O to be in Pune…. now that rains are here!
O to be Pune….. drinking masala chai!
(to be sung to the tune of “O to be in England… now that Spring is here!”
Legend has it that Jehangir had said this of Kashmir: “If there is a heaven on earth, it is here, it is here.” Well, I’m all for creating new legends, especially down-to-earth urban ones! So, how about morphing Jehangir’s rhapsodic enunciation into a paean to suit Pune? Heaven on earth? Maybe not quite. But there is hardly a better place to be during the monsoon than Pune.
After all those frenzied months of planning the latest getaway to some exotic destination in a far away continent during the summer months, making it through the over-priced, over-packed holidays that hinge on checklists, it is positively calming to realise, on your return, that you happen to live in a really lovely place which you can now settle down and enjoy in peace.
From June to September, you can expect to wake up to rain-washed greenery, not to mention mercifully rain-washed pavements and roads too. Pune’s surroundings get a facelift which is better than any photoshop effect. The hills turn green almost overnight and the waterfalls and little brooks that had gone into hibernation are rejuvenated. Greenery and water succeed in livening the most jaded eye, bring an upward tilt to those lips that had become accustomed to a scornful curl and even give a surge of interest to that other jaded thing, the palate.
{{/usCountry}}From June to September, you can expect to wake up to rain-washed greenery, not to mention mercifully rain-washed pavements and roads too. Pune’s surroundings get a facelift which is better than any photoshop effect. The hills turn green almost overnight and the waterfalls and little brooks that had gone into hibernation are rejuvenated. Greenery and water succeed in livening the most jaded eye, bring an upward tilt to those lips that had become accustomed to a scornful curl and even give a surge of interest to that other jaded thing, the palate.
{{/usCountry}}What can be more pleasurable than walking through the light drizzle that is Pune’s characteristic type of rainfall? A misty curtain that cools and revives, rarely heavy enough to curtail or even reduce the schedule of activities drawn up for the day, not only gives the potted plants lined up in your balcony a new lease of life, but brings down the temperature by a notch or two also. For that matter, it is also highly likely to bring your customary temperature down too! Repairing frayed tempers, improving moods and bringing back that forgotten smile – that’s the Pune Monsoon Effect!
Long, long ago, when I was a school kid, Pune was a delight in this season. It was catalogued as a “no fan station” by the Defence services. And, a miracle of miracles, that was indeed incredibly true. Imagine the Pune of the 1960s; a small compact town with a relaxed pace and a simple lifestyle. It was a city of two-wheelers. My favourite treat was a plate of misal pav followed by a glass of sugarcane juice. If the occasion was really special, this might be further followed by a hand-churned variety of mango ice cream. Wow, that still sounds good.
On days when the rain was unusually heavy, potato wedges, cauliflower florets and gilka slices were promptly persuaded into a gramflour batter, nudged into hot oil and fried up as a batch of bhajias meant to be consumed in generous quantities, while you sat indoors watching the rain. If you were a true blue Puneri, you would probably have some reading matter of caliber by your side too. A few friends who just happened to come by would be invited to share your pot of tea and your platter of bhajias. Another hot favourite was Pune’s inimitable kanda bhajia; onion bhajias that resemble baby crabs! Grab them before they make their getaway! Crisp and tasteful, they are just the thing for a rainy day.
MG Road (popularly known as Main Street) in the Camp area was the place to hang out. You might not have any shopping to do, but the thing was to go there for a stroll. You were bound to meet lots of friends (also harmlessly and hopefully hanging out), maybe have an ice cream or cold coffee and come home satisfied after your daily fix of socialising. Main Street too was at its best when it rained. For those who loved the rain, walking through it was a mini spell in paradise. For those who were finicky about getting their hair spoilt or outfit wet, there were awnings that you strategically managed to walk under.
Bliss is Pune in the monsoon rains!
Kanda bhajia, misal pav and mango ice cream too,
That is what you find on the Puneri set menu.
Nothing could be nicer than gazing at the rain,
Especially armed with that yummy tray of food!
O to be in Pune…. now that rains are here!
O to be in Pune…. drinking masala chai!
Mohini Khot
Pune’s weather is refreshing
“Pune?”, I gawked when my husband informed me about his new role at work. The next few days were a blurred assortment of sulky despair and a steady sense of denial about our impending relocation. After having spent my entire adult life commuting up and down on the dreaded local trains, I was justifiably not very fond of Mumbai. We had a love-hate relationship that was nearing its final days. But moving to Pune was a completely unattractive proposition then, for reasons I can barely understand now. In hindsight, it must have been the thought of being separated from the familiarity of the city I grew up in. In May, we completed a year in Pune. And I have come to love this city so much that, every time we return from a holiday, I am amazed with how delightfully at home I feel here. Where I once had grudges and prejudices, I now bask in the luxury of living in a city that offers all the comforts of life in a metro while not encroaching upon your personal space at the same time.
I cannot rave about Pune and not talk about its refreshing weather – something that immediately turned the odds in its favour on my initial snob-from-Mumbai-forced-to-make-Pune-home scale. However, as I gradually realised, one would be mistaken to think that a breather from heat waves and pollution woes is all this city can boast about. Undeniably, the air is cool, the vibes are warm, the streets are clean and relatively safer for women and so on. But what lends Pune its amiable aura is the cosmopolitanism that thrives here without blotting out its artistic essence.
As a self-confessed foodie, when I began to explore the bylanes of the old city in my quest to find legendary eateries and authentic Maharashtrian meals, I discovered a unique sense of conformation to tradition, decade-old bakeries refusing to expand despite booming businesses, cafes being passed down from one generation to the next, but reluctant to make changes to the menu, and a street food culture with a quintessential definition of its own. This pride is also evident in the way natives here speak a dialect of Marathi that is unadulterated by the modern slang. While some may interpret it as arrogance, I like to think of it as an attempt to preserve one’s cultural ethos. These sensibilities eventually grow on you, making it easier to accept divergent perspectives.
What also sets this city apart for me is the ease and quality of life it offers you. Had I known it earlier, I’d have happily traded the thrill of a fast-paced life in Mumbai for the serenity of Pune much sooner. After years of struggling to keep up, low stress levels have now made it possible for me to strike a much coveted balance between work and personal life. In other words, I can choose both calm and chaos without losing my grip over life. Visits to libraries and museums, pubs and breweries alike – I can conduct everything at my own pace without the feeling of being constantly rushed. Given its former reputation of being a sleepy town, this can be easily mistaken for a lackadaisical attitude. But after more than a year of calling it home, I know better than that.
Say Yes to Helmets
We wish Hindustan Times all the best in its efforts to ensure that citizens use helmets for their own good for all the rides.I am sure you must be roping in the traffic police and PMC officials in this exercise and effort. The effort is worthwhile. Our duty is to keep trying.
N Kalyan