Trip to Purandar

The Departure से My PhotographsEven before the day begun on January 26th,  we had decided to go to Purandar fort this time. There was a lot of deliberation over the matter between us friends for over two months. But it would have been foolish to let go this opportunity given by Republic Day to refresh ourselves. Our first choice was Rajgad, but as one by one members of our team walked out, only me and Tanaji found ourselves on the...

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It does not happen only in India

Just when I casually passing through the Le Monde, I came across this news.Six persons have been arrested for a fraud worth 450 million euros. According to the paper, British law enforcement agencies were investigating the matter since 2005. The identities of the persons have not been disclosed. I hope there are no Indians in it.The though that came to me was : there are other places on earth where frauds and scams are taking place and coming to light with each passing day. India is not the only place. I have yet to figure out wherther I should...

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Purandar

Republic Day At Purandar   About three years ago, I spent my Republic Day holiday wandering in Pune with my friends. That was the day when I saw Shaniwar Wada first time. This time around I was at Purandar. Yesterday we went to here with my friend Tanaji. The famous fort in the history of Maratha empire. This was the fort where Chhatrapti Sambhaji born. Many a sites on the fort are in ruins. I am going to write about it later. But what...

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The Tiger Turns 83

Even though the name Bal Thackeraydoes not arouse same level of fear, awe or appreciation from the general public as it commanded say a decade ago, he is still the formidable force in Maharashtra. His party is nothing compared to his own personal charm. In Shiv Sena, only Thackeray Senior’s word is final and carried some word. Owing to his declined health condition, his word does not come to the public directly now. Either it is an editorial in Saamana,...

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Autorickshaws on Different Roads

In one of my previous posts, I had mentioned about the hi-tech auto rickshaws. In a further development, the Pune city is set to see the rising numbers of autorickshaws plying on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). India is also getting new rickshaws running on solar power but it is a far fetched thing to expect that it will be a reality soon. In Pune, some PMPML buses already run on CNG. Now, according to RTO officials, about five to six autos have taken...

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Nanded, my city

I come from a city situated in the interiors of Maharashtra. Nanded, which is on the borders of Maharashtra and Karnataka, was a small town when I left it in 1997. For the last 10 years, I am living in Pune and my practical contact with the city remained took place only casually. On a recent visit to the city, I saw many changes taking place there. I just tried to chronicle some of them here. I take proud in the fact that Nanded was a cosmopolitan...

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HAL employees to get Fifth Pay Commission

The Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers Ramvilas Paswan announced on Saturday that revised pay scales according to Justice Mohan Commiittee recommendations on 5th Pay Commission would be applicable to Hindustan Antibiotics employees from 17 Jan 2009.The arrears from 1997 would be given in instalments in due course of time and the timetable for arrears distribution would be discussed with the HAL Employees Unions. Every employee will also get Rs 1000 as bonus in the new year. Paswan was speaking at the inauguration of the new Cephalosporin...

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PIFF gets State Sponsorship

The organisers of the 7th Pune International Film Festival should go home singing now. The state government, which was unable to curb rising numbers of farmer's suicides has lend a helping hand to the organisers.Even though the powers that be do not know how the common public will watch movies without electricity, it has went ahead with the promise of sponsoring the annual event.   Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced on Thursday that from next year onwards the state government will be officially connected with the Pune...

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Film Festival : Does It Help

The Pune International Film Festival was inaugurated yesterday. It was made to be a great event by all and sundry. Looking from the standpoint of an average cinegoer, I do not find it much exciting. They say the film festival is the place where you can have a vast view of cinema. For me, it is a place where those films are shown which can not stand in the theatre on their own. Iranian films are hailed by everyone citing their content, which they...

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Diamond Jubilee of NCL

National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) is celebrating Dimaond Jubilee of the institute begining from January 9. Even though built about three years before, NCL which is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi was formally declared open on January 3, 1950. The then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was in Pune for the Science Congress at the time. Coinciding with that occasion, NCL was inuagurated....

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Marathwada Divided

Finally Ashok Chavan has delivered that blow which each politician does at one or other point of time. He has stolen the devisional office of revenue department from Latur, which is former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s constituency. The new divisional commissionerate, which will be carved out of Aurangabad division will be set up at Nanded, the constituency of Chavan himself.The entire Marathwada region comprising of Aurangabad, Latur, Nanded,...

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The Sweet Grapes

One is not sure whether it is a good or bad news. A new Indian Grape Processing Board is set to come into existence in Pune as the central government has approved the proposal. The move is expected to give boost to the wine industry in Maharashtra. According to figures provided by government, the Indian wine industry is worth Rs 275 crores and growing at 25 –30% annually. Maharashtra is the No. 1 state in industry while Nashik is called the Wine...

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