कोल्हापूर-पुणे-कोल्हापूर: My Life between two cities

I could have typed it, but theirs a KICK in writing

कोल्हापूर:

No special introduction ever required to signify " कोल्हापूर ". The name says it all.

" बस नाम हि काफी हे "

Self Marketing as always

Ek No.

I am blessed to be born & bought-up in Kolhapur.

The city of Royals -his highness " श्री शाहू महाराज "

Thanks to our all mighty " लोक राजा-श्री शाहू महाराज ", the entire province is indebted to his efforts & vision.

People from Kolhapur, fondly known as " कोल्हापूरकर " carry this "Aura" in their personality, distinctive from others.

Please let me be very clear,

I am not at all stating them as superior or above others, just they are divergent

(गर्दीत कुठं पण लगेच सापडतील अशी)

The reasons might be various, mostly over-rated because of Language & Cuisines. Slang language is used a lot here, which the outsiders are not aware of.

1.0 Example One:

My own experience, I told my friend " अरे तुझा मित्र तुला हुडकालाय ".

He was like, a big question mark on his face & he dint had a clue what "हुडकालाय" meant.

हुडकालाय is synonym to शोधालाय in proper मराठी.

Kolhapur has a huge list of such Slang words, which is already known worldwide, no need to specify here.

So cutting the short @ Kolhapur, as I said thanks to श्री शाहू महाराज the city came to its existence, no doubt श्री महालक्ष्मी is the milestone of Kolhapur &

One of the major reasons behind Kolhapur’s identity. 

Kolhapur has lot to offer in every segment. I did my Engineering from KIT College, one of the few engineering colleges those days.

Unlike every other engineering student from Kolhapur, after graduation even I was forcefully dragged out of Kolhapur for better Job/ Career,,, जे काय असतंय ते…..!!!!

ज्यांच्या घरी अधी पासुन Meter down आहे , ते continue करतात, बाकी “एकला चलो रे चलो”

After completing Masters from England & nearly after spending 3 years in UK, I was back to Mother land Kolhapur.

I took a break for just about a year & then I got Job in Mumbai, which I was not interested to join, but, when Home minister had taken a decision, you have to follow it like an obedient child (Which I am…!)😍

Mumbai -City of dreams:

What can I say, Mumbai best आहे, लेकिन मुंबई हमको जमी नही

From a relaxed life from Kolhapur to Tick-tock clock, Mumbai was a great experience.

Same time- Same people -Same place & its the same story each day of every month.

I somehow survived Mumbai for a year & luckily got a Job in "Pune".

पुणे: My home away from Home

Pune was a known destination as my elder sister lives here . I had been to Pune couple of times & stayed there too.

Life from Kolhapur to other cities is very difficult, I will tell you how:

2.0 Example Two:

I was at SNDT once, waiting for bus towards Katraj & offcourse I was been accompanied by my friend 'Vaibhav'.

There was this nice Green colored bus approaching towards the bus stop, adventurous people were hanging from the doors.

एवढा त्रास घेऊन मला बस मध्ये चढायचं न्हवतं

I dint board the bus & we continued our chat.

Again, a similar bus, with similar hanging scenario approached, I skipped this one too.

Vaibhya asked why dint I board this bus, "लई गर्दी आहे रे " I said.

His reply was Epic

" अरे हे आपलं कोल्हापूर न्हवं, एक भरलेली बस गेली कि मागणं मोकळी बस यायला”

That was welcome thing from Pune.

I used to stay at my Sisters place, I wasn’t married then.

Corporate company, corporate life style, corporate culture & in addition to that पुणेरी रुबाब.

I really find Pune cool & calm place to live, except the "exaggerated" चितळें भाकरवाडी, पुणेरी पाट्या & the recent addition to them White-Fortuner  गुंठा मंत्री.

People are nice & so is the culture.

Pune : let me not talk about Pune, as there are more intelligent & intellectual people who can put more light on Pune.

Nevertheless, for me, Pune will always have that special place in my heart.

Pune gave me a lot; a lot means a lot प्यार, पैसा, रोटी, कपडा और मकान.

In fact, Pune has a major role in my marriage too.

My personal Habit until now, since my first Job, I always travel to Kolhapur on weekend, I mean every Weekend.

Whenever someone asks me about my weekly visit to Kolhapur, I often say तिथं oxygen आहे ओ आपल्या माणसातलं…!!!

There is nothing comparable between two cities; both have their own distinct identities. "आईला हे तर rhyme झाला कि"

One common question asked to every other out stationed person , कस वाटतंय पुण्यात, आपल्या गावा सारखं आहे कायं..???

3.0 Example Three:

My answer to every question is, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do", then it may be Mumbai, Pune or wherever.

One should always remember,

"You can take a कोल्हापूरकर out of कोल्हापूर, but you cannot take कोल्हापूर out of a कोल्हापूरकर".

"लाज नाही माज आहे त्यो, जाणार पण नाही".

My schedule was very simple, initially my company was 6 days a week (Half day on Saturday).

I used to travel every Saturday to Kolhapur by 2:30 PM Neeta, reach Kolhapur by 7:00 PM.

Return journey was every Sunday night from Kolhapur by 11:30 PM Neeta & reach Pune by 3:30AM.

Strictly no deviations from above schedule, no matter what.

Mode of Transport 1:

1.0 Private travels mainly Neeta Volvo:

Neeta-Volovo was one my favorite mode of travel for Kolhapur-Pune Journey. As I used to travel every weekend, Neeta Volvo Pune office staff was well known to me, starting from the receptionist, the driver or may be pickup person.

Believe me Seat no. "O"-i.e. O for orange was almost reserved for me.

And so was the case of Kolhapur Neeta office as well. Same good old staff every Sunday night fixed "Recurring meeting".

In case U wish to cross check, just inquire my name at any Neeta office....😉

Trust me it an Alumini meet every Sunday night in Kolhapur Central ST Stand.

I mean U can literally see all your seniors & juniors, who are about to travel from Kolhapur for the sake of Job/ Career/ What-ever…!!!

Some travel alone, some with family, but it feels good to see them all once again.

2.0 Personal Car:

The Date on Right says it all

This is one of the most expensive but relaxed option of travel.

"आपली गाडी असली कि काय Tension नाही, कवा पण निघा".

However, U have to bare fuel & Toll expenses.

Since the arrival of new car in my home, good old maruti 800 has been handed over to me & since then has been my companion & I have traveled a lot not only limited to Kolhapur-Pune-Kolhapur but across entire Maharashtra (over 2.6 lakh kilometers running on the odo-meter, so u can imagine)

My family was against, me travelling alone by car, so I use to take 1 or 2 office members those were living by Karad & even if now, m travelling alone I tell my parents that m accompanied by one or two friends of mine. It makes them feel safe "कोण तर आहे बरोबर".

3.0 Car-Pool:

The new happening thing few years back was WhatsApp. WhatsApp socialized people like no other thing did.

Direct गल्ली to दिल्ली

Whilst I was travelling Kolhapur-Pune with a friend of mine, I came to know the existence of "Kolhapur-Pune-Kolhapur" WhatsApp group.

सम दुःखी माणसं भेटली मला.

I thought I was one of the Fairytale, the last of the species, but surprisingly there existed a lot like me.

जुम्मे के जुम्मे कोल्हापूर

Amazingly there were not 1 or 2, there were multiple carpooling groups.

Problem with me is my company management, as the entire company knows M travelling to Kolhapur & I have to rush, they arrange meetings/ calls exactly in the evening.

Corporate life (वाय झेड in puneri language).

Screen-shot-
Typical message from Car-pool group

Major Car-poolers leave pune quite early, around 5:30 to 6:00pm, which is not a possible target for me to achieve.

In case any late ride available, I always plan to join them.

Its fun actually, make new friends & U get to know new people & off-course their story.

Life is hard, when u stay away from your loved once.

We may be physically away, but mentally & Emotionally आमचं मन, भावना, प्रेम आणि सगळंच कोल्हापूर मध्ये असतं…!!!

Every person from Kolhapur will agree when I say,

"Kolhapur is not a place, it’s a feeling".

Finally, what I would like to say is Karma really exists & M sure someone is noting our journey.

In case, if you are reading this blog write now & also a सम-दुखी like me, I will see u somewhere on NH-4 or we might ride together, who knows.

Many ask me what do I miss about कोल्हापूर..??

Believe me the list in long & cannot be collated.

A small poem (Copy-pasted off course) dedicated to each and every कोल्हापूरकर who today is some-where away from his motherland.

बेटे भी घर छोड़ जाते हैं

जो तकिये के बिना कहीं, भी सोने से कतराते थे

आकर कोई देखे तो वो, कहीं भी अब सो जाते हैं

खाने में सो नखरे वाले, अब कुछ भी खा लेते हैं

अपने रूम में किसी को, भी नहीं आने देने वाले

अब एक बिस्तर पर सबके, साथ एडजस्ट हो जाते हैं

बेटे भी घर छोड़ जाते हैं.!!

घर को मिस करते हैं लेकिन, कहते हैं ‘बिल्कुल ठीक हूँ

सौ-सौ ख्वाहिश रखने वाले, अब कहते हैं ‘कुछ नहीं चाहिए

पैसे कमाने की जरूरत में, वो घर से अजनबी बन जाते हैं

लड़के भी घर छोड़ जाते हैं।

बना बनाया खाने वाले अब वो खाना खुद बनाते है,

माँ-बहन-बीवी का बनाया अब वो कहाँ खा पाते है।

कभी थके-हारे भूखे भी सो जाते हैं।

लड़के भी घर छोड़ जाते है।

मोहल्ले की गलियां, जाने-पहचाने रास्ते,

जहाँ दौड़ा करते थे अपनों के वास्ते,,,

माँ बाप यार दोस्त सब पीछे छूट जाते हैं

तन्हाई में करके याद, लड़के भी आँसू बहाते है

लड़के भी घर छोड़ जाते हैं

नई नवेली दुल्हन, जान से प्यारे बहिन- भाई,

छोटे-छोटे बच्चे, चाचा-चाची, ताऊ-ताई ,

सब छुड़ा देती है साहब, ये रोटी और कमाई।

मत पूछो इनका दर्द वो कैसे छुपाते हैं,

बेटियाँ ही नही साहब, बेटे घर छोड़ जाते हैं