite a bit, they rushed her to hospital, and God took my unborn baby brother away.

It was at this moment that Mamma changed forever.

I sat beside Mamma in the hospital and consoled her, “Don’t worry. God will send another baby brother.”

And on hearing this Mamma started crying and said she would never have a baby again and I was her only baby.

She looked pale and had a sad look in her eyes for many days even after leaving hospital.

And most of the time she would sit alone brooding by the window or moping all alone in her room.

“She’ll go crazy sitting in the house all day. She must do something...!” everyone said, but Papa was adamant: “Who’ll look after the house, my mother, my daughter...?” he asked.

“Don’t worry, I’ll manage everything,” Granny said, so Mamma joined a Computer class nearby.

And soon she started becoming normal and happy again.

“She’s a natural programmer,” everyone praised her, and when she finished the course she was offered a good job in a top IT software firm.

“No way,” said Papa, “I’m the breadwinner. I don’t want my wife to work. I want her to look after the house.”

“MCP... MCP...” everyone said to Papa.

I didn’t know what MCP meant, but it made Papa very angry.

“Let her work. I’ll manage the house,” Granny said.

“Don’t worry, Papa. I’m a big girl now and can look after myself. I’ll study regularly and come first,” I promised.

And so, Mamma started working.

And when she brought her first pay and gave it to Papa, he said proudly,

“I’ll be the last person to touch my wife’s money. I would rather starve than live off my wife.”

So my Mamma gave the money to Granny and Papa didn’t say a thing, he just sulked for days.

Life was hectic now.

Mamma got up very early, cooked the food, did the housework, got ready and then both Papa and Mamma caught their respective company buses to their faraway workplaces – he to his factory in Pimpri and she to the IT Park.

And after that Granny made me ready and I walked downBajirao Road to my school.

One day my Mamma’s boss came home with Mamma.

He said the company wanted to send Mamma abroad to America

for working on a project.

He had come home to convince Papa to let her go.

I thought that Papa would argue, and hoped he would not let her go, but surprisingly he meekly agreed, probably thinking it was futile to argue, and Mamma went away to the States for three months.

Then there was an IT boom.

IT... IT... everywhere...

That was a turning point in our lives.

Mamma started doing better and better, becoming more and more successful, doing more and more projects, earning more and more money.

Papa felt jealous that she was earning more than him, so he took VRS and started a business. I don't know what he exactly did but it was something to do with software and hardware and my Papa got so busy that he came home late in the evenings and had no time for me but the business seemed to be doing quite well.

And then a competition started between them, and soon they both were making so much money that Sadashiv Peth wasn’t a good enough place to stay in any longer as it did not befit their new found status...!

So we moved to a luxury apartment in a fancy township in a posh suburb of Pune, and I was put in a famous elite school known more for its snob appeal than academic accomplishments and studies.

Our new house was in a beautiful colony, far away from the city, with landscaped gardens, clubhouse, swimming pool, gym, and so many facilities.

It was so luxurious, and people living there so highbrow and snobbish, that Granny and I were miserable.

“It’s like a 5 star prison,” she would say.

She was right in one way.

For the whole day when we all were away she was trapped inside with nothing to but watch soaps on cable TV in airconditioned comfort.

I too missed our cute old house in Sadashiv Peth, the Bhel, the trips to Saras Baug and Laxmi Road and, most of all, my earlier friends who were so friendly unlike the snobbish people here.

Oh yes, this was indeed a better house, but our cute old place in Sadashiv Peth was certainly a better home...

But Granny and me – we managed somehow, as Mamma increased her trips abroad and Papa was busy expanding his flourishing business.

And suddenly one day God took Granny away.

Mamma was abroad in America on an important project and she just could not come home immediately.

She came back after one month and then for days Papa and Mamma kept discussing something.

I sensed that they were discussing about me for whenever I would come they would keep quiet or change the topic.

And tomorrow morning, I am off to an elite boarding school in Panchgani.

I don’t know whether what has happened is good or bad, or what is going to happen in future, but one thing is sure: If God hadn’t taken my baby brother away, I wouldn’t be going to boarding school...

VIKRAM KARVE

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this book review.

Did you like this story?

I am sure you will like the stories in my recently published book COCKTAIL comprising twenty seven short stories about relationships. To know more please click the links below:

Do try out this delicious, heady and exciting COCKTAIL

http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme

http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm

http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures(2008) and is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 14 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com

Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve

Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve

Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm

Email: vikramkarve@sify.com

vikramkarve@gmail.com

Fiction Short Stories Book

COCKTAIL : Short Stories about Relationships By VIKRAM KARVE

http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme

http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm

http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll