Nashik Diary

Less than two months since the death of Jnanpith award winner, Marathi poet and playwright Vishnu Waman Shirwadkar alias Kusumagraj, the pratisthan, run by non-literary members, had issued a statement saying that anyone who wanted to either recite, translate or perform the litterateur8217;s works would have to take its permission. The missive was decidely arrogant as Kusumagraj had himself willed that the copyright of his works would remain with his publishers and for unpublished works an editorial board was named.

The trust8217;s appeal evoked such outrage state-wide that it eventually backtracked, explaining8217; that it was only interested in 8220;compiling information on individuals and institutions interested in Kusumagraj8217;s works8221; and it had never intended to levy afee.

For a poet whose works, especially his pre-Independence compositions had shaped an entire generation of Marathi-speaking people and who quoted from them freely, it was a fitting lesson never to prey on the human soul.

On Home Turf

When Dr Daulatrao Aher inaugurated the Stop Tuberculosis Project8217; in Kalwan taluka last week, he may have bought a few hundred votes. But behind the surgical mask his intentions were patently transparent.

The year-long project, a joint effort of the Government of Maharashtra and the Lite For Life Foundation, offers free treatment to persons in the taluka. No argument with that. But clearly, the state health minister hasn8217;t done his homework. Never mind Kalwan taluka, even Nashik district is not high priority as far as tuberculosis is concerned in a state-wide perspective. While Nashik district has 3,544 infectious TB patients, Mumbai has 5,410 patients, Thane 5,302, Pune 5,333 and Sindhudurg 5,004.

So, what8217;s the catch? The good docotr, you see, hails fromKalwan taluka and the Assembly hustings are but a few months away.

Watch Your Step!

After attending a recent convention of police-patils in Vani, Chief Minister Narayan Rane created a commotion of sorts just before he left for the helipad. Seated in the car, he realised he had forgotten his spectacles.

The officials and politicians accompanying him backtracked to the state government guest house and began rummaging through mattresses and cupboards to locate the annoying spectacles. Some even cursed their subordinates for not keeping track of CM8217;s eyegalsses. The drama continued for about 10 minutes before a sheepish Rane suddenly realised that his spectacles had been in his pocket all along.

Better get rid of those motes in the eye at once, Mr Rane, the electorate prefers politicians with 20-20 vision.