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Time of India
05-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
At 100, Marathi grammar guru busts biases, myths and typos
During the last census in 2011, the surveyor who showed up at Yasmin Shaikh's doorstep did what people often do when they hear her name—he assumed. "Urdu," he wrote in the mother tongue column without asking. "My mother tongue is Marathi," Shaikh demurred. Seated at her dining table just days after turning 100, the grammar veteran laughs at the memory. "The surname and I have had a long journey," she says, recalling how a builder once backed out of a flat deal on hearing her name. Another time, a co-passenger on a train—whose kid had bonded with her over a crossword—got up "as if something bit her" when Shaikh introduced herself. Clad in a floral pink gown this rainy afternoon, her trusty walker—"my companion"—and well-wisher Dilip Phaltankar by her side, Shaikh shows no sign of age slowing her down. She writes by hand, reads fine print without glasses, and recalls details like the name of a wartime English periodical printed "only in India": Gestapo. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Born Jerusha Reuben in Nashik on the midnight of June 21, 1925, she was the second of seven children in a Marathi-speaking Jewish household. Her home brimmed with Marathi novels by Nath Madhav and H N Apte, along with magazines like Stree. "They were kept in trunks. I loved opening them to read," she says. When her mother, Ruth, died suddenly, nine-year-old Jerusha escaped into fiction even as the voice of Kumar Gandharva wafted from the gramophone. "My father, John, had an ear for music." At her Marathi-medium school in Pandharpur—where her father was posted—a teacher named Talekar made grammar feel simple and magical. Later, in 1942, after a move to Karad, she insisted on studying further and found herself the only Jewish student at Pune's SP College, where her sari-clad presence turned heads. The year she began pursuing a BA in Marathi, two new subjects were introduced: Linguistics and Grammar. A fan of writers such as V S Khandekar, she wrote stories for the college magazine. Encouraged by her professor S M Mate, she topped not just her class but the college. After a brief stint teaching in a primary school, she returned to do her MA. Post-Independence, Jerusha began teaching in a girls' school in Nashik, where she heard about a theatre manager called Daddy Shaikh from Marathi writer Vasant Kanetkar. Expecting an elderly man, she was surprised to meet Aziz Ahmed—young, strapping and, to her, instantly captivating. "My father was opposed to the match. Jews and Muslims have a chequered history." But she stood her ground. Three days after the Indian constitution came into force, the couple married in court. "There was no pressure to convert. The in-laws were progressive. The sister-in-law, Zubeida Shaikh, was India's first Muslim woman MBBS," says Phaltankar, co-author of Shaikh's gaurav granth—a book of honour marking her century. "While registering our marriage, we took an oath: 'I belong to no religion'," says Shaikh, who changed only her name after marriage. Sion's SIES College was still under construction in 1962 when Marathi department head S P Bhagwat offered her a teaching post. By then a mother of two, Shaikh moved with her family to Chembur. On her first day, students expecting a burqa-clad professor were stunned to see a woman with permed hair in a sari. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, six students shouted "Pakistani" as she entered a lift. "I complained to the principal. He scolded them," recalls Shaikh. Maharashtra was a toddler when she became a member of the Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal, a committee formed to formalize Marathi grammar. When the committee came up with 18 grammatical rules and guidelines by 1972, Shaikh wrote a book demystifying these principles. Invited to teach Marathi grammar to IAS aspirants after retiring, her classroom spawned names such as Mumbai's municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Pune-based income tax commissioner Sangram Gaikwad. "Their progress is my real inheritance," she says, as Phaltankar shows a letter of gratitude from Gagrani. "Even when her husband was in the ICU in 2002, she didn't miss the deadline," says Bhanu Kale about the centenarian who proofread his monthly magazine 'Antarnaad' for 15 years. Sleepless after her husband's demise, Shaikh buried herself into the nitty-gritty of matras and anusvars. Even today, typos gnaw at her like pebbles in a rice plate. "I can't help it," frowns Shaikh, who spends hours reading and responding to grammar queries from across the world. We ask for an autograph. It says in Marathi: "Love your mother tongue."
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Time of India
19-year-old falls off moped avoiding slippery patch in Wadgaon Budruk, run over by truck
1 2 3 Pune: A 19-year-old final-year city college student, whose moped skidded while trying to avoid a waterlogged patch on Ganesh Colony Road in Wadgaon Budruk, fell on the road and died after coming under the rear wheels of a truck. The accident occurred around 1.30pm on Thursday, after which the truck driver fled the spot. Sinhagad Road police identified the deceased as Saee Shrikant Bhagwat. Assistant inspector Sameer Kakade of the Sinhagad Road police told TOI, "The victim was returning to her home in Bhansali Campus near Wadgaon police chowkey after attending classes when the accident occurred. The empty goods truck was initially plying in front of her moped till it slowed down before hitting a speed breaker. At this juncture, she overtook the heavy vehicle and immediately moved to the left side." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Kakade added, "As she moved leftwards, she attempted to avoid a patch filled with drainage water. In the process, her moped skidded and she fell towards her right side, only to come under the rear wheels of the same truck that caught up from behind." Saee's mother is a teacher in junior college in Erandwane, while her father is from pharmaceutical background and has completed his PhD. Saee's maternal uncle, Amey Ghate, told TOI, "Saee was an avid theatre artist. While pursuing her BA degree from SP College, she actively took part in the well-known inter-collegiate drama competitions, Purushottam Karandak and Firodiya Karandak. She also acted in a few commercial dramas and was a very lively person in our family. " Ghate added that apart from studies and performing arts, Saee was an avid animal lover. "She used to feed stray dogs and cats in her area and take care of them," he said. Citing eyewitness accounts, Kakade further said the truck had also moved to the left after the victim's moped came in front of it. Following the accident, the truck driver sensed trouble and fled the spot, abandoning the heavy vehicle. "Based on a complaint by the victim's mother, Deepshri Bhagwat, we have registered a case of causing death due to negligence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as well as relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act against the truck driver. We are searching for him," the officer said. The police have impounded the truck and will get it inspected by a technical expert from the regional transport office (RTO). Based on its registration number, a police team is tracing its owner and the driver. Sassoon General Hospital, in an advance postmortem report, certified head injury as the cause of the victim's death, Kakade said. Toddler hit by mini-truck dies in Khadki A one-and-a-half-year-old girl, Aiza Shaikh, died after being hit by a mini-truck in Khadki on Thursday afternoon. The girl's parents are daily wage workers residing at the workers' colony near the military area, the police said. "Aiza, her elder sister and a few children of other workers were playing on the road, and their mothers were chatting nearby when the accident occurred," senior police inspector Dilip Phulpagare of the Khadki police told TOI. The cleaner of the mini-truck had spotted the children and alerted their mothers that the vehicle was being reversed as they were to leave the spot. "After turning, when the mini-truck started moving, the driver did not notice the girl. She came under the rear wheels of the truck and died. We have registered a case and given a notice to the driver (44), who is from Kunjirwadi," Phulpagare added. Pune: A 19-year-old final-year city college student, whose moped skidded while trying to avoid a waterlogged patch on Ganesh Colony Road in Wadgaon Budruk, fell on the road and died after coming under the rear wheels of a truck. The accident occurred around 1.30pm on Thursday, after which the truck driver fled the spot. Sinhagad Road police identified the deceased as Saee Shrikant Bhagwat. Assistant inspector Sameer Kakade of the Sinhagad Road police told TOI, "The victim was returning to her home in Bhansali Campus near Wadgaon police chowkey after attending classes when the accident occurred. The empty goods truck was initially plying in front of her moped till it slowed down before hitting a speed breaker. At this juncture, she overtook the heavy vehicle and immediately moved to the left side." Kakade added, "As she moved leftwards, she attempted to avoid a patch filled with drainage water. In the process, her moped skidded and she fell towards her right side, only to come under the rear wheels of the same truck that caught up from behind." Saee's mother is a teacher in junior college in Erandwane, while her father is from pharmaceutical background and has completed his PhD. Saee's maternal uncle, Amey Ghate, told TOI, "Saee was an avid theatre artist. While pursuing her BA degree from SP College, she actively took part in the well-known inter-collegiate drama competitions, Purushottam Karandak and Firodiya Karandak. She also acted in a few commercial dramas and was a very lively person in our family. " Ghate added that apart from studies and performing arts, Saee was an avid animal lover. "She used to feed stray dogs and cats in her area and take care of them," he said. Citing eyewitness accounts, Kakade further said the truck had also moved to the left after the victim's moped came in front of it. Following the accident, the truck driver sensed trouble and fled the spot, abandoning the heavy vehicle. "Based on a complaint by the victim's mother, Deepshri Bhagwat, we have registered a case of causing death due to negligence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as well as relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act against the truck driver. We are searching for him," the officer said. The police have impounded the truck and will get it inspected by a technical expert from the regional transport office (RTO). Based on its registration number, a police team is tracing its owner and the driver. Sassoon General Hospital, in an advance postmortem report, certified head injury as the cause of the victim's death, Kakade said. Toddler hit by mini-truck dies in Khadki A one-and-a-half-year-old girl, Aiza Shaikh, died after being hit by a mini-truck in Khadki on Thursday afternoon. The girl's parents are daily wage workers residing at the workers' colony near the military area, the police said. "Aiza, her elder sister and a few children of other workers were playing on the road, and their mothers were chatting nearby when the accident occurred," senior police inspector Dilip Phulpagare of the Khadki police told TOI. The cleaner of the mini-truck had spotted the children and alerted their mothers that the vehicle was being reversed as they were to leave the spot. "After turning, when the mini-truck started moving, the driver did not notice the girl. She came under the rear wheels of the truck and died. We have registered a case and given a notice to the driver (44), who is from Kunjirwadi," Phulpagare added.
Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Ajit Pawar to felicitate athletes at Olympic Day celebrations
As part of Olympic Day celebrations on Monday, an 'Olympic race', sports demonstrations, and felicitation of athletes are being organised at S P College in Pune by the Maharashtra Olympic Association. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is also the president of the association, will felicitate athletes on the occasion. The ceremony will begin at 7.30 am with the race. Wreaths will be offered to the statues of Bal Shivaji Maharaj and Rajmata Jijau at the historic Lal Mahal near Shaniwar Wada. Demonstrations of men's sports and various games will also be held at the Lal Mahal. The Olympic race will begin by lighting the sports flame by athletes. The tradition of Olympic race in Pune has continued in the past two decades, the association said. The Olympic race will start from Shivaji Road, in front of Dagdusheth Ganpati temple, Laxmi Road, Alka Talkies Chowk, Tilak Road and end at S P College. Secretary General of the Maharashtra Olympic Association Namdev Shirgaonkar told The Indian Express, 'The Olympic day is celebrated as the International Olympic Committee was set up on June 23. From Maharashtra's perspective, the Olympic day is really important as India's first individual medal at the Olympics was by the late Kashaba Jadhav at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. This feat was repeated by Swapnil Kusale in the previous Paris Olympics. We hope that this moment continues in Maharashtra and that true athletes come from the rural areas.' The main ceremony will be held at S P College at 10 am. 'Olympians, Dhyan Chand awardees, and Arjuna awardees' will be honoured by president of the Maharashtra Olympic Association Ajit Pawar. The association was awaiting confirmations from athletes who have been invited for the race and the felicitation. Sports Minister Dattatray Bharane and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol will also be present at the event. Mallakhamb, Yoga, Gymnastics, Taekwondo, Kickboxing and demonstrations of other athletic sports will feature at the ceremony. Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Time of India
UG student takes PG exam in Dumka
1 2 Dumka: The management of Santhal Pargana College has been left red-faced after a student was found appearing for the postgraduate (PG) exam without having passed his undergraduate (UG) course. The revelation came on Tuesday as the college authorities were conducting backlog PG examinations. The SP College is a constituent college under the Sidho Kanho Murmu University (SKMU). The student, identified as one Srinivas Roushan, was found appearing for the third semester examinations of PG mathematics. He had enrolled in the course allegedly by procuring a college leaving certificate (CLC), which is issued to graduate pass-outs. Sources said Roushan had enrolled in both UG and PG course and was yet to pass his UG course. Khirodhar Prasad Yadav, principal of the college, said, "Roushan was mistakenly granted CLC on February 24. His CLC been cancelled and the head of PG mathematics department requested to cancell his enrolment." Bimal Prasad Singh, the Pro-VC of SKMU, said he did not receive any complaint in the matter. Students' bodies in SKMU demanded a detailed probe into the incident. "There could be more such cases where failed students were given CLCs," Shyam Dev Hembrom of Chatra Samanvyaya Samiti, said. The outfit had protested outside the principal's office on Tuesday.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Pune on my plate: 5 must-try Misal spots after TasteAtlas global recognition
Misal Pav was ranked 18th in TasteAtlas's recent list of the world's 50 best breakfasts, bringing a global spotlight to this beloved Maharashtrian dish. This spicy, flavourful street food has been winning hearts across Pune for decades. From century-old establishments to modern joints, these five spots represent one of Pune's authentic misals, each offering a unique take on this beloved breakfast dish. Ramdas Misal Tucked away in the bustling lanes of Shaniwar Peth, this 90-year-old establishment has been serving authentic misal to generations of Pune residents with just four tables and a dedicated following that doesn't mind waiting for their turn. Its uniqueness is that the owner personally takes orders, serves customers, and handles billing – a rare sight in today's commercial food landscape. Operating from 7 am to 7 pm, this spot serves much more than misal, with batata bhaji and tarri pohe being equally popular among regulars. 'Misal is all about the tarri, and we have kept it optimally spicy with a secret homemade masala recipe that has been passed down through generations,' explained Manish Jadhav, the third-generation owner. 'Our misal contains batata bhaaji, kande pohe, and lentils like chawli, matki, and vatana, topped with pohe chivda, shev, onion, and lemon. We serve it with ladi pav or regular bread, depending on what the customer prefers,' he added. Bedekar Misal What began as a humble tea stall in 1948 has evolved into one of Pune's beloved misal destinations. Bedekar Misal in Narayan Peth started serving tea and pakoras under Dattaray Bedekar's vision, but it was only after 13 years that misal joined the menu. Unlike many places that focus solely on spiciness, Bedekar creates a balanced flavour, resulting in a misal that's both spicy and sweet. 'We don't follow the misconception that misal has to be extremely spicy. Our rassa is cooked with tomatoes, potatoes, onions, bottle gourd, and jaggery, creating a tangy taste with sweet undertones. This makes it healthy and suitable for both children and adults. We also use homemade shev and chivda instead of store-bought farsan. And the establishment has grown so popular that the ready-to-eat packets are even exported abroad,' said Anil Bedekar, the third-generation owner. Ramnath Misal Located near SP College on Tilak Road, Ramnath Misal is one of the spiciest misals on the list. This 80-year-old establishment has witnessed Pune's transformation while maintaining its authentic Kolhapur-style preparation that attracts spice lovers from across the city. The restaurant operates from 8 am to 8.30 pm and has adapted to modern times by offering online delivery options to manage space constraints. Despite the challenges of running a decades-old business, including labour shortages, Ramnath Misal has maintained its consistency through dedicated staff. 'We started with misal priced at just one rupee and tea for 35 paisa. Our customers were mainly from the Sahitya Parishad, SP College, and Prabhat Talkies then. What sets us apart is having the same chef for the last 45 years, which ensures consistency in taste. The misal here features vatanyachi usal, kande poha, nylon chivda, and shev, with a spicy tarri that reflects the Kolhapuri tradition. Apart from misal, our Kolhapur-style jumbo vadapav and gol bhaji are equally popular,' said manager Rakesh Khatri. Malhar Misal Located near Kokane Chowk, Malhar Misal has been known for serving spicy and flavourful misal that pairs perfectly with buttermilk. This establishment focuses on quality, with fresh ingredients like ladi pav and vegetables sourced daily, while the masalas, chivda and other essentials are prepared in-house. It is also available on food delivery apps. 'We maintain consistency in taste by having the same chef since the eatery was established, and our staff provides cordial and fast service,' shared owner Nitin Kokane. 'Misal is made of matki usal, potato, poha base and covered with shev. Each misal plate is served with additional ladi pav and a generous portion of cut onion. The customers have been loyal, and so we are planning for a bigger space adjacent to our current location,' he added. Shrimant Misal The Shrimant Misal opened its Ravet branch in November last year. What sets this place apart is its unique ambience, the brass utensils that give diners a royal feeling, justifying the name 'Shrimant'. Located in Ravet, this branch serves as a convenient option for residents of Pimpri Chinchwad. The restaurant offers a milder spice level, but customers can request extra tarri for more heat. Beyond misal, they serve items not commonly found at other misal joints, including kadhi vada, shengdana ladu, and cucumber. 'The Ravet branch caters to those living in Pimpri Chinchwad who want a closer option,' explained Vitthal Ingale, owner of the Ravet branch. 'Our misal uses matki usal and homemade masala, served with ladi pav. While we offer online delivery, customers prefer visiting to experience our unique ambience with brass utensils that create a royal dining experience,' he said.
