THE SCMC CHRONICLE

A publication of Symbiosis Centre for Media & Communication (for internal use and publication) Batch of 2020 | Vol. 10 Lawmakers oppose helmet law A unique school Rupal Jhajhria for the deprived earing a helmet while riding Samidha Raut two-wheelers was made mandatory in from New W inayak Deokar, founder-president of Year’s Day this year. However, in an the Mahatma Gandhi School (MGS) unexpected turn of events, all the eight V located at Sanjay Park, Yerwada, asks, MLAs from Pune along with the district “If Gandhiji could open a school for guardian minister Chandrakant Patil met peasants in South Africa, why can’t we the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis do the same in our own land?” on June 18 and urged him to dilute the As the name suggests, this helmet rule. Soon thereafter, speaking to school is built on the foundation of the media in Mumbai, the Chief Minister Gandhian philosophy and aims to spread said, “Some MLAs from Pune met me awareness about public service. Managed today and told me how Pune police, in the by the Jeevan Mitra Educational Society, name of ensuring that riders wear helmets, MGS works for the children of needy was harassing commuters. They (MLAs) widows, divorced women and prisoners. have said such compulsion is causing With a strength of 290 students, inconvenience to the riders.” studying from nursery till the 4th grade, the school provides free education, “It is very unfortunate on the part of the chief send challans to the owner’s address. This the MLAs deliberate to benefit from uniforms, books and other necessary minister to accede to the demands of the move instantly drew further criticism. this dismissal in the coming assembly requirements to the students. MLAs. First of all, there is no firm proof of “In fact, people have responded elections, “The CM handled this objection Laxmi (name changed), a helmet-less persons being harassed by traffic well to the helmet compulsion rule in smartly by proposing the idea of sending mother of one of the students studying police on roads.” the past six months. I am not sure if it is e-challans and tickets to the homes of the in the 2nd grade also found a job in SANDEEP GAIKWAD, ROAD SAFETY ADVOCACY completely justified to stop the on-ground violators. So ultimately the MLAs could the school. After losing her husband to COORDINATOR, NGO PARISAR enforcement of a rule only on the basis not get what they intended to receive.” diabetes, MGS came as a blessing to her of what has been put forth by the MLAs. The issue of harassment of family. She had to work as a housemaid Fadnavis then This might have a negative impact on the helmetless riders after her husband’s death, until the school asked the Pune mindset of the citizens,” Sandeep feared. has generated appointed her as a caretaker for the police not to Gaikwad has filed an RTI considerable heat children. stop helmet-less seeking the number of e-challans issued in Pune against “MGS also helps with the riders and fine using CCTV footage and their payment, the backdrop of education of my daughter who is studying them on the spot, claiming that the government has no data a stringent traffic in the 10th grade. Now I can manage but instead use pertaining to the fines. police drive to meet other household expenses”, CCTV cameras Vivek Velankar, an anti-helmet underway in the adds Laxmi. She lives with her son and to spot helmets compulsion activist had a different city daughter in the nearby slum. riders, record their vehicle numbers and perspective on this. He believes that to arrest such offenders. Contd’on P-4 Solution to VN water crisis in sight Govind Choudhary

iman Nagar suffers from chronic and acute water shortage. The Pune VMunicipal Corporation (PMC) has not been able to supply water to meet the ever-growing demand due to the non-stop development of housing societies in this area. As a result, residents in most of the housing societies across Viman Nagar are wholly or partially dependent on water tankers for their daily water consumption. “I live in a rented flat in Peshwa Garden complex and it is difficult to do regular chores with barely one hour of water supply in the morning. Water tankers are not dependable, which has led to more problems. The real estate broker PHOTO / GLAAD.ORG did not disclose this situation to me, “says Rohan Chakraborty, a student residing in Viman Nagar. Photo by: Kavisha Manwani Addressing the issue, Mukta Although three large storage tanks have Jagtap, the Corporator for Viman Nagar been constructed in Viman Nagar, there told the The SCMC Chronicle, “Societies is no water to fill them up in Viman Nagar are well aware of the water dam, only one of the three water storage shortage. New societies are still being tanks in Viman Nagar receives water. constructed despite the clear disclaimer When the PMC Bhama Askhed water provided by the PMC – that they will not supply scheme is completed, it will supply be able to provide adequate water. Hence, of 200 million litres of water every day the demand for private water tankers and cover a 58 sq.km area of the eastern has risen in Viman Nagar.” She further part of Pune city along the Nagar road for informed that the PMC water supply is a projected population of 14.50 lac up to stopped every Thursday and Friday for 2041.” few hours for pipeline maintenance work. Jagtap was optimistic that the According to Jagtap, “Due to new pipelines would be laid in six months some unresolved issues between the PMC time and the water supply situation would and villagers near the Bhama- Askhed improve. THE SCMC CHRONICLE VOL.10 2 TOP PICKS The flamboyant chef ! Mitali Dhar He is well travelled too. “I used to work for a tourism company. I have travelled avaram Dewasi is certainly the all across the country from Kashmir most recognized and conspicuous to Kanyakumari and from Rajasthan figure on the campus. But hardly to Arunachal Pradesh,” he informs. S Savaram doesn’t use readymade spices. anyone knows him by his real name. He is popular as Maharaj – the short, He grinds them himself. No wonder his portly, ever-smiling Rajasthani chef in ‘daal tadka’ and ‘tava subji’ are so popular. colourful traditional attire and a strikingly But his sweets are equally delightful; huge turban, with a moustache to match. especially the balushahi and gulab jamun. Hailing from Pali in Rajasthan, the To the question, “Who make better God Help the Child land of legendary maharajas, Savaram cooks, men or women ?” Savaram came to Pune in 2006 looking for work. answers judiciously, “It is nothing to do Arpan Cheema “I started as a helper with hardly any with gender. It all depends on your passion knowledge of cooking. It was then that I and commitment. If you put your heart in ‘God Help the Children’ is beauti- came across many spices and learned the the job, you will certainly be successful.” fully woven like a brisk modern art of chopping vegetables,” he recalled. fairy tale, but it holds the undertones It is the ‘tadka’ (spices sputtering of a dark satire in a manner similar in fuming hot oil) which adds flavor to the Grim Brothers. It has imagi- to the daal or subji that is Savaram’s native cruelties on children which expertise. He has perfected it to a fine are revealed in a way that makes art. And he does it with great flourish, one wonder, can such things hap- standing behind a large ‘tava’. pen in today’s world? The beauty Savaram’s cooking career had of the book is it feels so real, that a humble start. “My first bulk it becomes an uncomfortable but order was for 40 or 50 people,” an immemorable read. The one he said. But since then there’s that stays with you hauntingly, been no looking back. Today, he much after you put the book down. cooks for hundreds of students in the Choden Tshewang Photograph by Symbiosis Viman Nagar mess everyday. Maharaj cooking the scrumptous Tawa Veg

Now restaurants are a haven for eve-teasers

Audita Bhattacharya remarks about us. When we did not No one intervened to stop the miscreants. pay attention to them, their comments “It was at this point that we decided became lewd,” stated one of the girls. to leave the place. It seemed to us that arassing women in public places has Feeling insecure, the girls asked the management of the lounge bar assumed new proportions in the city. H the waiter to fetch the restaurant was not inclined to provide security A group of Symbiosis students discovered manager and complained to him to four girls who were not escorted this recently inside a crowded restaurant. about the behavior of the four men. by males,” one of the girls observed. Spiderman: Far From These students (identity protected) spoke “To our utter dismay, the restaurant “To make matters worse, the to The SCMC Chronicle and related their Home manager expressed his inability to stop the restaurant manager tried to assuage us experience. A group of four girl students men from harassing us. Instead, he offered by offering complementary desserts. Ashlin Bangera who were having dinner at a lounge bar in to change our table. When we protested, he It was like adding insult to injury. We Kalyani Nagar were subjected to intense Starring Tom Holland, Jake Gyl- told us that he could not ask the offenders refused to be appeased,” she informed. unwarranted and offensive attention by lenhaal, Zendaya and Samuel Jack- to leave since he did not want to lose There have been cases of molestation a group of four men at an adjacent table. son the movie Spiderman provides customers,” another of the victims stated. and harassment of women customers in “The men were visibly drunk and began a change of tempo from Endgame. The girls told The SCMC Chronicle restaurants in Pune. In July 2017, a law by loudly asking the waiter to find out It takes a lot of reference from Iron that throughout this entire episode, student was grievously injured by two what we were eating and ordering the Man and shows the connection be- not a single person sitting at the other men because he refused to ‘introduce’ same. All the time they were rudely tween Tony and Peter. Directed by tables objected to the misbehavior them to two girls he accompanied staring at us and passing unwelcome Jon Watts, the sequel to Spiderman: by the four inebriated customers. for dinner at a hotel in Mundhwa. Homecoming focuses on the charac- ter arcs and provides a cracking sto- ryline. It is action packed, visually appealing and humorous, which ends Phase 3 of the MCU on a high note Nukkad Café rocks to the golden oldies Aditi Parida ukkad Cafe in Viman Nagar Nwitnessed a group of elderly people come together recently for an open mic. Called ‘Salt & Pepper’, people over 50 come together to sing songs, recite poetry, play instruments and do more. Talking about the event, Vaibhav Paliwal, owner of Nukkad Cafe, said, “The motive is purely to create moments of harmony and not to judge. And it’s assured, that if you are here, you will definitely end up making friends.” Pop Tate’s Hosted by stand up comedian Ujjwal Sharwari Kale Sonar, the evening started with a rendition of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahan on Pop Tate’s located in Phoenix the harmonica. The host also played a Market City of Pune, is a perfect few songs, including an original. The place to sizzle in the Retro feel and Wing Commander (retd) Anup Banerjee playing classic melodies on his event was covered online by the cafe harmonica at Nukkad Cafe savour your taste buds. Inspired and requests for songs like Ye Shaam by the famous “Archie’s”, their Mastani poured in for the performers. performers for the evening, spoke about his with friends and family often to jam. assortments specialize in conti- Belting out old classics like Help by love for music. He played the harmonica. His wife organises a green impact nental favorite’s, the menu rang- the Beatles, Baar baar dekho hazaar He said, “Music has been a eco mela in Nukkad Cafe once a month, ing from pastas, sizzlers, pizzas, baar dekho, O mere dil ke chain, the passion right from my childhood. after which there are performances.” burgers to a lot more. The cock- performers kept the audience engaged I was the lead singer for Pune’s first boy He quipped that he also plays the tails and happy hours lighten up They also performed ghazals and songs band when I was studying in Bishop’s keyboard and was a “one man band”. the atmosphere, making it a per- to which the audience merrily sang along. School. I have been playing for more Nukkad Cafe hosts a multitude of fect place to eat, drink and enjoy! Wg Cdr (retd) Anup Banerjee, one of the than 50 years now and get together events like this one almost every week. THE SCMC CHRONICLE VOL. 10 3 Wari – the great pilgrimage 1 2

In a tradition that has lasted more than 800 years, nearly a mil- 3 lion devotees trek 250 kilometres every year, carrying the palkhis (palanquins) of two of Maharashtra’s greatest saints, Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram, respectively from Alandi and Dehu to Pandharpur, passing through Pune. Our Reporters Samidha Raut and Govind Choudhary captured the mood of the warkaris (pilgrims) as they entered Pune from Alandi. 4 1. The Dnyaneshwar palkhi 6. A child dressed as Shivaji Ma- enters Pune at the head of thou- haraj joins the procession. sands of warkaris. 7. Thousands of people, like this 2. Warkaris carry idols of Lord family of five on one motorbike, Vitthal and holy basil plants on come to witness the mammoth their heads. procession. 3. A warkari dressed as Narad 8. Gigantic rangolis welcome the Muni. devotees. 4. The entire pilgrimage is 9. Warkaris often wear headgear marked by singing of devotional made of leaves to protect them- songs and hymns to the beating selves from the sun and rain. of cymbals and drums. 10. Orange-brown flags are used 5. Meals are frugal and eaten to mark the dindis, numbered seated on the ground. groups in the pilgrimage. 5 6

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10 THE SCMC CHRONICLE VOL. 10 4 Jadhav’s coach spotted his talent early Ishaan Bhattacharya Mitali Dhar edar Jadhav, the cricketer from Pune is one of the 15 to represent India in Kthe ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup matches in UK. Jadhav has been one of the ‘Men in Blue’ in Photo by Mitali Dhar Mitali by Photo 64 One-Day International ap- pearances where he maintained a healthy batting average of 42.82 runs. Having taken 27 and occasionally filling in as a -keeper, Jadhav has proved his mettle on the field. Coach Hemant Athale Kedar was a part of the 15 man squad that represented India at the 2019 ICC Cricket World cup in England An all-rounder, Jadhav is right when he was still under 14 or 15. tennis-ball cricket, but he had now on the bench for the 2019 The Chronicle: When Kedar World Cup, behind the other suc- JADHAV’S JOURNEY the natural technique to play ag- was still here, did you think he gressive cricket, so we focused cessful all-rounder . had the potential to play for India? 2004 Maharashtra (U-19) on his aggression and contin- While Jadhav has already become Athale : We cannot pre- 2007 Maharashtra Ranji ued with what he plays naturally. known nationally, he is one of dict so early, but we definitely 2010 Delhi Daredevils The Chronicle: Are there more Pune’s best known sporting he- thought that he had the poten- 2014 ODI Debut Jadhavs waiting to be discovered in roes. The SCMC Chronicle spoke tial to play for Maharashtra. It 2015 T20 Debut Pune? to Hemant Athale, the man who was when he was still a play- Athale : The fact remains, there coached Jadhav during his forma- er here that he got the call-up 2019 ICC World Cup is no paucity of talent coming from tive years as a cricketer, at the to play for Maharashtra U-19. the city of Pune. Rahul Tripathi legendary The Chronicle: During Ke- more or less the same so that eve- grounds, where Jadhav trained dar’s time here, did you focus ryone has the same basics. Once has been representing Maharashtra and learnt the ropes of the game. on any particular strengths and we get to know the players and in the and was their The Chronicle: When put him through specific drills their potential, we set them aside highest run getter in the 2018-19 did Kedar play here? to help cultivate his potential? and work on their skills. Ke- season. , another Athale : Kedar was playing here Athale : Our training drills are dar came here when he was still local is currently playing for India. Budget raises concerns Raghvendra Chouhan cause was the minimum pub- irmala Sitharaman pre- lic shareholding being raised to sented her first budget on 35% in listed companies.“The the backdrop of a slow- share markets nose-dived be- Ndown in consumption this month. cause the government has lev- She also had to look into the farm ied buyback tax of 20% on list- sector distress and the rising con- ed companies.” says Ashish, a cerns regarding water shortage. third-year SCMC student who The SCMC Chronicle spoke to sev- is a share market enthusiast. eral people to elicit responses to People also seemed dissatis- this Budget. Increase in fuel prices, fied with lack of new projects and water shortages, and Zero Budget schemes for the middle class. One of the colourful and brightly lit classrooms in the school. farming were the issues that peo- “The government should pay at- ple were most concerned with. tention to middle class also. Gov- A unique school for the deprived “Our margins will shrink now ernment is paying attention more Cont’d from Pg. 1 as fuel prices rise,” says Jayesh, towards the rich and poor and Adopted at the age of 3 and suf- who runs the Symbi Juice center. ignoring the middle class.” says The school works as a shelter to fering from cardiac disease him- His business is not directly re- Swati Kale, a homemaker in many such mothers and their chil- self, Deokar also runs the Jeevan lated to transport but like others, Pune. She also seemed worried dren, who get quality education at Mitra Pratishthan to support car- it will also suffer from the trickle about the effect of rise in oil prices. no cost. Deokar says, “Some peo- diac and cancer patients finan- effect. The rise in fuel prices will Rajkumar Omkar, who works ple enter the education sector only cially. Social activists such as Anna increase his acquisition cost for as a security guard said that they to earn money, which should not Hazare, Dr. Prakash Amte and various fruits that come from could already feel the heat of the be the case. It is a sector to serve Medha Patkar were present at the different parts of the country.price rise. Speaking on govern- the society.” He further adds that inauguration of the organization. With the oil price on boil, the ment’s initiative to provide water through this school, they not only Mahatma Gandhi School stock exchange traded in the red to all households he said “there is a try to help the children by provid- is now looking forward to for two post-Budget sessions as connection in some houses or they ing free education but also try to start a free residential school investors turning cautious over have borewells but problem on the make people aware of their re- for needy students, and also tax on share buyback. Another ground is that there is no water.” sponsibilities towards society. a free-of-cost old age home.

Printer Publisher: Dr Sreeram Gopalkrishnan A publication of Symbiosis Centre for Media and Editor: Amitabh Dasgupta Communication (for internal circulation only) Editorial Team: Batch of 2020 (Journalism) Write in to [email protected]