War, Peace, and Wardrobe: An Open Letter to Mr. Zelensky on Dress Codes

 Dear President Zelensky,

As an Indian, I deeply respect every individual’s right to live in peace and democracy. But today, I write to you not about war strategies or geopolitics, but about something far more serious (at least in the IT world) : Dress Codes.

We hear that you’ve been under fire for your attire during your recent visit to the Oval Office. Honestly, I’ve been watching you since the war began, and let’s just say, sir, you have a signature look. In fact, if I ever saw you in a suit, I’d probably assume either peace was miraculously achieved overnight or your stylist got hacked.

Now, let me tell you why I feel uniquely qualified to comment on this issue. As an Indian IT engineer, I belong to a community that has spent decades debating the necessity of dress codes in tech organizations. We’ve questioned everything from “Why do we even need a dress code?” to “Is wearing a necktie really a test of our coding abilities?” - especially in the Indian heat, where a tie feels less like a fashion statement and more like a noose.

You see, in our world, business formals were once mandatory, even if we never interacted with clients and spent 90% of our time talking to machines (which, by the way, have never complained about our fashion choices). But then, salvation arrived in the form of GPTW surveys - a magical tool that lets employees give feedback on workplace policies. Thanks to relentless feedback, some IT firms scrapped neckties altogether, while others abolished business formals entirely. We fought the good fight, and we won.

Now, you may wonder: Why is this Indian IT guy giving unsolicited fashion advice on a matter of global diplomacy? Simple: You need your own GPTW. Or better yet, let’s call it GPTD - Great Place To Diplomate.

Picture this: a global survey where countries vote on whether dress codes actually matter in diplomatic meetings. Should formal attire be mandatory? Does a leader’s outfit impact international negotiations? What if we classify meetings based on attire? Casual Fridays at the UN, anyone? The possibilities are endless.

Look, I get it, dress code debates pale in comparison to the existential crisis your country is facing. But as someone who has seen a small dress code rebellion shake up the mighty IT industry, I say: Why not challenge outdated diplomatic norms too?

Your attire tells a story of resilience, of war, of the struggles your nation faces daily. Just as our Indian leaders reflect cultural diversity through their clothing, whether it’s Manmohan Singh’s turban or Narendra Modi’s kurta, you, too, wear the reality of your country on your sleeve (literally).

So, if world politics is shifting, why not shift the way we think about diplomatic dress codes? Time for a GPTD survey. Let’s take this debate global!

Best Regards,
An Indian IT Engineer Who Won the Dress Code Battle (and Thinks You Can Too)

Easy Going Life with Robotics, Drone & Driver-less Vehicle

http://urban-mobility.org

Do you remember Hudson River plane crash in 2009? On a fateful day, a pilot named Chesley Sullenberger (nickname, Sully), take extra-ordinary decision to land the flight on the Hudson river after realizing fault in both the engines of carrier & saving lives of 155 people aboard. This was exceptional & historical event praised by whole world. There could be more such events averted if Sully was at pilot seat on another number of flights result into crash. Now, aviation industry could not produce same Sully to get on all pilot seats but could produce a machine with same behavior to act on all of their aero-planes.

Let us apply the same theory, if we replace all human interactions with machine like robots, don't you think it will save number of lives resulting into betterment of human being? Automation in car driving, robotics & drone like technologies become disruption & current buzzword in tech industry. This technologies to stay, grow and will become mainstream of current business processes around the world.

1. Evolution in Business Processes
Robotics will replace human interaction result into less leakage or gap in production cycle and more outcome. This will need to ensure to have more evolved business processes to reach that much of standard.

2. Access to Enhanced Technology
Bringing automation to manual processes will lead to exchange cutting edge technologies with each other that compatible to develop certain automatic process or program.

3. Cost Effective Solution
This is already proved, machine made our life easier than ancient days as we evolve. Take an example of discovering wheel or aero-plane. As technology accessed by more people, it will going to be cheaper resulting effective solution.

4. Focus on Core Business Outcome
Still there are more businesses putting more attention to operational things than core company niche services or product. The robotics or automation will consolidate operational processes hence showing way to focus on code business outcome.

5. Safety & Security
As machines at work, there is more safety to human lives than anything else. After all, ultimate goal of any species on the Earth is to survive.

If you have any other benefits of robotics or automation, please do write in comments. Thanks for reading!

15 Habits You Can Adopt By Setting Up Resolution

This post is complimentary with my earlier post on reasons to have resolution this year. In line with reason, here is the list of habits that can be achieved by setting up resolution. I have tried to order the habits by considering a whole day meaningful with respect to these habits:

1. Be Part of 5am Club
Waking up early has it's own advnatage. You are less mindful hence can plan the day ahead of it's start. This is noticed that all great personalities have habit of getting up early.

2. Respect Your Health
Health is wealth. Hence value your health. Do walk, do run, do join fitness club. 

3. Maintain Healthy Diet
I do not agree with proverb - Eat whatever you want and let food fight inside. Instead eat healthy, green vegetables and less bakery products. Maintain the schedule of your intake.

4. Value Work-Life Balance
Eight hours are enough! Stop spending extra hours in office. Set the clock and spend quality time with family every day.

5. Reading Books
Books are greatest teacher on earth. Carry a book while travelling, hence instead of starring at road for bus or train, spend time by reading your favourite novel. Set a goal to reach certain number of books per quarter or year. There are numerous apps which keep you alert on your reading list.

6. Schedule Social Media Activity
Stop refreshing that social media apps. Set aside an hour or so at the end of the day for social media activity unless and until you have business driven by social media account.

7. Speak Less, Do More
Stop engaging in discussion which has no outcome. Instead engage yourself in activities that will yield results, like learning new skills, reading books, listening to inspirational stories or music.

8. Discuss Idea, Not People
As a human, every time we tend to discuss once success and failure. Pinch yourself, and turn the discussion to idea instead of discussing once shortcomings. This is greatest ability of leaders who discuss more idea than people.

9. Learn Yoga
A gym will give you healthy state of body, however yoga will give you inner peace. Learn yoga or join the club.

10. Cycle Ride
Stop that car or bike for a day and ride bicycle. Alternately mount the bike on your car and drive through the area far from city and enjoy adventure cycling. Do not forgot to carry your safety gear.

11. Turn Off Unnecessary Notification
Check your mobile app settings and turn off unnecessary notifications. Except personal messaging apps, rest apps can be checked during scheduled time like lunch or tea break, instead of getting disturbed during the daily activities.

12. Play Outdoor Games
In this fast pace life, set time aside over alternate day or weekends to play outdoor game like Cricket, Football, Badminton etc.

13. Have Cousin Outing
Cousins are most dearer when it comes to enjoy childhood memories. Keep some summer vacation time dedicated to spend time with them. Plan a tour in advance or have get together at your own farm-house and re-live those childhood moments.

14. Giveback To Society
We are part of such a lively society where we play, learn and grow. Hence be grateful and give back to society. There are number of NGO which ask for your time so that you can digitally literate the people or volunteers for social activities. If you can't give time then you can prefer donating online.

15. Stay Thankful
We are blessed to be here on earth with such a beautiful human culture around. Be thankful for all you have achieved so far.

Hope these 15 habits will enable you to set some key goals as resolution for new year. Wish you all the best!!!

Let us discuss! 
Feedback will be much appreciated!!
Do comment or write to me your resolutions!!!

3 Reasons To Set Resolution For New Year!

Image Courtesy - combiboilersleeds.com

Over the years, I made number of resolutions on very start of every new year. However, the difficult part was to living with those till end of the year. To overcome this shortcoming, I have three ways to achieve my own resolution with simple goal setting and achieving mastery over them.

1. Make it habit with simple goals

In the first few year, it was like deciding on resolutions but nothing in action, resulting into no outcome. I will suggest do not stop, keep up making resolution. It will pump fuel to that particular topic of interest year on year. For example, since I completed my schooling, I am struggling to get hands on my favourite non-fictions, hence I started with at least reading 2-3 book for a year of 2012, which yield to set 25 books this year and I manage to read 15 books. So make it habit to set the resolutions with simple and realistic goal which will give you joy of completing those. Grab the pen and paper, set those out now!

2. Reap the fruits 

Like book reading, the resolution turned to habit now. Hence you can enjoy eternal joy of getting pleasure of that particular habit which you like the most. Once it become habit, you can focus on its consistency which will yield to reap the fruit which you like the most.

3. Stretch your mind

Learn to stretch the mind because famous quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson suggest that, mind once stretched, never return to originality. Set next resolution more challenging than previous year. If you have already turned it to habit then set yourself to acquire new one.

Like the example of improving book reading, a resolution can be getting in good shape (Join the gym or having good diet), developing positive attitude (Learning Yoga or Positive Thinking), learn competitive skills to grow professionally. 

Hope three reasons will enable you to set the resolution to keep the spark of your likes alive forever! This will boost your confidence as you are getting edge over your strengths. All the best!!!

2016 - Year at glance!

I (We) am (are) not that much Facebook frenzy (Are you kidding me? I spend most of my mobile-data by just scrolling down over your posts) so that FB's algorithm can make my (our) galvanising video of our activities of year-2016 hence this post 😎

Why we? Because I don't want media to surround me when I return to India, it was so media-frenzy statement, wasn't it? Wish I was celebrity 😉 Anyway, joke apart! 😊 

So, year 2016 was of resolutions, few to make and more to break,
It was year of being outsider,
It was year of acquiring new friends,
It was year to get surrounded by friends,
It was year of experiencing distance friendship (Distance Friendship? 😮 Am I coined new relationship?),
It was year of going blind, but not deaf.

There was lot of outlook on my last 365 days of journey and hope upcoming year will unleash avenue of new opportunities, learning and adventure. Fingers crossed at least until I get hitched! 💞

I wish each one of you found either opportunities or learning (Term - Failure is not in my dictionary 😉) in lasting impressive year of 2016, and wish new year fortune has already started showing horizon of new hope, success and happiness to you! Wish you all the very best and Happy New Year 2017!

Wish you all have fantastic vacation! Take care and travel safe!

Note - You can re-read the post by skipping text in brackets.😎

Surrounded by Quote, Nothing in Values!

Photo courtesy - http://quotesgram.com/ 

This is another post while my stay abroad, away from motherland India. As I already mentioned in my earlier posts, it need deep insight to get out of oneself to understand the basic problems within. Take an example of net neutrality, intolerance, Dadri lynching or recent trending topic - demonetisation; the level of thinking reflect on social media in form of trends. Mostly, any foreigner need visa to enter country to experience culture but how about people judging based upon border-less virtual media like Facebook or twitter.

At any given moment, every alternate person in India connected to social media either direct or indirect mean. Hence, by some mean, individual's every activity (stone pelting in public rally) contribute towards trend hence reflecting country's thought leadership. However, there are few paid trends for marketing or even for political benefits but moreover, again those driven by common citizen like us in form of followers.

Before this blog loose it's core context in this age of short lived messages, let me jump to the topic. So, let us consider any communication tool exist at Social media, we receive at least one quote on any given day. And, if you are subscriber to groups on direct messaging apps, then there is no limit. A quote can be any 'good thought' or 'sayings' by global leaders. Now, the question is, how many of us influence by such quotes? How many of us really read intent of quote and follow the same? Few or none?

I will say none. Because, if quote make change in society then films must do revolution. Ultimately, a film has more visual representation of values than any other media. Anyway, we need more value penetration in society than ever we did. The impact of social media is so huge that age has come where lack of values will mislead communication. And this is already reflected when we send certain message to certain number of users to get some fake unique feutures or discounts. Apart from that we must restrict our-self to indulge in any such on-line or off-line activity which will hurt overall image of Mother India.

We already surrounded by good quotes only need is to absorb the values out of it!!!

War: Need of an hour

A file photo from Indo-Pak War - 1965

If someone ask you, what you will prefer sudden death or daily pain which will last long with multiplying injuries until your death. Off course, we will prefer sudden death, at least me. Now a days, who like to get pain equivalent to death everyday in so fast pace life?

The proxy-war between India & Pak has lot to learn. It has been 60 odd years and we are still killing or get killed on the name of terrorism. Bilateral dialogues spoiled, a great valley of Kashmir which is equivalent to heaven has only wake up with scream of bullets everyday. Starting from China, Pakistan to country like Myanmar, everyone chasing land, taking each others life, blocking each others roads and very recent threat to water resources.

I have been in Europe for a while now. I visited Edinburgh, London and few great war memorials. What I learn is that before forming European Union they fought two great wars, have number of civil wars. Before wiping boundaries between countries, they cut each other's throats, they trashed each other's women, children. They revenge each other by every possible way.  They shed every drop of blood.

Another best example is of Japan. Until they get attacked with Nuke which killed lakh of civilians, Japan keep empowering their military will. Now their world is changed. They are only speaking about technology, development and economical growth. They understand, an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.

On similar ground, what major civil war witnessed by South Asia. For more than 150 years, they looted by British. Post freedom, we had 2-3 wars between military establishment where we had hardly seen throats cutting of civilians (Indo-Pak partition is exception where train of death bodies of civilians exchanged). South Asia is so much lucky that they never get directly involved in world war. People of South Asia never seen women, children abused or blood of their own flowed next to them. But the recent past history of fight between each other really suggest a want for a war. A war that teaches an importance of losing nearer, an importance of peace, an importance of having good neighbours, importance of shared capabilities, ultimately it will teach power of being united.

There is famous quote by Einstein states, Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding. If Indo-Pak-China never read essence of this quote then they must fought and learn the lesson by hard way!

Note: For historical reference, this article has been written when Indo-Pak relation tensed in light of terrorist attack on Indian Soil at Uri, a military base at LOC.

Reference - Great wars represents World War I & II

अपनी मिट्टी दि खुषबु

Courtesy - IndianExpress

Some pictures need to see from certain distance to understand exact meaning out of it. Something similar happened to South Asian who visited Europe in recent past. 

Jet Airways flight 9W122 landed me at Heathrow, London airport. A cool breeze made me to head towards taxi before I freeze. After few miles of drive out of London, a taxi driver asked me about my whereabouts. I shared a quick journey from India I did so far. As I mentioned that I belongs to India, I found a taxi driver so happily said he belongs to Pakistan. As he was about to say something more about himself, I interrupted and said, but you were Indian and now turned Pakistani, resulting both busted in the laughter. He nodded and said yes, his grandfather belongs to Utter Pradesh and had only chance to visit India in his childhood. He seemed around age of 45. He shared his schooling in Pakistan and his journey to London at his early 20's. After spending more than 20 years in UK, he confessed that 'अपनी मिट्टी दि खुषबु ही अलग है' meaning 'No country equals feeling of being at motherland'.

The sudden comment on feeling of motherland shivered me more than freezing weather outside. While our conversation during hour long journey, I lived his 45 years through his share of experience. Till then, we reached at famous conversation on bitter relation of Indo-Pak. Meanwhile we reached at hotel when he said, 'How many wars we (Indo-Pak) had as we are still fighting with each other which has no end. Visit European countries, they had two world wars and still they are together as Europe Union!!!'

Clean India: Make in Failure

In 2011, I remember, when I worked in Mumbai, one of my colleague used to throw waste like paper wrap, cigarette throat on road instead of keeping it in bag's side-pocket to dump it when we found dust-bin. In Mumbai, you can spot the dust bin at local station at least. When I asked why he throw garbage everywhere then he said then why we are paying tax? what will BMC sweeper worker do? That time, I never indulge into explaining him how saved money on sweeping can be invested to any other development cause in country.

Then time changed over the period. New government come into power with dedicated campaign on 'Clean India' where celebrity sweeping streets and places around their residence. As per my knowledge, it was the campaign to get into sweeping activity and appeal another friend to join in. In such a way it was designated to form chain effect in whole country. But I don't know where this chain reaction stumbled. And now, everyday I read bunch of tweets from Punekar's on garbage issues at Shaniwar wada, a national heritage in Pune city.

So far, citizen under impression that government taking effective steps to educate countrymen on importance of cleanliness. However dream of 'Clean India' seems like remain dream when government imposed 0.5% 'Swachh Bharat Cess' as addition to service tax. In wake up of this decision, my colleague from Mumbai posted on his social media account which indicates he has birth right to throw garbage anywhere as he is paying dedicated tax to clean it.

Government should invest on educating people instead of mere display of policies. Otherwise learn from this anonymous who quoted it right:

"He who opens a school, closes a prison"

Jai Hind!!!

Visit Kerala - Virtually with no cost

Visit Kerala - Bid Wars

Hurry up!!! The Kerala Tourism department bring opportunity to visit Kerala at virtually no cost. A offerings aimed at domestic travelers. If you are fan of Kerala Tourism at Facebook then you can turn this opportunity to win trip to Kerala with almost no cost.

To enable this opportunity, you have to participate at an online bidding game via dedicated Facebook app. 

The details of the game are as follows:

• Tour packages provided by accredited service providers of Kerala Tourism will be uploaded on a dedicated Facebook app. 
• Facebook fans of Kerala Tourism can bid for the package.
• The bid is open only for a certain amount of time
• The person with the lowest unique bid will be awarded the package

 For example:

A person 'X' bids for a package worth Rs. 20,000 with Rs. 10. The package will be awarded to him if no other bid is made which is less than or equal to Rs. 10.

• The person who won the package will be directly paying the bid amount to the service provider who gave that package.

An Android based application has also being developed which will allow the Kerala Tourism Facebook fans to bid for packages right from their mobile devices. 

Kerala Bid Wars: Android App

Also visit: Short vacation to Kerala vai Kanyakumari

Free Internet: Need of Bharat vs India

Free Internet

Before jump on the difference between Bharat and India, let me explain why this post. This post was written after I drove on highway late night to my home which typically represent village on the wake of Mark Zuckerberg's visit to India to host Town Hall which definitely campaign for Free Internet.

So, after finishing office-work in Pune late evening, I drove to my home for the weekend, which is around 320km away from Pune. I felt hungry and started searching for a hotel on the road side I was driving. As hunger grows, my eyes started searching at both the side of highway now. Meanwhile, I unlock my mobile screen, just to see all the food chain apps who are at finger tip away to serve are no longer at reach. Whole journey I did with empty stomach, which was shouting load inside saying, I need food.

Here, one can realize that if basic needs of human being i.e. food, clothing and shelter never fulfilled then there is no use of internet. 

As history witnessed, earlier Microsoft dominated the world and now Facebook doing the same, so question raises when India get benefited which has huge pool of service industry which is failing to turn into giants like Microsoft or Facebook. Apart from that, newly formed government playing role of agent to sell product of these foreign brands instead of asking them to contribute towards accessibility of the basic needs of Bharat instead of India. Here these two worlds used specifically to differentiate between the larger portion of population which daily struggle for basic needs and another smaller portion only seeing internet is only opportunity to sustain basic needs.

I will say there is no need of free internet as I scared, we will again remain hungry even it's free. So let us keep it in this way, even if someone trying to provide free internet, government should turn that opportunity to bring equal access to Food, Clothing and Shelter using so called "Free Internet". Because, famous idiom states that there is no free food in this world. A citizen of Bharat definitely appraise government if they negotiate on it's own term to benefit from Free-Internet instead of getting trapped in the net of foreign brands.

Also visit: One Year of Modi Government: Did you know?

Reason to be part of Ganesh Festival in Pune

Via Google+ Photos of MaddyJoshilkar

• Origin of Ganesh Utsav

When it comes to celebrating Ganesh Festival, first names comes forward is 'Pune'. Lokmanya Tilak, an originator of festival started celebrating Ganesh Festival at Pune during freedom fight against British which ultimately become weapon to gather people and educate on importance of having freedom. It become landmark to city like Pune to get identity on global map while celebrating Ganesh festival at any corner of this world now.

• Traditional Celebration of Ganesh Festival

Unlike any other city, average size of Ganesh idol is small in Pune. Even Ganesh idols at pandal are comparatively small in size. Most of the pandals are part of Ganesh temple at nearby. Hence they prefer to use idol at temple during this festival season and host that same statue in the temple instead of immersion in the water. Collectively this unique tradition followed in Pune only.

• Dhol Taashe Pathak*

There is no comparison with Pune when it comes to  'Dhol Taahe Pathak'. Most of the pandal prefer 'Dhol Taashe Pathak' over Dolby, these 'Pathak' practice over months prior to Ganesh festival. It is shivering moment to watch hundreds of 'Dhol Taashe Pathak' bang the drum in one rhythm.

• Well organised immersion procession

Pune's Ganesh immersion procession is recognized for well organized despite of help of Police force, NGO and volunteers. Watching systematic procession of Ganesh immersion at Laxmi Road at full day light is truly magnificent experience. 

Photos and videos of Ganesh immersion procession at Laxmi Road, Pune

Hope, these reasons enable you to be part of Ganesh Festival this year at Pune

Thanks for reading!

* Dhol-Tashe Pathak - It is a group of people playing Dhol with equal rhythm

Anger: A vicious cycle

Since my childhood I heard the term 'Kutte ne kaata hai kya?' (meaning 'Have dog bitten you?') everywhere when people started with heated arguments or listen to disappointing comments from someone. I always thought how do dog bite make someone to behave weird or step down to arguments. The story here I am going to write make perfect sense to get real meaning of the phrase. Ultimately it explains how anger is part of vicious cycle.

One fine day, a person who hold key position, for say, a company owner, going to office early in the morning. A stray dog running side way attacked and bite the person without any reason. This incident in the morning itself made the person so angry. After reaching office, just to get away with anger, he called fellow reporting executive and explained him how yesterday's client meeting went wrong with extra anger (given by dog) which was so unexpected for the executive in the morning itself.

To take immediate action (on anger), an angry executive called project director in line to dumped all the anger he received from company boss. Now it's Project Director's turn to dump all the anger he received to his fellow team mates. In this way, till the end of the day, all the anger leverage from company's boss to team working at the bottom.

Now an employee, at bottom in the company hierarchy was so angry. While walking out of the office he found a peon cleaning the floor which made floor slippery. Taking this opportunity, a team member dumped his anger on the peon by arguing that he should clean office after office hours (he totally forgot that it's 24*7 working office). Now peon was in anger state, as he is last in the organization hierarchy, he only found his wife at home to dump all his anger. Till this anger passing from one person to another, a day was ended.

Another day, a wife of peon was in furious over clashes with husband last night. A wife who everyday prepare her kid for school was so angry that she slapped the kid and ask his to prepare on his own onward. A kid is not aware about weird behavior of mother but of course, it got angry as kid is human being too. While going to school, kid saw a stray dog, just take revenge of anger it has, kid took the stone and throw it towards dog, that same dog bite the boss in the morning.

Thanks you for reading this post. I hope my posts on lifestyle bring little change in your life to make this world beautiful place. Your comment are my appreciation. Do comment!

Read my other posts:

Temper Management & Our Lifestyle

Jai Ho

Last night bed story

The Sinhgad - Nearby get away to Pune

Fort - Sinhgad entry gate

Route: Pune - Sinhgad Road - > Waraje -> Khadakwasala -> Sinhgad Fort -> Khadakwasala -> Waraje -> Sinhgad Road - Pune

Travel Distance: Approximate 30km

Travel Time: Sunday, 6am – 11am

Best Period to Visit: Monsoon season

This is well known fact that people have no importance the things they have nearby. It applied to me as well. Wen I was in Mumbai, I travel to Pune and visited this marvelous fort in 2011. However, now I am in Pune for almost last four years but miss the visit to famous fort in close vicinity of my residence in Pune.

Journey:

Always keep in mind that, this place has crowded weekend, hence I planned my journey early in the morning. A sport shoes with no backpack is more than enough to have round trip to the fort. 

Khadakwasala Backwater

I kick off the bike and traveled through Sinhgad road via Khadkwasala water dam to reach Sinhgad fort around 7am. Before entering to ghat to Sinhgad, you have to pay Rs. 10/- as entry fee for bike. This fee contributed towards forest conservation initiative by government. I found few cars and bikes in parking area indicating that people started arriving at the fort. 

Reaching Sinhgad Fort:

When I parked my bike, I see valley of green forest all around the fort with small mountains surrounding complete fort. All the way showing geographical importance of fort in the history and why every empire tried to conquer this fort. Read more about Battles at Sinhgad. 

Snake Centers at Sinhgad Fort

Starting from parking place till the first gate (Pune Darawaja) of fort, you can witness mouth-watering kairy (mango slice), boiled groundnuts, onion pakoda etc. If you reach early in the morning, you will find less crowd to enjoy the fort.

Experience at Fort:

When I reach fort, it has numerous places to visit like wind-point, Lokamanya Tilak residence. I really like wind point where I enjoyed a lot. Wind blow is so I high that you barely manage to open your eyes. Still I captured the video to show wind flow at the wind-point. Then I enjoyed little time to capture some moments on phone camera. Take look of the photos at The Sinhgad.

Snack-center at Sinhgad

Till I finish the visit to Sinhgad fort, I reached an snack-center to have onion pakoda and curd followed by tea. It was almost 10.30am and fog at the place still giving feeling of early morning.

Returning to Pune:

I stepped down toward parking area, and started return journey. Meanwhile I found crowd started gathering at fort as parking lot was full with vehicles. A youth shouting slogans about Great Maratha Warrior Shivaji Maharaj bringing live spirit at the place. I return home with another break on my way to home at Khadakwasal water dam which was again another most visited place by Punekar during this season.

Till this post goes live, you may have come across video The Sinhgad showing glimpse of the fort.

Thanks for reading this post. Hope your comments will keep encouraging me.

Subscribe at my YouTube channel: Maddy Joshilkar 

Read my travel experience:

Visit Bandra-Worli Sea Link - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/06/mesmerizing-sea-link.html

Visit Lohgad - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/05/bike-ride-lonavala-via-lohgad.html

Visit Keral & Kanyakumari - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2014/11/short-vacation-to-keral-via-kanyakumari.html

Palasdhari Waterfall: Expect unexpected

Route: Pune - Chandani Chowk - > Lonavala -> Khopoli -> Palasdhari -> Khopoli -> Lonavala -> Chandani Chowk - Pune

Travel Distance: Approximate 164km

Travel Time: Sunday, 7am – 4pm

Best Period to Visit: Prefer heavy rain day in Monsoon season

I heard about waterfall - Palasdhari, a lot of time, but did not get any footprint of this landmark on internet. However, as a travel opportunist, I decided to visit this waterfall and experience on my own.

Journey:

I kick off my bike from Chandani Chowk, Pune and drove straight to Lonavala at 6.00 am IST via Old Pune-Mumbai Highway. As a frequent travel, early morning in the Lonavala never disappoint in any season. I visited Lonavala almost in every season, although I visit Mumbai on my bike through this route almost every month. It was Sunday and of course as expected people start hitting this place in this season without miss.

I was very luck to land early (at 6.45 am IST) in the morning to witness movements of clouds and easy breath making me relishing. Spending almost an hour, I started my next journey to most curious place to me i.e. Palasdhari.

Reaching Palasdhari:

As a traveler, I experienced technology always at help when you going to a place that less traveled. I searched for Palasdhari on Google Map and started moving to the destination via Khopoli. At 2-3 km after crossing Khopoli on highway, you can find road to Karjat. Famously called 'Karjat-Khopoli Road', where you can skip the highway and prefer this road as shortcut to Karjat.

Experience at Palasdhari:

Palasdhari is one of the train station as well. As I reached the spot, I saw huge gathering of people moving in and out the waterfall location which is just at walkable distance of 15-20 min from Palasdari Station or Karjat-Khopoli road. I drove my bike till in reaches I found no road towards waterfall. I parked my bike and started walking.

Till I reach the spot, I realized that most of the crowd is belongs to Mumabi, citing Sunday, the road was overflowing with crowd as well. When I reach at the waterfall, I got completely disappointed as it was very small waterfall where water is falling from merely 15-20 ft.

I never dare to step down under this waterfall as there was very little space and crowd was crazy to get under the water. When I was there for some time, one of the guy approached me asked, "Why you are so dry?". I said "Are you Mumbaikar?". He nodded then I replied "You can enjoy (everywhere), I am going back.". I believe, I visited wrong time as there was no rain since last couple of days. So I advice to visit this place during heavy rain days to avoid displeasure like me.

I spent another 30-45 min and come back to the place where I parked my bike. I sat for few minutes to experience the green field around which was more mesmerizing than the waterfall. It was 1.00 pm when I reached Khopoli for lunch.

Returning Pune:

After having lunch, I started my journey back to the Pune via Lonavala. It was sunny day still Khandala-Lonavala section was so crowded showing effects of weekend. I reached Chandani chowk by 4.00 pm IST.

Read my travel experience:

Visit Bandra-Worli Sea Link - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/06/mesmerizing-sea-link.html

Visit Lohgad - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/05/bike-ride-lonavala-via-lohgad.html

Visit Keral & Kanyakumari - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2014/11/short-vacation-to-keral-via-kanyakumari.html

Aga Khan Palace: Revisiting Gandhi

Agakhan Palace - Pune

Mahatma Gandhi, a father of Nation, who influencing the world with message of peace and non-violence. Aga Khan Palace is the place where he spend time when he held captive during 'Quit India Movement' between 10-Aug, 1942 and 06-May, 1944. He was accompanied by Miraben, Shri. Pyarelal Nayar, Smt. Sarojani Naidu, Dr. Sushila Nayar and his Personal Secretory Mahadevbhai Desai.

Some Milestones in Mahatmaji's Life at Aga Khan Palace

About Aga Khan Palace:

The Aga Khan Palace also known as Gandhi National Memorial was build in year 1892, by the 3rd Agakhan, Sultan Mohammod Shah Agakhan who was the 48th spiritual head of the Khoja Ismaili religion. He constructed this place intended to be as source of employment for the feminine-struct villagers in the surrounding area. It took five years to complete the work of this palace and one thousand people were employed and they were given full heartened wages for their livelihood and 12 lakhs was the cost. 

In the year 1969, Prince Karim EI Husseinim Agakhan IV, came to India and donated this palace with surrounding land to the Government of India Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, New Delhi in memory of Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy.

Mahadevbhai Desai - Death of Gandhiji's son:

Mahadevbhai Desai was personal secretory of Gandhiji who served him nearly 35 years without any rest. Within a week of detention at Aga Khan palace, on the morning of 15-Aug, 1942, he died of heart attach. One of the information slate at the memorial states that, Gandhi stood by the bedside calling out, 'Mahadev, Mahadev'. Inanguish, Gandhi Said, "If he only opens his eyes and looks at me once he won't go". Mahadev never opened eyes.

With trembling hands, Gandhiji washed the body and annointed it with sandal and decorated it with flowers whispering, 'Mahadev, I thought you would do this for me. Now I have to do it for you". The authorities had brought lorry with police and Brahmins. They wanted to take away the body and cremate it. But Gandhi would not have it. "No father can hand over the body of his son to Strangers", he said, "Mahadev was more than a son to me. I would like to perform his last rites myself. But if the Government can not take me outside, I am prepared to hand it over to friends, but I won't hand it over to the jail officials".

Gandhiji sat thinking for a moment then he said, "I do not want to make the death of my son into political issue. If government will not allow me to go out and cremate the body nor hand it over to friends, I will have the cremation here." Ultimately, the government yielded. In the afternoon a mournful little procession followed Mahadev's bier the the improvised burning ground in a corner of the palace grounds. Gandhi followed the body with a staff in one hand and a pot of fire in the other. After a short religious ceremony, Gandhi lighted the pyre. And soon there was a blaze. "Mahadev was lived up to the 'Do or Die' mantra" he asserted. "The sacrifice can not but hasten the day of India's deliverance".

Samadhi of Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadevbhai Desai

About Kasturba Gandhi:

Kasturba Gandhi breathed her last after a prolonged illness on 'Mahashivratri', 22-Feb, 1944. Kasturba cremated near the place where Mahadevbhai Desai cremated. Palace hold samadhi of both of these in the surrounding area. Beside these Samadhi, you can find statue where ashes of Mahatma Gandhi rest.

Statue of Kasturba and Mahatma Gandhi

The palace preserve the thing Gandhiji used during his stay in the palace. It has dining table, Charakha (domestic spinning wheel used chiefly for cotton), cloths etc. My photo album does not have photos of these things as I want you to visit and experience on your own.

Read post on my travel experience:

Visit Bandra-Worli Sea Link - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/06/mesmerizing-sea-link.html

Visit Lohgad - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/05/bike-ride-lonavala-via-lohgad.html

Visit Keral & Kanyakumari - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2014/11/short-vacation-to-keral-via-kanyakumari.html