Programs done in October

Spouse Dilip Dhamankar

5th September is celebrated as Teachers Day. As we did not have the club meeting on that day, the celebration of Teachers Day was done on 12th September.

The program started with recognition of all the teachers in RCPS. Then President Dr Mrinal called the teachers namely Shri Vishveswar Moreshwar Ghaisas, Dr. Mrs. Nalini Prabhakar Joshi, and Shri Ashok Shivaji Gunjal on stage. Each one of them was felicitated and given Rotary Excellence Award at the hands of President Dr Mrinal.

Ann Alka Abhyankar introduced Shri Ghaisas and Dr. Mrs. Joshi. Rtn Sandeep Tapaswi did Introduction of Shri Gunjal.

Shri Ghaisas then took the podium and recited a shloka. Shri Vishveshwar Moreshwar Ghaisas is a fourth-generation teacher, teaching Ved. After completing his schooling at Bal Shikshan Deccan Gymkhana Pune, he started his study in Vedas under his father. Study of Rugved alone requires twelve to fifteen years of learning. After his study Shri Ghaisas passed with flying colours from Rashtriya Vedvidya Prathisthan Ujjain, Vedshashtrotejak Sabha Pune and Ganapati Sacchitanand Muth Mysuru. Since the past five years he is teaching students Ved at the Ved Pathsahala at Chandani Chowk.

Dr. Mrs. Nalini Prabhakar Joshi has done her B. Ed. In Sanskrit and Mathematics, followed by M.Phil. in Prakrut and then a Ph.D. She has written eight books till now with two more to come shortly. Since 1987 she is working at Bhandarakar Oriental Research Institute. In her address to the club members, she spoke about the meaning of the word “Prakrut.” Worldwide there are close to two thousand major languages. These are split into twelve groups, and each has about eight sub-groups. The fifth sub-group within the Indo-European group, is the Indo-Iranian group. Prakrut is the spoken language which are today regional or vernacular across India. Except for the languages in the South India which have Dravidian origins all other languages are of the Indo-Iranian group. Current languages in use in different states of India have all evolved from Prakrut language. Todays Marathi language has evolved from Maharashtri which is a thousand-year-old language. Dr. Joshi is currently preparing a Dictionary for Prakrut language to English language.

Shri Ashok Shivaji Gunjal then spoke about his work as a Physical Training Instructor and Fitness Trainer. He does honorary work for special children at Kamayani Prashikshan & Sanshodhan Society Pune. He started by saying that sports is looked down upon by parents as compared to other subjects of the school curriculum. However, he believes that sports is necessary for every child as it helps in building concentration and teamwork. He expressed that he gets a lot of satisfaction teaching special children and seeing them do well. Four of his students from Kamayani and one from Sindhu Vidya Bhavan are likely to get a chance to participate next year in special Olympics. One of his students has won a silver medal in special Olympics in Roller Skating and many other students have won various awards in the field of skating.

Shri Moreshwar Ghaisas, father of Shri Vishveshwar Ghaisas then spoke about the Guru-Shishya tradition that is Gurukul method that they follow at Ved Pathshala. At present there are about fourteen students with them. They study for eighteen hours from four am to ten pm. His wife cooks for all of them. Ved Pathshala is run entirely on donations and support from people.

Vote of thanks was given by Ann Shobhana Date.

Spouse Dilip Dhamankar

Playing this macabre instrument, Parashuram danced to thunderous, alarming rhythms, in praise of his mother, the Goddess Renuka. Parashuram’s dance was called the gondhal. Even today, the gondhal is performed as a ritualistic folk dance to appease the goddesses Renuka, Bhavani, or Amba.

It is considered as a blessing in certain sects and is performed after a big event in the family or community such as a marriage or thread ceremony. 

The Gondhal is the dramatic narration of mythological stories and folk legends as a part of the ritual dedicated to deities like Renuka and Bhavani. This singing and dancing before deities is practised by members of the Gondhali community. 

There are three types of gondhal

The Gondhalis are divided into two sub- castes : Kadamrai and Renurai, who neither intermarry nor eat together. Now-a-days they hail from various castes.

The gondhal performed by the troupe captivated the Rotarians for an hour. It included commentry and criticism on current topics. They also invited the members to dance to their rhythm and the members enjoyed it thoroughly.

रो. मंजिरी धामणकर

प्रत्येक रोटरी वर्षात दिवाळी कार्यक्रमाचे वेगळेच स्थान असते (‘ फेलोशिप’ नसली तरी). सुंदर सजावट, उत्सवी कपड्यांतली मंडळी, कर्णमधुर संगीत, देख्या दिवाळी पुशची उत्सुकता आणि पंगतीचे जेवण – घरोघरची दिवाळी सुरु होण्याआधीची ही जणू नांदीच असते.. या वर्षीचा दिवाळी कार्यक्रमदेखील अपवाद नव्हता. दारापासूनच रांगोळी, पणत्या स्वागत करतात पण या वेळी किल्ल्याची कल्पना भन्नाट. 

पैठणी नेसून झळकणाऱ्या सगळ्या जातीच्याच सुंदर असलेल्या मैत्रिणी, विविध पारंपारिक वेशात मिरवणारे मित्र, गणेश हॉल त्या दिवशी विशेष देखणा दिसत होता. 

नवीन मेंबर अभिषेक जाधव  याचे इंडक्शन होऊन ते उभयता रोटरी परिवारात सामील झाले. 

कल्याणी पेंढारकर आणि पुश टीमने देखणा दिवाळी पुश प्रकाशित केला.   

मयूरी अत्रे हिच्या मैफलीसाठी सगळेच उत्सुक होते. आणि तिने सर्व अपेक्षांना मागे टाकत सगळ्यांना अक्षरशः मंत्रमुग्ध केले. तिचा अत्यंत सुरेल, मोकळा, मधुर आवाज, भक्तिगीते, नाट्यसंगीत, भावगीते, हिंदी गाणी, लावणी अशी गाण्यांच्या निवडीतली विविधता, सहगायक सौरभ करमरकर, तबला – यश सोमण, की बोर्ड – तुषार दीक्षित, विविध तालवाद्ये – श्रिया जोशी आणि निवेदिका मधुरा अत्रे या सर्वांचीच भट्टी अशी काही जमून आली होती की कार्यक्रम संपूच नये असे वाटत होते. कलाकारांचा परिचय गिरीजा यार्दीणे करून दिला. उज्ज्वल मराठेने आभार मानले. अलका कांबळेने सूत्रसंचालन केले. 

दरवर्षीप्रमाणे वेशभूषेला बक्षिसे होती. पुरुष गटात दिलीप धामणकर,नितीन अभ्यंकर यांनी, तर  महिला गटात – माधुरी गोखले आणि कल्याणी पेंढारकर या दोघींनी, तसेच जोडीचे बक्षीस शिल्पा आणि नितीन नाईक यांनी पटकावले. डॉ स्मिता जोग, सरिता आणि श्रीकांत भावे यांनी परीक्षक म्हणून काम पाहिले. 

जिलबीच्या सुग्रास भोजनाने या कार्यक्रमाची सांगता झाली.

प्रेसिडेंट डॉ मृणाल, सेक्रेटरी प्रमोद पाठक, अजय गोडबोले आणि सगळी इव्हेंट टीम यांचे कौतुक करावे तितके थोडेच.  

रो. मंजिरी धामणकर

रविवार दिनांक 30 ऑक्टोबर रोजी RCPS चा हेरिटेज वॉक  पुण्यातील ‘ओंकारेश्वर मंदिर ‘ आणि  ‘सिद्धेश्वर -अमृतेश्वर मंदिर समूह‘ या दोन नदी काठावरील मंदिरात झाला. क्लबचे मेंबर इंडोलॉजिस्ट रोटेरियन प्रदीप आणि एन प्रतिमा दुरुगकर आणि प्रोग्रॅम कमिटी यांनी या वॉकचे आयोजन केले. अतिशय सुखद वातावरणात प्रथम श्रेयसचा स्वादिष्ट ब्रेकफास्ट आणि नंतर हेरिटेज वॉक असा उत्तम कार्यक्रम पार पडला. एकूण 40 मेंबर्स या हेरिटेज वॉक साठी आले होते. अँन प्रतिमाने दोन्ही मंदिराचा इतिहास, स्थापत्य आणि मूर्ती विज्ञान रोचक पद्धतीने उलगडून दाखविले.

ओंकारेश्वर मंदिर हे चिमाजी अप्पांनी बांधलेले मंदिर.

मुख्य मंदिरातील प्रसन्न वातावरण, आठ कळस आणि त्यांच्या विविध रचना, सुरेख शिवलिंग हे तर भारून टाकणारे आहेच,पण  त्याच प्रंगणातील चिमाजी अप्पांची समाधी, सतीचे वृंदावन, विष्णू मंदिर, दीपमाळ हे देखील फार सुंदर आहे.

हे मंदिर बघितल्यावर अमृतेश्वर मंदिरा पर्यंत शनिवार पेठेतील रस्त्यावरून खराखुरा हेरिटेज वॉक झाला.

तेथील पेशवे कालीन शिव मंदिर, राम मंदिर आणि लक्ष्मी नारायण मंदिर, तसेच सर्वात जुने शिवकालीन (शिवाजी महाराज) सिध्देश्वर मंदिर हा  आपल्याच पुण्यातील जवळचा ऐतिहासिक ठेवा प्रतिमा आणि प्रदीप मुळे बघायला मिळाला. 

त्याबद्दल आणि एम ए इंडोलॉजी यशस्वीपणे उत्तीर्ण झाल्याच्या आनंदा प्रीत्यर्थ त्यांनी दिलेल्या श्रेयस मधील पाहुणचार याबद्दल दोघांचे आणि अर्थातच प्रेसिडेंट डॉ मृणालचे मनपूर्वक आभार.

अशीच आणखी वारसा स्थळे पाहायला मिळावीत अशी इच्छा आहे.

Rtn. Manoj Phulambrikar

On 7th Nov, the evening came alive with Rtn. Ashok Gadgil talking about his work and life. 

Road to Pune

A Mumbaikar, the young boy shifted alone to Pune because the weather suited him better. Soon, he began an education in Commerce at the BMCC. In ’72, career choices for a graduate weren’t very many. 

Rather than taking a safe choice of joining a Bank, Ashok’s foresight made him study Chartered Accountancy. Two of his friends were upbeat about Ashok’s ability, and they too convinced his father about this. Despite only 2 to 3% of students clearing the final exam, Ashok came out with flying colors. He became a CA in ’76. His “bechare” two friends continued flunking. 

Work-life Imbalance! 

Like his Articleship, Ashok’s jobs too were enriching. His work encompassed everything from Corporates to Co-operative Sectors. Though he and his colleagues often worked for 12 hours a day, the office atmosphere used to be friendly. 

Several incidents from his working life were interesting. Having finished work at the client’s hospital efficiently, Ashok and his friends stole time to enjoy a movie. Unfortunately, the owner of the CA firm visited the client just that day. The lie was caught. Once, while auditing Bajaj, a company with over 1 thousand employees, Rahul Bajaj spoke about several boys who worked at the Satara factory’s store. He knew each one of them by name. Ashok was impressed by the businessman’s memory and his attention to detail. 

Ashok also worked with a Steel Manufacturing Group and gained client-side experience. The firm’s partners were impressed with Ashok’s habit of guarding confidential information. 

Life Partner & Journey Ahead 

After Ashok met Anjali, his close friend’s cousin, he spoke to the young girl’s parents and expressed his desire to marry her. Since Anjali was to complete her education in Pathology after 1 year, Ashok waited. 

With Anjali’s able support, Ashok began his independent consultancy. Increased work made him shift offices. All the landlords wanted Ashok to continue renting their space. Those stories showed Ashok’s conscientious and caring nature. To serve growing clientele, Ashok bought a large office. Over the years, several students gained knowledge from Ashok. Many became CA’s. 

He also narrated stories of ego problems between Government Officials and Clients. Ashok always acted as a peacemaker. 

In Conclusion 

Anjali conducting her husband’s interview helped throw light on Ashok’s professional ethics and dedication to his work. 

Manoj introduced the speakers. Vasundhara gave the vote of thanks.