Third Eye

``In Pune, one feels safe even while moving around in the middle of the night.'' So pronounces 20-year-old Pratima Dewan, a second-year c...

“In Pune, one feels safe even while moving around in the middle of the night.” So pronounces 20-year-old Pratima Dewan, a second-year commerce student of Marathwada Mitra Mandal College. A Nepalese, she has been in the city for a year, education being the primary reason for her sojourn.

Ask what she likes about the city and she lists, “The climate – it is fantastic; the people – they are very nice.” But with the good, comes the bad. “I hate the chaotic traffic here, the increasing pollution and the open garbage bins that stink so much (I fail to understand why no action is taken against this?)” This apart, she also has to put up with misbehaviour by some locals. “But what really upsets me is the sorry state of many of the women from Nepal who have been dragged into prostitution in this city,” she adds.

For Pratima, Symbiosis and Fergussion College are `the’ most popular hangouts. And not only does she enjoy watching her favourite actor, Aamir Khan’s films, she also loves to go to `Khandala’ as well.

Story continues below this ad

From reel life to real life, just how expensive is this city? “Although accommodation here is costly, education in Kathmandu is more expensive.” Which is why she plans to do an MBA here after graduation. She also wants to take up computers, failing which she plans to return to Nepal and do her master’s in Kathmandu.

A non-vegetarian freak, Pratima ranks Camp Cafeteria as first in the list of favourite food joints here. But she complains that with Pune having a greater number of vegetarian restaurants, she is left with a rather limited range of places to choose from when it comes to eating out.

Does life in a foreign land not get lonesome at times? It does – she misses her parents and her three sisters terribly. However, with so many Nepalese students in Pune, home does not seem so far away.

‘Why weren’t TVK leaders told it wasn’t right day for a big event’: Cong MP Jothimani

Political Pulse5 hr ago

A stampede at TVK founder Vijay's rally in Karur led to the death of 40 people and injuries to many. Congress's Karur MP Jothimani identifies overcrowding, poor planning, and the timing of the event as possible causes. She recommends setting clear guidelines for political gatherings and consulting all parties to prevent similar tragedies.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS