City Beat

I am soon handed a schedule for my 8216;mayor8217; day, as she is by her Jeeves. It reads like a city map. We are going all over, and every appointment must be kept.

8:30 am: We are to start for Khadakwasla, about 20 km from Pune, to check on the progress of a jack well there. But a prominent gynaecologist8217;s sudden demise impacts our plans.

Every event, good or bad, must involve the mayor. We8217;re off to the hospital, where the deceased gynaec was a force to reckon with. Customary obeisances and condolences are paid. I8217;m having a tough time switching sides. There are journos out there waiting for soundbites and I know most faces.

10 am: A street is being renamed, though we8217;re not sure where it actually is. But when we reach there, the sound system fails and nobody knows what was read out about the man whose name will grace the street now. Morals of the story: Things like this are par for the course. Ask for a list of names you must mention in your thank-you speech. Make generalised statements about how the municipal corporation cares for you. Smile. Always. And yes, do remember controversy can seek you out anywhere. A man rushes up to the mayor protesting the change. Just smile.

11 am: This one8217;s fast. The mayor8217;s car stops at a municipal-run arts and culture hall named after legendary singer Balgandharva. It is his death anniversary and his portrait has to be garlanded. 8216;8216;Twirl the loose ends of the garland8217;s thread, on either side, around the nails on the portrait,8217;8217; advises Chaudhari. This is crucial training, sort of like learning the ropes. After all, almost every day is an 8216;anniversary day8217;.

12 noon: We are at Khadakwasla. At the plant, we just look at whatever they are pointing out to us. The official bouquets are handed; for-the-record photos clicked; chips, biscuits and coffee passed around. And all of it is repeated when we visit the adjacent water treatment plant. Too much chai pani? 8216;8216;I usually avoid eating. In fact, I carry some butter sandwiches to tuck into if I feel like it,8217;8217; says Chaudhari, producing a steel dabba wrapped in a plastic packet.

1 pm: By now I am wondering when work starts. Back at Balgandharva, we meet theatre people, discuss repair work of the hall, suggest setting up of a standing committee, mull over why too many dance programmes are being scheduled, and ponder how to tackle an alleged cheat who runs the phone booth in the compound.

1:45 pm: This stop is at the mayor8217;s request8212;Pune Home for the Blind Girls8217; School. Finally something that feels real and also makes me realise the possibilities this office holds. On our way back, Chaudhari is on the phone for a long while. Enquiring whether her seven-year-old daughter Heena8217;s lunch was sent and whether she ate; talking to party members about a media reaction to an incident; dealing with a threatening I-want-my-work done call; and directing her PA on notices to be kept ready. The day is just warming up. We take off for a typical Maharashtrian lunch at Chaudhari8217;s place.

4:30 pm: Two words mean much to a political appointee to a civic post8212;jugad slang for temporary arrangement and tod quick fix. At the mayor8217;s janata darbar at the municipal corporation, people stream in with all sorts of requests: Get my son bail, get me an admission, give our school some aid, we need a senior citizens8217; certificate, reduce my tax, please grace our event8230;

8216;8216;During June and July, I am inundated with admission requests. To top it all, they come to me at the last moment,8217;8217; says an exasperated Chaudhari. I am amazed at the speed with which each request is dealt and also how a tod is found to every request. This is certainly the mayor at work.

6 pm: The chief minister is expected to inaugurate a corporation swimming pool in a couple of days. We take stock of the preparations at the place. It8217;s far from ready, but the mayor is assured things will be sorted out in time.

There8217;s a call from home for Chaudhari. Her daughter has asked for a trip to a park. 8216;8216;She usually doesn8217;t, so when she does I want to make sure it happens,8217;8217; she says. The rest of the appointments are juggled.

The politician wants to go home. So do I.