Music journey continues to Gayaki and loving it

My music journey is slowly progressing. I am loving every minute of it. 

Thanks to my guruji Shri. Dhananjay Marathe-ji, Warje, Pune, who's teaching style is perfect. 

First of all, the sessions are online (though offline can be chosen). We get to decide on mutual timings depending on our schedules, so flexibility is there. This was a hurdle for me before I started learning.

But mainly, he has a way of simplifying things so well, and explaining every facet of the raag, that I get to covert the artistic explanation to technical in my mind. This helps me learn. When I know the nature of the raag, what swar should come in what sequence, and how it compares with other raags.

He answers all questions patiently. 

My Achievement. (I'll post a pic of the certificate soon)

I passed the Praveshika Pratham oral exam in First class. I'm proud of myself!  

8 raags, lakshangeet, tarana, dhrupad and other technical theory... all memorized. Kind of nervous reciting what was asked. 

Now I am learning it differently this year. Moved on to Gayaki i.e. slower paced learning where we get to know a raag deeply, to cover vakra taan, raag swaroops, vilambit khayals, chota khayal, tarana, and much more! 

For a person handling corporate life, managing home and family, it is a tough job to learn Indian / Hindustani classical music. But it is possible with a bit of management, lots of patience, technology, and loads of passion to learn it. 

Help for the street kids

I pass by University Chowk flyover each day in my car on the way home. There are some families how live under the flyover with their kids, and little ones.

Yesterday amidst the usual traffic jam there, I saw a touching sight. I saw a young couple surrounded by their few belongings, talking about something animatedly. There was a lean young man sitting a few feet away from them with a baby, about 1 year old, on his lap. The baby was wearing a shirt with a few buttons missing. The man was feeding the baby mixed dal-rice from a plastic bag. Some grains were falling over as the baby was distracted by all those cars stuck in traffic just a few feet away. I was touched looking at the scene. Where did the dad get the mixed dal-rice from? Was it sufficient for the baby and the dad both? Wasn't it too cold for the baby to be clothed so minimally?

There are many such families under that bridge alone. What have the kids done to deserve a life so cruel? Just because they were born in a poor family?! Does that mean they do not deserve to be kept warm? Fed right? Vaccinated? Educated so that they get an equal chance in our world too? Can they? Because I'm sure that there would be at least a few brilliant kids there, who would never see a school.

As much as we educated people think otherwise, these people don't get the same opportunities. We try to pacify our minds by saying that government is doing a lot for the poor, that poor don't want to take pains to educate themselves, they don't want to develop new skills, but is that true? Do these street kids know what schemes there are? Where they are? Whether they are eligible? Do their parents know the importance of such welfare schemes? Does someone convince the parents to take advantage of such schemes?
I do not think so.

Some people I know cannot even take advantage of the RTE act by the government where schools are supposed to reserve a certain percentage of their seats for underprivileged students. Schools don't want to do it because they can't get full aid for these kids from the government. Parents of well-to-do kids do not want their kids to mingle with underprivileged kids. School teachers see lifestyle parity within such students and are not able to teach the class fairly! I read some time back that there were ridiculous issues like going to a picnic in such schools where poorer kids cannot afford to go and it creates a problem for the school. Other issues include fancy stationary and study material! Lots of schools in Pune itself do not want to implement RTE act at all!

The most critical thing is the eligibility. Parents have to have certain certificates to prove they are residents in the area to send their kids to schools. Many such people (even those staying in the area for years) do not have these certificates, so it is a futile case for people who are homeless or are migrant labourers.

I thank my luck each day, 'cause my parents were able to afford my education and help me stand on my feet. But it shouldn't mean that I look away from needy people. Looking away doesn't make them go away. Looking away wouldn't make me feel better. Insensitivity is not a great talent to be acquired or developed.

I am going to extend my help to these kids in some way. I know that just 'Pity' won't help them, but I could. 
 

Baneshwar, Nasrapur Trip with Arya, Yogesh, Mom and Dad

Mom and dad were at my house during the last weekend. I was getting bored at home and wanted Arya to roam a bit too, so I suggested going to Baneshwar. Dad had never been there.

We took off on Sunday the 15^th of June at 1 pm from Wakad. We crossed Katraj, Koparhol (where there is Prati-Balaji temple) and kept driving. Somehow we thought we lost the turn. After asking around, we found that we have driven farther from the temple. So we took a U-turn and went back.

We had to take the Shelar phata (crossing) near Nasrapur. Inside Nasrapur there is a cute and crowded marketplace. The roads are narrow too. About 2 kms from the Phata, we reached the entrance to the temple.

Like a switch of a button we noticed the change - the silence, the clear and fresh air, the greenery, were very inviting.

Baneshwar is a Temple of Lord Shiva at Nasrapur, located at about 40km from Pune. It was constructed by Nanasaheb Peshwa. It has an antique bell brought from Goa and put there by Chimaji Appa. The temple is located amidst lush greenery as it is a forest reserve. It has various species of trees, birds and butterflies. It even has a small river flowing at the back! But since we visited in June, it didn’t have much water. I think by August it will have a good flow.

In front of the main temple, there are 2 ponds filled with fish and turtles. It is a welcome attraction for the kids. Arya loved looking at them for a long time!
 


Arya and tortoises at Baneshwar pond

Baneshwar temple pond with fish






A view from the Baneshwar jungle
 




Garden and children's park in Baneshwar



Mom & Dad at Baneshwar Jungle

Baneshwar forest reserve

He came inside with us for darshan and sat inside for a few moments. The temple is clean and well maintained.
We bought jamuns from a vendor there (at half the price compared to Pune). In the gardens, Arya was totally his own man, all charged up and taking any road he liked. We followed him and kept clicking photos.


After looking at the river and the green surroundings, we went to the play park made there for kids. It started raining heavily and lasted for 30 mins. We enjoyed watching the rain from a shelter. I had my fill of sitting on a swing (in the rain!)

We left the playground and went to one of the 2 tapris (hotels) near the temple. It was fun to eat vada pav and drink a steaming cup of tea in the rains!

On our way back Yogesh showed us the Kailas bhel shop. I had been there with him about 5 years ago, when it was a small place. Now it is looks like a mall with so many options and so many things to buy from. The taste is still good.

We bought so many Figs and vegetables from the nearby vendors at such cheaper prices. That in itself would have made my day!

On our way back the traffic was a little heavy, but we reached by 7 pm.

Baneshwar, Nasrapur is a perfect one day picnic destination for families around Pune. Go prepared with toys for kids, mats to sit, and some eatables! Enjoy! 
Come on!!!! write something.

Why do I like an outing or a weekend chillin'-out with a toddler?

Y doesn't seem to have much time for outings with me and Arya due to his over-zealous work ethics, or maybe just the lack of desire to go out. So instead of waiting around and mopping for all the lost time and weekends gone waste, I've started going out with the other guy I love – Arya. And on a few occasions - my parents.

Arya is increasingly becoming my favourite outing companion. He doesn't ask me questions like -

·         "Why do we have to go that far, when we can go here?" (Why a mall when we can go to the dukaan-vala? Why the Zoo when we can go to a garden in our society?)

·         "Can we go later?" (To make sure that I forget it.)

·         "Let's eat at home and then leave" (So we don't have to spend time eating out. And save bucks!)

·         "Do you need to buy it when you already have XYZ blah blah blah?"

Arya loves to go wherever I take him, be it a local grocery shop or a mall. He eats whatever food we buy and wherever we buy it (*touchwood*), loves it when I shop for myself or the family. I can try on clothes and show them to him. He says things like 'Mumma tu hey ghe'/'Mumma tu chhan distey'/'Boo-te-fool aahe vah vah mumma' (Mumma buy this/you look good/It's very beautiful.)

He dances to songs being played in malls like Central (CenTRRRal), Pantaloons, CCD or Barista. He doesn’t want me to hurry up and go home. He likes to hold my hand while shopping, and hug me when he feels like! (Y this is for you!)

He is also a great companion in the car, talking all the way, offering kiddie suggestions for kiddie issues, listening to songs and singing them, etc. He insists on being strapped with the seat belt each time he sits inside. If I say ‘khup traffic aahe aaj Arya’, he says ‘halu halu jau mumma’ or ‘kay kalaycha mumma? Khup taffic aahe!’

Some problems I face when I am out alone with Arya are that I have to make sure he stays within my sight, and I’ve to carry all the bags plus hold his hand. If he is hungry, thirsty or tired, I have to make sure he gets attention immediately, else it becomes difficult. The solution is to prepare beforehand or to make short trips.

Two other key issues are that I have to drive, and I have to spend from my pocket :). Y has an upper hand here.

With my mom and dad I've recently been to Khadakwasala Dam, MTDC Karla, Vashi at Mani's place, and Matheran with Mani's family. Missed Y in these trips but such is life. They are great company too. They keep talking a lot, making sure there is no silence during the journey or wherever we reach. Arya loves their company and I can relax a bit with them.

Some pics to remember.

Arya and dad at Khadakwasala dam in Pune (Aug2013)

Arya and me enjoying Camel ride at Khadakwasala dam in Pune (Aug2013)

Arya and me enjoying Camel ride at Khadakwasala
dam in Pune (Aug2013)



Arya, me, mom, maushi at Khadakwasala
dam in Pune (Aug2013)
 

Arya enjoying boat ride at MTDC resort
Karla, Pune (Nov2013)



Arya hungry at MTDC resort Karla,
Pune (Nov2013)



Arya talking to ducks at MTDC resort
Karla, Pune (Nov2013)



MTDC Karla resort layout (Nov2013)



Dad, mangal, Arya, mom at MTDC Karla



Me and Arya at Charlotte lake in Matheran (Dec2013)






Arya, Dad, Mom at Rugby resort in
Matheran (Dec2013)








Me, Arya, Dad, horseriding in
Matheran (Dec2013)





Pune is waiting for the rains. I am too.

We havent purchased our raincoats yet. Yogesh too doesn't have one. We, like many dedicated stingy Punekars will buy them only when we get drenched in heavy rains a few times. Sadly we haven't seen the rain that our normal wind cheaters cannot handle. And it is mid July now!

Where is the rain? Have we driven it away?

It may be an inconvenience when you go to office half drenched. It is a risk to drive amidst rains. It is yucky to get mud splashed on you. But I've always loved to feel the rain whenever I can. To look out of the window when it is raining, to drink hot black tea, and to have kanda-bhaji (onion pakode) when it is raining is amazing.

As a kid I always made sure that I go out when it was raining heavily - at least once. I did those crazy things like making paper boats, and I also sent small insects on big leaves to unknown destinations via the streamlets in my building compound.



Rainy road

 I remember when I was doing my MBA from Dept. of management sciences, Pune University, I absolutely loved the campus. I wish I had clicked photos of me there. I knew back then too that I will want photos of me in PU later, but simply ignored it at that time! Well, it is still green, but it doesn't feel the same now. There were times when I would go home from college on my puny little bike (Sunny) soaking in the rain, with people looking at me as though I was crazy. 

I even went home soaking wet in the rain on purpose while I was in my previous company. This year I might have to do it due to lack of raincoat though.

So when will it be?  

Thoughts and Traffic

Yogesh comes to pick me up from office at Kothrud to home in Wakad. (I just love him for this.) It is a 14 km and a 45 min journey that gets boring and routine most of the time. I keep asking him, "Ghar kadhi yenar?" ("When will we reach?"). And he replies 10 mins just for the sake of it, even though it is about 30 mins away.

There is traffic with dense black fumes coming out of PMT-PCMC buses and 6 seater rickshaws. (Seriously guys, don’t the pollution rules apply to public transport???). And I feel sorry for the kids begging at the signals or some poor homeless man sitting at a pavement with just 1 cloth bag full of god-knows-what as is sole possession. Sometimes I get anxious when I see little school/high school kids crossing the busy roads chatting with their friends, paying little heed to the speeding vehicles. Dunno how I am going to let Arya go to school on his own, ever! And then there is tree-felling going on all around for some road widening work. I plunge into thoughts all over again.

Yogesh weaves his way out from all this mess. Poor guy. Sometimes I think he knows that I am pondering over such seemingly petty things, and hence tries to distract me by talking about Arya, a guaranteed mood up-lifter for me.

These days I try to find some silver lining in such cloudy mess. Just to uplift my spirits and carry on like any other sensitive but lazy-to-change-anything person.

Few days back when I was on Senapati-Bapat road, I saw many trees on the road-divider. PMC is working hard at maintaining the shrubs and trees on it. (There are some areas though, where the shrubs have dried up and need a good trimming.) Some of the trees are dried up too (deciduous/lack of water? Dunno). But suddenly I found the silver lining there!

Even on the dried up trees I saw there were many bird nests. On almost every tree throughout SB road! It means that although the citizens and PMC are doing their best to cut trees off, the birds have still managed to find a small haven right in the middle of the busy road! We need to give a thought to give them more space, more safety. If we can’t plant trees, we can atleast arrange for some artificial bird nests and artificial bird feeders (Actually, one of my friend sells these.)

I must admit though - Bravo to the birds, and to the spirit of living!

A Day at Tamhini Ghat

Last rains we decided to do a one day trip to Tamhini near Pune.

It was a Sunday. We got up, had early breakfast and left our house at Warje by 7.30 am. We took the road via Pirangut, Paudgaon on our bike and kept driving for about an hour.

The drive was splendid with all hills covered with greenery and lots of farms on the way. We stopped for tea at a tapri (a small shop) at the touch of Mulshi lake. Entry into the lake waters and its perimeter is restricted and is a property of Tata power. There is also Mulshi dam on the way.

When we reached Tamhini, we saw some smaller waterfalls but stopped at a spot where there were few vehicles already parked. Waterfall was at a small walk from the road. We began our small trek towards it amongst the hills. It was amazing with the sparkling water flowing by and us having to walk through it to reach the waterfall. The water was about knee to waist deep at some places. There were other picnic groups too having lots of fun. (Picture 1: Yogesh and a beautiful backdrop of mountains and rain clouds)

When I saw the waterfall, I couldn't help shuddering! The water crashed down heavy amongst a little enclosure in the hill. We were surrounded by the hill and trees. There was a small lake created at the base of the waterfall... it was paradise, a world outside of our world. We stepped into the lake and walked towards the waterfall, not imagining for a second to stand under it! Water falling from such height hurts like rocks on your body. We sat on some boulders by the waterfall to click pics and ate snacks, splashing water all the time. (That's him in maroon conquering the waterfall!)

Then began our trek back to our bike, with us shivering, drenched to our bones. On our way back we stopped at a small resort for snacks and tea, and reached home by 8 pm well in time for dinner!

Enjoying the first heavy rain shower

Yesterday I stayed back home. My hubby, Yogesh wasn't feeling well, so at first I thought I'd go to the office at 10.30 am or so. We both were chatting about some timepass topics and the 10.30am went to 12.30pm, within no time!

When I looked out of the window, I saw HUGE dark clouds gather in the sky. It looked scary but I was amazed. For a city that has had to wait for about a month for a mere shower of rains, these clouds appeared JUMBO. And then just like you'd turn on your tap, it began to rain. It wasn't just a shower, it was a total downpour. Within 2 minutes, the small lane between houses in the chawl in front of our building, were flooded. These lanes come by my apartment building and from my window I could see small rivers flow fiercely towards us. The water passed from front of it to go to the right where it joined more such rivulets ahead.

I sat on the sofa by the window to see the lane flood a knee deep. Water from the asbestos tiles on the roofs fell into tin enclosures made at the end of the rooftops, to avoid the dripping all over the front yard. The tin enclosure slightly tilted towards one end of the roof has a small pipe or a hole for water to flow out and down. Yesterday water flowed out from it with so much force that for a second I thought we must collect it in all the buckets that we have. Rain water harvesting was what I began thinking of. Just then I saw some women rush in the rains to put buckets, plastic tubs below such pipes. They were doing it just for fun I guess.

Women called unto each other in the neighboring houses to just stand in the rain, in foot deep waters. Small kids, some crying when their parents held them in the rain, some dancing and scampering, holding umbrellas not necessarily on top of their heads, some little ones with all clothes left at home to enjoy the shower full time, filled the small lane within no time. Gradually all parents and old women came out. A guy even got a foot ball to play water games with these kids.

We both were watching this from our window. I decided that a better view would be from our covered terrace. I went up to see that our neighbor on the top floor was already drenched in the rain. I thought that I too shouldn't lose this chance to make my day. I step into the heavy shower, with Yogesh warning me that I'd get sick.

Wow, and the cold water took me by surprise!
‘Pani kitna thanda hai!’ I cried out.
'Bhagwan geyser On karna bhul gaya hai', Amit my neighbor said.
His wife Archana joined us. Yogesh was pulled in by Amit. We called Arti Tai who stays near us. She came with her umbrella and we had to trick her to get rid of it. And then the fun began. Our terrace was filled with half a foot of water, more than enough for us to splash it on each other. Me and Archana tried jumping in it so it splashed even more. It was fun.

'Just gimme a tablet tomorrow if I get sick', I shouted out to Yogesh where he was standing under a roof.
'Sure and I will give you a good kick too, for getting drenched in the rains, when I was warning you!’, Yogesh said :)
Nevertheless I continued playing until I was tired and shivering.

Although I do enjoy the rains every year in more or less the same manner, it was my first shower after getting married, after coming here to a new place, new surroundings, intermingling with new people...

We came home, changed into dry clothes, and had a cup of nice hot tea and steaming Maggie while looking out of the window.

Rain not only cleanses the air, the streets but also stressed minds and bodies. It brings all kinds of people together to celebrate and it opens up our souls to one another.

Where are the rains?!

For about a month now, we in Pune have been waiting for the monsoons to start! With eyes looking up to the skies, we expect to see huge dark clouds. And they do come almost every alternate day, but there's no rain. The clouds disperse just as quickly as they come. It's like they are mocking us in their own way.

Pune's major sources of water are the dams - Temghar Khadakwasala, Panshet and Varasgaon. And as of today 1st of July 2009, only 2.23% water remains in these dams. Even with extensive cuts, water will last only until 20th of July when the monsoon is expected to hit the city! Situation is grave. Puneties need to understand and do their little in conserving water individually. Pune Municipal Corporation needs to create more lakes for conserving water and find alternate source of water for the ever growing city. It needs to urge citizens to do rain water harvesting and provide all necessary help. Social awareness is a must!

Coming back to my own selfish self, I still need to buy a raincoat. I see shops display rainwear (umbrellas, jackets, and beautiful raincoats) and wonder when people will start buying it. I also am planning to make some great rainy season trips this monsoon as soon as there's greenery everywhere, but I have to wait until then.