Messengers of peace

“I came to Pune 25 years ago and it has been a good life. Adjusting to Maharashtrian lifetsyle was not a challenging task,as the rituals as well as food,resemble the south Indian ones. Moreover,Pune is a cosmopolitan city,so adapting to city was easier. On a whole,life here is much more peaceful and free of any political pressure and tension,” says P Venkat,an employee of the ordinance factory,Khadki.

In fact,it was with a motive to ensure social interaction that the Andhra Association was founded by city-based Andharaites in 1941 and K Anil Kumar,member,Andhra Association says,“We celebrate both- Telugu and Maharashtrian festivals with the same fervour. For instance after celebrating Pongal and Dusshera with the same enthusiasm,we are now waiting for Ugadhi,the New Year day.”

Commenting on the difficulties youngsters face in coping up with two cultures Natraj Vaddadi,business consultant and trustee,Andhra Association,says,“Back in Andhra,Ugadhi is a major festival celebrated almost for a week,but here in Pune,we observe it for a single day. There is a lack of interest amongst the Telugu youth in Pune when it comes to being knowledgeable on traditional festivals.”

While many complain that the traditional Andhra culture is fading away there are a few who disagree. “The Telugu community does get together on special occasions in full traditional clothing,men wearing beige-coloured pietas,uttareeyam,pancha,Kurta and women with sari,girls with langa oni and so on. In fact we also prepare Telugu delicacies such as- paravannam,pachadi and so on,” says Anil Kumar.

Commenting on the Telangana issueVenkat says,“Division of the state will only be for the worse and will make the people and society weaker as a whole.”

Kumar adds,“This is a political agenda for creating more seats which would be the direct result of creating a new state. The lives of students and other common people have been sacrificed over this issue for no reason. Infrastructure will suffer as resources like police personnel and agricultural land would have to be divided and distributed in a lesser proportion between the two states.”