Brown Motion

Touted in the local Marathi community (that which hails from the western Indian state) as an evening of music with local talent and a special guest from Pune, it was marketed through social media to those that crave said entertainment. Myself not an avid listener and marginally enlightened about the Indian classical style, was not as intrepid as the spouse who was excited at the prospect of some socializing and getting an earful (of melodies). But being the Memorial Day weekend in the states (honoring war veterans) and us being in the local zip code (not having left town) for the entirety of it, I complied and we made it a date night. Drove to appointed venue which was a Yoga Studio when not used for sundry gatherings.  On the second floor in an office complex not far from home.  Warmed by the setting sun and poorly ventilated the desi gathering was quickly appearing to be a quagmire.  Couple that with largely carpet seating - remember the audience otherwise was th...

The 25th COEP reunion.  My personal visit to India this winter was in part to appease my better half and agree to go meet up the global alumni from our graduating engineering class of 1991.  Personally to me the meet and greet, which was entertaining to a degree was not as much the high point as the food (always a big draw for the even bigger tire around my waist) and the chance to breathe in the nostalgia that is 'the diesel fumes off the freeway (Mumbai - Bangalore highway)'.  Optionally there is the boat club with a trickle of a river - more sewage than river - to sniff. Regatta anyone?  Mula nadi - COE Pune Boat Club  So here are some of my fun memories from the recent gathering - a melange of marathi jevan - good food, old timers who as someone eloquently addressed as being 'once a flower now a cauliflower', and the Gothic stone architecture of the 160 year old buildings. The welcome was traditional - fit for a royal - with tutari wajan (a bras...