I had absolutely nothing to do with the Secretary's visit. Given how stressed some of my colleagues were in the weeks preceding the visit, I can't really say I mind.
The week of the visit, I was asked to go to Pune (pronounced POO-nay) for a 2-day trip. The original officer who was supposed to go was embroiled in visit details, but the trip had to go on.
Well, gee. When you put it like that. I suppose I could do it, if that's where you need me to be.
Fieldtrip. Score!
Pune is the 8th largest city in India. It's about a 2-hour drive from Mumbai. Pune is very much a college town--the Pune University campus is huge and sprawling and green. That said, the buildings themselves on campus reminded me of the university in Siena: dark, lovingly worn by countless scholars, though hardly up to snuff with modern technological innovations; it was like stepping several decades into the past. I found it charming, really. All things considered, it's quite a testament to the dedication and ability of the people who come out of these schools, given the limited facilities they have to work with. I mean, I haven't seen a computer that old since my Dad bought one right before we went to India the first time!
Perhaps ironically, the tech industry has also established a firm foothold in Pune in the last 15 to 20 years; their employees makes up a significant portion of the work visa applicants we see at the consulate in Mumbai.
Pune is also a motorbike town and reminds me a lot of Bangkok in that way, though Pune isn't nearly so tall or massive a city.
I attended several events in those 2 days. There was an energy efficiency panel discussion, a women's rights panel, and a culmination ceremony for an ESL teachers' program. Speakers ranged from green energy entrepreneurs to a women's rights activist who served in the Indian Parliament for many years. It was such a pleasure to get out and meet so many intelligent and motivated individuals, and the students who attended these events were as pleased as I was, I think.
It was a really neat trip. Interesting people, interesting discussions, and a break from Mumbai. Way better than freaking out in anticipation of the Secretary's arrival. ;)
And finally, here is an image that's stuck with me from
Pune:
Don't let the picture fool you. This guy is a good 8 feet tall. This is the statue at the front of Symbiosis University in Pune (a very good private school here), whose law school hosted panel discussion on women's rights. With that nose and those tufts of hair, I was intrigued. Who could this possibly be? I've done a bit of poking around online since I got back, and apparently this is a staue of R. K. Laxman's Common Man, a famous Indian cartoon character. It's said to be the tallest metal statue of a cartoon figure in the world. Go figure.
Very cool, Symbiosis.
