A New Avatar

A New Avatar

In the 14 years since he made Pune his home, Shivraj Nashi has seen the character of the city change. Once a sleepy, easy going town, Pune has now shed its skin, and is in the process of donning a new one. 

“I came to Pune in 2004-05 and I was living in Kothrud. It was quite peaceful, no one was in a rush. The infrastructure back then wasn’t so good. But there were positives like the pleasant weather. Commuting was easy, you didn’t have to travel for long distances and so on,” says Nashi.

A techie, Nashi now stays in Wakad and has his office in the Hinjewadi IT Park. “Now, a new Pune is being constructed. And all I see is roads being completed. Also, the metro work is happening at a feverish pace and flyovers linking different areas in the city are coming up. To top that, all you hear on roads are honking of cars with motorists zipping around. I find it difficult to recognise the city now,” he adds.
 
Like any other denizen, who has spent a decade or so in Pune, he laments about the way development has taken place. “I think it’s all very haphazard. I wonder if there is enough thought given to these development projects,” he says.

No wonder he takes solace in exploring the creative pursuits that the city still offers. “When I was living in the central area, I enjoyed attending the many music and film festivals that are hosted in the city. I had been to Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav a couple of times. I had heard a lot about it from my friends here. But what really appealed to me were the music festivals headlined by Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan and others. Now, most of these music festivals have moved to the city outskirts, so I can still watch them, time permitting. I try to attend Pune International Film Festival,” he says. 

Nashi, who is originally from Navi Mumbai, also likes to dabble in nature photography. “I used to trek to Sinhagad and nearby forts and waterfalls in the districts on weekends. I used to enjoy these hikes and also loved  capturing the winged visitors, wild flowers, sunrises and sunsets. But, now on weekends everyone seems to make a beeline for the local attractions. There are so many people, it’s like a traffic jam out there,” he says, irritation lining his words. 

On weekends, he prefers stepping out with his family for a gastronomic experience. “From chai tapris and small breakfast joints, to budget-friendly places and fine-dining experiences, there is a lot that Pune has to offer in terms of food. There are many places that are meant for college youngsters and salaried people. We visit some such places on weekends, go shopping, or sit and chat,” Nashi concludes. 

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