Pune Unltd. - 16

UNLTD. November 16, 2014

PEOPLE | FOOD | CULTURE | ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT

INFINITE BEATS

Continuum - The Band

#ACTPUNE

Jividha

A Collaboration of Nature and Education

Cover Story

SHE MEANS BUSINESS 7 Women. 7 Businesses. All from Home.

PLUS

InstaPune | Scor’d | Pune Express | #ActPune | Entertainment

COVER STORY

EDITOR’S NOTE

Homemakers + ‘Work from home’ is a pipe dream for most. For those who can do this, it’s a tough ask. But there are a few who have carved out a niche for themselves in this and are well on their way to being successful entrepreneurs. It’s no surprise that these are all women. Their innate ability to multitask makes this a cinch for them to succeed, but the necessary perseverance to succeed isn’t for all.

“There are a few who have carved out a niche for themselves in this and are well on their way to being successful entrepreneurs. It’s no surprise that these are all women.” @adityakuber

We did, however, find seven who have not only persevered, but are also succeeding. Their story is an inspiration for all entrepreneurs.

Be sure to read and find ways to work with them!

As usual, we also have the best of Pune in this issue for you to enjoy and with the festive season dialling down a bit, it does give us a breather to look at other things!

Until next time, then...

Contact: hello@puneunltd.com

Editor-in-Chief Aditya Kuber

Editors Veethi Telang Apeksha Bhagchandani

Aditya Kuber

Contributors Sharan Garcha Parmeet Kohli Radhika Sharma Sanil Mahajan Amruta Ghate Richa Satpute

Design

Prasanta Kundu Maddy Kulkarni Sanjali Manekar Anishka Gurjar

Marketing Anish Sohoni Rekha Achtani

Publisher

Media Sphere Communications Pvt. Ltd. www.mediasphere.co.in facebook.com/Puneunltd

Cover Photo Hartwig HKD Used under Creative Commons License

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IN THIS ISSUE

November 16, 2014

LIVE

06 A Balancing PUNE EXPRESS

Act

08 Jividha: A #ACTPUNE

Collaboration of Nature and Education

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Jividha is a social organisation working in the area of conservation of environment through the medium of education and spreading awareness among the common man. I had a chance to interact with Mr. Rajiv Pandit, the founder of the organisation to know more about it and learn more about the environment we live in.

SEE

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INSTAPUNE

Capturing the soul of Pune on Instagram

28 Infinite Beats ENTERTAINMENT

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Continuum is not just the name of the band, it is an ideology.

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16

COVER STORY

She Means Business 7 Women. 7 Businesses. All from Home.

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PLAY

23 30

SCOR’D

Reviewing all you can watch, read and eat in Pune.

EVENTS These are set to rock Pune for the next 2 weeks.

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SPECIAL FEATURE Peth Puja - Part I

We’ve walked you through the weekday Peths of Pune and it was a memorable experience. But, our Peth culture doesn’t end there now, does it? Far from it! We still have many more to go and this time, we thought, we’ll combine them and dish the story out in parts. So here goes Part I.

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PUNE EXPRESS

A Balancing Act

Thankfully, we live in an age wherein more often that not, a woman isn’t criticised for following her dreams; whether she has a family to care for or not. Instead, she is admired for creating a balance between doing what she loves professionally and, at the same time, making sure she’s devoted to the people in her personal life. Sometimes, creating this balance is far from easy and so, we decided to speak to 6 working women from Pune about the one or more thing(s) they do that works into a win-win situation for all. Here’s what they said...

Samruddhi Shinde

Akanksha Tidke

Copywriter

Graphic Designer

I could strike a balance between my work and my life the moment I realised how important it is to spare some time for myself. I work out, often shop and cook for myself.

I look forward to everyday with a positive attitude and that helps me enjoy everything that comes my way. Remember, you are responsible for your happiness. All the other things, sooner or later, fall into place.

If it were not for my amazing husband, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain this balance.

My husband is extremely supportive of my career and opts to take care of family obligations whenever I’m unable to fulfill any. But, this doesn’t mean I take him for granted.

I make sure I give him enough time and keep my work aside for whenever I’m with him. This makes it extremely easy for me to not only chase my dreams but also keep my family happy.

Sakshi Mhatre IT Professional It’s all about setting my priorities straight. I make sure I spend some quality time with my husband and kids everyday, no matter how heavy my workload is. And most weekends are only dedicated to family.

We end up going to the movies or simply ordering in and watching a movie marathon

Parul Bhatele

Sonika Sharma Department Manager

Chinmayee Parulkar

PR Executive While women are awesome multi-taskers (smug much?), it becomes way harder when you know your kids are waiting for you at home. Earlier, I used to do ten things simultaneously in a bid to complete everything quickly. It not only took a toll on my family but also on my health. I think if you focus on the task at hand, other tasks become easier. When you’re at work, just work. But, when you’re at home, make sure you devote your time to your family.

Boutique Owner Oh, believe me, it’s not easy.

Even though my in-laws knew that I have been running a business, I still had a hard time getting them used to my absence. Fortunately, all it took was some time. I started making sure that I keep my work limited to the workplace and forget all about it once I’m home. Being over-ambitious can be great, but one should never take family for granted.

I believe women should stop worrying about little issues, both professionally and personally. We tend to overthink and make a bigger mess of an already messy situation.

Aren’t tiny setbacks part of life? I stopped taking things unnecessarily seriously and that helped me a great deal.

Today, I am able to manage my professional and personal life because I’m happy from inside. I don’t consider anything a “task”. Instead, I take everything as part and parcel of life.

We would love to know your views on the topic.

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Write to us at hello@puneunltd.com

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#ACTPUNE

JIVIDHA

A COLLABORATION OF NATURE AND EDUCATION

Jividha is a social organisation working in the area of conservation of environment through the medium of education and spreading awareness among the common man.

I had a chance to interact with Mr. Rajiv Pandit, the founder of the organisation to know more about it and learn more about the environment we live in.

Sharan Garcha

What motivated you to start Jividha?

In my college days, I was a part of a lot of environment and wild life activities. Along with my friends, I had founded a society called Wild in 1990. During this time, I also worked as the editor of a Marathi Wildlife Magazine called Shravan. Along with this, I have done a few projects like conducting a comprehensive survey of Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, undertaken plantation activities on

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Vetal, Taljai Hills & Nigdi Pradhikaran. I’ve also done some collaborative work with Nisarg Sevak and Ecological Society.

In order to continue doing something in the field of environment, I felt that starting an organisation will help me bring together like minded people and we could start something that will benefit not just one but all citizens.

Though I was not officially trained in the field, I got a

#ACTPUNE diploma in Sustainable Development so that I could understand important factors that are involved in this field.

unwarranted expenditure during festive & religious occasions often lead to environmental degradation. At Jividha, we are working to create social awareness about such issues and bring a change in the mindsets of the masses.

What are the activities that you conduct?

The projects and programs of the organisation involve several different aspects like series of lectures, environmental awareness programs in urban and rural areas, making school children aware about the hazards that plague our environment, tree plantation, conducting eco and nature tours etc. Jividha’s working area is both in Pune city (Urban Environment) & villages around Pune mainly in the Maval region (Rural

Which areas does Jividha currently focus on?

We have been working for environmental causes via different mediums and thereby evolving by undertaking projects independently and also collaborating with other organisations.

The extent of Jividha is not only limited to urban areas but also spread in the rural ones. Excessive consumption or usage of plastic, electricity, vehicles, water and

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#ACTPUNE

Environment). We have majorly focused on adding the educating factor into play. Spreading awareness and educating the public regarding environmental issues is the main motive behind this initiative. Also, this year we had conducted a Pune Hornbill Festival to increase awareness and share the importance of Hornbills in the environment.

Could you tell us more about your educational activities?

In order to encourage children to learn about the environment they live in, we have a project called ‘Gramkosh’ wherein children of Nane Maval have collected comprehensive information about their village on grounds of economic conditions, water resources, cattle, crops, vegetation, cleanliness (sanitation) and health. This information has been published in the form of a booklet to help in creating a knowledgebase of one’s own village.

We at Jividha conduct a course called ‘Introduction to Nature’ once every year. In this, participants are introduced to the Biodiversity of India. The course curriculum has been organised in a way that Biodiversity protection and Conservation is easily understood by the common man. We have been running this course since 2006. The course is open for everyone with a love and curiosity for and about Biodiversity and Nature of India.

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We also have a Jividha study circle, where a series of lectures and discussions by experts pertaining to Biodiversity and environmental take place. Film shows are also organised as a part of this initiative. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month.

Maval has a rich heritage of forts, caves and temples in the areas of Vadgaon, Nane and Pavan. Majority of children drop out of schools and migrate to cities to earn a living. Creating self employment opportunities for such dropouts by training them about the historical and geographical importance of these monuments would help them to be field guides for tourists and trekkers visiting this region.

Tell us more about your outdoor tours.

Unknown to most people, there are quite a few biodiversity rich zones around Pune city. They are recognised for various reasons like bird diversity, plant diversity or simply for their geological wonders. A visit to these places with experts gives us an opportunity to learn many new things and also gain knowledge. These tours have been organised to promote scientific thinking and a keen observation of nature. We hope to sow the seeds of nature conservation and spread awareness through this initiative.

#ACTPUNE

What are the challenges that you have faced in your journey so far?

During the journey so far, we realised that the common man has a limited understanding of environmental issues. There are so many questions that are often left unanswered and are often overlooked by us. Also, many do not give importance to the area as much as that to say Maths or even Science. This subject is equally important and one must be encouraged to learn about it. Schools have the subject of Environmental Science, but children are just asked to read a textbook and that’s it. Getting practical knowledge or going out to explore the environment has not been done as much as it should be. These are some of the difficulties we have faced. Also, being an NGO, it does become difficult when we undergo a financial crunch; conducting activities and programs then is not an easy task.

Can anyone volunteer with you?

Yes. Anyone can come and volunteer with us. To achieve the objective of environmental upgradation is a hercu-

lean task and requires the support of millions of hands.

For this, we generally encourage people from various backgrounds to come and contribute in any form to strengthen our movement. It is our duty to handover a green earth to our next generations. We are marching towards this objective and success would be guaranteed if you contribute. Wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers, students, environmentalists, teachers; everyone’s welcome to be a part of this project.

HERITAGE WATCH

Khunya Murlidhar A temple with a deceptively calm name and location‌ Amruta Ghate If you are ever bored with the current affairs and daily grind, take a walk around the old by-lanes of Pune and you’ll invariably find a story or two about its history that will grip you to the edge of your seat as you listen with bated breath. The walls indeed do have ears and if they had mouths too, oh boy! The stories they would tell! One such unlikely tale resides in the sanctum sanctorium of a quiet little temple in Sadashiv Peth, called Khunya Murlidhar Mandir. The name had always surprised me and as I dug a little deeper, out came an unlikely story of a blood stained past..

The story begins in 1700 when, Sadashiv Raghunath alias Dada Gadre, dreamt that God had ordered him to construct a temple. A merchant and moneylender to the Peshwas, Gadre built the temple to the east of his garden in what was then known as Karkolpura.

Bakhatram, a renowned Jaipur artist, worked with great devotion at the then Gadre Wada, which now houses the

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Ahilyadevi Girls' High School to create the marble idols of Tandav Murlidhar, i.e. Krishna, Radha, two cows along with calves, and Garuda. It was the grace and elegance of this lively statue of Krishna that caught the fancy of Bajirao II, a Peshwa ruler, who wanted to install it in the Royal abode of Shaniwar Wada to which, Gadre refused.

In an unprecedentedly sly maneouver, he summoned Vedic scholar Narayanbhatt Khare from Trimbakeshwar near Nashik for the deity's consecration ceremony. Following the advice of Khare, Gadre decided to have the idols installed on the sly in the wee hours of May 6, 1797.

However, Gadre had expected Bajirao to create some trouble once he got a whiff of this plan and had stationed 200 hired Arab soldiers to guard the temple.

Bajirao, who by then had been reduced to a ceremonial head of state protected by the British, deputed his army under British chief Boyd to thwart the proceedings.

Among the chants of the Pooja and holy proceedings

HERITAGE WATCH inside the temple mingled the enraged voices of 200 soldiers, their steeds, guns and swords. The battle took over 60 lives. Hence the name "Khunya", derived from the Persian term for blood, got formally prefixed with the deity's name in the early 1800s.

As though continuing its revolutionising past, the temple served as the meeting place of freedom fighters such as Vasudev Balwant Phadke and the Chaphekar brothers.

The temple has withstood its bloody past, wars, storms and rains, but will it endure the brunt of modernisation and development? Only time can tell, or can we too? With this piece I want to make an appeal to all of you to make an attempt to not defile these glorious gems of Pune’s illustrious past. We cannot do much against nature, but we can always show proclivity towards the good side of human nature.

All Photos: Ravi Karandeekar Used under Creative Commons License

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COVER STORY

SHE

MEANS BUSINESS

Empowering? Yes. Financially rewarding? Of course. Mentally satisfying? You bet. These women weren’t afraid to follow their entrepreneurial dream and today, all of them have a success story to tell. We at Pune Unltd. celebrate our city’s wonder-women, each of who started a business at home and are rocking it today. Come, let’s look at how they made it despite the many curve balls that life threw at them. Let’s get inspired!

Apeksha Bhagchandani with

Namita Dandekar | YumCrumbCo. I’ve tried her cakes. They melt in your mouth and you’re in dessert heaven.

How did you start off with the venture?

I baked by first cake when I was in the 3rd standard.

With icing and the works. So, I’ve always been passionate about baking but earlier, it was nothing more than a hobby. I used to work in a medical equipment comany in Bangalore and wouold sometimes bake stuff and bring it to work. One of my coworkers happened to love baking as well. A restaurateur friend of hers tasted

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some of our baked items and loved them. He needed someone to supply baked good at his café. That’s how it all took off. We were suddenly loaded with orders for weddings, parties, etc. I quit my job and got into this full time then. I moved to Pune last year in October and continue to do what I love most!

How has Pune been treating the business?

Well, to be brutally honest, when it comes to the field of baking, Pune has miles to go. For example, in Bangalore, simply any occasion works for baked goods.

Pune’s appetite for the same is much lesser. And, people here are not as adventurous about trying new things. The concept hasn’t caught on yet. People here are also not all for spending on such food items. In Bangalore, a Green Tea Chocolate cake would have flown off the shelves. Here, I’ll be lucky if 4-5 people ask to try it.

COVER STORY

Photo: Aditya Kuber

What’s the weirdest request you’ve ever received?

Adult-themed cakes are huge right now and some of the requests I’ve received, I cannot even mention here. I didn’t even bother taking pictures of those cakes. Other than that, sometimes people ask for unusual combinations. Some really do turn out surprisingly well though.

What’s the largest order you’ve ever received?

My God! Did you get any sleep?

Nope. I was like a Zombie the day after. And it wasn’t just that. The people were really particular about what they wanted. Colours had to exactly match the bride’s ghagra and the groom’s grey suit. I even had a grey fabric swatch. But, I’m not complaining. The customer’s happiness and satisfaction is what matters most. Cakes are a huge part of celebrations after all!

A 15 kg cake and 500 cupcakes. All for a wedding.

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COVER STORY

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COVER STORY Richa Satpute with

Pooja Shah | Opiatum’s Rollin’ Canvas It all started with Pooja’s creative streak and a love for painting. Painting was always a hobby until one of her friends gifted a painting by her to some well-known artists in Kolkata. Their encouragement led her to publish her painting on Facebook and the rest is a dream come true.

“I have been painting for several years now, but under wraps. I didn’t think that my paintings amounted to much; however about a year ago I started working with the unique style that now has become my signature”, says Pooja, who has now started her own brand, Opiatum’s Rollin’ Canvas (ORC – pronounced as Oh-pie-tum).

At ORC, Pooja mixes street-art with silhouettes to bring unique and custom-made paintings that are fun and memorable. She uses a unique painting style, which mashes various forms of art, a lot of color, fun and silhouette style paintings to bring customised artwork that can be used anywhere and that can be painted on any surface.

Largely a self taught artist, Pooja explains that being untrained, helps her break free from compartmentalisation that could potentially restrict the use of so many variations in textures, designs and colors. “I work with a fresh form that uses a lot of colour, silhouettes, some-

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times geometric designs, and a lot of different art styles that range from street art to cubism to create absolutely unique and fresh art pieces” So how has life panned out for someone who’s gone way off the beaten track?

“It’s great”, says Pooja. “My work has been solidly appreciated, and I have had the chance to contribute to important milestones in people’s lives. My paintings have been gifted for birthdays, anniversaries and other really special occasions, which make me feel like I contribute directly to the lives of my work’s buyers.”

The recently concluded ‘Pune Geek Fest” saw close to 100 participants using only their hands to paint and create something.

Pooja had also been invited to conduct a workshop at IRCNA for over 600 people in South Goa in September 2014. This was an opening session for a Narcotics Anonymous convention – a gathering of recovering addicts from all over the country to celebrate their recovery & freedom from drug-addiction.

“I kept several sheets of paper and asked people to create some art with their hands and fingers, and then walk up to someone they didn’t know, introduce themselves and hand over their creation to this new ‘friend’”. It is amazing what expression through art can achieve, isn’t it?

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COVER STORY of putting myself out there. But did it anyway. When you see people appreciate your work, then taking risks becomes very appealing”, she says.

Pooja’s custom painting starts at INR 5000. You can visit her Facebook page Opiatum’s Rollin’ Canvas to look at her work. Watch out for her stall at the NH 7 Weekender this month!

Apeksha Bhagchandani with

Deepika Dadlani Nagpurkar & Shweta Gurjar | ColorMeNew The duo at ColorMeNew turns regular bottles into super pretty, intricately painted, ornate lamps. How cool is that! I spoke to Deepika about it all...

So what keeps Pooja committed? Does she have any role models?

“It is the sheer thrill of looking at your work take shape just like you imagined it. The joy it gives the receiver is an added bonus!”

I love Pablo Picasso, love his style. I’m also very interested in cubism.

Is there something you’d like to share with women who want to follow a similar path as yours?

“I started this journey purely on a gut feeling. I was afraid

How did you get into this? Were you always into this kind of creative stuff?

Oh, not at all! I’m a retired Air Force pilot. Shweta had been doing this for a while. I generally started off by painting a couple of bottles and really enjoyed it. One thing led to another and ended up joining her. Fortunately, our painting styles are really different so we never end up stepping on each other’s work. We now meet 2-3 times a week to discuss our plans, upcoming events etc.

Do you guys only work with bottles?

Mostly, yes. But we’ve also started working with old CDs, plastic material etc. There’s so much we can do with bottles in the first place. We’ve even made a customised

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COVER STORY Apeksha Bhagchandani with

Dimple Dhalwani | Travelling Trunk

chandelier only from bottles! We use old CDs to make things like coasters.

What are the lamps priced like?

If you buy them online, they’re INR 1200, which includes delivery charges. Otherwise they’re INR 1000. The price includes the finished product that entails the electrical fittings in the bottle. We’ve recently collaborated with some websites; the lamps are available on Uneecart and will soon come up on Psynetra and ICustomMadeIt. Our lamps are also sold in two stores in Bangalore (Levitate, Indira Nagar and Psybaba, Richmond Circle).

Did you always know you would work in fashion?

Absolutely. Even as a child, I was fascinated by glamour.

It all started with Bollywood, which earlier was our fashion culture. But that’s changing now.

How long do you need to make one lamp? Is it a tedious process?

It depends on the level of intricacy on a bottle. The more intricate ones take about three days to work on. That’s if I put in about eight hours a day. The more simple ones don’t require more than one and a half days.

Tell me about your work.

Well, I do a number of things actually. I write for fashion and lifestyle magazines, I’m into personal, editorial and brand styling as well as teaching fashion in colleges across the city. A couple of names are SOFT (School of Fashion & technology) and FAD International. Then of course, there’s my label Travelling Trunk.

What exactly does Travelling Trunk do?

I source Indian-styled clutches, bags and jewellery and showcase/exhibit them around the world. My last show took place in London in September and before that in Hong Kong in August. The aim is to put Indian craft, brands and fashion out there and make them available internationally. Here, we give a lot of importance to inter-

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COVER STORY national brands, which are now pretty easily available whereas the same is not the case with our local brands. I source pieces with Indian embroideries and in jewellery it’s mainly silver. And, when I select pieces, what’s most important is quality.

Your current favourite fashion trends are…?

Bling, Aztec print, and Animal Prints. The last one is an all-time classic that I don’t think will ever fade out.

Your favourite brands are…?

In India, Manish Malhotra and internationally it’s got to be Gucci; classic yet contemporary.

Any trend you think shouldn’t have come into existence?

No, none. I think any trend can work great provided it’s styled well.

Tell me about Aroma Therapy.

Well, it’s an alternate healing therapy. Some call it medicinal even. The essential oils involved don’t just work skin deep. They affect the mind and body both.

Something as trivial as a low mood can be changed via Aroma Therapy. Many people may not even know that oil names we’ve come across for years; Eucalyptus, Rose, Peppermint, are all Aroma Therapy essential oils.

Lavender oil, for example, is also used for pain relief.

They’re used for basic things like a cough/cold, sunburn/tanning etc. In my line of work, I use the oils for beauty treatments; skin and hair care. I could include certain oils in my facials or body massages that could uplift one’s mood as well.

What do you enjoy most about your line of work?

I love looking at a satisfied, glowing face at the end of a facial skin therapy session. It also gives me immense pleasure to see a relaxed, smiling client after a soothing

Apeksha Bhagchandani with

Parinaaz Bhomisa | Aroma Fairy

Photo: Honou Used under Creative Commons License

How’d you get into the field of Aroma Therapy?

It’s been a good 10-12 years since I’ve been into it.

Years ago, a friend of mine was down from the US and she was trained in the field and attended to clients. I was fascinatedby everything she would talk about when it came to Aroma Therapy. I took a couple of courses to learn everything I could about it. My fascination turned into a hobby and finally a passion and my work!

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neck or back massage. I’m a stickler for good, healthy skin and body and I enjoy helping people with theirs as well. I even use some therapy for my daughter. As I mentioned the benefits of Eucalyptus and Lavender oils, they’re very helpful when you have a child at home. Secondly, my line of work and the fact that I work from home allows me to spend time with my family. I provide home services as well but of course, that depends on the area one lives in.

You can reach Parinaaz on parinaaz131@yahoo.com

COVER STORY Apeksha Bhagchandani with

Annavi Khot | Raw Pro-Bitez | Annavi

9 gms of fibre and costs INR 180. I have make Almond Fudge energy bars that cost INR 100.

Before you launch in stores and gyms, how should one go about placing an order?

I’m currently taking orders on Facebook, Instagram (@annavi_khot) as well as via email (annavikhot@gmail.com).

Health Food Inc. How did you get into making Protein Bars?

I’ve been into fitness for the past eight odd years. I also have a major sweet tooth and needed a healthy alternative that’s nutritious and helps the muscles as I’m also into lifting weights. This seemed like the perfect option. I started making them only about 2 months ago.

How’s it going?

Oh it’s going super! I’m a regular gym goer and have a ton of clients there. Plus word’s spreading so it’s all good! I plan to launch my brand in stores and gyms across the city in the next couple of months.

Tell me about the bars and how much they cost.

Well, my protein bars come in two flavours- Chocolate and Vanilla. Each bar contains 30 gms of protein and

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COVER STORY Apeksha Bhagchandani with

Sonal Mahajan | Little Ones Learn (LOL) What made you quit your well-paying IT job & start a kid’s activity center?

I had always dreamt of being an entrepreneur. It was time to get off my 10-7 job. I explored multiple ideas, enrolled for a few crash courses but finally realised none of them were my cup of tea. I had to start some-

to help me understand the kind of activities that kids love and dislike.

What is the one thing you love the most about teaching and LOL? My little ones are my priority; there is nothing else that can be more important or dear to me than them. The soul existence of LOL is for and because of them. The more I interact with the kids, the more I learn to be patient, flexible, caring, empathetic and joyful, though I’ve always had a natural flair for it.

What are your future plans for LOL? thing that I really loved & was passionate about. One thing I knew I was and am good at is handling kids.

That thought kept running through my head and I kept developing ideas around it. I started talking to friends and family, especially people with kids, to understand their thoughts about their kids’ learning and development needs. Finally, after months of tossing and trying out various ideas, I created a plan to start an afterschool activity center.

How did you prepare yourself for this venture?

Playing with kids for a while is one thing, while teaching and managing 10+ kids at a time is a completely different ball game. I knew that preparing myself for this venture was tough and the only way I could do it was by teaching at an actual school. I was lucky enough to get a pre-school teacher role at a newly setup school for a few months before switching to Vibgyor High in Balewadi as a Senior KG teacher. While you can read books and self-help guides on the Internet about teaching, what really helps is sharing the connection and bond with your students in a class. I always thought managing kids was easy but boy was I wrong! My 8 months at Vibgyor High taught me more than I could have imagined. I also volunteered at an activity center

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In addition to the various extra-curricular activities (like art, craft, music and movement, story reading, outdoor games etc.) designed for the preschoolers, we also offer Helen O’Grady’s speech and drama classes.

These developmental programs reinforce basic social, listening, independence and motor skills and prepare students for real world interaction. I intend to offer few other services, like after-school care for kids, after-school tutoring, foreign languages etc. While it is currently based out of Kothrud, I’m looking to expand LOL in other parts of Pune soon.

SCOR’D COVER STORY

Film The Shaukeens

Film Interstellar

Not funny. An eminently avoidable film!

An outerspace survivalist epic!

Book How Sachin Destroyed My Life

By Vikram Sathaye

Book The Scent of A Game

By Raghav Chandra

An incredible journey of Indian Cricket laced with crackling humour.

An autobiography written in an unusual style

Food Bombay Bhel, Apte Road

Food The Little Door, Koregaon Park

An innovative menu crafted specially for food lovers

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A charming little European style café

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Peth Puja (Part I) Sanil Mahajan

We’ve walked you through the weekday Peths of Pune and it was a memorable experience. But, our Peth culture doesn’t end there now, does it? Far from it! We still have many more to go and this time, we thought, we’ll combine them and dish the story out in parts. So here goes Part I.

Narayan Peth Named after the 5th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, Narayan Rao, Narayan Peth is the hot spot of cultural & commercial activities in the old city area of Pune. It was established 1773 while Narayan Rao was in power. It is lined with the shopping district of Laxmi road on one side and the banks of the Mutha River on the other.

Narayan Peth boasts of some of Pune’s oldest restaurants, schools and other places of interest – Kesari Wada Kesari was a Marathi newspaper started by Lokmanya Tilak in 1881. Although not a popular newspaper now (yes, it is still published), it was once the voice of the Indian National Freedom Movement. Kesari and Mahratta (an English newspaper) were printed at Kesari Wada in Narayan Peth. One can visit the Kesari Wada to see the Tilak Museum which tells you the life story of Lokmanya Tilak through pictures and various artefacts

used by the man himself.

Appa Balwant Chowk (ABC) A Punekar’s education is never complete without ABC! Of course, we’re talking about Appa Balwant Chowk here – the hub of books, stationery and everything you need to finish your education. While ABC is well known

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for its hundreds of book shops, what many don’t realize that ABC offers a larger collection of used books than new ones.

Vijay Theatre No one has ever called it by its real name – Limaye Natya Chitra Mandir, but Vijay Theatre rings a bell with anyone who loves to watch Hollywood flicks. The multiplex culture has taken Vijay out of favour; however, it was 1 of the 2 theatres in Pune until early 2000s which used to play English movies. Many will remember it to be the only theatre where the stall seats were better than the Balcony!

Schools Some of the oldest schools in Pune can be found in Narayan Peth. Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya (Nu Ma Vi), Ahilyadevi Girls School and Huzur Paga Girls School have established a legacy in education.

Restaurants Food is synonymous with the people in Narayan Peth and this area has to offer a variety of cuisines for every palate. While there are newer restaurants like Fish Curry Rice, the older ones keep winning the hearts of Punekars.

Bedekar Tea Stall has been serving the Puneri variant of the famous Maharashtrian breakfast dish Misal

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since 1948. It is still a family run business and has been running out of the same place for the last 60+ years. R Bhagat Tarachand is a pure veg restaurant famous for its Rajasthani food.

Kasba Peth Kasba Peth has the unique distinction of being the first Peth to be established in Pune back in the 1600s. Kasba Ganpati, who is referred to as the Gram Devata (presiding deity) of Pune, is located in this area. The story of Kasba Ganpati’s origins is quite interesting – some children found an idol in this area and Jijabai was informed

about this by Dadoji Konddeo. She ordered for a temple to be built around this Ganpati idol, which, till date, has retained its original structure.

Lal Mahal Originally built by Shahaji Bhonsle for his wife Jijabai and son Shivaji in 1630, it later fell into ruins and the current structure is a reconstruction of the original palace. The historical significance of this place is due to the famous encounter between Shivaji and Shaista Khan, who was Emperor Aurangzeb’s maternal uncle. Shaista Khan was occupying the Lal Mahal and refused to leave Pune.

Shivaji planned a lightening attack with a few trusted soldiers to kill Shaista Khan. Although he managed to

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escape, he did lose 3 fingers during the encounter.

Kumbhar Wada Earthen pots were in huge demand throughout our history, and Kumbhar Wada in Kasba Peth houses one of the largest group of earthen-pot-making families in India. You can buy a variety of pots, cups and decorative material in this area even today. Unfortunately, earthen pot making is a dying art and most artisans have given up the profession. Most of the items on sale today are

Ganesh Peth Sardar Jivajipant Khazgiwale, a noble in the court of Madhavrao Peshwa, developed Ganesh Peth in 1775, naming it after Lord Ganesha. It is one of the smaller peths of Pune but by no means any less important.

Places of Worship Dulya Maruti is an old temple of Lord Hanuman. It is neatly tucked under a large tree and can still be found in its original structure.

Shri Gurusingh Sabha is a famous Gurudwara in Ganesh Peth standing tall at over 5 stories.

The white façade makes it stand out against the backdrop of the old wadas of Ganesh Peth.

Tamasha Theatres

brought in from other states.

Juna Bazaar One can very well debate whether it is a Juna Bazaar (old market) or a Chor Bazaar (thief’s market), the biweekly market attracts a lot of people. You can literally buy anything in this market – from brand new Adidas or Nike shoes to old furniture and computer accessories. Everything is available for a bargain and some people have also managed to track their own stolen goods here!

Old Wadas Being the oldest Peth, Kasba Peth has some of the oldest wadas of Pune. A wada is typically a 1-2 storey square or rectangular wooden building with an open courtyard in the middle. Although most original wadas of Pune have been taken down and concrete buildings constructed in their place, Ganesh Peth still offers a glimpse at the original wooden wadas of the city.

Tamasha is a traditional form of Marathi theatre, mixed with singing and dancing, that was been made famous by the Lavanis (Tamasha-themed songs) in Maharashtra’s history.

Typically meant to be a travelling group of performers, this art form has lost its relevance today. Ganesh Peth houses one of the only Tamasha theatres in Pune.

Milk Market The Ganesh Peth milk market is widely known as the headquarters of the milk business in Pune. Ganesh Peth Doodh Bazar Kharedi-Vikri Sangha operates this market every day and it acts as the lifeline for the many milk buyers & sellers in the city and its outskirts. One has to reach the market by 5 am to feel the real hustle bustle of this place.

Fish Market Ganesh Peth’s fish market is the largest fish market in Pune. It is located next to Alpana Theatre and is the primary unloading point for all the sea water fish arriving from Maharashtra’s coastline. If you’re a sea food lover, this fish market is a must visit to buy fresh fish at low costs!

All Photos: Sanil Mahajan

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Independence Day long weekend is round the corner. Are you scrambling to put together your travel plans? We present you four quick alternatives to replace your travel agents and expensive hotels! To make the most of your vacation, explore these different options according to your budget, time frame and other parameters.

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ENTERTAINMENT COVER STORY

Infinite Beats

Continuum is not just the name of the band, it is an ideology. The definition of the word ‘continuum’ is something that keeps on going, changing over time. Continuum delivers from a wide palette that finds a place among audience that enjoys soulful, inspiring, fresh, and creative music. To know more about the band and their journey, I spoke to Shaayaan aka Shaan, the guy who got the band together…

Sharan Garcha

So how did it all start?

We started around January 2014. The five of us go to the same college. We are a part of the Music Club at MIT. That’s how we met and started jamming together. I thought we should take this to the next level, get to something serious and that’s how Continuum was formed.

Could you tell me more about your band members?

I am the guitarist and vocalist. Next up we have Cecil, who is a multi-instrumentalist. He plays the guitar, keys and drums. He has an amazing and angelic voice. He is the ‘chocolate boy’.

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He is the second vocalist for the band. Then we have Aishwarya, the only female in the band, our lead vocalist. She has a sweet voice, a wide vocal range and is a big foodie! Next we have Rohan, the second guitarist of the band. He is the calm one. He is extremely creative and passionate when it comes to music. We even call him ‘Mr. Discipline’, because he is the one who wants things to be a certain way, everyone has to be there on time, and he makes sure we are. And lastly there’s Pranav, our drummer. You will see him grooving 24x7; he gives amazing beats. And he’s a party animal!

What kind of gigs and performances have you given?

We have performed at a few events around the city. We

COVER STORY had performed in the Phoenix mall in September. We even perform in societies, at fundraising as well as college events. At MIT, we had given a performance where we used no musical instruments, just kitchen utensils!

The same old songs, but still presented differently. We even had a big gig for CEAT Tyres in Mumbai. We are getting a lot of gigs right now, but due to our college commitments we aren’t able to take up all of them.

As a band, what, according to you, makes you stand out from the rest?

We are still pretty new as a band, but definitely our passion and creativity are what differentiates us from the rest. When it came to presenting a song for the “Pitch Perfect Sprite Quotient”, we had to create music without using any musical instruments. We had to make sure we give our unique and crazy desi spin to it.

We had watched a video on YouTube, which inspired us

to use cups as musical instruments while singing our track. We are ready to try out anything new, ready to take risks. We are the ‘hatke’ band. We aren’t like the typical bands of the city. We write original songs and cater to a wide range of audiences.

What’s next?

Of course a few years down the line, we see ourselves in the top charts. We should be well known and have made a mark for ourselves. We plan to create a niche audience for our music.

That’s great, what are your other interests other than music?

We love partying. It’s not just clubbing but getting together and chilling with friends, and well playing music, that’s one thing you can’t take away from us!

And, the other thing that keeps us together is food! We are all big foodies and can travel all across town to get great grub.

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EVENTS

16

Sunday Soul Sante: Pune Edition November

Bangalore’s most loved flea market is being brought to us in our very own city! Spend the day shopping, eating, listening to music and having fun, at over 150 stalls, showcasing the most unique Indian art, craft and design, fabulous food, music and entertainment.

When November 16, Sunday Where S. No 82/4 Adjacent to Hard Rock Cafe, Opposite Irish Village, Koregoan Park, Pune Time 11 am - 6 pm

Shisha Café International Jazz Fest 2014

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November

Shisha Café promises to revive the great sounds of jazz that have made the music perhaps the most exciting live art form. They have brought to us the finest in mainstream, funk, Afro and Latin jazz. A combination of James Carter, Yuri Honing, Cuban singer Doris Lavin, Carlos Bica, and Pianist/composer Helen Sung will be performing together creating an unparallel opportunity for Shisha Café and the jazz fraternity.

When November 26 - 28 Where ABC Farms, Survey No. 35 & 36, North Main Road, Koregaon Park, Pune Time 6 pm

Poetry Slam The next poetry slam is here! Come and perform! Or come and watch!

It’s all allowed. There will be a poetry slam workshop before the slam to initiate all the uninitiated and an open-mic after for all those who want to perform their poetry. Be there! And bring your friends!

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November

When November 30, 2014 Sunday Where Pagdandi- Book Chai Café, Shop No.6, Regent Plaza, Baner Pashan Link Road, Behind Symantec, Baner, Pune.

Time 4.30pm-8.30pm

Bacardi NH7 Weekender

21-23

November

Bacardi NH7 Weekender has earned the tag of “India’s Happiest Festival” over the last four years courtesy a precise attention to detail in everything from the artist lineup, to the design of the stages, the art installations at the festival the selection of food, et al. Join in!

When Sunday, 21 - 23 November Where Laxmi Lawns, Magarpatta city, Pune, Time 2 pm – 10 pm

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