Citygritty 8212; Pune

Parents' PlatformFor many parents, it's an uphill task to face life when their children stay far away from them. Four years ago, Advocate...

Parents8217; Platform
For many parents, it8217;s an uphill task to face life when their children stay far away from them. Four years ago, Advocate N.L. Abhyankar, father of a Non-Resident Indian, started the Non-Resident Indians8217; Parents Organisation in Pune for those whose children were/are employed in foreign countries. The parents meet regularly to exchange notes on their experiences, grievances and difficulties.

Says Madhav Paranjpe, member, 8220;The organisation was started in 1994 because parents were facing visa problems then. We got together and presented our case to the American Consul, who helped us out. As often as possible, we meet and also hold lectures on health, entertainment or other interesting topics.8221;

On January 31, a meeting was held at Apte Prashala School, Apte Road, where Shrikant Mundada, chairperson, Hridaymitra Pratishthan, delivered a useful lecture on how to tackle heart problems. The members of the organisation have also started working on some social causes. Two projects on the anvil are Sukhaashram, a proposal to build a condominium where only old people will stay together; and Partnership in Progress, a database on the Internet.

Towards self-reliance
The Indira Gandhi National Open University IGNOU has decided to start special courses for the physically and mentally handicapped and blind students. On February 2, its vice-chancellor, Professor Abdul Wahid Khan, said, 8220;It8217;s a step towards self-reliance. And they will be able to contribute productively to the country8217;s resources. We have talked to institutions like the National Association for the Blind and Rehabilitation Council of India for guidance.8221; IGNOU has a study centre in Pune with modern multi-media facilities. A step ahead for education, surely!

Addressing the heart
For all Puneites, this comes as a Valentine special. A romantic comedy, You8217;ve Got Mail, is set for release in the city on February 12. Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, the film has very modern-day references like falling in love on the net.

The two protagonists, Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly, live and work blocks from each other. Both are satisfied with the life they lead until they meet in a chat room and keep in touch through e-mail. With electronic pseudonyms like NY152 and Shopgirl, what follows is a tale of falling in love and then revealing identities. A film to make you feel good.

Pop does not rock
Pop! They had pop music at a rock show?8230; was the reaction of most at the Yo Appy concert at the Regatta, Koregaon Park, on February 3. The crowd, numbering about 1,000, was all geared-up for some good rockin8217;. And if Ezee Meat was opening for Infra Red, the band from Mumbai, then it had to be good. After all, Ezee Meat ain8217;t no mean act themselves. And the regular shows at Jazz Garden have done their bit to spoil Puneri ears with good-quality musicians from the city and the metro.

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Instead, as Infra Red took stage, screaming doubtful messages to 8220;defy AIDS,8221; followed with even more doubtful statistics, a barrage of pop, disco and other muzak followed. The crowd was a mixed bag, with rock aficionados groaning in tandem with the appreciation of the less puritanical elements. From Nazia Hassan to Ricky Martin to R.D. Burman, the Infra Red pot-pourri would fit a discotheque rather than a rock show. Earlier in the evening, Ezee Meat kept their end of the bargain, with tight renditions of Bryan Adams8217; I Need Somebody,, David Lee Roth8217;s Just Like Paradise, Jimi Hendrix8217;s soulful Little Wings and Van Halen8217;s immortal This dream is over, dream another dream. All things said and done, somewhere, somehow, rock n8217; roll will come back!