पुण्याचे २०१७ चे काही गणपती

सालाबादाप्रमाणे ह्या वर्षी देखील आम्ही गणपती बघायला गेलो होतो. सगळे मुख्य गणपती नाही बघता आले. तरी देखील जेव्हडे जमले तेव्हड्यांचे फोटो ...

येथून सुरवात केली - विश्रामबाग  वाडा गणपती.
देखावा: शिवाजी महाराज ह्यांची आग्र्याहून सुटका

शिवाजी महाराज 

जिलब्या मारुती 

तुळशीबाग 

इच्छापूर्ती गणेश, नारायण पेठ

मुंजाबाचा बोळ गणपती 

वीराची तालीम मंडळ 

(पावसाळ्यातले) रस्ते

वर्षा ऋतू असे सुंदर नाव असणारा आणि खरोखरी आनंददायी अश्या ऋतुचीदेखील एक unavoidable आणि त्रासदायक गोष्ट आहेच - रस्ते!

पावसाळ्यातले रस्ते हा सगळ्यांचाच अतिशय जिव्हाळयाचा विषय! कितीही बोललो त्यावर तरी ते कमीच असते. 

कडक उन्हाळा सोडून, पावसाळ्याच्या सुरवातीलाच महापालिकेला रस्ते उखडायचे असतात! बरं ही कामं लवकर आणि वेळच्या वेळेस संपली तर महापालिका कसली! बरोब्बर पावसाळ्याआधी खणलेले रस्ते पहिल्या पावसात धोकादायक डबकी होऊन जातात. "माती, पाणी, उजेड, वारा, तूच मिसळशी सर्व पसारा" हे वाक्य तंतोतंत खरं व्हावं, ह्याकरता अविरत धडपड चालू असते खोदणाऱ्यांची. 

मग भर पावसात गाडी ह्या अग्निदिव्यातून, सॉरी, पाणीदिव्यातून नेण्याची परीक्षा आपली. प्रत्येक डबकं हे जेव्हडं खोल, रुंद, आणि भरीव असेल तेव्हढं कसब वाहनचालकांना लावावं लागतं. मला वाटतं महापालिका ही असली डबकी मुद्दाम बनवते. पावसाळ्याच्या ऋतूत RTO च काम कमी व्हावं असा सुप्त हेतू असणार. कारण ह्या डबक्यांना avoid करत तुम्ही गाडी zigzag चालवू शकलात तरंच तुम्हाला गाडी 'हाकायचा' परवाना मिळणार असे RTO चा गुप्त नियम असणार. 

खड्डे चुकवीत अथवा तुडवीत गाडी चालवून अगदी हेच आठवतं: "फिरत्या चाकांवरती पाठीला होतात विकार, बाईक असो वा कार!" म्हणजे खरं तर ह्या खड्डयांमुळेच कित्येक orthopaedic डॉक्टर्सचा गुजारा चालू आहे. जनकल्याणाचे अखंड कार्य पालिकाच करू शकते. 

पण त्याशिवाय अश्या खड्ड्यातून जाण्याची एक गम्मत आहे खरी. तुमची जर लहानपणची उंटावरून सैर करायची हौस राहिली असेल तर ती खड्ड्यातून जाताना पूर्ण होईल. तुमच्या पुढ्यात एखादी गाडी नाही हे बघून खड्ड्यातून जाताना ५ सेकंद डोळे मिटा... तुम्ही स्वतः उंट चालवत आहात असे नक्कीच जाणवेल तुम्हाला!

अश्या पावसाळ्यातल्या जलमय रस्त्यांवरून तुम्ही तुमच्या इष्ट स्थानी वेळेत आणि धड पोचलात तर तुम्हाला "सर्वात जागृत वाहनचालक" ही पदवी मिळेल असे पालिकाने जाहीर केल्याचे ऐकिवात आहे! पहिला मानकरी कोण असेल?

का?

महिकाचे 'का' प्रश्न सुरु झालेत. इतके की कधी कधी आपल्याकडेपण उत्तर नसतं त्यांचं.

काल रात्री महिका आणि तिच्या बाबाचं 'Knowledge sharing session' चालू होतं. काय काय प्रश्न विचारले तिने बाबाला!

पहिला वाहिला प्रश्न: "बाबा, आपण जेवण का करतो आणि पाणी का पितो?"

किती 'basic' प्रश्न झाला! पण तिच्या बाबाने खूपच छान उत्तर दिले. तिला कळेल आणि पटेल अश्या भाषेत. त्या नंतर तर प्रश्नांचा भडीमार होता. हर एक प्रश्न वेगवेगळा.

"बाबा animals आपल्या बरोबर घरात का नाही राहत, जंगलात का राहतात?"

"बाबा आपण newspaper का वाचतो?"

"आपण घरात का राहतो?"

"सिग्नल का असतात?"

"आपण खुर्चीवर का बसतो?" (How cute and funny!!)

"How shall we make a cake?"

"How shall we make a tomato?"

"How shall we make bhaji and roti?"

रात्री सगळे प्रश्न संपले नाहीत की काय म्हणून सकाळ-सकाळी उठल्या-उठल्या मला एक-दोन प्रश्न:

"आया, आता तू सांग. आपण घड्याळ का घालतो?"

"झाडाला फुलं का असतात?"

हे सर्व प्रश्न ऐकून त्यांना समर्पक उत्तरं द्यायची ही आपली जवाबदारी.

पण खरं तर ह्यातून हेच दिसतं की ही लहान मंडळी किती वेगवेगळ्या गोष्टींचा विचार करत असतात आणि किती कुतूहल असतं त्यांना!

लहानग्यांचे भावविश्व, विचारसरणी, आणि imagination हे असेच विस्मयकारक असो! कायम असे प्रश्न सुचो आणि उत्तरं पण मिळो हीच मुलांना शुभेच्छा!

लहानपणची निरागसता आणि curiosity आपण मोठे होताना का बरं हरवून जाते? 

New Year New School

Mahika started her new school today. It must have been quite an experience for the little girl. New place, new teachers, unknown faces, unknown surroundings, and new friends. But like all new kids, she put up with it rather bravely.

The day started with us all waking up early, getting ready, and starting for school on time. We reached the school well before time to see a whole crowd waiting at the school gate. Various school vans, buses, cars, bikes were parked on the road. All parents with their little ones were gathered together waiting for the gate to open.

After waiting for around 25 minutes, the gate was finally opened. There was a huge rush to go in, just like entering a theatre for a movie. A total chaos reigned for some time where nobody knew which line was for which class, and how long it would take to go in. In the big rush, students and parents were all cramped towards the gate, sweating, and getting irritated by the minute.

But even in that big rush, the little ones were really brave. I couldn't hear anybody crying. Every little one was anxious, and fearful of what lay ahead. But they all were very forbearing and brave. Kudos to the little ones!

As we entered, we could see the school buildings, playground, and the surroundings. We all took our kids to their respective classes and left them at the doorstep.

It was a big moment. My little girl had grown up to go to a big school. Her eyes were so expressive, full of anxiety and fear, yet trying to be brave, and holding back her tears. Although not completely heart-wrenching to see her go, I did feel a little shaken to see her sitting in a strange place, coping it up with everything. Brave sweetheart!!

All parents waited outside the gate for the first day of the school to get over. We formed groups and talked about the school, studies, experiences of interviews in different schools, and remembered our own school time.

Soon enough time was up, and all parents again gathered at the gate. A few first goers returned with crying kids and there was an eerie silence around. Each parent was wondering how his/her kid was.

I picked up Mahika from her class. She did cry for some time on the first day, but was a bit settled as I picked her up. Today, she didn't cry at all. Bless you!

The first hurdle is crossed. More to go. But to start well is half done!

I am proud of you dear Mahika!

Respecting Elders?

I had a peculiar experience a few months back. I've been wanting to write about it, but never got the time.

I had gone to a nice cake shop that I always go to. It was around 4.30-4.45 in the evening. There wasn't enough staff and a few customers were waiting to place their orders. I too was waiting patiently for my turn.

Just then an elderly lady walked in. She was very well-dressed, perfectly manicured and pedicured, wearing comfortable western wear, with a hint of mild makeup. She seemed a bit of a socialite, frankly.

The moment she entered, she blurted out her order to the first member of the staff that she laid her
eyes on. He just nodded to her and continued looking after the customers who had arrived before her. She just couldn't seem to have the patience to wait. She rudely kept on calling out her order till the staff had to tell her to wait.

She then said that the cake shop needed more staff, because they couldn't keep so many customers waiting. The staff member said that some of the other members had gone out for lunch. The old lady looked at her watch incredulously and wondered how could anybody have lunch that late.

By the time this conversation happened, my order was ready. I paid and left the shop. I don't know how soon she got her order. However it made me think.

I just could not respect that lady despite her age. She was extremely rude and inconsiderate. When I heard that some of the staff were having lunch that late, I felt very sorry for them. It was because of the customers that the staff couldn't have their lunch on time.

Instead of being accommodating, the old lady was disbelieving and rude. It hardly takes time to be generous to others. As you grow older, you learn to be less selfish and more gracious.

Can you respect the elderly even when they behave so meanly and selfishly?

आवाज कोणाचा???

महानगर पालिका निवडणुका तोंडावर आल्यात. वातावरण सगळीकडेच चांगलेच तापले आहे.

कुठला पक्ष जिंकणार ह्याकडे सगळ्यांचे लक्ष आहेच. पण तत्पूर्वी, निवडणुकांची धामधूम बघायला मज्जा येत आहे. रस्त्यारस्त्यावर रिक्षा, bikes, बसेस, आणि मोर्चे ह्यातून प्रचार होत आहे.

प्रत्येक उमदेवार हा "गरिबांचे दुःख जाणणारा, त्यांच्या समस्या सोडवणारा, हळवा, कर्तव्यदक्ष, सुशिक्षित, आणि शब्द पाळणारा" आहे. प्रत्येक उमेदवाराने भरपूर (खाबू) कार्ये केली आहेत, म्हणूनच तो/ती जनतेची आवडती आहे. (म्हणून तर प्रत्येकाची कित्येक कोटी मालमत्ता आहे.) निवडून आलो तर काय काय करून जनतेचा सेवक म्हणून कार्यक्षम राहू हे प्रत्येक जण पटवून देत आहे.

ह्या निवडूणुकीत प्रचार केवळ सभा, भाषणे ह्या पुरता मर्यादित नाही राहिलेला. मतदारांना स्वतः जाऊन भेटणे, इथंपासून, मतदारांच्या भ्रमणध्वनीवर फोन/sms इथपर्यंत सर्व युक्त्या वापरायला जात आहेत.

एकमेकांच्या पक्षांना नावं ठेवणे, कुरघोड्या करणे, कार्यकर्त्यांमध्ये वाद घडवून आणणे येथपासून 'आमुक आमुक शहर देशोधडीला लावण्याचे काम" विरोधी पक्ष करत आहे इथपर्यंत वाद-प्रतिवाद चालू आहेत. खरं किती, खोटं  किती हे जाणकार मतदार जाणतातच. तथापि सर्व उमेदवारांची हि बाचाबाची बघायला, ऐकायला गम्मत वाटते.

ह्या निवडणुकीत मला जाणवलेली गोष्टं अशी कि अपक्ष उमेदवार बरेच आहेत. त्या सगळ्यांची चिन्हे फारच गमतीशीर. नारळ, शिट्टी, कप-बशी, क्रिकेट खेळणारा खेळाडू, मेणबत्त्या, टेबल, खुर्ची, गॅस सिलेंडर, कॅमेरा, कंगवा,फुगा ह्यासारखी अनेक चिन्हे!!!! साधारण हजाराच्यावर उमेदवार रिंगणात आहेत. बहुदा अपक्षांची संख्या जास्त असावी.

ह्या रणधुमाळीत, कोणी जिंकेल, कोणी  हरेल! कोणाचे नशीब फळफळेल, कोणी अगदी हिरमुसून जाईल!! आवाज कोणाचा येईल??? मतदारांचा की खणखणाऱ्या नाण्यांचा???

... कभी ना बीते ये चमकीले दिन

I had been on vacation with my parents, Sanjeev, and Mahika. And it was a great time. It was a short vacation but really good.

We drove down to the place and for once, I was in the front seat without Mahika. She was with my parents in the back seat. We were a bit cramped with a lot of luggage. But despite that, we weren't too tired when we reached our destination.

Mahika behaved really well in the trip. No tantrums, no irritating behaviour! Possibly because she had her grandparents with her with whom she doesn't get enough time to spend. She didn't complain about the food and ate whatever we gave her.

She had a gala time in the hotel and enjoyed the lavish breakfasts in the hotel. Although she did insist on certain set of her favourite clothes, she wasn't very unmanageable.

And what she really enjoyed was being at the sea. It was her first trip to the sea and she just loved it. She wasn't afraid of the water at all and was bold enough to venture out on her own in the water. She also had fun on the beach collecting sea shells, playing in the sand, and being overall very dirty. It was great to watch her at sea.

I had a minor stomach upset and had to take rest. This trip will most probably be the only time when I could rest when I was really unwell and not worry about Mahika, because my mother was there to look after her. I dozed off to sleep while Mahika played with my parents and could get the much needed rest.

While returning, although I drove for some time, I also sat with Mahika in the back seat, enjoying the breeze, greenery, nature, and the drive. It really reminded me of the song from Dil Chahta Hain..."Dil chahta hain, Kabhi na beete ye chamkile din..." as I looked outside the window. I could see the sun streaming in from the high trees and felt really good.

As the song aptly says, this trip has given me a lifetime of memories that I'll always cherish. I only wish the vacation wasn't over so soon!