A glorious rendezvous with nature

Enthusiastic trekkers are aplenty in Pune, but quite clearly 51 year old Professor P.K Ghanekar, professor of Botany, at the Garware Coll...

Enthusiastic trekkers are aplenty in Pune, but quite clearly 51 year old Professor P.K Ghanekar, professor of Botany, at the Garware College, has extracted the maximum benefit for the public at large, that is and mind-boggling information along the way. This environmental freak who only rides bicycles, all over the city to curb auto pollution, at his individual level, is a die-hard nature lover.

The haversack is his first love, with his family probably my guess playing the second fiddle, because on Sundays, when most of us yawn through the day, you would find Ghanekar, in the midst of an adventure trip in the mesmerising Sahyadris.

This botanist, whose passion for Chhatrapati Shivaji8217;s forts, inspired him to explore by foot these awesome landmarks of Maratha history, has climbed about 300 of them till date. While doing so, he re-discovered to his delight, various geological and geographical wonders that dot Maharashtra, in the most unlikeliest of places. Like, for example, the natural land bridge at Gulanchwadi near Narayangaon, in the vicinity of Ale Phata, which was discovered by Dr.L.K.Kshirsagar, professor of Geology at the Maharashtra Institute of Technology MIT.

While leading geologists had already discovered and written about them in technical journals, to Ghanekar goes the credit, of making them people-friendly through his write-ups in newspapers and magazines.

His 48-page book, Vigyanachi Navaltirtha meaning spectacles of science, released recently by Pune-based Shilpa Prakashan, is an interesting compilation of 38 geological, biological and historical wonders, many of them, tucked in the most unexpected places. Although this little book is not visually beautiful, nature lovers can derive exciting details from here, since it is a friendly guide. See box for glimpses into some places.

For Ghanekar, who began his rendezvous with nature during his college days when he used to go on excursions to forts, as part of the botany syllabus, his interest in trekking grew by leaps and bounds. Subsequently, as a member of the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhan Mandal and Bharat Outward Bound Pioneer, he became an avid and veteran trekker. Also, thanks to his botany syllabus, which included Paleobotany, meaning a study of plant fossils, entailed a lot of field study. 8220;During one such study,8221; states Ghanekar, 8220;while I was at the foot of the Pemgiri fort, about 20kms near Sangamner, on the Pune-Nashik Highway, I saw this massive Banyan tree resting on four acres, which is now well-known.8221;

His penchant for searching natural wonders and then sharing them with the public has earned him so much goodwill, that he has a fan mail.

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Says Ghanekar, 8220;One such person wrote to me that, at Hedvi, near Guhaghar in Konkan, there8217;s a huge rock, shaped rectangularly which rests at the shore, from which springs a natural fountain. When I went there, I was amused to see this 8215;10 metre long rock which is three to five metres deep and is one metre in width. During high tide, when the water fills the crevice, there8217;s a delightful fountain-like action from this crevice.

Some geologically and geographically important places 8211; some of which are destroyed due to development or encroachment:

On the rear side of Bhavan8217;s College in Andheri, Mumbai, is a slum colony which has camouflaged the Gilbert Hill, which comprises a series of pillars made of basalt rock. They are termed as Column Basalts but are now on the verge of destruction thanks to the slum encroachment. Otherwise, a rare geological wonder.

Other wonder sites in Mumbai include the fossils of tree trunks hidden under the Gateway of India, Fossils of frogs near Doordarshan, office at Worli and Pillow lavas lava in the shape of pillows on the Acharya Donde Marg.

The Ghod river bed full of pot-holes at Nighoj, in Parner taluka, near Ralegan Siddhi.

The Gulanchwadi land bridge near Narayangaon, in the vicinity of Ale Phata. Natural bridges are common only in coastal areas due to wave action and marine erosion but this is the only bridge known to be created naturally in the basaltic rock formation.

The village Pijdura in Chandrapur in Vidarbha district has assumed significance for the dinosaur remains like like bones and eggs.

The Lonar crater, about two and a half kilometres in diametre and 200 metres deep.

Some coconut trees on the Sindhudurg Fort which have two branches, instead of just one.

Bhimashankar has some fascinating trees that illuminate in darkness.

The Robber8217;s Caves in Mahabaleshwar, where at least 60,000 to 70,000 bats thrive.
And much more!
Officer, no more a gentleman?
There was a time, when an armed forces officer was an epitome of good manners, politeness and was the ultimate gentleman when it came to interacting with ladies. I remember, during our college days, we used to look up at any young army officer who almost always used to look dashing and smashing, and we couldn8217;t help being impressed by young NDA cadets who walked through the city roads, during their offs, in such a dignified manner. Now, we are not saying that this envious image is steadily dwindling.

Only, I came across the September 1999 brochure of the Rajendra Sinhji Institute RSI Club and wasn8217;t it a shocking revelation when I read this paragraph under the MEMBERS BEHAVIOUR8217; headline? It states: 8220;It has been reported by many members that some of the members8217; behaviour in the bar has caused concern as they are shouting and using intemperate language even when ladies are sitting around. All members are requested to feel concerned and co-operate with other members keeping in mind, the services etiquettes.8221; Surely, it is a matter of grave concern and we definitely would not like to lose out on this tribe, which is always, Courtesy, personified.

We civilians used to be reminded by our armed forces counterparts that it is only an armed forces officer who can treat a lady, like a queen. A fine example used to be: 8220;You know, how these civilians walk, when they are with their wives? They walk ahead, making the lady follow them. How rude!8221; And an armed forces man? 8220;Of course, he would be walking hand-in-hand.8221; Oh, wither this politeness? Oh, wither this dignity? We hope this appeal by the RSI management is just a timely warning and not already a serious blemish.