A little bit of the Punyanagari in Pune.

It's interesting to observe a place's timeline. It's fascinating to know what a city once was, and to live the thing it's becoming. Even as it embraces globalisation and comes of age as an 'upcoming metropolis', it's those few ancient structures that still exist, which give a threshold to the city's identity.

When you visit such areas of your own city, it's amazing how the modernity drains out to almost none and confuses you to believe you've stepped in to a 'multiple-decades-ago' scenario.

The feeling is almost euphoric.

6.35 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

Yesterday, I visited the 127 years old 'Mahatma Phule Mandai.' It's one of the prettiest vintage buildings in Pune, which roots the city's culture right from the time of the Raj. Made of stone, this structure is circular with eight entrances and appears Gothic and gruelling. In the pre-independence days, it was a central meeting place for reformers and the janta. And now it stands as the city's biggest 'Bhaji Mandi.'

6.40 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

Along with the overwhelming architecture, there were numerous other visual cues that took me back in the time, I haven't ever lived. 

Pune was once known as the Cycle City. And this is still so true of the areas around the Mandai. A lot of these Bhajiwallahs cycle here every morning and park their cycles against the wall opposite their stall. Yellow bulbs lit up the otherwise dark place and spread a warm, 'old-time-like' glow. It's beautiful.

6.40 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

You would still see vendors with a humble note-pad and pen doing the accounts. Vegetables shall still be weighed on this ancient tarazu (weighing scale) and not on an electronic weighing machine. When we talk about Digitalisation and the Internet, we forget that the opposite is also very true in a lot of places.

6.45 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

I really loved how cane baskets full of garlic lay stacked over tin boxes on a wooden platform. Also how a bulb hung down from a ceiling beside which was an old framed photograph. Probably the vendor's father lived in the era when this place became a Mandai.

6.45 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

Everyday lots of farm fresh vegetables come to the market. Along with that I'm sure there are lots of mice that breed here. And, to get rid of them you obviously have a lot of kitties around. These kitties keep bouncing off the onion sacks and old, kaput scooters, hiking away for a prey. That also explains for their friendly behaviour towards humans and vice-versa.

This cat actually paused; meowed away to glory as I clicked her. Unlike other stray cats.

6.50 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

If you've noticed the internal structure is still the same as it was back then. Also, you'll see a lot of kashta clad women around. You hardly see such women in most parts of the city these days. It indeed feels like being in a different era all together.

7.00 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

As the sun rises up, and as all stalls are put up a lot of people seem to stream in for vegetable shopping. It's been the same buzz everyday for years now.

8.00 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

There is a very pretty, but almost-in-ruins staircase there. This tabby perched on the staircase with grace and flamboyance as if it's her thrown. Wonder which all social reformers once went up and down these abandoned stairs, now taken over by cats.

8.05 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

This could have been one man who's seen Pune evolve. He probably comes here to be in his comfort setting and feel at home. Eyes closed, head lowered, palms intertwined, legs dangling, he sat there lost in a reverie, reminiscing.

8.10 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

And, his reverie breaks.

8.15 a.m. inside Pune's Mahatma Phule Mandai.

 Right outside the Mandai, and opposite a wada is this alley. There seem to be two shops opposite each other, yet to be opened. Locked old wooden doors, flaked paint, cycle, erected handcarts and a motorcycle-what a fusion of past and present! Minus the motorcycle I'm sure it looks like a 70 year old setting.

I love studying people. I love exploring cultural and understanding how it has evolved over time. It was lovely wondering session for the wandering me. :)

All Things Old and Pretty

Peek-a-boo in a world infested with antiquity.

Vintage things are fascinating! Be it a tattered old book with its yellowed pages and doggy eared cover or an old Bajaj scooter the Uncle next door owns, each has a story of its own; a history; an owner. Once upon a time these things used to be revered. They used to be considered the ultimate manifestation of technology and human capability but in the present they stand at an even exalted position, for it is a matter of great status and prestige to own an antique!

Personally, for me it doesn't really end there- at pride. I love digging deeper and finding out the underlying history and stories of that object and the owner. Some of the stories are really amusing; the quilt of emotions and memories attached to the objects make you travel time. It gives you a peek in to the world when everything seemed very simple but was not quite so.

I love collecting old things; especially the one's that have been in my family are of utmost importance to me. They help me know my grandparents, my ancestors better. Family history kind of spreads itself in front of me like a map, and these small details and memoirs evoked by the antiques, mark it.

I hate it when something old, memorable and valuable is given away. My Grandpa owned this car, a Fiat! MVL512. It was later inherited by my dad, and I remember going on drives in it as a kid. When everyone showed off their Maruti 800s, I drove in a glorifying white Fiat! Then we bought a new car and they sent the old one to our farm for rough terrain use; and later sold it. It made me gloomy. My grandmother later told me that she and Granddad and her children went on many road trips across the country in it. Old Gold got Sold. *pursed lips*

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I  have posted below some pictures of vintage objects I possess/came across.

When Bajaj and Yellow become the new 'Cool'. Since the past four years, I see this scooter everyday in college. A guy rides it all around the place and girls gather around him, requesting him to lend them this old geezer once, just for a cool ride.