Hon. DGP Sir & Hope of a Common Man!

 

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“Police officers know that each time they put on their uniform, they are taking on risks to protect others’…  Mike Parson.

“People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because some rough men with badge stand ready to face violence on their behalf.”...  George Orwell.

 

Michael Lynn Parson is an American politician and former law enforcement officer &

Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic whose work is marked by lucid prose, awareness of social injustice, opposition to totalitarianism and outspoken support of democratic socialism. Though going by the present scene, Orwell’s & Mike’s above words, many of our countrymen won’t agree with, as read any newspaper & most of the time men with the badge make for the wrong reasons only! Either the news is about police making innocent people victim or unnecessary use of muscle power while interrogation or some cop getting caught for accepting bribe for not filing FIR (a key word for policing i.e. first investigation report) & if not least then some constable’s suicide due to work pressure. Interesting isn’t it, as on one side police dept’s communication or dialogue with society (read common man) is hailed by most & on other side police dept is said to be under extreme work pressure (read political as well media pressure) as well less man-power & poor infrastructure which includes inadequate funding for police force to below-par infrastructure which includes basic needs like housing provisions! Something somewhere is going terribly wrong with police dept if not with men but the system we call police, isn’t it the outcome any wise man can make out from all such scenes? And it’s unfortunate that it’s the wise men which are most endangered species especially in the jungle named govt & on all such background we have got a new Director General of Police (read DG) which many believes is from the endangered species i.e. wise, level headed & straight forward (read under the line plz)!

 

Yes, I am referring to Mr. Sadanand Date, IPS , who has taken charge as new head of police force of our State where the Chief minister himself handles home dept which controls police force & that’s why work of police dept. is more under radar of the media as well from the society & yes, politicians too! Because, if in any classroom a particular subject of a particular class is being taught by Principal of the school, obviously all will expect the students must excel in that particular subject, same is the analogy at present with police dept, right? And maybe that’s why the present CM must have got this particular man as head of  the class room & that's a big burden or responsibility, especially looking at the present status of the class (no offence, just sharing people’s opinion). And I thought to write or say share my views (read as expectations) to Hon DG sir as a businessman & more as a common citizen about the Khaki & I handle police committee at CREDAI (plz google) for last fifteen years, which is one added reason I have some exposure with khaki, rather much more than most people & I am sure all these people aren’t sorry for that, lol!

Dear DG Sir, first of all, a very Happy & Green new year to you & though our famous Bollywood movie dialogue says, “Policewalose, dosti bhi achhi nahi, na hi dushmani,” yet I have some good friends of which I am proud of, in Khaki & about later part, I have earned wisdom, enough not to rub law ever on the wrong side; is all I will say! Though your name is known to most of the people as a hero in 26 /11's Mumbai attack but very few know that with the tag of hero comes the burden of responsibility & that one has to bear individually only, even if you have a force under your command to follow your every word!

 

Sir, do you know what is the most basic & simple expectation of any citizen (read as law abiding citizen) from police; they just want a patient hearing from police more that getting justice & shooting criminals & for that they need to confide in the khaki that the wardi will listen to them, that confidence is missing at present, is a bitter fact, which I want to share with you! And this also I know (thanks to my many good frds in dept), the biggest challenge in front of police is our ever-growing population & disparity amongst this population as five percent people have everything & rest all have nothing, which is bound to raise the tendency of crime! And thanks to social media (and free net pack schemes)  now every information is available to everybody, what’s latest shoe or watch, or car in the market & who is having it, it’s all on screen. Add in that showoff by the “we have latest” category rich & all this is bound to make those who don't have anything & have enough time at hand but no job. This is major problem for police force as gone are the days of organized crime, those guys have either surrendered or dead or moved to white collar crimes & it’s this young (minors in most cases) class who wants to become rich by using easiest means i.e. crime & this crime can’t be dealt with bullet or even danda ( a times yes) but by communication & awareness which also is a full time job & for that present police force is either insufficient or not trained properly is my blunt opinion! The old schools will be going to laugh & tag me as one more activist or socialist but I too am on other side of fifty & I too am a hard core old-schoolian but times have changed is a fact which if we ignore then we only will be facing the heat of it, rather we are already facing it!

 

Open any newspaper on any day & read the crime news, the professional criminals have switched to safer & polished crimes such as financial crimes or cyber-crimes but it’s the immature ones (minors) who are involved in physical assaults, even killings & bhaigiri, isn’t it a living proof of changed tendencies of crimes & the criminals, creating more challenges in-front of the police force? As the professional criminals are unseen & the unprofessional ones are on the surface & use of danda on them is going to only worsen their future as they think crime is the way to glory, a very tricky situation for the police force, this is! And on top of it our rulers (read as politicians) who are supposedly leading the society by their own behavior as well by making policies which will make the society law abiding but here also darkness is looming over the entire society! As it’s the so-called leaders (netas, karykartas or elected members) who drive with black glassed SUV’s, park them on any where they feel, break signal & run processions/ rallies without any permission blocking traffic, disturbing peace & common man watches all this mess helplessly while the younger genre watches this with admiration & thinks with such muscle power they are allowed to go above the law & for that crime, is the right school; this is real challenge for the police today! Here, in the Pune city, police are shamed for enforcing basic civic things like helmet wearing which is for own safety of the society but the political bosses warn police not to enforce it. At the same time if you want what society thinks about the law then do wait at any traffic signal & experience by yourself, from middle aged people to housewives to even grandparents, nobody follows signals & jumps red signal, in many cases even if a traffic warden is standing at the signal! By me this is a dangerous sign for any law enforcement system as this is a very basic thing showing the attitude of the entire society i.e. respecting traffic rules! Because, if they are blatantly breaking the traffic rules means given a choice, they will break any rule becoming party to crime & this is possible because either they don’t respect law or they know, nothing will happen even if they break the law, this attitude of the society is actually a warning sign for the entire Khaki, is what I wanted to share with you!

 

And then the youngsters joining police-force are also coming from this changed society only, so how can we expect respect for law from them as that’s not in their DNA any more, is my reason to write to you. And outcome is, those who follow law or want to live by law they are actually afraid to go to any police station as they think there is no use because police force is helpless & that’s why many people doesn’t even go to register a crime unless dire need is there for doing so is a sad fact which nobody accepts or turns a blind eye! On the other side,  those who are criminals & must be afraid of the police, are no more afraid to go to the police station as they believe they can manage their way out today or tomorrow!  I know, a police man’s job isn’t to decide who is guilty or not as that’s judiciary’s job but to help judicially to nab & punish the guilty is possible only with the support of police man & somehow common man doesn’t feel that the khaki is doing it right way or is fit enough to do that, whatsoever the reasons may be, this is the reason I wanted to write you! May it be a businessman having an industry or a paw bhaji stall person, today doing business here, in any form is difficult not because of the competition or govt policies but because of the lack of support from the law enforcement system which we call police & if you think I am lying, then you yourself can go on the street, speak with people (without revealing your identity) & check! If my words are wrong then  forget this letter (if it reaches you in the first place, lol) but if you find it true, then your challenge has become tougher as I don’t expect change overnight but at least you can start from somewhere about it, is my reason to write to you. And because personnels like you are actually a form of Hope in your own way for the entire society & system! I understand the other side of the coin also, as poor infrastructure, inadequate salaries (in compare to the duty expected) from the police force & political interference are something not even the DGP can do anything alone but again, they will be there always & more, so you have to find a way which sure you will! Sir, Police are called as Force because of the power it has to do things which other departments or segments of society are not allowed, & ever power comes with responsibility (Spiderman) & here the responsibility is of millions of people who has only one power with them & that is power of home. This may sound dramatic but this is the fact as most people think this force named police either doesn’t exist or works only for a select few & they are stopping to believe in this force & that’s your biggest challenge i.e. making the masses to believe in the Police named Force!

To conclude, I will share something very personal memory, in my childhood days in a small town named Khamgaon in Vidarbha,  when we used to see a constable which is lowermost link of the entire police force’s chain, we used to wave at him & shout with a salute “Police Kaka, Jay Hind” & the constable too used to return our salute smilingly by saying “Jay Hind,”! DGP Sir, I wish to see today’s kids also doing saluting thing for the constables on the road; as that saluting was not mere act of courtesy, it was act of affection, respect & love of the society, for the khaki, adios with this note! Needless to say, as an individual, & organization, will be happy to assist in any possible way if you feel & need, Jay Hind!

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Sanjay Deshpande 

smd156812@gmail.com

Sanjeevani Dev.

Please view my sharing about finding a Right Home/ Office in Pune, at YouTube link below & share if liked...

 

https://youtu.be/27j3I3rwGPQ?si=-ODYBxVI2Dl_C345

 

Please do visit my blog links below to read about real estate & home buying! 

https://visonoflife.blogspot.com/2025/12/pune-real-estate-in-2026.html

https://jivnachadrushtikon.blogspot.com/2024/12/2025.html

Creating Togetherness; team Sanjeevani Way (Click link below) 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/albums/72157627904681345

For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below

www.punecorporation.org

Think Green, Think Life

www.sanjeevanideve.com / https://junglebelles.in/

Winter Magic of Tadoba & UKWS!

 

                                                            

                                                          

                                    

                                                         

                                    

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The time I spent in the jungles held unalloyed happiness for me, and that happiness I would now gladly share. My happiness, I believe, resulted from the fact that all wildlife is happy in its natural surroundings. In nature there is no sorrow, and no repining.” … Jim Corbett

If a man goes to the forest & comes back unhappy then he is a fool for sure… Me

Well, first sharing of the New Year & it’s about Tadoba (I can feel the oh no, not again, of some readers) & Umred Karhandla i.e. UKWS but let me be honest, it’s just a coincidence as I had been to both these places in late November & early December but few other issues took space of my mind & this sharing got delayed. But the best part is I am happy (at least for myself) that the first sharing of the New Year is for my most favourite subject, wildlife & Tadoba. Of late even I myself questioned (to myself), am I obsessed with Tadoba, & answer may be somewhere in between yes U no (sorry, elections & tamasha going on so the answer is bit political) but so much my each trip here surprises me with something new that next time I visit for something more, to learn to experience, so be it, why to waste words in defining what I feel, better I use it for what I experienced there, right?

Ohk, I had been to Tadoba in this time of year i.e. peak winter, December nearly nine years back & I hate cold so rarely after that I visited central Indian forests in Dec/ Jan as winters are harsh & frankly the forest safaris become more of torture than enjoyment for a cold hater like me & fault is mine not of nature! On top of it this year’s winter is like a real winter after decades for sure as in Pune I have never witnessed mercury roaming around ten degrees for more than two months & more importantly dry air with clear sky, that was the reason to dare to visit tadoba even in December! As last many trips which ever month I have been here it rained & I agree forest looks most beautiful in winters but combination of cold & rain I can’t sustain but I looked at sky & thought this is the time to explore Tadoba in the winters & there I was, on those dusty red roads with grass & bamboo changing colours from greens to yellows, with crisp cool air & clear blue sky above! Before we start, a disclaimer for those who want to visit Tadoba to see a tiger or tigers! In Tadoba you have maximum chance of sighting a tiger because the conservation efforts of the forest dept along with the people living around tadoba has made the term coexistence of humans with wild life, a reality & that’s why tigers here are much comfortable in the presence of tourists & not shy unlike many other forests. At the same time the forest, especially in the core, has wider roads & patches of open grass which in summer gets dried up so the tigers can be seen much more easily than other evergreen forests. But two important aspects, unlike any tourist destination or even project tigers, Tadoba is much more in demand so safari bookings are a big & most important thing & needed to be done well in advance. Many of my friends call me today (for e.g.) & ask if they can go to Tadoba by next weekend & answer is a yes, they can go to tadoba on any weekend but safari bookings are always full nearly ninety days before, so plan the trip accordingly. At the same time safari permit (ticket) is non-refundable as well as non-transferable, you can add names in it but can’t change the names, so be very clear about all these facts. Another aspect is what you see the posts of people on Insta, FB or on WhatsApp groups about the tiger sightings is present sightings, & when you visit Tadoba which can be three months later the scene may be different as it’s not a zoo but a real forest where tigers grow, move as per their needs (not mood) so visit with all these aspects in mind as then you will enjoy the Tadoba as a forest more!

Another aspect of Tadoba is, there are zones & then there is core & buffer & good thing is, tigers are everywhere but in core the expand is large & the road network is lesser, in compare to the area so chances of tiger sighting in core is actually less than that in buffers which many people doesn’t understand or realize. As well the spread of core is also big so if you are entering from Kolara gate (entry of core) the Moharli gate (another entry point) is on opposite side & with speed limits on vehicles it takes more than one hour just to reach other  gate if you know that tigers is being sighted on this side & probably till you reach at the spot it might have gone somewhere & by the time you go back to your gate even the tigers there also might have moved away! So, understanding the way a tiger is sighted in the forest & enjoying the forest as well as the Tadoba habitat instead of just running behind the tiger, is what I will advise as then tiger sighting is a bonus which does come to you sooner or later & then you welcome it with more joy for sure. At the same time, buffers also have wonderful forest & wildlife, the only difference is, here human settlements are there, though scattered & roads are narrow but the spread is small & chances you bumping (not actually, visually) with a tiger are more! In nutshell, don’t be fussy about just getting a core safari ticket whatever you get grab it, advise no 2!

Coming back to my trip, after spending so many hours in Tadoba I know one thing, the time a tiger is supposed to be seen by me, it will be seen, not before that & not after (sounds familiar, like a popular WhatsApp forward, “samayse pahale aur samay ke baad kisiko kuchh nahi milata,” plz google for meaning) & this philosophy again I experienced in this trip. Though my wish did come true, which always happens when it's tadoba but patience factor is there for sure. There is a young tigress named Collerwali which is now ruling territory of late legendary Sonam (another tigress) & has four cubs one of which got killed by wild dogs near Telia dam itself. So shaken by this incident the Collerwali was that she retreated in adjoing Junona buffer area which is to be accessed from another gate (for humans, not for tigers) & her sighting was equal to nil near telia dam which was once hotspot for tiger sighting. But as I said this is forest & every wild animal behaves as per its comfort & needs so Collerwali now with her three cubs which are grown up & are of good size decided to come back in telia dam as now the cubs are big enough to deal with wild dogs & barring them there is no other threat here for the cubs. I have seen tigress with cubs but to watch four grown up tigers together is some sight & rather as she is on the core side the sighting (if happens) could be some real memorable things & I do wish for one such. On day one morning, we entered from Moharli & instead taking the route of Telia dam decided to check area behind it & in doing that when we came to Telia dam, the tigress & the cubs have moved away from the water. We waited for three hours but no sign of them & the safari time ended. In the afternoon we waited at Telia dam again & the alarm calls of deer came from the road which we visited in the morning & we rushed to follow the alarm calls & the moment our gypsy took turn on that road, there they were, four of them sitting right on the road! Now, the tricky part was, if they get up which they would eventually & start walking then they either can walk in our direction or opposite direction as we don’t know what is their agenda & here two things works, knowledge of present situation in forest & luck! Our guide & driver said as they have already come from Telia dam so chance is they won’t walk back but the mom has taken these cubs out to teach them territory marking & show around the forest which every tigress did with her growing cubs, so we decided to wait on the side where we were standing. And the logic as well luck worked & all four of them got up one by one & started walking towards us. Well to describe the sight, I don’t have enough words yet imagine this, the sun was behind us travelling towards horizon, the entire surrounding was washed in yellow light & the road was covered with red dust, the grass was yellowish green & on that background four grownup tigers with yellow black stripes & bright orange eyes, walking together towards us! At one moment I felt entire world has frozen in yellow-red frame & unfazed by our excitement the mom was guiding here cubs, making trees along the road with her clows & urine & making cubs learn to do it, we were following (rather they were following) every move of them, giving them space & it was an experience the way mom tigress was teaching them as well keeping a keen eye around (on us also)! Out of three cubs one is smaller & lingering behind the mom tigress has a special eye for it, always making sure that there is not much gap between that cub & these three as well making sure it also gets all the marking lessons! This is not just sighting, this is experiencing how wildlife evolves in the forest & fun is tomorrow (in near future) these cubs only will become rivals of their mom who is teaching them today survival as well territory ruling techniques, that’s how forest life is!

Next day we have safari in Junona buffer which is adjoining to Moharli core & yesterday only we have heard roars of male tiger around who is father of these sub adult cubs i.e. Chota Dadhiyal. A male tiger had a large territory under him & we took the chance that if this guy was in the core for the whole day, so next day, he might venture in the buffer to mark his territory & our logic paid off with some luck on our side. Another important aspect is when you see movement of gypsies' ahead or around, just don’t rush to the spot, take your time, understand movement of the tiger & then decide from where you want to access the sighting as in buffers the roads are narrow & if a tiger is walking on that road then only two or three vehicles can actually have a good sighting because you can’t overtake a tiger if its walking ahead as well you can’t give it side because of the narrow road widths unless a square or diversion  is there to take the gipsy on side of the road. Here also we checked the movement of the male (CD) & we realized its cutting across a patch of grass & will emerge on the road across it so we reversed & waited patiently on the road instead of just going forward & having a glimpse of the tiger. And from the grass CD emerged right in front of our gypsy & walked quite a distance marking his territory on the trees along! Yellow green grass & morning sun & a full grown male tiger washed in it, walking in his own mood, the sight is beyond any words! And as I said, Tadoba is not only about tigers, we spend time watching owls, butterflies & even the moon as darkness covers the forest by 6 pm at this time of winter here. Rather to listen to the tiger roaring & calling its family in the darkness is something which one only can experience by being there!

Before I conclude this sharing, a month before I visited another favourite place UKWS (Umred Karhandla) & the target was to click F@ tigress with her five cubs which couldn’t happen but we witnessed something equally magical! Every wild lifer has a wish list about the forests & I am no exception to this, Law of Greedy Nature of Humans! And forests have been helping me to tick my wish list all the time but the list has no end! One such in the list is, being able to see a male tiger crossing the road in front of me, with the forest road behind merging in the green horizon, and the tiger looking towards us before getting vanished in the wilderness across the road! I knew it's difficult as so many factors involved in this, first to sight a male tiger in itself is difficult in the forests because of his large territory & then you can get him head on as that's because tigers like to walk along the road for long distance but to get a male tiger to cross road, it's a sheer chance & matter of right timing. Second, an empty road behind the tiger, because if a male tiger is walking then usually the news spreads and there are gypsies rushing to the spot in no time & the tiger crosses the road in two or three strides, so it's a matter of a few seconds. Third, why would he look at us while crossing the road, it's only his mood which can make him to do so means more luck is needed. Fourth, our gypsy must be in front to get a clear shot. Fifth & most important, my own reaction time to click that moment if at all I get lucky to cross the first four conditions!! Yet I have my hopes that in Tadoba this may be possible someday but the Forest Genie chose UKWS to bless me! Ours was the first gypsy entering on a misty winter November morning from Karhandla gate, it was very cold & blueish fog was still settling in the forest, our cameras were out though (a habit which does helps in the forests) but we haven't had much hopes for any so early sighting & suddenly our guide said, “Sir, tiger chal raha hai road par”! We also saw it & the tiger vanished as we reached that spot, we moved our gypsy slowly ahead & reversed, there was no sign of the tiger, like the forest has swallowed it alive, but we keep searching & again the guide, hissed this time, “Sir, gaddeme baitha hai tiger” i.e. tiger is sitting in a small ditch along the road & the eyes on the big head were looking at us only! We reversed a bot & waited in the hope he would come out & resume its morning walk so we will get some head on shots but it's a tiger & he will do what he wants to do. In the meantime, two more gypsies had joined us, meaning the tiger may rise & vanish in the adjoining jungle, we waited anyway. And the tiger rose from the road side, looked at us & silently came on the road looked at me(for a second I felt he actually smiled at me), I could see the empty road behind & my pulse rate went high with feel of adrenaline rush, I was in dilemma, whether just to watch this moment or click, but greed overtook as usual & I lifted camera,  thanked the tiger as well UKWS Gennie, and ticked the wish. To add the bonus, the road behind the tiger was empty & with mist floating along, making the whole scene like a Marvel movie set, which lasted for just 4 or 5 seconds but it will remain in my mind forever! And then UKWS showed me some wonderful displays of butterflies of all colours & shapes, something we rarely notice but butterflies play a very important role in forest life cycle & a greater number of them, is a healthy sign of the forest, which we are lucky to have!

Btw, coming back to tadoba (sorry folks), can’t finish without sharing this one…

We knew he was around somewhere as his kill had been hidden in the bushes nearby. Our guide has seen him in the morning safari, it's typical of Mamla buffer terrain, dense foliage covering ground & he could be anywhere, sleeping leisurely. We circled the narrow roads for hours, now it's near dark as its winter in Tadoba, we haven't lost the hopes & a deep growling filled the surrounding! Usually, a tiger never growls in the forest unless on mating but here it meant, The King has awakened & warned to the forest that he is coming for his meal, so give him way, is what the growling said! Yet, no sign of him & we waited on the road between the growling & the kill & from behind our gipsy he emerged, in low light the orange eyes were glowing like two torches burning bright, that’s Raka, Mamala buffer’s young King!

To conclude, do mind, only when you start visiting forests in every season then you realize what a wonderful gift god has given us in the forms of wildlife & do mind every gift is a responsibility too, of which we are supposed to take care & protect, so is the forests; adios with this note! Wish you a very Happy, Green & Wild New Year 2026!

View more such moments at the Flickr link along…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/coexistance_is_the_key/albums/72177720331036784/

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Sanjay Deshpande 

smd156812@gmail.com

Sanjeevani Dev.

Please view my sharing about finding a Right Home/ Office in Pune, at YouTube link below & share if liked...

https://xhamster1.desi/tags/indian-web-series

https://youtu.be/27j3I3rwGPQ?si=-ODYBxVI2Dl_C345

 

Please do visit my blog links below to read about real estate & home buying! 

https://visonoflife.blogspot.com/2025/12/pune-real-estate-in-2026.html

https://jivnachadrushtikon.blogspot.com/2024/12/2025.html

Creating Togetherness; team Sanjeevani Way (Click link below) 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/albums/72157627904681345

For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below

www.punecorporation.org

Think Green, Think Life

www.sanjeevanideve.com / https://junglebelles.in/

Team India in 2025; "Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum" !

 

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“Cricket is not just a game, it's a way of life” …

“Talent alone is not enough; hard work and dedication are the keys to success” …

“The greatest battles are fought within, and the biggest victories are the ones over oneself” …

…Sunil Gavaskar

Let me confess, I wasn’t great fan of little Master’s (plz google) batting but then those were days of radio (for us) & even TV broadcast was with single fixed camera, no speedometer to measure speed of the ball, no reviews & yes, no sophisticated safety gadgets for batsmen & I was too young to understand importance of test cricket & courage of this little man to face fastest bowlers in the world without a helmet! And I wasn’t been fortunate to watch his game ever but later I got to listen & read his views about cricket, & there are many with command on the language but a very few are there to have command on the game & mind to analyse the game, the way Mr Gavaskar (Sunny) has, which is my main reason of respect for him. At the same time, he never gave his example or applied his greatness as scale (which many great players fail to control) while analysing other players especially the younger genre, that’s one more reason I like to listen to Gavaskar & when its test cricket then he is the best person to comment on it!

Ok, enough about Sunny G, the sharing is about test cricket & about Women’s team’s One Day world cup championship & as the heading says, Indian Cricket is like pendulum swinging, as if on one side women’s team has become world champion in one day cricket then men’s team is scaling new low with every series in test matches, they are playing, is my subject of analysis. I am no little master but then I don’t comment on the way one should bat or bowl or field (which anybody in this country is free to) but the way the game is played or say fought as it helps me in my own game of life & which I feel I must share with readers. Cricket may it be test-match or one day or T20, each game is like a day in our life, as some days just get dragged like five day test match, some are like one day, fast yet give us time to recover or slump & some days are like T20, just gets finished before we blink & on all these days we can be on winning side or losing side, up which we name the days as bad or good or awesome! Actually, the days & the game (of life) are the same, it's our approach that makes them good or bad, is what I have understood watching, listening & reading about cricket, & such sharing are the outcome of that understanding!

Ok, speaking about matches lets take defeat part first & the way team India got defeated in recent two test matches series with S. Africa, that too on their home-turf, its soul-searching defeat for even the die-hard team Indian fans such was the level (read as poor) of the game of our team! Agreed, no player plays to lose, right, but this isn't an excuse when you get defeated time & again with making the same mistakes, & this logic is applicable for our day-to-day work also whatever field / profession we may be working in! Before this series, the same squad had defeated the W.Indian team in two test series but even in that series alarm bells rang in the second test when two west Indian batsmen fought hard on the last day & nearly drew the second test. I hope you guys remember as when it's remembering defeat, our memory is already very weak & when it's a test match, that to a so-called weak opponent, then not many fans have strong memory! But this write up is not about just cricket matches & results but about our learnings & when the opponent is weak then a wise player or team learns not from the result or outcome but the way the game has been fought by the opponent which team India definitely didn’t! And the outcome was when S Africa came here, we were on high as we have won test series two-nil & S Africa hasn’t won a test series in the last twenty-five years here was the history. But we forgot, this S African team is present Test World Champion & that too they have defeated team like Australia in the finals of test match championship & the difference between champions & others is champions has ability to create new history every time they play, which S. African team did & that’s one big take away for me! The pitches when Indian batsmen were batting looked 360 degrees different when the S. African batsmen were batting on them. And If in the first test our bowlers took the match on our platter our batsmen threw that plate away as we couldn’t make even some hundred plus runs to win in the fourth innings of fist test! That win gave the S African team what they wanted most, confidence & belief that they can win in India & the second test was the outcome of that confidence. Where our so-called celebrated batting line up gave up there every S African batsman contributed & second test the visitors won only by attitude. Worst part was, no Indian batsman showed any will or grit to stand on the pitch & fight, that hurts most! This is the price we are paying to become champions in white ball as test matches are different types of game. By throwing a bat for a few overs, you may survive & make runs in limited over format but for a five days match you need a lot more, that is fitness & temperament. The same principle is applicable in our working as if we want to take a profession or business long then we need to be patient & unfortunately the Indian team has everything but patience, so was the outcome!

Unless (obviously bosses in BCCI knows this) we take serious efforts on the test match pattern, it will be a very very difficult journey ahead of team India in the red ball format is writing on the wall. And coming to the fitness aspect, our young captain, Gill, got neck spasm while facing first few balls of the series & couldn’t play any innings in any of the test which costed us (probably) the test series as nobody will doubt Gill’s technique & temperament in test match format & his captainship which must be another concern for team India! Because, when Gill wasn’t available, the entire team looked clueless on the field, as frankly no one in the team was looking capable or confident to rise & take the leadership in hand & play the cards, that shows the down mindset of the team where people avoid leadership! A good team or a company is where people come forward & take lead by themselves, especially in times of crisis, which is missing in the test format of team India, another alarm bell! And this fitness factor is more alarming for our fast-bowling squad for which IPL types tourneys are the main reason. BCCI with its deep pocket must pay money to our key players especially fast bowlers for not participating in IPL as its easy to say players must first play for country & remain fit & nobody forces them to play IPL but most of these players comes from middle class if not poor background & giving up crores isn’t easy job for them. And sport is not a govt job career or profession where you can earn even after retirement or a profession like medicine which you can practice till you get old. Here, by the time you reach mid thirties you are out, exceptions like Kohli & Tendulkar but that’s greatness & once in a decade! So, dear BCCI, please shell out extra money for the test squad, if you really want to see team India becoming champion in test cricket also!

Ok, now silver rather, a platinum lining which came in the form of the Women's team winning one world cup by defeating S. Africa (again!) which also has been in the finals for the first time! Here also the fight was tough, though the Indian Women were on high with a win over the past champion Aussies (about which I have already shared in an earlier blog) in the semis & that’s what one good win can do to the morale of the team. Though I defer with this law of psychology as a champion team plays every match as new but then such things are good in books as we are humans & we are bound to get affected with the emotions & win or lose, does stir our emotions is a fact. And it's always good to ride on winning emotions which the women's team did & clinched the first ICC title for the country. Here the best part is, the entire country watched this match with equal excitement & passion the way we watch men’s cricket & that’s the biggest win for the women's team, more than the world cup is what I will say!

A country where we have to make laws against gender test & tag it as a crime because knowing the growing baby in the belly of mother (who herself is a woman) is a female, it’s been curated, in such country to gain respect & honour of entire nation by your performance as a woman, is hardest of the job, which Indian women’s cricket team has done & surely this win will go long way for their achievement! At the same time, to gain a world cup title is great but to retain it for long is something that makes you a real champion, as our men’s team did it in 1983 & then it took 2011 to regain it & after that in 50 overs format, we still are searching for it! Here is where Aussies are worth copying, as like a machine they keep on winning trophies & across the format, that’s what both our teams i.e. men & women needs to accept & adopt as winning also needs to be practiced, & sure New Year will tell us whether we have learned our lesson or not, this note is applicable for team India as well for the fans too, on our respective fronts (careers), adios with this note!

-

Sanjay Deshpande 

smd156812@gmail.com

Sanjeevani Dev.

Please view my sharing about finding a Right Home/ Office in Pune, at YouTube link below & share if liked...

 

https://youtu.be/27j3I3rwGPQ?si=-ODYBxVI2Dl_C345

 

Please do visit my blog links below to read about real estate & home buying! 

https://visonoflife.blogspot.com/2025/12/pune-real-estate-in-2026.html

https://jivnachadrushtikon.blogspot.com/2024/12/2025.html

Creating Togetherness; team Sanjeevani Way (Click link below) 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/albums/72157627904681345

For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below

www.punecorporation.org

Think Green, Think Life

www.sanjeevanideve.com / https://junglebelles.in/

Pune Real Estate in 2026

                                                    

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“Cities, like dreams, are made of desires and fears, even if the thread of their discourse is secret, their rules are absurd, their perspectives deceitful, and everything conceals something else.”
― Italo Calvino

“There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city; people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans.”
― Jane Jacobs.

” A city which you like most does not necessarily have Metro, Flyovers, Malls or even Smart Apps; all that it can offer you is warmth, care & peace” -- Me.

After a long someone asked me about what New Year i.e. 2026 will be bringing for real estate of Pune, as frankly I have forgotten to share (read as write) about this aspect of city, such is the scene of real estate industry which isn’t an industry (legally or by govt) in the first place. Though wherever I go, I mean out of Pune, everybody is interested in buying a home or some property in Pune for their respective purpose, is also an interesting fact about Pune’s real estate! Indeed, thanks to our 150 plus crore population land will always be in demand whatever purpose it may be utilized (or reserved) for, because this population will need food, education, homes, jobs & services such as bust stand, hospital, airports & for all these things AI is not going to help you but physical land is the only solution & that means real estate! Since long, land is power, may it be a village or town or metro city like Pune & this is not some rocket science & as the great Einstein has said, Energy (which is form of a power) can neither be created nor destroyed, it just changes form”! Unfortunately, looking at the way real estate is being controlled in our State or city or region (does it make a difference!)  had Einstein been alive he would have added, “Power can be wasted,” this is what I will say about real estate of Pune, of late! Sorry guys, I know this is not a positive start, especially when you are looking for your home or commercial property here in Pune but it’s always better to swallow the bitter pill first, so be it!

What I meant about wasting power named land, is not that land rates are reduced or your investment in real estate is in threat but if you have got a Ferrari & you are driving it at 30km/ hour, what will you say, that’s what I wanted to put forward about the land potential. And this is the scene in the entire State & reason is, our urban planning policies as well implementations of existing policies related to land & real estate at large! Agreed, this is in favour of souring land rates as many will ask who cares for policies & all the urban planning stuff, land rates, flat rates are increasing constantly, so why bother! Indeed, this is exactly my sharing point as these souring land rates & flat’s rates are beneficial for a few & out of budget for the most is the real problem of real estate & this is what one has to look while booking a home or commercial property or buying land or investing in land, is what I wanted to share! First, let’s take a look at the home buyers as every year nearly more than fifty thousand plus people are migrating to Pune region (this is a guess as there is no exact data or system for these figures) for one soul object & that is better living. This includes education as well as jobs & most of these people settled here only, in Pune region permanently (one such is writing this piece), so once you are done with education & job thingy the first thing people look for is a home! And following this pattern many smart parents (earlier genre) whose son or daughter is yet to come to Pune starts looking for a home as they know it’s like buying gold in a way. True but the difference between gold is if its original (conditions apply type) then you can sell it anywhere at any time, that’s not true, now, with a home. Reason is, one, it’s a costly affair & unlike gold you can’t fragmentize a home i.e. if you have 10 tola (100gm) of gold you can sell it by 1 tola basis but if you have got a 3 bhk home the you can’t sell or rent its one or two bedrooms or just living dining! And second, gold has a standard rate & market worldwide which varies hardly by 2 or 3 percent which isn't the case with a home!  

A home can fetch you double in mere one year or it can take a few years to get sold & it means loss in financial language as your investment gets blocked. Though you can utilize a home which isn’t a case with gold, i.e. you can live in a home or rent it out, saving your money which is earning & which isn’t case with gold. Here is where how & where you choose to buy a home & purpose of the same makes the difference for deciding the fate of your investment in a home is my subject of sharing. A home’s fate depends on many factors which includes not just its construction or internal specifications as they can’t vary much but its location, surrounding development, your own career path & the builder you choose to buy from! All these factors are very much important & here is where urban policies come in the picture as take example of Bhugaon (a western suburb of Pune), which was buzzing with all hype just a decade back as it was after Kothrud & Baodhan (annexe), both developed suburbs of Pune & everybody thought it will be next goldmine for real estate. But today, the scene is, here flats are being sold below the land rate many have bought a decade back in that boom & reason is poor infrastructure, uncertainty of DP (development plan), not included in PMC. I am sorry, no ill feelings towards Bhugaon & even today those who will be buying homes there can earn returns on their investments but just do mind those who have invested decades back they couldn’t get the decent returns. And this is the scene in & around Pune’s not just suburbs but even in developed city parts also & the only reason is uncertainty over the infra growth as well weird urban development policies. For e.g., Metro (rail) is the new "in thing" in Pune as every local leader wants Metro in their suburb or jurisdiction like it’s a rickshaw stop & govt is also oblizing their leaders. Outcome is, whenever the Metro will get in function it will, but FSI & TDR calculations are changing the dimensions of local real estate along Metro routes. With tons of FSI allowed, practically every alternate society or plot is in the market making the central part of the city not just overcrowded for traffic & infra but for sale also. Prabhat road which is supposedly the most prime area on this side of the river, has the rate per sft here which was being quoted five years back got doubled today, a general practice in real estate, answer is Big No! But the land rates here have soared not just double but triple, and why, because of the three times FSI allowed here! This is alarm bell for not just flat buyers but for the developers also as the only earner here is the landlords which ancestors were lucky to buy a piece of land at Prabhat Road, rest all will be locking their money for long for sure if opted to invest today here, as a builder or as a flat buyer, even though it’s the Prabhat Road!

I am not a financial analyst & I gave these two examples just to make you understand the dimensions of real estate & that’s why if you want to buy for your residence that too for immediate or near-by future then only buy a home in & around developed area! Or else, buy ready possession home (flat) in developing suburbs only, after inquiring with the right person for the infrastructure development, social as well physical infra as that will decide the rate with which your investment will be increasing. And for that, take a round of the suburbs, understand what it was a decade before, see the infrastructure & situation of the flats by your own eyes & then decide. Don’t go by Insta reels or even agents, take their help but unless you have detailed on site as well location study never ever books a home. Speak with the respective builders as well their existing clients, thanks to WhatsApp & FB & Insta you can ask direct questions. Again, don’t go by just google reviews, they can be paid & from both sides, good or bad, so the best way is to get real-life feedback for any investment in real estate for any purpose! If you are buying for your own home then take in account travel distance & means for yours as well your family members respective purposes. As in Pune three things will be getting worse (with due respect to Metro), one is travel within the city & another is water & third one is clean air! Trust me, I am not saying this as a frantic environmentalist but this is present not just future & at present govt doesn’t have any concrete solution for above three, so you only have to choose wisely is the way! Because a home, anywhere it may be, you can get the best of specifications but you can’t find a solution to reach there in time, you can’t create water nor you can swipe CO (carbon monoxide) in the air around it & replace it with O (oxygen) on your own! Rest everything (read as most of the things) you can get done, with some help.

Now about commercial premise, this is silver lining as here purpose of buying is different, so people doesn’t mind much when they buy an office or a shop as they are not going to spend their nights here nor staring their mornings from here, so you have flexibility to overlook the issues such as traffic & air quality types while you choose a commercial premise for use or for investment! Rather the huge human inflow in this city means not just their jobs or education but services of every type which this population will need & services need space! Frankly if you are looking for your own profession, business, startup or want to buy for investment for rental, commercial premise is the best option for real estate in Pune & again I am not saying this as a builder but use your own logic. Lands are shirking by day but our needs are not, for residential property there will be always budget factor for increase in rent rates but for commercial premise the person thinks about his revenues & doesn’t mind paying rent than investing too much capital on space, this is why whether own business of rental, commercial properties are the best at present considering the growth aspect of Pune region. All you have to do is don’t rush, study the development pattern as well residential growth of a locality as commercial properties can be of two types, one is, need based for the surrounding locality, such as essentials services from grocery to laundry to medical & another is corporate type’s works spices! All you will have to do is choose the right location for the right purpose of use & sure you won’t regret the decision of buying a commercial property.

And yes, many people aspire for a piece of land too(plot) as that’s a dream of every Indian person to own a land & no harm in it as its best feeling as well asset but! But the ability to hold that piece of land from legal & illegal entities is something one has to look for, is what I will share as my views when its investing in land. Because Pune is cursed with ever changing development plans, policies & rules, especially major open lands are available in PMRDA (plz google) region & its DP is something even the gods can’t comment on it! In such a case your land’s price (read as future actually) can move like a pendulum i.e. either gold or ash, literally! This is a legal threat & about illegal, well, ownership civil suits can surface even after decades & are entertained is the bitter fact of our judicial system, so be careful & only after experts’ advice invest in any piece of land is the way!

Coming to the last & most important aspect which is legality as well construction quality & honouring commitments about the property you are buying; well, go for pedigree (setup) of the developer & visit in person his /her office, speak with the staff, ask questions about not just product but their philosophy about their work & feel the company you are dealing with & then only close the deal. Unfortunately, the times are tough for both sides & people (especially when agents or mediators are involved) are desperate to close the deal & do mind, just savings or rate per sft or specifications doesn’t make a right home or a right office, it’s a package deal which includes right people making it & their approach towards the project & people also matters most, even their social commitment( and towards nature) apart from just making money too, matters a lot, which not many home buyers takes in consideration! Afterall, you are buying a home in this city because you feel it will be offering you a good life & that’s your responsibility also to keep this city good, which is possible only when you join hands with right people, so go ahead, choose your home/ office & join the growth path of Pune, adios with this wish!

 

--

Sanjay Deshpande 

smd156812@gmail.com

Sanjeevani Dev.

Please view my sharing about finding a Right Home/ Office in Pune, at YouTube link below & share if liked...

 

https://youtu.be/27j3I3rwGPQ?si=-ODYBxVI2Dl_C345

 

Please do visit my blog links below to read about real estate & home buying! 

https://visonoflife.blogspot.com/2024/12/right-home-buying-in-2025.html

https://jivnachadrushtikon.blogspot.com/2024/12/2025.html

Creating Togetherness; team Sanjeevani Way (Click link below) 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/albums/72157627904681345

For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below

www.punecorporation.org

Think Green, Think Life

www.sanjeevanideve.com / https://junglebelles.in/