Fields of Vision

Minal Deshmukh has learnt that you reap what you sow. The 23-year-old from Umraj village in Junnar, Pune district, looks back on her growing-up years...

Minal Deshmukh has learnt that you reap what you sow. The 23-year-old from Umraj village in Junnar, Pune district, looks back on her growing-up years when, as the eldest of five siblings, she began her day working her father8217;s fields, hitting the hay late in the night after catching up on her studies. Topping her class every year in school, Deshmukh went on to become the first from her village to earn a B.Tech degree. In August she will join Hewlett-Packard in Bangalore as a software engineer.

Just 100 km away, in Markal village in Alandi, 21-year-old Kiran Lokhande has reached a similar milestone. In a fortnight, Lokhande, also hailing from a family of farmers, will walk down the hallowed portals of Infosys in Mysore as a programmer. Deshmukh and Lokhande are not the only young ones to transcend the boundaries of their villages to enter the corporate world. Maharashtra is witness to a growing movement led by the children of humble peasants, who are taking the first faltering steps in corporate streets, steps that will soon become confident strides.

Ask Ashwini Dere, a 22-year-old from Vaishnavdham near Junnar, who is now a year into her first job. Like Deshmukh, she studied in a Marathi-medium school till class X, before pursuing a B.Tech in Computer Science from Cummins College for Women, Pune. A software engineer with TCS in Mumbai, Dere is contemplating a shift to Sydney, where her engineer-husband8212;who hails from Junnar and has traversed the same path8212;is now based.

8220;It8217;s a great feeling to have reached so far,8221; enthuses Deshmukh. After completing high school from Mahalaxmi Vidyalaya in Umraj, Deshmukh moved to nearby Narayangaon for senior secondary education. Enrolling for a diploma in engineering from the government polytechnic in Pune got her straight into second-year engineering at Cummins, where she got placed while still in the third year of her course. The earn-and-learn scheme in her hostel in Pune helped her fund her education. Later, she moved in with an elderly lady who lived alone, doing chores for her around the house. For the first two years of the B.Tech course, Deshmukhnbsp;had tonbsp;depend onnbsp;a bank loan, but a scholarship saw her through the rest of the course. Her parents did broach the topic of marriage initially, but respecting their daughter8217;s ambition, they decided to let her pursue her dream. Deshmukh wants to 8220;earn enough to help my father and support my siblings in their education8221;.

Echoing the thought is Jayant Satkar from Shirur, who has been selected by LG Electronics for its plant at Ranjangaon. 8220;I want to ensure that my parents don8217;t have to work hard at the farms,8221; says the 21-year-old engineer who makes Rs 3 lakh per annum8212;enough to provide for his family, whose annual income has never exceeded Rs 45,000.

Taking the plunge into English-dominated corporate culture has not been easy for these youth educated in Marathi. 8220;Though both Cognizant and Infosys offered me a job, they said I must work on my communication skills,8221; says Lokhande, who has never ventured into the swanky coffee shops that dot Pune.

One of the common strands that bind these youngsters in search of a new life is a desire to improve the lot of their villages. Back home, they are heroes, with schools inviting them to guide students. Lokhande says, 8220;After me, six other students from Markal are pursuing their B.Tech from Pune.8221; Whatever rural India might be lacking, it certainly doesn8217;t lack inspiration.

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