एक भावुक दुनिया

एक इमोशनल यानि भावुक इन्सान के लिए ये जीवन कितना कठिन और दिलचस्प (एक साथ) हो सकता है - बाकी लोग कल्पना भी नहीं कर सकते। वह दुनिया को एक अलग नजरिए से देखता है। या यूँ कहें कि जहाँ बाकी लोग चीजें 'देखते' हैं, वो चीजें 'महसूस' करता है। 

जहाँ बाकी लोग यदि कहीं जाने से खुश और एक्साइटेड होते हैं, वह जो छूट रहा होता है उससे खेदग्रस्त होता है। और ऐसा बचपन से होता है। स्कूल के हर छूटते क्लास से, हर बदलने वाले स्कूल से, स्कूल के हर बच्चे से, स्कूल की दीवार से, उसके नाम से, उसके डरावने टीचर्स से, यहाँ तक कि खस्ताहाल स्कूल-रिक्शे से - हर किसी से उसका एक "कनेक्शन" हुआ करता है। मुहल्ले के चिल्लाने वाले खड़ूस बूढ़े पड़ोसी से, अच्छी बड़ी दीदी से, सारे के सारे चाचा-चाचियों से, मुहल्ले की पतली गली से, गली की हर मोड़ से, मोड़ के पास पानी से भरे गड्ढे से, बगल की टूटती दीवार से, दीवार के पास सूखे पत्तों की ढ़ेर से, ढ़ेर में कभी लगने वाली आग से निकलते धुएँ से, और धुएँ की महक से - हर किसी से उसका एक "कनेक्शन" होता है। और एक बार कनेक्शन हुआ तो अब बस - जीवन भर उसे साथ ही रहना है। जिस बात से लोगों को 'बुरा' लग सकता है - उससे वह व्यथित होकर रोता है। इमोशन्स और आंसुओं का बड़ा पक्का रिश्ता है, चाहे दुःख के हों या खुशी के। 

हालाँकि इमोशन्स एक तरह से इंसान को थकाते हैं और भावुक इंसान को ये बोझ बनकर खूब थकाते हैं, इनके कई फायदे भी हैं। अति-भावुक लोगों का इंट्यूशन (सहज बोध) बहुत स्ट्रॉन्ग (प्रबल) होता है - ये सच्चे और झूठे लोगों को बहुत जल्दी पहचान लेते हैं। ये सब जान लेते हैं। आप इन्हें अपनी सच्ची भावनाएँ समझा सकते हैं जो दूसरे नहीं समझ सकते। ये अक्सर विनम्र होते हैं और दूसरों की चिंता करते हैं। चीजों को गहन रूप से समझने के कारण अक्सर ये परफेक्शनिस्ट होते हैं। और ये बहुत क्रिएटिव (रचनात्मक) होते हैं। क्रिएटिविटी के अलावा इनकी इमेजिनेशन (कल्पनाशक्ति) कमाल की होती है - इसलिए इन्हें "आउट-ऑफ़-बॉक्स" विचार आसानी से आते हैं। चीजों को "महसूस" करने के कारण ये अक्सर ज्यादा "फुलफिल्ड" (अंदर से भरे-पूरे) रहते हैं। दूसरों को और कभी-कभी इन्हें स्वयं भी दया या सहानुभूति हो सकती है पर अक्सर इनकी 'अपनी दुनिया' बहुत ही क्रिएटिव और इंटरेस्टिंग होती है। और अगर इमोशंस को संभालना इन्होंने सीख लिया तो उसकी अधिकता से होनेवाले नुकसानदेह प्रभावों से वो अपने को बचा भी सकते हैं।

रिसर्चर्स (शोधकर्ता) बताते हैं कि इमोशनल लोगों का दिमाग कुछ अलग तरीके से काम करता है और विश्व में करीब २०% लोग अति-भावुक होते हैं। समय-समय पर हम सब अपने आप को अति-भावुक कह सकते हैं पर सच्चा भावुक व्यक्ति इसे कभी-कभी नहीं "हर समय" महसूस करता है। बाकी लोग बस उसके कुछ झलक ही देख पाते होंगे। 

अंत में बस ये कहूँगा - जीवन अगर "इंटरेस्टिंग" (दिलचस्प) है तो भावुक लोगों की दुनिया "निराली" है। इमोशन्स यानि भावों से ही इंसानियत नजर आती है और मानव समाज अपने सर्वोत्तम गुणों को आज भी बचाए हुए है। काश दूसरे भी थोड़े और संवेदनशील बनें ताकि उनकी दुनिया इनकी दुनिया से ज्यादा अलग न रह पाए।

- राहुल तिवारी 

[#Fashion] The Tilting Heads Phenomenon: Why Women Tilt Their Heads in Photos and Selfies

The latest fashion trend amongst women is an interesting tilt – women are increasingly seen tilting their heads sideways while taking photographs or selfies. It seems the conventional pose of facing the camera straight has been left for the bewildered men while women have started tilting their heads at varying degrees and looking at the camera in some mischievous ways which others can’t understand at all. Men are totally baffled about what has gotten into the female head. They could understand the ‘duck face’ as well as the ‘fish pout’ but now these tilting faces? It does not make any sense at all!

I tried to read what others think about it. Majority of observers say that it is just a body language which sends out a message of being ‘non-threatening’. But I think this is an 18^th century explanation to a 21^st century phenomenon. If women needed to indicate ‘non-threatening’ sign this way, they would have invented the ‘tilting head’ pose hundreds of years ago. Why wait for the Selfie cameras to arrive? Also, who are the girls sending ‘non-threatening’ signs to while they tilt heads in ‘selfies’?

When we tilt our head, it naturally makes our face appear leaner. So can this ‘tilting head’ phenomenon be attributed to a cover-up act by those with round faces which in turn indicates a ‘healthier’ person? (Btw, in the world of fashion, looking ‘healthy’ is a sin. To fit into those latest dresses, you need to appear a bit sick to get closer to your skeleton which is ‘size-zero’. When your mother or grand-mother starts worrying about your health you can be assured that your friends and peers would have started envying you.)

I used to believe in above theory until I saw my nephew. He is a cute little angel but when he appears in a photograph he tilts his head at one side and gives an expression of immense love and affection. Learning from his pose I came to conclusion about why women would tilt their heads. They think that the ‘tilting head with a smiling face’ pose sends out love and affection! But then why didn’t women of previous generation invent this pose? May be because they were too conventional – and looking straight in camera is a conventional pose.

For women of previous generation, the most important priority of life was to appear and lead life of a ‘good woman’. And hence even a slight tilt of head could be seen as digression and better be avoided. Women of this generation are least bothered about what others think of them while most bothered about how they are looking (which may appear ironical but it is not).

We can also look at it this way. Once upon a time, women lived under strict discipline and kept their heads ‘low’. Then came a generation of well-educated career women who kept their heads ‘straight’. And now comes a generation of women spoilt with choices like never before and hence they are tilting their heads ‘sideways’.

In the end, I think the most convincing answer would be – it is just a stupid craze. That is what most fashion trends are. After a while women would get bored tilting heads and they would start looking straight again. And then life would be simple again for some time.

- Rahul

[#Movies] Sarkar 3

There have been hundreds of gangster movies in the past and what new could the latest addition to the Sarkar Trilogy bring? And that is where Ram Gopal Varma and Amitabh Bachchan prove our doubts unfounded and have brought together another fine movie having all the brilliance of a thriller.

Sarkar series is our own Godfather series. Our Subhash Nagre has perhaps got more shades in his character than the legendary Vito Corleone had got. In Sarkar 3, Amitabh has become even more intense. Being the master patriarch and hero of the masses is not an easy job and it asks for sacrifices and subjects one to innumerable pain. Can a Don be as sensitive as Subhash Nagre is? Could a Don feel the pain of the poor mother who lost her child in a bomb blast, or goes through mourning because of some event in the city? Even Don Vito Corleone cared - but I doubt if he actually felt pain in the same manner as our "human" Don Subhash Nagar does. And that is perhaps the beauty of having come from the city of Mumbai.

Amitabh Bachchan has also sung one "Ganpati Aarti" in this movie and how brilliant it has become! It can be compared to Agnipath song "Deva Shree Ganesha" but is notch higher since Amitabh Bachchan is its singer.

One very interesting aspect of the movie is how brilliant other characters have also been in it. Ronit Roy as Gokul is as intense as Ajay Devgn used to be in some of his most brilliant movies and has proven him as one gem of a an actor. Manoj Bajpayee as Govind Deshpande, a sly politician reminds us of Rajneeti. And how about Jackie Shroff - a legend in himself? He has grown old but his charisma is still intact. There will never be another Jackie Shroff in Bollywood. Amit Sadh as Subhash Nagre's grand son is also brilliant - and this may be his one of the best acts. Yami Gautam as Amit's girlfriend is in a very different role from what she does, but she has done it very well. Another interesting character is Parag Tyagi as Raman - Ronit's mute brother. He should have joined WWE fighting with this Physique!

The best thing about Sarkar 3 is that it surprises you and keeps you guessing all through it and till the very end. Such brilliance is not often seen. The plot is balanced on its emotional quotient as well as has spirits of a crime thriller. The movie avoids showing graphic details of crime scenes and that is a welcome change. There are a lot of brilliant dialogues in it and there are several scenes which are acted just by eyes and expressions without any word spoken. Nothing about it is mundane. The coordination between camera, actors' expressions and the environment is just brilliant.

Sarkar 3 is another gem from the Sarkar series - perhaps even a notch better than the earlier ones.

- Rahul

[#Fashion] Thick Rimmed Geeky Glasses

So everyone is wearing "Thick (Black) Rimmed Glasses" these days. These are certainly the ongoing fashion trend. These glasses give a "Geek Look". And being "geek" is once again cool thanks to these glasses. Think of Satya Nadella - apart from his bald head what comes to your mind first when you remember him? Thick rimmed glasses! This is the revenge of the geeks.

I got my glasses when I reached high school. Studying long hours in the night under lamps and lanterns at home would naturally strain the eyes. But even without my brown carbon frame glasses I would have a serious "studious" look. But in the 80s when the air was pure and kids did not go to playschools, young folks seldom had glasses; and hence my specs created a buzz. So once I heard a friend talking to another - "I am also going to the Optical Shop tomorrow and I will also get one such carbon frame made for me - but with normal glass since my eye sight is alright". And guess what - in due course he indeed started wearing glasses! So much for the fake studious "look"?

Except these insecure kids who wanted to look geeky by wearing glasses, initially glasses were seen as unwanted burden. Look at our virtual heroes - from Super Man to Iron Man to Shaktiman to Rahul Gandhi - none of them wear any glasses at all, forget about wearing geeky glasses. Think of Salman, Hrithik, Ranveer or Ranbir - no one wears glasses. Hence the trend moved from carbon frame to slender silver /golden /titanium frames to half-frames and then to the "frame-less". The idea was to make the glasses subtle or unnoticeable. But then fashion trends move on a circle. And my friend who donned fake geeky glasses would have reached the corporate world and perhaps became insecure again and decided to do something about it.

The idea of black/brown thick rimmed glasses is to make those prominent and noticeable. These glasses would be the first thing to make an impression once you look at a person. Hence these glasses are also good for people with no natural facial feature being better than these specs; unless if you are Satya Nadella who has got his splendid shaven head. These thick glasses are also good for people of all types of complexions - whether light, dark or 'pimpled'. No wonder the trend is catching everyone like a flu!

The basic psychology behind these glasses is still amusing. Everyone wearing such glasses does not become geeky and intellectual just by the very act. But if wearing these gives them the self confidence and comfort which they seek, then what is wrong in it? Are not most other fashion trends from wearing high-heels to eye liners to keeping beards and wearing male-bracelets and getting tattoos of lions and tigers on our skin - all about trying to appear what we are not deep inside?

True intellectuals like Salman Rushdie, Arun Jaitley or Urjit Patel still do not wear such glasses. But then these are not men known for their fashion sense. And real fashion is not about being honest; it is always about being differentiated and confusing.

I still have no plans to wear these thick glasses. But not everyone is as self-content and unfashionable like me. And hence we shall have more people wearing these glasses in coming days, until one day when someone will recycle the trend of half-frame and no-frame glasses again.

- Rahul N. Tiwary

[#Personal] Looking Images!

You might have felt it too. It happens many times with us when somehow our thoughts are fixated about someone and we happen to see that person’s image in some unrelated person or thing. For example, as soon as I saw the picture of this little bird, what came to my mind? Image of my baby daughter!

Then I realized that the bird is looking a bit sad. So why should my daughter be sad? Because she is not with me and wants me to pick her up!

- Rahul

[#Journalism] Curious Case of Assault of an Air India staffer by a Shiv Sena MP

If you have frequently flown on Air India, you would have noticed that their staff would rank lowest in customer service. Their staff are often rude and treat you as if they are doing you great service by just letting you fly with them. For record, Air India was ranked as "third worst Airline in the World" just 2 months back (https://tinyurl.com/zop5uyx). It is in this background that I looked at the recent media-generated outrage against a politician for beating up an Air India staff with great curiosity and amusement.

I also noticed one thing repeated in all media reports - that the politician assaulted a "60-year-old duty manager". 60 years old and yet not retired? Oh yes - Air India was seeing an exodus of staff and hence a few years back it raised retirement age from 58 to 60. That is against the trend in sectors like airlines where younger and energetic staff is preferred. The media appeared to be highlighting the age of the duty  manager to garner public sympathy for him and against the MP. And it had to not mention the age of the MP which is 56 - just 4 years younger.

Next, the punishment suggested by media was of idiotic proportions. According to media, he should be sacked from parliament, banned by his party, not to mention named and shamed on national television for days and night - without caring about what adverse impact it could create on him and his family members. It reminded me the case of a tainted govt officer, whose family committed suicide after he was caught and received huge media attention. Any punishment should correspond to the gravity of the crime. The case should go to the court which should decide on the punishment; but media had already conducted "media trial" and need not bother about sanity.

The particulars of the case are interesting. The MP felt he was wronged (by not being given business class seat); hence remained seated in the aircraft after it landed; and declined to get down - something which is called "Satyagrah". Since the scuffle happened after planed had landed and no other passenger was on board, of course there was no threat to the other passengers.

Compare the case to what happened with popular comedian Kapil Sharma. Kapil was drunk and he abused and beat up his colleagues including Sunil Grower "in air" - and thereby was a threat to the flight as well as to other passengers. But no media houses asked for his ban from flying, or airing off of his TV show, or defamed him by playing the video 24X7. In fact a lot of TV news channels did not discuss this episode openly.

So why was the politician a recipient of such a bad press while the comedian was protected? Because of many reasons. The MP came from a background which is not trending. He is a tough looking male - member of a right wing political party without national presence - a politician who is not in power - all criteria made him ideal for victimization by the electronic media. On the other hand, Kapil is chubby and innocent looking - is a comedian with huge nation wide fan following - a man who is part of TV and Bollywood and hence highly powerful - all these factors make him ideal to play the victim rather than the assailant.

Thanks to the media, the rude staff of Air India are enjoying hero like status while an elected representative is paying huge price. What would be the repercussions of this event in the long run? If you are a customer of such government organizations - beware. Their spirits are high - if they can do this to an MP - who are you and me? Forget it. Just keep silence and tolerate all that happens with you - and then you are a good person. You may even come on TV someday.

- Rahul

... ~ गौरैया ~ ...

गौरैया - यह गोल-मटोल छोटी चिड़िया भला किसे अच्छी नहीं लगती होगी? मेरा विश्वास है कि गौरैया हम सब के बचपन की स्मृतियों का अभिन्न अंग होगी। मेरा बचपन तो छोटे शहर में गुजरा जहाँ झुंड-की-झुंड गौरैयाएँ आतीं, दाना चुगतीं और फुर्र से उड़ जातीं। बड़े शहरों में तो अब सिर्फ आलसी पक्षी कबूतर मिलते हैं - जो दूर से भले ही सुन्दर लगें, बालकनी और छज्जियों पर सिर्फ गन्दगी फैलाते हैं। गौरैयों से उनकी तुलना कहाँ! 

गौरैया इतनी सुन्दर शायद इसलिए भी लगती है क्योंकि वह छोटी होती है और इस कारण बचपन की याद दिलाती है। ज्यादा रंग बिरंगी नहीं होती, शायद इसलिए उसकी सादगी ज्यादा भाती है। उसकी आवाज भी 'चहचहाती' हुई बिल्कुल वैसी होती है जैसा उसका प्यारा सा व्यक्तित्व है।

आज 'अंतरराष्ट्रीय गौरैया दिवस' है जो कि हर साल २० मार्च को मनाया जाता है। यह याद दिलाने के लिए कि हमारे जीवन की आपाधापी में हम गौरैया जैसी पक्षियों को न भूल जाएँ और उनके प्राकृतिक वातावरण की कुछ चिंता जरूर करें। फादर-मदर-वुमन-डे जैसे विभिन्न दिवसों में से ये एक दिवस ऐसा है जो ह्रदय को वहाँ छूता है जहाँ और कोई दिन नहीं छूते। 

प्यारी गौरैया और उसके संगीत का आभार - हमारे बचपन में रंग भरने को सारी पक्षियों का आभार। 

- राहुल 

[#Movies] A Lot Like Love

This is a very interesting movie based on a theme on which a lot of movies have been made. You meet someone you know you want to spend whole life with but due to circumstances and either of you not being on the same page at the same time, you end up not meeting. You spend years separated, in between try to get together but somehow it does not work every time. In this movie, although the love (which looked like one sided) and at-first sight, devil appeared in the details and it never worked out. Such stories keep the viewers at the tenterhooks, who while secretly praying that the two meet again, also wonder if the movie were ‘happy ending’ or not. To the viewers, the two characters look foolish – that they were letting go something which was so amazing and pure. But how we look at ourselves is different from how we actually are. It is indeed foolishness to meet someone you get along so very well with, the person is so very interested in you, but you somehow you become too ‘wise’ and skeptic and let him/her go. It is indeed foolishness because that sacred liking is very hard to find and in most of probability you won’t find it again!

Not everything in life comes with replaceable or complimentary copies which can be retrieved afterwards. Most of the relationships are unique and what you feel about one person, you can’t feel about another. Hence it becomes very important to take decisions before it is too late.

I liked this movie as much for its ending as much for its story which was a roller coaster ride. I wish Emille should not have let Oliver go so many times. Perhaps one of the reasons why she was denying him was because it was Oliver who was making first moves and she did not find it interesting/challenging (as the theory goes) and hence became disappointed. But I loved Oliver’s character – he was so honest and pure.

Anyways, let me conclude this by saying that I loved this movie.

- Rahul

[#Politics] Irom Sharmila Losing Elections in Manipur

Among the medley of news on recently held assembly elections, one small news item said that Irom Sharmila who was fighting election against Manipur CM got only 90 votes and has quit politics now, vowing not to fight elections again. 

Irom, known as "Iron Lady", had done hunger strike for 16 long years protesting against Armed Forces Special Powers Act which grants special power to the security forces to search property without warrant and arrest people on suspicion of acting against the state. Such harsh a law is applicable only in the North Eastern states and in J&K, obviously because there are powerful separatist and insurgent forces working in these regions against the republic. 

Irom was not alone in her fight against AFSPA and her long hunger strike of course won't be possible without people's support for her cause. She was not untouched from politics; from Anna Hazare to Mamata Banerjee to Communist Party, all have been in touch with her in the past. Not to speak of social organizations who have rallied around her. She has received several international prizes commending her for human rights and non-violence; including Amnesty International and Asian Human Rights Commission. 

It is unbelievable how she was able to manage only 90 votes.  

Her 16 years long fast ended just last year in 2016; meaning she won't have lost relevance in public's memory. She was born and brought up in Manipur and lives there; meaning she was no outsider to the state. She is known all over India due to her hunger strike and her noble cause and hence the locals would definitely have positive opinion about her. The results of assembly elections including the high number of seats won by the BJP indicate that people were looking for a change. Then what happened that she got only 90 votes? Why would the masses who were with her during her hunger strike suddenly abandon her? What does her defeat tell about Indian democracy - positive or negative?

I think the fact that she lost elections in this manner tells good about Indian democracy. I guess people were aware that despite being a good person with a noble cause, she was unprepared and lacked political experience to make actual changes. Also, spending decades on a single purpose of repealing AFSPA did not raise confidence in people that she would be able to take the state forward in all counts of important issues like employment, security, health and education, which do matter to people. Her decision to "aim too high" by fighting against the CM would also have backfired against her; as people judged her by comparing her with the CM who was a senior leader. Looking at opposition party BJP's numbers, it appears that she would have done much better had she joined and fought on a BJP ticket. But the mature and "unsentimental" manner in which people discarded her as unfit in politics, speaks that Indian voters are prudent and logical. They care about their votes and don't want to spend it either on sentiments or on single causes alone. 

Despite the valid reasons, one can't remain without feeling sorry for her. That is why popularity can be so dangerous - it raises the expectations so high that disappointments become more severe and damaging. 

Elections are called celebrations of our democracy. Then no festival is celebrated in all homes. May the losing ones be strong and be able to get on their feet again. Because life must go on!

- Rahul

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