Life @ Pimple Saudagar
Saturday, April 17, 2010
When I got posted to Pune I was pretty happy. I was finally leaving that sleepy place (Mysore) and would be moving to the hot happening (Pune). Little did I know that all that glitters is not gold.
My story or should I say my ordeal starts at Hinjewadi - the place which most of the IT companies have made home. This place is about 20 KM from the city center. Bowing to the requirement of having to commute daily to office I ended up choosing a place called "Pimple Saudagar" to be my base. It is right in between the city and the office. The thought process was that reaching office would be easy and so would be reaching the city. So far so good. Isn't it?
No it is not. The problem is that somehow people in this area and especially the auto guys have this impression that software professional earn a lot (Somebody please tell them that we are the lowest paid educated coolies you can find anywhere in the world). So if you need to travel to city beware. Autowallahs tend to ask absurd fares. Adding to it if you are unfortunate enough to be returning to pimple saudagar late night (anything after 9 qualifies as late night) then god help you. No the place is not unsafe. At least I thought so till the recent incident. The problem is autowallah end up asking you anything from 300 bucks to 500 bucks for a 10km distance. It results in the fact that we cannot afford to stay out late missing most of the action and the happening Pune.
One possible solution is to get a bike. Maharashtra is a unique case in that respect. You cannot ride a bike which has a non Maharashtra number. I understand that it is an all India law but the problem with me is that I have lived most of my life in Delhi, UP, Rajasthan and West Bengal and in all these four states I never had a problem driving a vehicle registered in any other state. I often wonder that if a RTO can issue a driving licence which is valid throughout the nation then why is it that we cannot ride our bikes throughout the country with bike registered at the same RTO. I belong to RTO and transfers for me is not only a possibility but also a likelihood. Am I suppose to pay separate road tax to each government where my company has offices? To get this work done the agent is asking for 12000/- bucks. It is 20% the cost of the bike. Outlandish! Isn't it. So the solution we have chosen is to not do anything and rely on the corrupt policeman. This further means that we avoid going to any happening place leaving me caught in this place called Pimple Saudagar.
The name itself is the first thing that struck me. I mean why would a place be called pimple saudagar. Did any saudagar get pimples here? I stopped wondering about the name when I learned the name of near by localities which are
One question which does come to mind if things are so bad then why am I still living here. It is simply because I have no other option. As Shakespeare said What you cannot cure you must endure.
No it is not. The problem is that somehow people in this area and especially the auto guys have this impression that software professional earn a lot (Somebody please tell them that we are the lowest paid educated coolies you can find anywhere in the world). So if you need to travel to city beware. Autowallahs tend to ask absurd fares. Adding to it if you are unfortunate enough to be returning to pimple saudagar late night (anything after 9 qualifies as late night) then god help you. No the place is not unsafe. At least I thought so till the recent incident. The problem is autowallah end up asking you anything from 300 bucks to 500 bucks for a 10km distance. It results in the fact that we cannot afford to stay out late missing most of the action and the happening Pune.
One possible solution is to get a bike. Maharashtra is a unique case in that respect. You cannot ride a bike which has a non Maharashtra number. I understand that it is an all India law but the problem with me is that I have lived most of my life in Delhi, UP, Rajasthan and West Bengal and in all these four states I never had a problem driving a vehicle registered in any other state. I often wonder that if a RTO can issue a driving licence which is valid throughout the nation then why is it that we cannot ride our bikes throughout the country with bike registered at the same RTO. I belong to RTO and transfers for me is not only a possibility but also a likelihood. Am I suppose to pay separate road tax to each government where my company has offices? To get this work done the agent is asking for 12000/- bucks. It is 20% the cost of the bike. Outlandish! Isn't it. So the solution we have chosen is to not do anything and rely on the corrupt policeman. This further means that we avoid going to any happening place leaving me caught in this place called Pimple Saudagar.
The name itself is the first thing that struck me. I mean why would a place be called pimple saudagar. Did any saudagar get pimples here? I stopped wondering about the name when I learned the name of near by localities which are
- Pimple Nilakh
- Pimple Nisarg
- Pimple Gurav etc.
Then the attitude of people here where every shopkeeper I meet tries to fleece out as much as possible out of me. Some examples are ghada (earthen pot) at 100/-. Potato, Onion, Tomato are all sold at 40/- rupees per kg. Even the road side vendor sells a lousy paratha at 30/-.
On top of it everywhere you go you see construction going on. This results in dust, dust and more dust everywhere.If you are allergic to it beware of this place.
One question which does come to mind if things are so bad then why am I still living here. It is simply because I have no other option. As Shakespeare said What you cannot cure you must endure.
Labels:
Pune
Hi Rahul, I do agree with you on the part where the Autowallahs fleece you out with abusrd fares. This is something which is a trend not only in pimple saudagad but almost all parts of Pune.
However I don't agree with you on the part where you are not allowed to drive your vehicle with a Non-Maharashtiran number plate. I am living in Pune since last 12 Years and have been driving Bike with Non Maharshtrian number. I had been caught thousand times by the cops for breaking signals or just for routine checks but was never fined or caught for having a non - maharashtiran number so I know there is no such rule by the government. Many of my friends who have migrated to pune from other parts of India have also got their vehicles, they did not have to change the number plate.
having your own vehicle is a must in Pune , and I guess it is every where in the world except the big cities like Mumbai , Chennai,Kolkata,New York,London (Since I have been in these places in my 7 Years of IT career). So I guess that should not be an issue since millions of people like you and me are still leading their regular life that also includes having late night parties.
Pimple Saudagad as of Today is one of decent places to live in pune at a reasonable rate for rent (If you are staying on rent) as it has all sorts of amenities around , like groceries, banks, laundries, restaurants and vicinity to Aundh (another Happening part of Pune)
Other parts of Pune like Kothrud,Deccan,Lakshmi Road are one of the densely populated areas with sky rocketing prices. Other places like Koregaon Park,Mukund Nagar are the palce for rich business men, so once again like you said people like us (Educated coolies) cannot afford to stay there.
Rest of Pune (Sangvi,Pashan,Warje,Balewadi,Dapodi etc etc) are the places for local people whose annual income range is at or below 100,000 INR
I have been in Pune during my college days so I know each and every part of the city, so you can bet on this if you want to verify on what I have mentioned above.
So all in all Pimple Saudagad is a better place to stay and every thing in life comes with a package deal , so some compromises have to be made.
@NilKiran Atleast get the name right.. its not Pimple Saudagad its Pimple Saudagar
I mean why would a place be called pimple saudagar. Did any saudagar get pimples here? - what was that trying to act funny?
Well learn to love and explore the place u live not crib....but some people just can't! Feel so sorry for you!
Pimple is a name deduced from peepal tree which is called as pimple if you know in marathi thats the local language there......
Try living in south india and speaking in hindi and then you will value Pune more than anything else.
"Pimple Saudagar" a great place to live one's life in a phonemenal way ...I have forgotten all woes I had in my life till I settled in this area with great ambience.Only things I missed were fresh air,energy in environment and over all a zeal to live life.Suddenly all ended and completely miss from my life.I have mixed feelings...feelings are mixed so much into dust that even I can not realize how many times one should have bath in a day...Last week I saw movie of my life when me and my companion started for another rustic and dusty place Pimpri Chinchwad to catch a movie show but believe me that was everything else other than movie...I had clean combed hair at start which got layered with lots of dust again ...I had a ride through many villages in between till I finally could reach the main road of pimpri chinchwad ...I am sure of one thing that I was happier than Columbus when he was on his spree to explore the world...Huh !!!
Agar kisi maikaa laal ne !!! raat mein station jaane ki sochi to uski train ki ticket se jyada paise to Autowala le lega ... I sometimes feel that my forefathers had taken some money from autowallahs and kept it as bad debts ..which I am paying now and will continue doing that till I pay the whole interest...
Overall its a great place !!!
Advantages of Pimple Saudagar :-
1)If you tell your address to someone ,no body would be interested to come to you and visit your place.
2)Mumbai airport/station is very near by and approachable easily and please dont think of reaching Pune airport or else you will end up paying the service tax amount to autowalla.
And the final One
3)Pune city is near by and so you can once in a week or in a month you can surely have fun visiting the city
All the Best and happy living on the tip of the Pimple of a Business whom I curse to the level that the PIMPLE bursts off resulting in puss flowing to the level that it blends with the energy of Pune...
My God in heaven, I couldn't stop laughing for the last comment made to this post. Unfortunately, I read this blog after I have rented out a place in Pimple Saudagar and now there is no turning back. Alas! But I hope my I can get a better experience somehow and I am wondering how...
haha... dats too gud a description.... i still remember d time wen our postings got out n i ws made to blv dat i culdn have been ny luckier...dat pune is d place to b.... i am still tryin to figure out Y.. HOW...! or mayb its just the dust clouding my senses to the ossmness of dis god forsaken city... perhaps i am d 1 to b blamed dat i am too bzy jumping over the mud pools.. dat i cant c beyond oll d kichad on d roads( oh i m srry... dere isnt really ny concept of roads here.. its only kichad as far as u can c...) or its nly d regular haggle wid d autowalas , sabji walas, fruit walas, oll d odr walas dat rings in my ears... dat its only an inch thich layer of dust dat i have to scratch thru to feel my skin.... mayb its nly a lucky few dat d city unveils its magic to... and i for sure am not in dem...
@anonymous Pune is a wonderful city.... but that city starts at FC road about 10 km from pimple saudagar... go beyond that and you will love the city... stay in pimple saudagar and get a mud pack free every day.
My Friend If u r not liking Pimple saudagar,just move out from here.I am in here from Birth & its great place & under development still...It was village now looking like city..All hike in prices is due to IT industry in Hinjewadi & inflation rate issue..everyone knows it...& people like u cursing on blog to place will not help it..
So leave the place or stop cursing it..
move out to where mr anonymous? wish i had an option, i am certainly not here out of choice. If u happen to have a basic understanding of economics u would knoe the kind of revenue the IT establishment here brings to the state. and it is this IT sector that is bringing about a change to face of ur village! and the irony is that oll the inflation that u blame on the influx of IT people here, is because of the locals and everybody else trying to cash in on the helpness of the people. you cant deny the kind of money thats being made at the expense of the IT workers settling here , who are frowned upon at and blamed for everything thats not right with the city.
move out to where mr anonymous? wish i had an option, i am certainly not here out of choice. If u happen to have a basic understanding of economics u would knoe the kind of revenue the IT establishment here brings to the state. and it is this IT sector that is bringing about a change to face of ur village! and the irony is that oll the inflation that u blame on the influx of IT people here, is because of the locals and everybody else trying to cash in on the helpness of the people. you cant deny the kind of money thats being made at the expense of the IT workers settling here , who are frowned upon at and blamed for everything thats not right with the city.
Damn you guys cursing this lovely city. Go to mumbai travel in local trains you will then say the dusty pack of Pimple saudagar was good....go to chennai feel the heat you will regret that you left Pune. I am sure you must be some bihari or UP wala...go to your god damn village where people beat their wives and mothers fart in front of their children...filthy people go back to your shit hole where you belong...Pune is better without you!!!
Pune is is the best cosmo place in India, Area like PS are under development so u will have issues. IT people have started many bad practices in Real estate, thats why we are paying so high prices for buying homes.
Try staying in south, my god you will run away if u r not south indian. People will intentionally not speak hindi or english.
PS is the best place , i've ever seen
Dude. where are you...I would frankly love to meet you.PS is the Biggest BS Place in the world. I have stayed in many cities in the world but Pune PS seems to be seriously one of the worst.
Firstly it is in a god for sakken place.
All Guys who are cursing South India, Bihar,UP please go and get a life.
I recently got a shock of my life when the Stupid Fruit Wala was asking me for Rs 1800 for a bloody dozen of Sick Hafoos.
Whoa!! What a mixed review!! Well, I've juz got a flat on rent at Pimple Saudagar n probably will be moving in by next week. Now reading all this, I'm kinda worried bout my stay at PS since de basic thing is I'm highly allergic to dust! :( and moreover, I can't understand this Autowalla's thing asking absurd fares... Don't these ppl have some fixed system or standard?? Like, charging as per Rick meter??? And, man! Rahul Burman, U scared me with de picture dat u've posted here! Is it for real????
@Vikas, Left PS and Pune for good so meeting you will have to wait!!
Rest of the people,I did leave your beautiful city and went back to my village which although not quite in UP is very near to it. Its called Delhi.
So peace.
@Anonymous I shifted out of PS in nov last year so can't tell you the latest status.Till Nov it was as dusty as it gets...
If you are allergic to dust, then shift to Aundh or some other fully developed areas.
As for Autowallahs its pretty standard rates. The only issue is that they charge you 5 times what I would have given had I gone the same distance in Delhi.
And if you ask for meter in PS they would pretend you are a stand up comedian and cracked a funny joke.
The Pic was taken during monsoon last year (somehow the authorities in Pune find monsoon the best time to dig up streets)
Lastly about the comments, I would have defended my city as well irrespective of all it folies. Don't blame them. Issues are there as they are in any developing township throughout India. Have had misfotune of living in 3-4 such townships.