Pune crybaby?

The ICL has already brewed up quite a storm. And with the format of the league set to expand to 16 teams from the existing 6, I like the way they are needling those teams that may be in the league over the next two years. For instance, in the ad for the Delhi Jets, they have shown the ‘Pune Gymkhana’ as being a scared bunch. Can’t say I agree with that, but it’s piqued my interest and I would now want to know when a Pune team will be part of the ICL and how their ad is done.

Very nice. My favourite ad of all is the one made for the ‘Chennai Superstars‘.

Writers wanted in Pune

Friends, Indians and countrymen. Lend me your eyes! Yours truly, as some of you may be aware, has been involved in setting up an operation for content and publishing. And it is now somewhat ready to see the light of day. Maybe more like early morning. For one of our many eventual ventures, we are looking for talented writers in and around Pune (Mumbai is okay!).

The pre-requisites are:

• Good command of English
• Understanding of more subjects than one (like food + movies or food + education or food + civic amenities or food + lifestyle; food is important, as you notice!)
• Be able to write creatively, humorously and in a fluid, easy-to-understand manner
• Be willing to write at least twice a week for not much in return (we are a startup, you see, but full publicity guaranteed)
• Have good knowledge of Pune, its people, place, idiosyncracies et al.

If you fit the bill, and are keen to write, drop me a line through the contact page using "Writing job" as the subject. If you want to send me your resume for more opportunities that will arise soon, email me on aditya[at]mediasphere[dot]co[dot]in.

Cashiers, restaurants, gadgets and orgasms

Quick note to pen these incidents before I forget… The first instance was rather amusing and tells me how business is still conducted at the grassroots level (if we can call it that). And the second was orgasmic. Please be patient for the second one (evil grin!). Here we go:

Incident 1:

On my way from Mumbai to Pune, we stopped at the food plaza just before the Lonavala ghat for a quick bite. As I strolled up to the window to place my order the following conversation took place between the manager of the place and the cashier (the actual conversation was in Marathi, but I shall translate it into English and reproduce):

Manager: Whenever someone is here to place their order, tell them that the lassi is great or that the chaas is very good today. If they order only food, tell them that something else is better.

Cashier: Ok.

Manager: Have them order more. Make sure they order more than they intend to.

Cashier: Ok.

Manager: Increase the order. Make sure they spend more than they intend to. Get them to spend more.

Cashier: Ok.

Me (to Cashier): Don’t upsell to me, please.

Cashier: (smiles)

I have a witness in my wife to the conversation if any of you doubt it took place. It was hilarious, eye-opening and ear-popping at the same time. Imagine some boss in a publication giving this motivational speech to the classifieds staff telling them to hardsell over the counter. Heh!

For the record, the cashier tried to hardsell but I wasn’t falling for it. Smart, no?

Incident Two:

The second incident has more to do with touching. No, not that kind you perverts (but I did mention the orgasmic part, right?). It so happened that in the evening (once I was back in Pune) I paid a visit to my regular gadget shop on FC Road to check out the new stuff. And lo and behold, what has he? An Apple iPhone. Have mercy!

Once again, the wife was with me. And while she was trying her best not to look bored with goings-on, she herself was besotted with the brilliance, opulence and the sheer magnetic nature of the iPhone. The price? Rs 35,000, 33,200 (Oct 4), 25,000-0dd (Oct 8th) or thereabouts (I may get a discount if I ever have that kind of money!).

It was a dream. Holding the Jesus phone… that’s one thing on my birthday wishlist (friends, family, enemies, those who wish to bribe… please take note).

Ahh. The iPhone was in my hands today.

Ahh.

Welcome to Pune!

Days 1, 2 and 3!

Teething issues; getting to know the building manager (not always a good thing!) and the fight for parking space started in all earnest on day 1! Then there was the usual struggle for getting a new mobile phone number, new phone connection, cable connection and the Internet (broadband) fight is yet to begin! Movers and packers happened, cleaning (three times) of the place is done and we are moved in and ready to start living. Well, physically in the house at least!

The only solace from all this so far is this view from my terrace…

Now, then. The to-do list is something that would make any married man cringe! Heck, any man! Gas pipe, hose pipe, cable, carpenter, wires, shelves. Waaaah! Just for this week, I hope. And then I have to follow up on the Internet. That’s a bigger Waah, but I’ll save it for then!

More photos to follow. Actually, many more than you would care for!

Admission time. I still get the heebie-jeebies!

I finished my education about eight years ago. And yet, when I read this news item in the TOI, I get the heebie-jeebies. One main reason is that I would always be the anxious sorts wondering which list my name might end up on. I never had any surety about this since I would normally languish in the bottom parts of the lists. The CAP (Centralised Admission Process) I believe is a big advantage for filling up forms. After that, it’s a bit of a lottery. Yes, it does ensure that the best get into the top colleges or those of their choice while the rest suffer nervous breakdowns. And this is still class XI admissions!

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I’m moving to Pune

Yet again (this move will make it three cities in five years) I shall relocate. The last year in Bangalore has been very good for me personally. I moved out of the corporate world and into a world of my own! I am on the verge of starting my own company and the excitement and anxiety that comes with it is what I am living with for the last few months (yes, it’s been slow in materialising). But as I stand on the cusp, I have to admit that I will indeed miss Bangalore. For all its problems (traffic, language, 11.30pm deadline), it is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen (including the few foreign ones I have been to). How I wish Pune was 50% as good.

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Puneri Hindi

Could not resist this. The best part is, I have heard a lot of these and more!

Puneri Hindi. Matlab Pune cha Hindi

• Pahili baar, pohne gaya to kya hua maloom? Pahile paani mein shira, Phir Poha aur baad mein buda.
• Ghai karo Bhaiyya, Nahi to Bus Jayegi aur humaari Panchaiit hoyengi!
• Sarbat Mein Limbu Pilaa Kya?
• Itna Mahaag kaise re tere yahaan? Woh Kopre ka bhaiyya to svasta deta hai!
• Kaanda kaat ke, Chir ke mast omlete banane ka, aur upar se thoda kothimbir bhurbhuraneka!
• Arre Baba, Gaadi savli mein laga
• Eh Bhai, Medu Wada shepret laana, sambar mein budake mat laana!
• Kes ekdum bareek kaapo bhaiyya!
• Khao Potbhar khao, laazo mat!
• Dhaavte Dhaavte girya to kaadkan haat ka haad tutya..
• Aisa karo pahile aage jao phir davikade walo aur badame phir davikade walo..

Pune In A ‘Top 10′

 

Bring out the champagne, for Pune has featured in a Top 10 after a long time. This, of course, not counting the top 10 cities or whatever surveys within India.

The reason to celebrate is Pune featuring in the top 10 (at 3) of the “World’s Top Emerging Cities for Business”. The survey by Forbes, no less, pits it just above Abu Dhabi and Warsaw, but below Tolouse at No. 2. But guess who’s at No. 1? Chengdu, China.

Even in the ‘emerging’ lists, there’s no respite. Perhaps this is a clear sign that anything Indian would perhaps remain #2 to China for a long, long, long time to come.

The way I know this city, there has always been potential, but the attitudes of the people, local government and “leaders” has been worse than apathetic. I love Pune, lived there for the best 22 years of my life and would give anything to see it do better. In all aspects. This is a promising start and I can only imagine how many people/agencies/associations would clamour for the credit. End of it all, those who have actually made the difference would be forgotten and the issue would be politicised.

Pune would lose again. I am not normally a nay-sayer, but I have seen this before. And I have the feeling that this would happen again. Check tomorrow’s papers and it would be made out to be much bigger than it is.