Pune: The smartest city.

Pune the place to be..

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Before the industrialization it was already known as a college town. Now there is a shopping center where it used to be a fruit growing rural well away from the city..

It was charming, still, until the mid-to-late '90s. For the past 15-20 years, or so, I've found it more oppressive than Bombay in terms of traffic and proximity of buildings and congestion, but maybe that's because I'm an outsider and I just visit it (never lived there).

Nothing can be as oppressive as Bombay, but Pune comes close.

Not much of an article either.

Perhaps it's because I'm near the coast and have a lot of greenery about me when in Bombay, I'm spoilt.

Ah.. So you are asking for my opinion.. Well it would biased as I haven't stayed anywhere else(apart from 5 years in Goa).. The article covers a few things.

I have witnessed the transition from the early 80's to now. Yes, traffic has gone bonkers, yes property rates would reach the moon faster than an ISRO rocket the way it is rising; but --
Pune has still managed to retain a lot of its original flavour.. Art and culture still thrive here. All across the state, probably Pune gives the most shows for the regional movies. The theatre is strong and so is the literature. Pune was always considered a city of the learned, people here were considered arrogant (and rightly so at times).. The link takes you to various vernacular sign boards that can be seen around the city.

You will still find young people spending time chatting to each other below their buildings, grownups having regular get-togethers at their favorite haunts for tea or breakfast. Being in touch is often a norm here than an oddity.. Changes have come in, but it hasn't changed too much..

Education was always a strong point, industries were also ready to set in because of the availability of cheap real estate in the 70s and 80s, no water problems, manpower - skilled and unskilled were/are available in plenty, power supply was adequate, climate was pleasant and transport was reasonably convenient.

All this bought in students for studying from different parts of the countries and abroad, many of whom would settle down eventually. Industries got in many employees from across the country. A strong central government workforce also exists in view of various defense and other research institutes present here. With a slumber that the city administrators went for almost a decade or so, the infrastructure, public transport required to support this mass of population started failing.. Thankfully, with some vision and some other considerations, the growth started spreading itself away from the city and this growth has been planned to ensure that many troubles of the older part of the city do not replicate here.

The article cautions about a city not being made only by adequate wi-fi.. But Pune has loads of things more than that, many good, some bad.. Smartest city - still some distance for that, though work is in progress in the right direction. Smart city - much more appropriate.

Excellent post snotty!

I must visit again and spend some time. I last spent an extended time there of about ten days doing the matrimonial agency rounds for a pal many years ago, and it was a truly charming cityscape then. Since then, I have only done overnighters.

But even today, the people are what makes the place so special. Gentle and educated.

You are talking past tense. Ain't it true at present also?

The arrogance has diluted now with the influx of people from outside.. But go in the heart of the city and all these sign boards start staring at you..

That's the impression that I also have. The core Pune is still arrogant. The influx of outsiders is mostly at the outskirts.

Once upon a time the weather was excellent in Pune, now that is not the case.

I used to visit Pune for office work many moons ago during winter. Nights used to have old monk with colleagues and finish it with burji pao outside Shivaji Nagar station at 2:30-3:00 am.

(burji = spicy scrambled eggs) (pao = bread roll)

I thought Pune was famous for Misal pao.

Depends on caste to some extent in Pune.

A shared and precious memory.
My spouse wants to go back. But, all my friends have moved on and I don't think you can "go back". Even my guide died before I could return with his due देव की पेशकश of two bottles of Chevas Regal. Just found them gathering dust in the garage, no fun without the ritual mad singing driving the womenfolk to turn in for the night..

Misal Pao at night? I doubt anybody would be selling or having that in the night. It is usually consumed during the day (breakfast or evening snacks).

This I may disagree upon.. I do accept it used to be more pleasant than it is now.. Urbanization has taken its toll, but the change is more of a global phenomenon rather than a 'Pune' phenomenon.. It is still cool and pleasant in the mornings and evenings.. The breeze is still pretty much present through the day..

The summers have been bad, but then they have been bad allover..

As for the cuisine, the misal pav still rocks and so does 'mastani'.. Vada pav is also an all time favourite and yes you would still get some of what you say at the all night handcarts in business..

You will find a rather decent night life and it needn't be inside the clubs or hotels.. Many bridges and more recently benches at roadsides are occupied till late in the night and most of the people there are not inebriated.

Like I said not all things are rosy, but then if you look at the big picture, everyone (including children, students, working people and post retirement population) usually have a place to share and enjoy.. There is something for almost everyone.. Schools, classes, picnic spots, historical places, gardens to play in, sit and spend time, groups for elderly, music programs, activity and exercise groups and you could go on.. Usually available at convenient distances, at convenient frequencies and at convenient costs as well..

Safe, some slips here and there, but overall pretty good.