Sandeep

The First Sanskrit Book Printed in Devanagari Script: Shrimad Bhagwadgeeta (1805 CE, Miraj) Shrimad Bhagwadgeeta remains the first ever Sanskrit book to be printed on a press in Devanagari script. It is also the first one in Devanagari script. Its printing was commissioned in 1805 CE at Miraj by then chief of Miraj Jahgir, Gangadhar Govind Patwardhan. The tale goes that there was one person, a coppersmith by profession, from Pune who had very good handwriting. He was deputed by Nana Fadnavis to Calcutta to learn the art of making copper dies for types from the British. By the time he made those copper types in Devanagari, his patron unfortunately died. And then Peshwa Bajirao II refused patronage to him. Dejected, he sought patronage in Miraj under the Patwardhans, who granted him so. But 1800-1802 was a transition phase as Miraj Jahgir was split into Miraj and Sangli (then a small village that became the bigger Jahgir). By early 1804-5 everything had settled, and then the Miraj chief decided to buy his own printing press. The artisan was assigned the task to set it up. Shrimad Bhagwadgeeta was the first natural choice for the book to be printed. Thus it became the first Sanskrit book printed in Devanagari in 1805. And Miraj had this honour. (Source: Mr Vasantrao Agashe's article in Marathi, also verified by historian Mr Mansingrao Kumthekar) Mr Kumthekar's version is slightly different about this tale, and he being a noted historian of the Miraj region seems more authentic. Nana Phadnavis had planned to get the Geeta printed in Devanagari. He approached Charles Malet for the same, and with the help of Malet the first ever Devanagari types were made by local Pune artisans. But soon Malet left and Nana died. And the project took a backseat. But fortunately then the Miraj chief knew about the project and decided to take over it. He set up a press in Miraj and called over the artisan family with Devanagari types to Miraj. In Shravana of Shake 1727 (1805 CE) the first Devanagari Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta was printed in Miraj. Originally 100 such books were printed. One of the surviving books and the only known one is with Mr Kumthekar. Its picture is attached below.

Did you know that there is a prominent 9 feet tall statue of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, near the Southern Command HQ in #Pune? @IaSouthern @adgpi

@Bruhatkatha 😀

@GodboleSandeep वळवाच्या पावसाला अवकाळी म्हणून बरबाद केलंय मिडियानं !!

After social media made 'petrichor' famous why not a #Marathi term associated with rain - वळीव or वळवाचा पाऊस. वळीव waLiv - Summer rain that is accompanied by lightning, thunder, wind, hail, generally in the afternoon; April-May, but mostly towards the end of summer.

@HokiePrachi @aparanjape 🙂

@GodboleSandeep @aparanjape I somehow do not like this word. It always makes my skin crawl like a painfully slow अळी 🐛 crawling down my neck. Uhhhh! 😩 And no, हळीव or अळीव doesn’t have the same effect.

#HanumanJayanti #हनुमानजयंती The #Maruti or Hanuman is among the most popular deities in #Pune. In the old central parts of Pune at many nooks and corners, at Shri Ram Temples, at local wrestling akhadas known as talim the Deity is worshipped. Records from 1810 indicate that there were atleast a hundred shrines and temples of the Deity then. Today the number would be much more.

@aparanjape Ah what a waste of energy and word power ! As children a simple phrase बाहेर रस्त्यावर हत्ती आलाय was more efficient for the purpose. 😀😆😅

BREAKING NEWS: ‘The Ultra Loop’ - A Stealth Pune Project Set to Redefine Travel BREAKING NEWS: ‘The Ultra Loop’ - A Stealth Pune Project Set to Redefine Travel Pune, India - March 31, 2025 - A secretive startup based in Pune, known only as "Project PNQ," has just thrust itself into the global spotlight with whispers of a groundbreaking transport technology: the Ultra Loop. If the rumors are true, this innovation could shrink the 150-kilometer journey between Mumbai and Pune into a jaw-dropping five-minute ride, clocking speeds of 5,000 kilometers per hour. While the world scrambles to verify these claims, one thing is clear—Project PNQ is operating in stealth mode, and the Ultra Loop is still a tantalizing promise, not yet a reality. Details are scarce, but sources close to the project suggest that the Ultra Loop builds on the Hyperloop’s vacuum tubes and magnetic levitation, adding a radical twist: quantum superposition. This isn’t just an incremental upgrade—experts say it could catapult transport into the hypersonic age, leaving the Hyperloop’s modest 500 km/hr speeds in the dust. Imagine a pod that leverages quantum mechanics to exist in multiple states at once, slashing energy loss and friction to achieve velocities that defy comprehension. If successful, the Ultra Loop would be a global gamechanger, rendering planes, trains, and automobiles obsolete for short-to-mid-range travel. The story broke earlier today when an anonymous tipster leaked a grainy photo of a sleek, iridescent pod prototype to a local Pune news outlet. The image, showing a tube-like structure snaking through an industrial complex, sparked a frenzy on X, where users speculated about its origins. “Is this PNQ’s Ultra Loop? 5k km/hr Mumbai-Pune in 5 mins? Insane if real,” one post read, garnering thousands of retweets. Another user quipped, “Quantum superposition in a train? Either PNQ’s cracked the universe, or this is the wildest PR stunt ever.” Project PNQ has remained silent, offering no official statement. The company’s identity is a puzzle—its founders, funding, and even its full name are cloaked in mystery. Speculation points to a team of brilliant minds, possibly IIT graduates or ex-ISRO engineers, working in a nondescript Pune warehouse. A single breadcrumb emerged last week: a patent filing under “PNQ Innovations” for a “Quantum-Assisted Hypersonic Transport System,” though the document is heavily redacted. Venture capital circles buzz with rumors of a massive, unreported funding round, potentially backed by Indian tech tycoons or international players eyeing the next big thing. For the people of Maharashtra, the Ultra Loop is a dream dangling just out of reach. Mumbai and Pune, long bound by choked highways and sluggish trains, could become a single economic powerhouse if the tech delivers. “Five minutes to Mumbai? I’d move to Pune tomorrow,” said Amit Joshi, a software engineer stuck in daily traffic near Powai in Mumbai. Businesses, too, are salivating at the prospect—imagine goods zipping between cities faster than a coffee break. Yet, the Ultra Loop remains in the realm of “if.” Engineers familiar with Hyperloop tech caution that quantum superposition at this scale is uncharted territory. “Vacuum tubes and maglev are proven,” said Dr. Anil Sharma, a transport tech expert at IIT Bombay. “But quantum effects in a moving pod? That’s science fiction until we see hard data.” Test runs, if they’ve happened, are under wraps—no footage, no eyewitnesses, just whispers from unnamed insiders claiming speeds “beyond imagination.” Another India based tech entrepreneur (who didn’t want to disclose his city) highlighted Pune’s laid-back culture and afternoon siestas, and expressed surprise about something like this being developed in the city. Globally, the news has rattled industry giants. A famous tech billionaire and a visionary has posted a cryptic X message: “5,000 km/hr? Someone’s raising the bar. Watching PNQ closely.” Meanwhile, tech media from across many countries are trying to desperately reach Pune to find more about this breaking story. As the sun sets over Pune, the Ultra Loop tube—real or rumored—stands as a shadowy silhouette against the skyline. Project PNQ has ignited a firestorm of curiosity, but the world holds its breath. Is this the dawn of a transport revolution, or a bold bluff from a stealth startup? Only time—or perhaps a five-minute ride—will tell. Stay tuned as this breaking story unfolds. _____________________

@KamathGurudutt @mybmc Well we need good people for sure. At the same time complete transformation of systems, views, perceptions, power equations rarely instantaneous. Change in the positive direction is often gradual and incremental.

Oh my God! Such good news! Will Ashwini Bhide transform BMC and Mumbai. I know 99% of you will disagree with me. But @mybmc is one of the most working government departments. By and large, I see clean streets and reasonably efficient service. (I do not have much interaction with BMC.) But my guess, hope is that Ashwini Bhide will transform BMC and Mumbai. I wish her all the best. I also hopes that she listens to us here and hope our interactions help her to make BMC and Mumbai better.

@aparanjape It is a great example of infusing modern facilities while retaining and maintaining the Heritage character of the building.

#Pune #quiz Can you identify this beautiful 100+ year old building (recently renovated)?

आधुनिक नाट्यकलेचे जनक व संगीत नाटक युगप्रवर्तक 'बळवंत पांडुरंग किर्लोस्कर' उर्फ अण्णासाहेब किर्लोस्कर यांचा आज जन्मदिवस. अण्णासाहेब हे मराठीतील पहिले श्रेष्ठ संगीत नाटककार आहेत. 'संगीतसौभद्र' हे त्यांचे विशेष लोकप्रिय झालेले नाटक.

Best Wishes @AshwiniBhide ji on the new responsibility.

Because the majority of the audience in India is ignorant, 'Dhurandhar' is a massive hit, and even when people like Santosh and Voice of Hind Rajab are banned, no one raises their voice! - Nikhil Wagle The liberal meltdown over #Dhurandhar2 has reached its final stage: Blaming the audience. ​Nikhil Wagle and his bubble have a one-word explanation for this Rs 1,100 crore success: Ignorance To them, if you don't prefer a censored docudrama over a nationalist blockbuster, you're just stupid. ​Newsflash: People go to the cinema to connect with their roots and their heroes, not to attend a re-education camp. The masses aren't ignorant; they’re just tired of being spoken down to by liberal elite living in a permanent echo chamber. The box office is the ultimate democracy. If your bubble is so small that you have to insult 1.4 billion people to feel superior, the problem isn't the audience - it’s your ego

Dear @virsanghvi isn't it interesting how @TheEconomist finds 'genius' in diagnosing the Indian psyche as 'browbeaten,' yet stays silent when Hollywood blockbusters like Air Force One or Independence Day cinematically turn the American Presidency into a messianic action-hero cult? And we all now how REAL that is! When Harrison Ford single-handedly terminates terrorists, it’s 'cinema' but when an Indian film celebrates its own heroes, it’s 'propaganda.' The selective amnesia of the Western critic remains the most imaginative fiction of all...but what can one say about eminent Indian editors like you, who don't see through these obvious double-standards? #Dhurandhar2‌ @AdityaDharFilms

@ram19703 Yes it is Nagjhari. The Nagjhari confluence and Mula-Mutha confluence is under 500m.

@GodboleSandeep Is it Nāgazarī? But Nāgazarī pours into Muthā a bit before the current Mulā-Muthā sangam.

The most plausible theory that explains origins of its name (carrying the word stem पुण्य) is its location. At the त्रिवेणी संगम of the मुळा-मुठा- नागेन्द्री. Such Sangam are considered Punyavan kshetra !

The Leela Charitra is a biography of Sarvadnya Shri Chakradhar Swami, the founder of the Mahanubhava sect. It was written in the late 13th century by his follower Mhaimbhat and covers the period from his birth as Haripal Deva, rebirth as Chakradhara, and his life till he travelled to the north (उत्तरपंथे गमन). This is regarded as the first biography in #Marathi. The text also mentions the opposition to Chakradhara and the Mahanubhavs during the reign of the Yadavas of Devgiri. Apart from the Lilacharitra, the Sthanpothi and Smrutisthal are the other foundational texts to understand the life of Shri Chakradhara. #MarathiLiterature #history #Maharashtra #MaharashtraHistory

@TeaChaiLa Is it a PMC initiative. To the best of my understanding is a social activity of a group that was championed by the late Shri Jayantrao Tilak.

Kannada Mahakavi D.R. Bendre’s mother tongue was Marathi and he lived five years of his life in Pune. This is honoured by Pune Municipal Corporation by placing an information plaque on his house

**राणी विक्टोरिया, ते ही पुण्यातल्या कसबा पेठेत!:** #छत्रपतीशिवाजीमहाराज आणि #राणीविक्टोरिया यांच्या प्रतिमा कसबा पेठ, #पुणे येथील जुन्या वाड्यांच्या बालस्ट्रेड्सवर (कठड्यांवर). मला हे पाहण्याची संधी माझे मित्र आणि पुण्याचे चालते-बोलते विश्वकोश @GodboleSandeep यांच्या मुळे मिळाली. #history #Marathi #PuneHistory #BritishIndia #VictorianEra #Maharashtra #MaharashtraHistory

The working class staple in #Pune for a filling eat much before vada pav made an appearence and misal became so ubiquitous has been - pav sample - pav meant thick bread slice/s and sample, thin gravy with generous amount of red chilli powder. On a good day bhaji patrons added kanda-bhaji as a side. All eateries catering to the hard working classes offered menu of pav sample, bhaji, shev chivda and ladu. (Dry) Bhel sold at 'bhadbunja ' shops eathen with green chlli thecha and whole onion smashed with own fist was another affordable treat.

@thedarkrebel Let me tell you more till as late as late 1950s this was a wateland full of shrubs and trees, yes there was no road here !

There is a Alexander Graham Bell Chowk near the BSNL exchange at Bajirao Road.