All sights on Pune website

PUNE, March 16: Slogans. Speeches. Letters. Telephone calls. Faxes. And now e-mails on the internet. The tidal wave of support for former...

PUNE, March 16: Slogans. Speeches. Letters. Telephone calls. Faxes. And now e-mails on the internet. The tidal wave of support for former municipal commissioner Arun Bhatia that has swept over the city seems to know no bounds.

What else can explain the deluge of messages pouring in at the city website punecity.com from Puneites living in all parts of the world, in less than 24 hours since an appeal was put on the site to garner response from the visitors?

The appeal that went in the form of an editorial written by Dev Nadkarni, editor and director of the e-magazine punecity.com, evoked response from over 200 Puneites across the globe in the span of about 12 hours.

8220;It was amazing. I put in the editorial late Monday evening and by morning there were 60 messages on the site, many of them sent jointly by 20 to 30 persons. Even now every time I open the site there are at least 10 more messages sent in,8221; says Nadkarni. The e-mails, all from Puneites who are regular visitors to the site, have come in from the US, Japan, UAE, Australia, New Delhi, Indore and Pune itself.

Every single message received has been overwhelmingly in favour of the reinstatement of Bhatia with the government coming in for flak for the unceremonious transfer. 8220;Perhaps our over corrupt politicians found him too hot to handle. It only adds to the infamous political nonsense going on in India8230;but I am glad to see that Puneites are taking none of it and fighting back8230;8221; wrote Sujeet Sanzgiri from the US.

Another e-mail from Dr Girish Pathak, Morita Laboratory Department of Electricals, Electronics and Information Engineering, Nagoya University, Japan, states: 8220;I completely support the on-going drive to get back Mr Bhatia. Enough of rulers playing with ordinary people like toys. We must stop this nonsense.8221;

8220;Even though I do not live in my home in Kalyani Nagar I am aware and concerned about what goes on in my home city. When big companies or rich businesses bribe authorities to get their way around, some person is needed to put an end to these wrongful practises8230;what Bhatia did was only for the good of the people8230;I strongly urge all concerned to reinstall Bhatia in his rightful place,8221; vocifered A Khanna from Finland.

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8220;Every Monday we take up an issue and conduct an opinion poll amongst our readers on it. By the next Monday the results are computed and displayed, quot; he explains.

quot;But, this issue was simply too big to be dismissed justby h an opinion poll,8221; adds Nadkarni. Thus the rare and strongly worded editorial where Nadkarni called upon the readers to lend liberal moral support to the Puneites8217; efforts, 8220;to teach the government and influential people that they cannot get away with irregularities8230;on the basis of their money power8217;.

The response was unprecedented. 8220;Never before has an issue taken up by us on the website evoked such spontaneous response from so many people across the globe. And that too in such a short span of time,8221; admits Nadkarni.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More