Stopping for a Breather
As each day passes, I feel saddened as witness the slow strangulation of the city I now call home. Where once tree-lined avenues were a welcome respite in the summer months, there now lie barren sidewalks, with not a sign of shade anywhere as the trees are carted away in a hundred pieces. Narrow quiet by-lanes are widened to ease the flow of daily increasing vehicles. Malls, posh hotels and luxury apartments are creeping into spaces meant of open, public use. And the spirit of Pune dies a bit every day.
Spots like Sambhaji Park then, in the busy locality of J.M.Road are welcome oases for the smoke weary traveller. And thankfully, many old timers treasure them and are quick to raise their voice against any kind of encroachment into these remaining lungs of the city. It also helps that the park management continue to keep the spot in the public eye with frequent botanical exhibitions. They events a welcome diversion from the usual weekend routine and a chance to get closer to the world as it was always meant to be.