चारदीवारी

रेल यात्रा के दौरान सहयात्रियों में एक छोटे भाई-बहन भी थे। "पायल" नाम की बहन करीब ६ साल की थी और भाई १० का, जिसे वो बस "भाई" कह कर पुकारती। भाइयों के लिए सामान्यतः "भइया" शब्द ज्यादा प्रचलन में है, और "भाई" आजकल कहीं और की तुलना में बॉलीवुड के 'अंडर-वर्ल्ड' और सलमान खान की ज्यादा याद दिलाते हैं। तो भाई-बहन पूरी यात्रा में स्टोन-पेपर-सीज़र, और कौन ज्यादा देर तक साँस रोकता है - ऐसे बचपने के खेल खेलते रहे। पर इससे पहले कि मैं सोचता कि ये बच्चे "स्मार्टफोन" नामक बीमारी से अछूते हैं - वो अपनी माँ के स्मार्टफोन पर ऑडियो सॉंग्स सुनने लगे। और वो भी कैसे? ईयर-फोन के दोनों बड्स को अपने एक-एक कान में डाले और अपनी पतली-पतली आवाजों में गाते रहते। डब्बे में मौजूद बाकी यात्री उनके प्यार भरे बचपन से प्रभावित हुए बिना नहीं रह पाए। पर तब एक मजेदार बात हुई। 

ट्रेन एक ऐसे जगह से गुजर रही थी जहाँ खाली जमीन पर चारदीवारियां खिंची हुई थीं। भाई ने बहन से कहा "देखो" तो बहन ने देखा और बोल उठी - "उसे घेरा गया है ताकि बॉल उसके उधर न जा सके"। छह साल की पायल के लिए एक चारदीवारी का वही काम था - खेलते समय गेंद को उसके पार जाने से रोकना! कितना नादान पर अद्भुत वाक्य था वो! 

क्या हम सब उस बच्ची की तरह ही नादान नहीं हैं? चाहे जितना जान लो, जितना देख समझ लो - ज्ञान तो अनंत है। हमेशा काफी कुछ देखने, जानने और समझने के लिए शेष रहेगा ही! तो किसी भी चीज पर हमारी कोई भी समझदारी भरी बात "ताकि बॉल उसके उधर न जा सके" जैसी ही साबित हो सकती है! 

काश हमें हमेशा याद रहे कि हम कितना कम जानते हैं और कितने नादान हैं। मेरी रेल यात्रा के नन्हे सहयात्री मुझे यह सिखला गए।

- राहुल तिवारी

[#Social] A 7 Year Old Kid Writes to Google CEO

You might have come across this so called 'news' item which is going viral on the internet. It is a letter from a 7 year old kid to Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Here is a URL: http://www.thatscoop.com/article/ashwiniarunkumar/7-year-old-application-to-google

Reading the kid's letter I can't stop from observing how important "age" is for a child. A child tells one's age with such a pride as if it is an achievement! Then in the mid years we start looking at age as a thing to hide, perhaps embarrassed at it while always associating material success along with age. Only in the later part of life, perhaps we again start quoting our age, as once again age becomes a matter of our pride since it shows our accomplishment in the form of having led a life which truly is an achievement in itself. Our attempts to measure its worth by counting accomplishments is unnecessary and counter productive. 

Btw, Sundar's reply was as follows:

Sundar's reply to the kid was nice, though I would have preferred a colorful greeting card saying "thanks"; the kid would have loved it...

- Rahul Tiwary

[#Travelogue] A Walk Around Pune

It all started afresh in the morning. The sun was rising on the horizon. The city was waking up. The first thing I felt after reaching Pune was its air. There was almost a smell of freshness in the air as I breathed in. Was it because I was coming from Delhi which was called one of the most polluted cities? Or was it that the smell was of a nostalgia which should be natural for me? I had a couple of hours which I wanted to splurge in an aimless walk. Thanks to smartphones we are never ill-equipped to capture a moment these days. Hence I walked.

This was the city which was my home for six fruitful years. How does it feel visiting your city as a tourist? It felt weird – as if there was something secretive about me walking in. Did people realize I was walking in there after so many months? I walked on the same roads and pavements; looked at the same buildings and sky; came across the same people and their eyes; I can’t sum up the feeling but some feeling that was!

The first place to go was naturally the Dagduseth Ganapati Temple. Before coming to Pune, I had lived in Mumbai for hour years where I had developed a special bond with Lord Siddhivinayak. In the form of this Ganesh temple, I had found a continuation of affection and faith which I so desired.

It was early in the morning when I walked in; and it felt having never gone away as I walked out.

This is the Dagduseth Ganapati Temple of Pune: 

From there as I walked towards Shaniwar Wada, I found Lal Mahal on my right hand side. The current Lal Mahal is the reconstruction of the original. The original Lal Mahal was built by Shivaji's father Shahaji Bhosale around 1630. Shivaji stayed there with his mother Jijabai for many years.

It was in this Lal Mahal where an encounter happened between Shivaji and Shaista Khan, a Mughal general and maternal uncle of Aurangzeb. Shaista Khan had arrived in Pune with a large army and had captured several palaces and forts around it. Shivaji made a surprise attack on him in the night which made Shaista Khan flee. While fleeing from Lal Mahal, he lost his three fingers in an attack from Shivaji’s sword. After this defeat, he was insulted and was shifted from Pune forever by Aurangzeb. Currently Lal Mahal houses a museum. 

In the same area we can see some heritage buildings like below:

Then I reached Shaniwar Wada. Built in 1732, this was the seat of the great Peshwa Rulers of the Maratha Empire from where they ruled over most part of India for a long period. Inside the fort they had their grand multi-storied palace made from teak wood which was gutted in a fire reportedly started by the British after the later had captured it.

If you have watched the recent movie Bajirao Mastani which is based on the life of Peshwa Bajirao I; the palace shown in the movie is based on the actual palace which was inside Shaniwar Wada - the palace-fort which was built by Peshwa Bajirao I. The river shown in the movie which Peshwa Bajirao sails in a boat in a famous scene, is the Mula-Mutha river in Kasba Peth which is very near to the fort. 

A splendid statue of Peshwa Bajirao I is installed outside the main gate called ‘Dilli Darwaja’ of the Shaniwar Wada.

Some other buildings and scenes which I came across are put below. Some of these are beautiful heritage buildings too. 

The last picture sums up my experience very well – pleasant!

Although I have presented it in images, my experience could best be called poetic. Nothing but poetic. 

Btw, you may also like to see my other blog post capturing images of the temples of Pune which I came across during my visit:

http://rahultiwaryuniverse.blogspot.in/2017/02/some-wonderful-temples-in-pune.html

All pictures (C) - Rahul Tiwary

Some Wonderful Temples in Pune

The original name of city of Pune was 'Punyanagri' meaning 'City of Virtue'. It is only natural that temples and places of worship can be found all across it. On a recent trip, I captured images of some of the Hindu Temples which I have often visited there and which adorn it so beautifully. While going through it you would notice the diversity of deities and forms which only prove the cultural richness of the city. 

Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple at Budhvar Peth, Pune

This is one of the most beautiful temples I have seen in life. Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the temple also has a Shiva temple. Dagadusheth Ganesh Mandir was built by Dagadusheth Halwai (Dagadusheth Gadve) in year 1893 and was important point when Balgangadhar Tilak started public celebrations of Ganapati Festival (Ganesh Puja).

On a fresh morning I captured this image in which also you can also see the Lord: 

Shrimant Peshawe Ganesh Mandir at Shaniwar Wada, Pune

This temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha was built before work on Shaniwar Wada began. Built in 1732, Shaniwar Wada was the seat of the Peshwa rulers from where they ruled most of India. 

Shaniwar Wada Maruti Mandir, Pune

This is a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman in front of 'Delhi Gate' or Dilli Darwaja of Shaniwar Wada. 

Premal Vitthal Mandir at Kasba Peth, Pune

Kasba Peth is the  oldest residential part of Pune and adjacent to Shaniwar Wada (fort). Lord Vitthala or Vithoba is considered manifestation of Lord Vishnu and his consort is Rukmini. Temples dedicated to him are found all across Pune and Maharashtra.

Sant Tukaram Maharaj Paduka Mandir at Fergusson College Road, Pune

It is dedicated to Saint Tukaram, a 17th century Marathi poet-saint of Bhakti movement. 

Vitthal Rukmini Mandir at Aundh, Pune

Lord Vitthala or Vithoba is considered manifestation of Lord Vishnu and his consort is Rukmini. Temples dedicated to him are found all across Pune and Maharashtra. This temple at Aundh is situated near a river. 

Chaturshringi Mandir at Senapati Bapat Road, Pune

This temple was built during the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Chaturshringi means 'a mountain with four peaks'. The main deity of the temple is Goddess Durga. It may be noted that Shivaji was worshipper of Goddess Bhavani. Durgapuja or Navaratri is celebrated with much fanfare here.

Mayureshwar Ganesh Mandir at Thergaon, Pune

Across Pune you would find Ganesha temples at several places. One such temple is shown below, which is Mayureshwar Ganesh Mandir near Dange Chowk, Thergaon, Pune

Dutta Mandir at a Housing Society in Pune

Hindus have this practice of keeping a small temple or place of worship in their homes. When housing societies became the norm, even the societies created small temples within their premises. You can see one such temple dedicated to Lord Dutt or Lord Dattatreya. Lord Dattatreya is considered an avatar of the three Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Lord Dattatreya is shown with three heads, one coming from each of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. You will find Dutta Mandirs all across Pune and Maharashtra.

Shri Ram Temple in Chinchwad

This is one of the most beautiful temples you would ever see. The whole temple appears as if made of gold. It is a big temple, very near to Chapekar Chowk in Chinchwad

All Pictures above (C) Rahul Tiwary

There are other wonderful temples which I missed visiting this time. For example, there is Shinde Chhatri Mandir - a temple built by the Scindia royal family which finds no parallel anywhere else!

Shinde Chhatri Mandir at Wanawadi, Pune

Hope you liked a sneak peek into the beautiful temples of Pune.

In next in this series I shall capture some of the heritage buildings of Pune.

Watch out this space for more!

- Rahul Tiwary

A Public Park in Noida

Noida has fairly good infrastructure at several spots. Below pictures are from a public park in Noida which is free for all without any entry fee. Children from nearby areas go there to play all day long. Walls have encroach-able breakages at several places but surprisingly no one seems to live inside it, except perhaps the toilet inside it which is over-used and hence stinks. There is one security guard at one of the gates who of course is inadequate and hence appears to have accepted his face. He makes a few rounds whenever he feels like or if he needs something; otherwise he sits at a chair grandly. In old days some zamindars and nobles must be enjoying what he enjoys at his workplace. 

The park also has an open gym which you can spot in above pictures. Found it surprisingly nice.

The park is so big that children have no fears of getting overheard by their parents in the neighboring houses. Some kids ride bicycles in it while some play various games. Some kids just sit there and have a chat – in an old-world offline way.

Pretty amazing. 

And I have visited it only once. The pictures and memories are from the single visit. Sigh - time to visit again it seems. 

See you. 

- Rahul Tiwary