Why did you choose to come to Pune from Mumbai?

Pune is a good place to study Sanskrit. We have an excellent range of experienced grammarians here.

The city is known as the Oxford of the east. Do you think it fits?

When it comes to academics, I find Pune to be a lot more interesting than Mumbai. Here, we study Sanskrit with a modern approach as well as a traditional one, which is often missing in other cities or other universities.

What irks you about the city?

Coming from a city that is known for its efficient public transport, my first concern is the lack of buses, trains and metros. Another thing is the attitude of the people here. There’s a chalta hai attitude which is very irritating.

Pune and Mumbai are geographically close, but poles apart when it comes to lifestyles. Your observations?

Mumbai never stops and Pune never runs. When you enter Mumbai, you notice the city abuzz with excitement and energy, and you too get absorbed in it. In Pune, everything is slow and it makes you dull too.

Things from your hometown that you’d like to see in Pune and vice versa.

I would like to see Pune become punctual, adjust to a faster life. I would like to see everyone starting their day at six in the morning. If I can use a little bit of imagination, I would also like to see Chowpatty and Shivaji Park in Pune. And I wish that Mumbai develops a culture for Sanskrit like Pune.

City Seekers: A series on migrants in urban India.

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