Tekdi(Hill) has a special place in the heart of every Puneri. If you are an outsider who happens to visit Puneri Tekdis in the morning, I won’t be surprised if you thought that Punekars are fitness freaks. Well, I am also one of those fitness freaks. Fortunately, we happened to stay very close to Vaghjaee Tekdi. I love to go out in the morning and have a good jog around the hills or just a stroll around Parvati. Last few days, I have been struck by conversations that I overheard while I was out on the hill. Let me put down this conversation between these guys A and B (both Punekars who by definition assume godness).

A to B: Geet-ramayan aikun punha Ramayan ghadalyachi Anubhuti Jhali!
B to A: Yes, but I have a basic doubt – If Seeta was Ram’s wife, why the hell was Hanuman going around Lanka setting it on fire?

Now, I know some people like to express their opinions because God has given unique outlets to everyone but this conversation just hit me real bad – these guys were looking at things in a convoluted manner!!! I am not at all blessed with such talent – thank you O Lord!

Few years ago, I had conducted a drive to clean the Vaghjaee hill close to my house and around that time some of the people passing by(!!) have offered me lot of words of wisdom(it’s free – what to do? we are like this only!). I am putting down some that I recollect –

• Kahi Oopayog nahi – he zopadpatti vale kachra taknar aani tumhi uchalat rahnar. Vel Phukat Ghalavtay tumhi.
• Mee Swataha Eka Shalecha Principal hoto – He lok adanich rahanar (?!?)
• Tumche karya oottam aahe, pun plastic kami honar aahe ka? Gadge baba pune shevti kantalle
• Tumhi hatat gloves ghala aani kachra uchala karan jantu phar astat.
• Kachra uchaloon kuthe takta? Kay karta tumhi nokri-dhanda?(with a grin)
• Tumhi eekde kachra uchaltay pun te zopadpatti wale kay kachra takatat aani varyani udun yetoch aahe.

Fortunately, by looking at us for a few days, 3 more people joined us in this work and we managed to clean a lot of plastic from the hill. I still remember it was 3 years ago before Monsoon and we succeeded in cleaning up 80-90% of the hills around Vaghjaee. But that experience brought out finer socio-economic issues.

The funny part is, as people move up the income levels, they start complaining about the living that they themselves practised.

I plan to cover much more on the socio-economic imbalances in future. Stay Tuned.

For Tekdi Lovers – http://www.tekdi.org 🙂