Er Rational musings #39

Er Rational musings #39



पूणे तिथे काय उणे



Each n every time, I leave this great city, looking out the windows of Shivneri, my mind fills with reminiscences of past 35 years.



The attraction started with our bicycle trips from Mulund to Pune in 1978-79-80s. With very little money on person, we have had a few visits on cycles. A whole day spent to reach Pune peddling on old Mumbai Pune highway NH-4, two lane, dotted with big trees on both sides! And funny thing is that, we used to walk the entire khandala ghat section tucking along, pulling our cycles, for 3 hours alone. Cycles were ordinary, no gears. Then we would stay in lodge. On few occassions, have peddled our way to Sinhagad, park our cycles at the bottom n have had quick treks.



During college days and first few years of employment, frequency of visits increased. What with great many - various friend circles n @ll.



Few highlights...



~ Amrut tulya tea stalls on Tilak Rd, Laxmi Rd, Furgusson Rd.

~ Old bungalows of Prabhat Rd, old 'waade' of Sadashiv Peth, Shanivar Peth.

~ Quarter system Bars.

~ Hotel Vaishali, Roopali.

~ Hotel Gokul (now closed, was at Deccan. Greatest Thaalipeeth Loni on Earth!)

~ Alka talkies, Rahul talkies erc.

~ Sarasbaug, Peshave Park, Empress Garden.

~ Irani joints like Goodluck, Ideal etc.

~ Trips to Pune by evening train, whole night roaming during Ganeshotsav, with no sleep n catching early morning train back to Mumbai.

~ Riding M-50 or Bajaj 150 or even Luna (borrowed from some relative or friend).

~ Trademark Vada paavs.

~ Manikbaug Industrial Estate on Sinhagad Rd, Gul tekdi, Pashan, Katraj, Hadapsar were far off places for us, those times.



And now the visits continue... new friends, new acquantances, new places, new purposes, new food joints, new vehicles, new attractions @ll @round!



But with old enthusiasm, pep n vigour!



Presently, we have mammoth growth on all sides.

कालाय तस्मै नम:

Still, it's a lovable, likeable, n liveable city.



जूनं ते सोनं पण नवं ते हवं, नाही का ?

---

मिलिंद काळे, 30th September 2015