Memory of a Warrior - Shinde Chhatri — Archived from October 2008
Few people still notice that along with the phenomenal growth that Pune is seeing in recent times, it is also losing its own cultural identity. Migrant residents are fine, and participating in their traditional customs is a great way to make Pune a glorious melting pot of cultures. But when all that the migrants contribute is one more motorcycle or car, and another potential customer to the mall-culture of our modern times, it is cause for serious worry. Quaint neighbourhoods of colonial bungalows have long since given way to multi-storey apartments. But there is yet so much to see in this beautiful Punyanagari. And I wish people would wake up from their boring lives and taste some of the zing this city offers.
I personally endeavour to break out of this mould of an uncaring migrant for as long as I am here. And towards this goal, Shinde Chhatri had been in my mark for the longest time. I just kept postponing it because it is quite far from home and no information about its precise location was available anywhere. But one fine evening a couple of weeks ago, Ami and I finally took off for this place. I had pushed my bicycle through the Prince of Wales Drive once earlier when the tyre on my bicycle went flat on our ride to Empress Gardens. With that destination in mind, I went off with some trepidation. Thankfully, the few rickshaw drivers in the vicinity were helpful and quickly put me on the right path.
This picture speaks of the few moments we were able to spend in its delightful surroundings.