IPL post in Pune Mirror.

The IPL Pune team rules post found a mention in today’s Pune Mirror (e-paper link here – PDF). So if you read this blog, but you didn’t read that post for some random reason, you can read it if you get hold of a copy of the Pune Mirror.

But damn those brats for not just copying the post, but also crediting me. I wish they’d not have credited me. Then I would’ve been the victim, earned some publicity, had me 15 seconds of fame — after all, I deeply care about the writes of righters. I could’ve been anointed as an asli blogger, not one of the bloggers no one cares about. Damn those Pune Mirror folks !

Link via Veda A.

IPL Pune team rules.

The Indian Premier League was where cricket met Bollywood. With Pune getting its own team, IPL also meets Puneri Marathi. Pune is known for its sarcastic and most of the time, downright rude signboards. Puneri Patya has a great compilation of those. Pu. La. Deshpande put it best in his essay Mumbaikar, Punekar ki Nagpurkar when he said : Puneri Marathi is about maximizing insult in the minimum possible words. (As the blog FAQs say, I too owe much of my sharp tongue to Pune, where I was raised. Anyone I know can vouch for this.)

Today, I got an e-mail forward of IPL signboards and rules in Puneri Marathi. I wanted to translate it to English so everyone could enjoy it. Since the mail was fairly long, I crowd-sourced the translation via Twitter. The translators are Nikhil Apte, Fake Bal Thakre, Neeraj Sane and yours truly. We have tried to retain as much value as we could, while adding some. If you are not satisfied with the translation, in assal Puneri language : Do not bother the authors with your complaints. If you have any issues, please come up with your own translation and post it somewhere.

If you wrote the original e-mail, please write to me and take due credit.
Update : The original author of the Puneri Marathi list has been traced to a blogger who goes by the moniker Chota Don. His post is here. Thanks to commenter AD.
The jersey has been designed by Vedang Bagwe.

This is the only time I will be using a hideously large font (for better readability of Devnagari script).

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*ह्या पाट्या आहेत त्या’मैदानावरच्या’ …..

Signboards at the stadium

१. सामन्याची वेळ तुमच्या तिकिटावर छापलेली आहे, उगाच कधीही येऊन गर्दी करु नये.

The match timings are printed in bold letters on your ticket. Do not crowd this place by showing up whenever you please.

२. सामन्याच्या वेळेच्या आधी ३० मिनिटे मैदानात प्रवेश दिला जाईल, तुम्ही गडबड केल्याने सामना लवकर सुरु होणार नाही.

Entry begins 30 minutes before the match and not before that. Your haste will not ‘prepone’ the match.

३. खुर्चीचा वापर फक्त बसण्यासाठीच करावा… एका खुर्चीवर एकच !

Chairs are strictly meant for sitting ONLY. And only one person on each chair please.

४. मैदानात पिण्यासाठी (साध्या) पाण्याची व्यवस्था केली आहे, थंड तसेच फिल्टर्ड पाणी आपण दिलेल्या तिकिटाच्या पैशात मिळणार नाही, उगाचच आयोजकांकडे हट्ट धरु नये.

Only tap water will be provided inside. The price of chilled or filtered water is not included in your ticket. Do not bring such silly complaints to the organizers.

५. मैदानावरचे कॅमेरे हे सामन्याच्या हालचाली टिपण्यासाठी आहेत, उगाच हिडीस चाळे करुन त्यांचे लक्ष वेधण्याचा प्रयत्न करु नये.

The cameras in the stadium are only to record and telecast the match. Do not try to distract the cameraman with your silly gestures.

६. आपण पुण्यासारख्या एका सुसंस्कृत शहरात एका सार्वजनिक ठिकाणी सामना पहात आहोत ह्याचे भान ठेऊन चियरलिडर्सना खाणाखुणा करु नये किंवा त्यांच्याकडे डोळे फाडुन बघुन लाज आणु नये. अश्लील चाळे कराल तर नुसतीच पोलीस कारवाई नाही तर धिंड काढण्यात येईल.

Please remember that you are watching the match in a city that is the epitome of culture. Do not bring disgrace to Pune by making lewd gestures or ogling at the cheerleaders. Such acts will be met with not just police action, but also with public humiliation.

७. फुंके ( सिगारेट, बिड्या, चिलीम ), थुंके ( तंबाखु, गुटका, मावा, पान ) आणि शिंके ( तपकीर आणि स्वाईन फ्ल्युग्रस्त ) ह्यांना मैदानात मज्जाव.

Smokers (cigarettes, bidis), Spitters (tobacco, gutkha, paan) and Sneezers (snuff inhalers and swine flu carriers) prohibited.

८. मैदानात दारु विक्री केली जात नाही, मैदानात दारु पिऊ दिली जात नाही, मैदानात बाहेरुन दारु पिऊन आल्यास प्रवेश मिळणार नाही.

Sale of alcohol is forbidden, bringing alcohol is forbidden and entry when drunk is forbidden.

९. मैदानात विकत मिळणार्‍या खाद्यपदार्थांची आवरणे, पिशव्या तसेच पाणी किंवा शितपेयाच्या बाटल्या मैदानात फेकु नयेत, बाटलीवरुन खेळाडु घसरुन पडुन जखमी होऊ शकतो ह्याची किमान जाण ठेवावी.

Do not throw any kind of waste (paper, plastic, cans) into the playing field. Be aware that players can slip and injure themselves.

१०. सामन्याच्या वेळी खेळाडुंना पाठिंबा देताना हळु आवाजात आरडाओरड करावी. हा क्रिकेटचा सामना आहे, तमाशाचा फड नव्हे !

During a match, keep your voice low when cheering for your team. This is a cricket stadium, not a fish market or a tamasha.

११. अनोळखी वस्तुंना स्पर्श करु नये … व्यक्तींसह !

Do not touch unknown objects… or people!

१२. मैदानातील मोठ्ठे पंखे फक्त दुपारी आणि गर्दी असलेल्या ठिकाणीच लावण्यात येतील. पंख्याखाली बसण्यासाठी मोठ्ठ्या आवाजात भांडण करुन आयोजकांना त्रास देऊ नये.

The stadium fans will be turned on in the afternoon, and in crowded stands only. Do not argue loudly with the organizers just because you want to sit under the nearest fan.

१३. स्त्रियांचे स्वच्छतागॄह, खेळाडूंचे पॅव्हेलियन, चियरलिडर्स पोडियम, व्हीआयपी गॅलरी, पत्रकार कक्ष इत्यादी ठिकाणी उगाच जास्त घुटमळु नये.

Do not loiter needlessly near the ladies restrooms, players’ pavilion, cheerleaders’ podium, VIP gallery, press box, etc.

14. सामन्यातील कसल्याही घटनेचा ( सामना हरणे, षटकार मारणे, धावबाद होणे, झेल टाकुन देणे वगैरे ) राग खुर्च्यांवर काढु नये.

Do not vent your anger at any incident (losing the match, run-out, sixer, dropped catch, etc.) on the stadium chairs.

15. सामना पहायला आलेल्या प्रेक्षकांचे खेडाळु, चियरलिडर्स, व्हीआयपी यांच्याबरोबर अथवा खेळपट्टी, पत्रकारकक्ष, समालोचन खोली, पॅव्हेलियन, व्हीआयपे बॉक्स इथे ‘फोटु काढुन मिळणार नाहीत’ किंवा त्याला परवानगी दिली जाणार नाही.

The audience is forbidden from snapping photos with players, cheerleaders, VIPs or at the pitch, press box, pavilion, VIP box, etc. Permission for the same will not be granted.

16. सामन्याच्या वेळेदरम्यान तुटलेल्या चपला, कापलेले खिसे, मोडलेला चष्मा, हरवलेली पर्स, गायब झालेला मोबाईल ह्यांची जबाबदारी आयोजकांकडे राहणार नाही. समोरच पोलीस स्टेशन आहे, तिकडे जाऊन तक्रार करावी.

Management cannot be held responsible for your stolen purses, lost mobiles or broken spectacles. There is a police station nearby. Take your complaints there.

17. हे पुणं आहे, शिमला नव्हे, उन्हाळ्यात गरम होणारच, पण म्हणुन मैदानात सामना पहायला शर्ट काढुन बसु नव्हे. अशा निर्लज्ज प्रेक्षकांना बाहेर काढले जाईल.

This is Pune, not Shimla. It is obvious that summers will be very hot. This does not mean you can take off your shirt. Such indecent spectators will be thrown out of the stadium.

18. पाऊस पडल्यास पैसे परत मिळणार नाहीत, कॄपया हवामानखात्याशी सल्लामसलत करुन मगच तिकिट काढावे.

The ticket price will not be refunded in case of rain. Please check with the meteorological department before you buy your tickets.

19. परदेशी खेळाडुंच्या अंगचटीला जाऊ नये तसेच त्यांना स्थानिक भाषेत गलिच्छ आणि अश्लील शिव्या देऊन वेडावुन दाखवु नयेत. ते आपले अतिथी आहेत, आपण घरात पाहुण्यांशी असे वागतो का ?

Do not needlessly rush to make bodily contact with the foreign players, or pass lewd remarks at them in the local language. They are our guests. Do we behave like this with guests in our own home?

20. राजकीय नेते, सरकारी अधिकारी, स्थानिक दादा ह्यांचा वशिला लाऊन फुकट पास मागु नये. परवडत नसल्यास झाडावर चढुन सामना पहावा.

Do not ask for ‘free passes’ just because you know a politician, government official or a local goon. If you can’t afford tickets, climb on nearby trees and enjoy the match.

21. खेळाडूंना गाढव, माकड असल्या कुठल्याही प्राण्यांच्या उपमा देऊन चिडवू नये. असे करताना आपणच त्या प्राण्यासारखे दिसतो.

Do not insult players by addressing them as a donkey, monkey or any other animal. You will look like one if you do.

22. स्वच्छतागृह स्वच्छ ठेवावे. स्वच्छतागृहातून घाण येते याची तक्रार खपवून घेतली जाणार नाही.

Keep the restrooms clean. Do not complain about foul odour from restrooms.

23. समोर नाचत असलेल्या चीयर लीडर्स जरी “मस्तानी” असल्या तरी आपण “बाजीराव” नाही. म्हणून कृपया सामना खाली बसून बघावा.

The cheerleaders are as attractive as Mastani, but you are not Bajirao. Therefore, please be seated during the match.

24. वरील सुचना ह्या चेष्टेचा विषय नव्हे ह्याची नोंद घ्यावी, ह्याची चेष्टा करणार्‍या प्रेक्षकांना संपुर्ण सामना संपोस्तोवर अंधार्‍या खोलीत बळजबरीने बसवुन ठेवले जाईल.

Please note that the above rules are not to be taken lightly. If you are caught poking fun at them, you will be kept in solitary confinement in a dark cell till the end of the tournament.

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***ह्या पाट्या आहेत त्या’आयपीएल-पुणे संघाच्या कार्यालयातल्या” ….

Signboards outside the IPL Pune team office :


१. फक्त दिवसाचे सामने खेळले जातील, त्यातही दुपारी १-३ असा विश्रांतीचा वेळ राखुन ठेवावा लागेल.

All matches will be played only during the day. Also, keep in mind that 1 p.m.-3 p.m. is our afternoon nap time and this will not be compromised at any cost.

२. रात्रीच्या सामन्याचा चार्ज वेगळा पडेल, कुठल्याही परिस्थीत रात्री ८ वाजता सामना संपवण्याची जबाबदारी आयोजकांची राहिल, सवड मिळाल्यास उरलेला सामना दुसर्‍या दिवशी खेळता येईल.

Matches played during the night will be charged extra. It will be the organizers’ responsibility to end the match by 8 p.m. The rest of the match may be played out the next day, at the sole discretion of the team management.

३. सोमवारी सुट्टी घेतली जाईल.

Monday will be a holiday.

4. सर्व लोकांना जाहीर निवेदन देण्यात येते की “आयपीएल-पुणे संघ ( पुण्याचा अभिमान, महाराष्ट्राची शान ) ” ही आमचा पुर्णपणे स्वतंत्र संघ असुन “मुंबई इंडियन्स, महाराष्ट्र” ह्या संघाशी आमचा कसलाही संबंध नाही. त्या संघाशी केलेल्या व्यवहाराची जबाबदारी केवळ तो मराठी आहे ह्या कारणाने घेतली जाणार नाही. तसेच त्या संघाच्याविषयी आमच्याकडे कसलीच चौकशी करु नये.

We hereby declare that ‘IPL Pune team’ has no affiliation to ‘Mumbai Indians’. Any transactions done with Mumbai Indians will not be honoured by us just because they are Marathi too. Likewise, do not inquire about Mumbai Indians here.

5. हा क्रिकेटचा संघ आहे. उगाच गाण्याच्या स्पर्धा, नाचकामाचे कार्यक्रम, पाणपोईचे उद्घाटन, नव्या दुकानाची चित्रफीत कापणे ह्या आणि अशाच इतर कामांसाठी खेळाडुंची चौकशी अथवा मागणी करु नये.

Please note that this is a cricket team. Do not needlessly make inquiries or demands for our players to make appearances at singing competitions, water-fountain inaugurations, ribbon-cutting ceremonies or other similar activities.

6. क्रिकेट हा एक खेळ आहे ह्याचे भान ठेवावे, आम्ही मॅचफिक्सींग करत नसल्याने जिंकण्याची कसलीच गॅरेंटी देता येणार नाही.

Please note that cricket is a sport. Since we do not fix matches, there is no guarantee that we will win.

7. देणग्या मागणारे, गौरवनिधी सामने आयोजीत करणारे, सर्व्हे करणारे, फुकटात जाहीरातीसाठी कार्यक्रमाला हजरी लावण्याची विनंती करण्याची शिष्ठमंडळे आदी तत्सम व्यक्ती किंवा संस्था ह्यांना सक्त प्रवेश बंदी आहे, ह्यात कोणत्याही कारणास्तव बदल होणार नाही.

Donation seekers, benefit-match organizers, survey-takers or representatives of any organization seeking ‘free passes’ for publicity and similar persons or entities are strictly prohibited. No concessions shall be made on this policy for any reason.

8. आमचे प्रतिस्पर्धी संघ कमी किमतीत खेळत असल्याच्या बढाया आमच्यासमोर मानु नये. आमचे इथे क्वालिटीला प्राधान्य असल्याने कमी किमतीत सामना खेळवण्याचा विचार केला जाणार नाही.

We are aware that competing IPL teams play for a lower price — you do not have to inform us. Such teams know what their performance is worth. Quality is of utmost importance to us, so we will not consider lowering our price.

9. आपण आमच्या खेळाबद्दल समाधानी असताल तर इतरांना सांगा, नसाल तर योग्य आणि सभ्य शब्दात आम्हाला सांगा, योग्य दखल घेतली जाईल.

If you are satisfied with the team’s performance, kindly let us know. If not, write to us in civil language. We shall look into it.

10. आमचेकडे शाळकरी संघांना ट्रेनिंग दिले जात नाही

We do not train school teams.

11. आमच्याशी ठरलेल्या करारानुसार सामना झाल्यावर आमच्याकडुन सदिच्छा म्हणुन खेळाडुंचे टी-शर्ट्स, ट्रॅक सुट्स, टोप्या, बॅटी, चेंडु अथवा तत्सम कुठलेही किमती सामान भेट मिळणार नाही. उगाच हावरटपणा करु नये.

Under the terms and conditions agreed upon, you will not receive any t-shirts, track pants, caps, bats, balls, etc. as memorabilia after the tournament. Do not display your obscene greed here. Tantrums won’t work.

Team jersey : (saffron)

Main sponsor : Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale. Other sponsors : Joshi vadewale (we don’t have any branches elsewhere) and Sahara parivar. Note : Do not contact us for any any further logos on the T-shirt. Excessive advertising can distract players.

Link via Sujay P.

The Pune blast.

Disclaimer : I have lived my entire life in Pune, but I’ve been living outside for the last couple of years. It is possible my reaction would’ve been more knee-jerk and aggressive had I been living in Pune when the blast occurred. It is also possible that it wouldn’t have been so.

I’ve seen far too many people commenting on the Pune bomb blast and blaming SRK, Shiv Sena and Pakistan. It is not just annoying; it is silly.

Does anyone seriously think that had the cops not been manning the theaters, or had they not been ensuring discipline on Valentine’s day, we could’ve averted the blast ? You’ve got to be kidding ! Or you’ve got to be a kid.

Do you know what the Pune cops were upto on Valentine’s day ? They had decided to be the moral police themselves. They said that they would take action against anyone protesting against Valentine’s day, but would also prevent any public show of affection on Valentine’s day. If they weren’t guarding a theater, they might have been after the Valentine’s day pro and against folks. If not that either, someone still has to convince me that they could and they would take note of a stray bag in a bakery.

We have no information to blame any external entity yet. From all initial information, it seemed to have the footprint of Indian Mujahideen. If and when a link is established, feel free to flood your modes of outlet of anger. At the right targets — if it isn’t too much trouble.

That said, feel free to blame Shiv Sena for the blast. The line of thinking — if you need to defend yourself against me — goes thus : Shiv Sena started a huge controversy, their Sainiks started attacking cinema halls, police needed to protect property rights of theater owners and maintain order, hence cops were diverted. I still maintain it is extremely silly and laughable, but as long as it aligns with my views, you’re fine. Just like most of you are seeking positive reinforcement of your respective lines of thought.

*****
My friend escaped the blast by roughly 30 mins. I hope he posts his observations somewhere.

Kalmadi’s games.

The controversies and incidents leaving Suresh Kalmadi red-faced just don’t seem to end. First was the public break-up he had with CGF chief operating officer Mike Hooper, and then the highly ambitious and baseless statement that Usain Bolt would be participating, and the famous quote, ‘These will be the best ever Games‘.

Usain Bolt soon responded :

Three-time Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt has denied making any commitment to run at the event in New Delhi next year (2010). His views are contradicting with Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi’s claims.

Expected.

My hometown (Pune) has been experimented upon by Kalmadi twice in the past — the National games in the 90′s and Commonwealth Youth Games last year. Both marked with rushed touch-ups, inadequate planning and an utter apathy to citizens’ needs. Citizen groups eventually protested and sought to boycott the CYG last year.

Thinking further, these games don’t really serve any purpose apart form being an embarrassment in many cases. They don’t help sports either. They end up being a huge waste of public money. In such circumstances, when Kalmadi states that India will be bidding for the Olympics in 2020, it is at best laughable.

And as someone whose constituency is responsible for sending Suresh Kalmadi to the Parliament, I apologize.

Kindly answer.

So a friend was in Pune some time back and almost freaked out seeing all girls riding a Scooty (or Activa) with scarves covering their faces.

My answer was some combination of pollution and komal tvacha. But apparently, this is seen on such a large scale only in Pune.

My next guess was that one girl came up with the idea as she didn’t want to be seen with her boyfriend by uncles and aunts and relatives, the other girls thought it was sheer genius and a great way to protect their skin, and eventually, everyone started doing the same thing.

That still doesn’t explain the Scooty and the self-imposed speed limit of 35 kmph though.

Anyone would like to share their thoughts ?

P.I.C.T. innovates.

Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. For proof, look no further than my alma mater, P.I.C.T., that made a very rare appearance in the news :

Once the plan bears fruit, PICT will be the first college in the city to implement virtual classroom concept. The virtual classroom will enable students and teachers at PICT to deliver and attend lecture without physical presence in the classroom.

I am surprised it took them a decade to tackle the curious case of empty classrooms.

But I am envious of the students – now they can doze off in the cozy comfort of their homes while attending lectures, they don’t have to bear the aroma of gutkha emanating from some professors, and they’ll have wikipedia and the internet along with the earlier common sense to rebut the false theories so confidently passed off as lecturing by the great ones.

I knew I was born in the wrong era !

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On a related note, here’s how I identify whether an ex-student belongs to P.I.C.T., C.O.E.P. or V.I.T (the three premier institutes for engineering in Pune) :

If a person is proud of and cares about his alma mater (which includes visiting it for the silliest of reasons) , he belongs to V.I.T.

If someone is proud of his alma mater, but doesn’t really care about it, he graduated from C.O.E.P.

If he is neither proud of nor cares for the alma mater, that’s an ex-student of P.I.C.T.

I hope the post gets a little more perspective with this knowledge.

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Update : I don’t know how I let this sentence go by right under my nose :

The virtual classroom will enable students and teachers at PICT to deliver and attend lecture without physical presence in the classroom.

Or maybe with the changing times, P.I.C.T. has, in fact, undergone necessary changes. Apparently, the students now deliver and teachers attend lectures. Someone please confirm.

Thanks to Veda for pointing it out.

The case of the Facebook Five.

I came across this case that is generating quite some interest in Australia. It involves 5 officers of a prison who were threatened with sacking because they posted some non-flattering things about their boss and other senior members on Facebook.

The right of Australian workers to slag off their boss could become enshrined in law if a landmark case by a group of outspoken prison officers – dubbed the Facebook Five – is successful.

The officers were threatened with the sack after they posted disparaging comments about New South Wales Corrective Services Commissioner Ron Woodham and other top brass on a Facebook group called “Suggestions to help Big RON save a few clams”.

This is a touchy issue. But as far as free speech goes, if the employees do not post such stuff during office hours, and do it in their private time, the employer really has no business firing them. If done on the employers’ property, then the employer has every right to do whatever they want. Viewing all rights as an extension of property rights, I really hope this landmark judgement goes in favour of the officers. It will surely set a welcome precedent, assuming Australia is particular about protecting free speech.

On a more general note, it is funny how corporations are so sensitive to negative comments made by employees. Assuming it does not involve information under an NDA and it is done in the employee’s free time without using the company’s resources, corporations stand to lose both the case and the higher moral ground by reacting negatively. They would rather do well to address the issues raised by the employee.

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This reminds me of a funny story that happened a few years ago with a batch one year junior to me. There was a project group of final year engineering students from a Very Illustrious Technological institute in Pune. Their project was sponsored by a tech company in Pune; I don’t remember the name, but I think they made Great Softwares (glad if you got the puns, don’t worry if you didn’t).

So the mentors were very busy to guide the students, as a result of which no work was being done and the project was delayed. When finally little progress was made, an ecstatic student wrote about it at his blog. This invited a comment from his project partner, something of the order of,  ”Yes finally some progress. Thanks to our moronic guides, [Guide 1 First Name] ‘Did you Google this ?’ [Guide 1 Last Name] and [Guide 2 First Name] “Come later” [Guide 2 Last Name].”

Guide 2 was ego-surfing when she discovered this and was understandably angry. This led to an overall screwing of the students from both the company and their department, who were duly alerted of the fact. Fun starts when no one of the faculty really knows what was written, or what a blog is. They have to rebuke the students with statements like, “Yes you have written something very dirty on some blog or somewhere”. Given the authoritarian nature we like to assume as soon as we get some power, you can imagine what the students must have gone through before their project was finally accepted, months later, when the CEO of the said company, whom I personally know and is a gem of a person, steps in.

Point being, the company would have done better to look into the issue and address it, and the faculty should instead have taken up the issue with the company as it was their students’ career at stake. But we get so busy getting offended that such issues fall on the back burner.

As I said yesterday, we don’t even understand what free speech is. Should it be a surprise that we don’t vehemently defend it ?

Tumhala PuNekar Vhayachay ?

translated as Do you want to be a Puneite ?

I was googling for this recent Marathi movie “Mi Shivaji Raje Bhosale Boltoy” yesterday (okay I admit I was checking if there was a copy online), and the search led me to this page of WikiAnswers.

Q : Where can you download mi shivaji raje bhosale boltoy movie ?

Guess what the featured answer would be ?

A : Kadhi tari ticket kadhun film bagha…. (translated as For once, buy a ticket and watch a movie !)

I can bet any amount that the person answering it had some affiliation to Pune. Now, for readers who have gone through the FAQs page, recollect this question :

9. Why do you ‘hit on everyone’ (which is Indian English for ‘Why do you write satire about everyone’) ?

A. I come from a city where people learn satire, black humour, sarcasm and criticism before they can even speak.

I hope the whole thing makes sense now. For details, refer to Pu La’s Tumhala KoN Vhayachay ?

Or refer to Gaurav S.’s translated version in English (part 1 and part 2).

Post election thoughts (Pune).

This is a 3-part series of post election thoughts. At the India, Maharashtra and Pune level. You can find the remaining parts here.

This post appears here just because I belong to Pune and no other reason.

The verdict : It is going to take more than a bunch of wannabe MP’s and fractured electorate to overthrow Suresh Kalmadi.

If not for the MNS, the Congress would have lost for certain. But with the MNS creating a tripolar political scenario in Pune, with other minor poles being the BSP candidate D.S. Kulkarni and independent Arun Bhatia, the Congress did not have to do anything special to win this seat.

With a record low turnout of 40% in Pune and a record high number of candidates (36), it was undoubtedly going in favour of the incumbent. Same idea again, do not shoot yourself, which was arguably the mantra of the Congress this time. And they almost did it, with the NCP not supporting Suresh Kalmadi for a large part of the campaign, but even that wasn’t enough to lose the seat. You get the idea now.

As for the other factions like Arun Bhatia, I hope they do not abandon politics only to resurface the next time, but actively participate in local and assembly elections too. It can only help the cause. 

As for Suresh Kalmadi, I cannot wait to see what his next maverick idea is going to be after the BRTS.

How about making roads only open to pedestrians while vehicles drive on the footpath ? Think about it.

Aamras myths.

Quite ironically, this might be the first news you CAN use.

This is one of the most heartening news pieces I have read in recent times which dispels myths related to aamras (Aamras is a Marathi word loosely translated as ‘mango pulp’ and true to its word, it is a preparation of mango pulp, milk and sugar blended together).

Myth 1 – It is fattening
Fact: One mango is only about 60 calories! It contains no cholesterol or saturated fat. It only contains about 0.6 grams of total fat.

Myth 2 – It is acidic
Fact: Mango is only acidic if it is combined with milk. Have mango on its own as a little meal itself. Do not mix it with anything.

Myth 3 – It contains sugar, so it increases weight
Fact: Mango contains natural sugars which is needed for body metabolism and does not increase weight.

Myth 4 – Creates heat in the body
Fact: Mango is a summer food for a reason. If it was heaty, it would not be available in the summer in the first place. Nature is aware of seasons.

I am pretty sure I have spread some cheer by sharing these facts. For readers who aren’t related to Maharashtra, you might never understand the euphoria surrounding aamras. In a nutshell, it wouldn’t be incorrect to state that people eagerly look forward to the 40+ degree summer heat just for aamras.

Its popularity can be gauged from the fact that weddings are called off in Pune because of .. wait for it .. aamras.

Just before the ceremony could begin, the Botaljis demanded that their relatives be served ‘aamras’. The Bhises expressed their inability to do so, saying that the menu for the occasion had been decided by both sides a long time back and that ‘aamras’ was not to be on the fare. They said it was too late to arrange for the ‘aamras’ now. 

However, the Botaljis refused to budge, leading to a dispute between the two sides. The Botaljis walked out of the marriage-hall even as the Bhises made repeated pleas against the cancellation of the wedding. 

This is an old news piece but one that I will never forget. Its reference always comes up in any conversation related to aamras.