News

TOI : PUNE: City guitarist Manoj Pandya has been strutting around like he just shook hands with Eric Clapton, and he has every reason to. Besides , it is not everyday that one gets an online scholarship from the Berklee College of Music, USA.

Manoj has been awarded an online, celebrity-sponsored scholarship to complete his masters course in guitar.

But bagging the scholarship was no cakewalk. The journey began when the 34-year-old guitarist stumbled upon the Berklee website on Youtube. “I viewed a few videos and played a few chords. I realised that my playing had improved. I did not waste any time and enrolled for the three-month online certificate course in ‘classic rock guitar’ ,” says he.

Manoj is convinced that the three-month programme has improved his skill. “The training has made me more versatile , technically more competent , enabled me to play complex pieces and tap the fret board with six fingers,” he smiles. Small wonder then that Manoj earned an ‘A’ grade in the course.

This success prompted Manoj to enrol for the online ‘master’s certificate course in guitar’ at Berklee. The course includes modules like guitar scales, guitar chords, blues guitar, classic rock guitar , jazz guitar, guitar sound, guitar improvisations and ear training, costing a whopping Rs 4 lakh. “The scholarship will certainly offset a significant chunk of the course fees and make my life easier,” says Manoj.

In Manoj’s words “an online course with Berklee, ranked as it is among the top music colleges of the world, is close to musical nirvana” . “High quality knowledge is just a click away. Your tutor appears on your computer screen and actually hand-holds you through the lessons.” Citing an example , he says, “Professional guitarists play pieces from the repertoire of legends like Hendrix , Clapton and Gilmour. They take pains to explain the details. We can shoot off mails inquiring…More

TOI : PUNE: Wholesale markets for foodgrains and grocery in Pune district will remain closed on December 23 as part of a state-wide market bandh call to protest against the government’s order on collection of levy from the buyers instead of farmers.

The bandh call has been given by a consortium of 42 traders and merchants organisations, which held a meeting at the Poona Merchants Chamber in Gultekdi market yard on Saturday . “Market establishments dealing in vegetables and fruits will not be a part of the bandh,” Ajit Sethiya, vice chairman of PMC told TOI.

The levy refers to a 30 per cent amount of the total labour charge collected by commission agents at the wholesale markets and deposited with the Mathadi Board, a state body for labour welfare. The amount is used for welfare schemes like provident fund, medical aid etc., for the workers in the market yards.

Till recently, the farmers selling their agri produce in the wholesale markets were being charged the levy. However, this was challenged by the Shetkari Sanghatana in the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court on the grounds that the farmers were mere growers of the agri produce whereas the actual trade was carried out by commission agents and merchants in the markets.

In a ruling passed in 2004, the high court upheld the Sanghatana’s case and issued directives shifting the onus of the levy on the buyers instead of the farmers. Yet, the court’s order was not implemented till September this year, when the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) issued an order effecting the levy shift to the buyers. Merchants and traders have been since protesting the move.

According to Sethiya, there are 240 APMCs in the state including Pune’s Gultekdi market yard, which is one of the biggest and most profit-making APMCs in the state. “Almost 2,200 workers are engaged in the foodgrains and grocery…More

TOI : DEHU: As a part of the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Sant Tukaram, nearly two lakh devotees from all over the country have gathered in Dehu for the international ‘Grantha Parayan Sohala’ (sacred book reading).

The event is a week-long programme in which the devotees will be reciting verses from the Tukaram Grantha.

The programme, organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Warkari Mandal, was formally inaugurated by state minister for energy Harshavardhan Patil and forest minister Babanrao Pachpute on Sunday . MLA Vilas Lande, Prakash Maharaj Bodle and PCMC mayor Aparna Doke were present on the occasion.

According to Prakash Maharaj Bodhale , president of Akhli Bharatiya Warkari Mandal, the ‘Grantha Parayan’ will be held round the clock for the next eight days. The warkari mandal received over one lakh nominations from devotees to participate in the programme . Huge pandals have been erected and other arrangements for the devotees’ convenience have also been made. The pandal can accommodate nearly 60,000 people. A separate conference on Sant Tukaram’s literature and a devotional music programme have also been organised.

Devotees from various states such as Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karanataka etc. have already reached Dehu. “We have made arrangements to provide one lakh granthas free of cost to the participating devotees,” said Sambhaji Maharaj Dehukar, trustee of warkari mandal.

According to the organisers, some devotees across from overseas like pop singer Judy Rust from Belgium, Michael Dehooki and Domenic S from Paris, and Misha from Holland, will be attending the programme. Prof Aparna Chatterjee from Shantiniketan Kolkata will also participate .

“The 400th birth anniversary of Sant Tukaram Maharaj is being celebrated throughout the state this year. Sant Tukaram Temple Trust has appealed to all devotees to celebrate the anniversary year by constructing temples, organising cleanliness drives, tree plantation drives, bhajans and other programmes throughout the year,”…More

TOI : PUNE: People panicked when fire broke out in a godown following nine consecutive LPG cylinder blasts at Parvatidarshan near Sahakarnagar on early Sunday morning. No casualties were reported but a large crowd gathered in the area after the incident. The fire brigade doused the fire in 10 minutes.

Speaking to TOI, senior inspector Uttam More said, “The godown, which is located near the Mahalaxmi temple, has been rented to the Raka Mangal Kendra. Around 3.30 am on Sunday, employees of the Mangal Kendra came to the godown. They put 15 gas cylinders, stoves and utensils in the godown and left,” More said.

“Around 5.15 am, nine of the cylinders exploded simultaneously due to a gas leak and a fire broke out thereafter. The impact of the blasts blew off the tin roof of the godown.”

Fire officer Prabhakar Umratkar told TOI, “We were informed about the fire around 5.24 am. Four fire engines and two water tankers were immediately sent to the spot. Within 10 minutes, the firemen put out the fire.”

“We found the mangled remains of nine cylinders, as well as six cylinders with their valves broken. As the godown is located on an empty patch of land, no casualties were reported,” he added.

“Around 5.15 am, we were woken up by the blasts, which rattled the doors and windowpanes of our house. We first thought it was an earthquake, but later learnt about the cylinder blasts,” Sahakarnagar resident Anant Kamat said.

More said a case has been filed against the owner of Raka Mangal Kendra, Pravin Raka (36) of Kenjalenagar, Bibvewadi-Kondhwa road, under sections 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire), 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) and 290 (public nuisance) of the IPC. The Dattawadi police are investigating further. Print Emai…More

TOI : PUNE: Additional sessions judge T M Jahagirdhar on Saturday sentenced brothel owner Sonal Roy (34) of Nepal to five-year rigorous imprisonment for inducing a minor girl into prostitution.

In March last year, activists Somling Kamble and James Varghese of US-based organisation Freedom Firm received a tip-off that a minor girl has been induced into prostitution in the red-light district in Budhwar Peth.

The activists, with the help of sub-inspector Gajanan Pawar of the Faraskhana police, rescued the 16-year-old victim on March 16, 2007. Roy, who had “bought” the girl from an unidentified woman, was arrested under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act.

Additional public prosecutor C G Kulkarni examined six witnesses to establish Roy’s guilt. Of the six, the panch witness had turned hostile.

Rohit Takawane, the lawyer appointed by Freedom Firm to assist Kulkarni, said after the trial that the organisation had flown the victim to Pune from West Bengal to depose in court. Freedom Firm works to prevent child abuse, Takawane said. Print Emai…More

TOI : PUNE: Pune, once the cradle of Indian hockey, is set to get a fillip with the laying of two new artificial turfs.
While one of the turfs has been identified for the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla — in fact, this one
is set to be laid within the next fortnight — the other has been sanctioned for the Bombay Engineer Group (BEG),
Khadki.

Presently, the city has two artificial hockey surfaces — one at Nehrunagar in Pimpri and the other at the Balewadi
sports complex. A third turf has been under the consideration of the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) since long and has
only just received the nod from the ministry of defence.

The city is, therefore, expected to have five artificial surfaces in the near future, far more than what most major
cities in the country have.

Hockey official Ikram Khan told TOI on Sunday that the poligras material for the NDA surface is already with the
academy. He said the NDA authorities have agreed to allow players from the local circuit to practise on this turf. “It
will be a boon for players as well as organisers of hockey tournaments in the city,” he added.
According to a source, the turf was sanctioned for the NDA’s diamond jubilee celebrations held this year.

Meanwhile, the sanction for the BEG turf was given by Army headquarters recently, an army source said. “However, the
turf will be laid only in the next financial year. The project would cost around Rs 4 crore,” the source added.

As for the Khadki turf, the sanction recently came from the ministry of defence, KCB vice-president Manish Anand said.
The project will come up on eight acres of land near the Khadki Post office, he added.

== Print Emai…More

TOI : PUNE: In a bid to conserve energy, the city railway division has installed solar-energy-based systems at more than 50 level crossing gates between Pune-Daund and Pune-Lonavala railway routes. The division has also made initiatives to use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and metal halide lamps at more than 10 railway stations in the division.

The initiatives have been made following a policy decision by the railway board asking all divisions to use CFLs. A special committee has also been set up to monitor the process.

Officials from the division stated that the energy conservation move has helped reduce electricity bills and it should also help reduce the division’s expenditure on maintenance. “Although the extent to which these measures have helped conserve power are yet to be calculated, we expect 40 to 50 per cent reduction in bills,” said M P Khobragade, divisional electrical engineer (general), Pune division.

Khobragade said that solar-energy-based systems will soon be installed at the additional 30 level crossing gates in the division. He added that the division is working towards installing the hybrid model, based on wind and solar energy, at the level crossing gates on busy routes. “The hybrid model could be used as the primary source of energy,” he said.

“Work of replacing all existing lamps and installing new CFL and T5 lamps is currently underway at more than seven stations. Three more stations will be covered under the drive and certain parts of stations, like waiting halls, dormitories and retiring rooms, will also be made energy efficient. Other railway properties, like residential quarters and running room at Pune and IRICEN hostel, will get solar water heaters and CFLs, soon,” Khobragade.

Print Emai…More

TOI : PUNE: The Vishrambaug police have directed the authorities of the Sir Parashurambhau (SP) college to prohibit outsiders’ entry on the college premises. The directive, issued on Saturday, came as a preventive measure in the wake of two separate incidents of attack on students of the college.

On Friday night, two students, Amit Kharade and Ranjit Kadam were beaten up by two unidentified persons in the college campus. As the news spread, more than 100 students from the hostel gathered on the premises and attacked the security cabin. A police team from the Vishrambaug police station, headed by senior police inspector C D Jadhav rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The police have filed a non-cognisable offence against unidentified persons.

Three days back, another student, Ritesh More was assaulted with sharp weapons by two people who were later arrested by the police. Following the incident, inspector Jadhav held a meeting at the college which was attended by officiating principal of the college Madhav Pendse and other officials.

Jadhav said, “We have asked the authorities to restrict outsiders’ entry on the premises. We have also asked them to deploy a few teaching and non-teaching staff at the entrance of the college every morning so that they can identify outsiders and prevent them from entering the college. We even suggested CCTVs.”

The police also suggested that the authorities ban all student groups in the college. “We also asked the authorities not to allow the groups to erect big banners inside or outside the premises,” Jadhav said, “We are planning to start the Mrityunjay Club in the college and involve as many students as possible. A meeting in this regard will be held on Tuesday.”

Officiating principal Madhav Pendse said, “The police have given us some directions and we are working on it. Our campus is spread over 30 acres and there are several…More

TOI : Along with the pirated versions of works by Paulo Coelho, Jeffrey Archer, Robert Ludlum and Sidney Sheldon lining the pavements, one gets to see a gamut of bestselling Marathi books that can be fetched for a steal.

Veena Gavankar’s Ek Hota Karvhar’, Agnipankh’ Madhuri Shanbhag’s Marathi translation of APJ Abdul Kalam’s much-popular autobiography and Vishwas Patil’s novel Panipat’ are being sold by vendors like hot cakes over the last ten-odd years.

Unbeknownst to most Marathi publishers, most of their bestselling books have become an easy source of money for book pirates from different parts of Maharashtra. “The piracy of Marathi books has increased in the last three years mainly because the prices of Marathi books are rising and a lot of publishers are not willing to increase the discounts given to booksellers,” explains Anil Mehta, the Mehta Publishing House’s advisor and a member of executive council of Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP).

The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Prakashak Sangh, of which he is an active member, had held a seminar last month to address the problem. Over 70 small and big publishers and writers from Pune, Nanded, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Nashik, Kolhapur and other cities of Maharashtra attended the seminar, which was one of the initial steps taken by the Sangh to make the publishers and authors aware of the intricacies involved in resolving book piracy-related issues.

“Pune has around 400 publishers. Out of these, at least 15 publishers have faced this problem,” says Mehta. Instances of piracy are aplenty with vendors selling unauthorised version of books on the streets, especially at Appa Balwant Chowk. And illegal copies are also being sold in good numbers at book exhibitions especially in rural parts of the state.

Most of the pirated copies are made in Nagpur, Delhi and Mumbai due to low production costs. “Piracy is occurring in regional literature across the country, but the publishers haven’t been…More

TOI : PUNE: In a bid to conserve energy, the city railway division has installed solar-energy-based systems at more than 50 level crossing gates between Pune-Daund and Pune-Lonavala railway routes. The division has also made initiatives to use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and metal halide lamps at more than 10 railway stations in the division.

The initiatives have been made following a policy decision by the railway board asking all divisions to use CFLs. A special committee has also been set up to monitor the process.

Officials from the division stated that the energy conservation move has helped reduce electricity bills and it should also help reduce the division’s expenditure on maintenance. “Although the extent to which these measures have helped conserve power are yet to be calculated, we expect 40 to 50 per cent reduction in bills,” said M P Khobragade, divisional electrical engineer (general), Pune division.

Khobragade said that solar-energy-based systems will soon be installed at the additional 30 level crossing gates in the division. He added that the division is working towards installing the hybrid model, based on wind and solar energy, at the level crossing gates on busy routes. “The hybrid model could be used as the primary source of energy,” he said.

“Work of replacing all existing lamps and installing new CFL and T5 lamps is currently underway at more than seven stations. Three more stations will be covered under the drive and certain parts of stations, like waiting halls, dormitories and retiring rooms, will also be made energy efficient. Other railway properties, like residential quarters and running room at Pune and IRICEN hostel, will get solar water heaters and CFLs, soon,” Khobragade.

Print Emai…More