Thackeray Sr in love with Sarkozy

Balasaheb Thackeray earlier expressed his love for Varun Gandhi after later’s ‘Haath Kat Doonga’ speech… and now he calls Sarkozy ‘Tagdaa Manoos’ for banning burqas in France!

3M is sure that Carla Bruni would agree to this new title!

Football is not Indian!

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) does not feel that Football is an ‘Indian’ game… instead it wants to promote khokho and the likes on BMC grounds... No wonder we are unable to make a mark on the international sporting scene!

Western Railways does not ‘speak Marathi’

In case you call up the Western Railways helpline in Mumbai and speak in Marathi, be ready to be rebuked… They will only help you if you speak in English or Hindi!

3M feels that this can only happen in Maharashtra… no other state will tolerate such nonsense!

NCP has a bad report card!

With elections round the corner, Sharad Pawar has realised that his boys have not scored much in the last decade as ministers… so will NCP be sitting in the opposition benches after the elections? Don’t underestimate this wily Maratha chieftain!

छत्री Chhatri

The magic of an umbrella!

‘71% of the workforce is Marathi’

CIDCO finds out that “71% of people working in Navi Mumbai are Marathis”… Shocking? Not actually… CIDCO’s definition of Marathi is any person having stayed in Maharashtra for 15 years! Hmmm… the question is how many of these people would like to be called ‘Marathi’?

Michael Jackson’s ‘Marathi connection’

As the King of Pop ascends to the netherworld, the Thackerays recount their encounter with him… and if Economic Times is to be believed, the 1996 Michael Jackson concert was the start of Cold War between Raj and Uddhav!

Now Marathi producers will shun multiplexes

As Multiplex owners and Hindi film producers slugged it out, Marathi films had a free run… especially ‘Mee Shivajiraje Bhonsale Boltoy’. But now that this Tashan has come to an end, Marathi films producers have decided to boycott multiplexes.

3M wonders if Marathi movies don’t run in Multiplexes and single screen theatres don’t want to show them… Marathi Manoos will have to stick to Zee Marathi & Star Pravah!

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Save Savita Bhabhi!

Since the ‘Marathmoli Savita Bhabhi’ Post was published, it has become the most googled page on my blog… Now as many Internet Service Providers try to block this website, Savita Bhabhi’s fans have started the ‘Save Savita’ Campaign!

3M wonders if the readers of this blog will follow suit…

Vampire Cult in Maharashtra?

Move over Transylvania… Maharashtra is the original Vampire land! Mr. Manjul has discovered the century old Vetal Stotra that can be used to appease this demon-god.

3M recollects the stories of “Aravalicha Vetoba”… something that all Konkani kids hear from their grandmoms!

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Marathi Manoos’s contribution to Gujarati Language

3M Trivia: Did you know that Gujarati Grammar rules were written by a Marathi Manoos? Strange but true! A team of Marathi Pandits headed by Gangadhar Shastri Phadake took the onerous task of compiling the rules of Gujarati grammar under the auspices of Native School Book & School Society in Mumbai. The society could not find a Gujarati worthy enough to handle the job! And now half a century later, another Marathi Manoos (Khandbahale) contributes to the language by starting an online Gujarati Dictionary.

So next time a Gujarati friend asks you what have Marathis contributed to Mumbai… show him this post!

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CR says ‘WTF is heritage’?

On one hand Central Railway is pitching Matheran Light Railway for a ‘World Heritage’ tag in future… and on the other it merrily goes about destroying the heritage structures along the trail!

खरा पाऊस Khara Paus

A poem by Soumitra (Kishore Kadam)

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'Power struggle' between the Senas

In pursuit for the Marathi votes, both Senas have decided to target the rising cost of electricity in Mumbai… While the original Sena sticks to its good ol' violent methods… the new Sena surprisingly make an ‘intellectual pitch’!

Iconic Tower @ Wadala

London has ‘Gherkin’… Dubai has ‘Burj’… Taiwan has ‘Taipei 101’… Tumhare paas kya hai?... Mere paas ‘Wadala Tower’ Hai!

Civil Aviation ministry has finally given a go-ahead to MMRDA for an iconic tower at Wadala in Mumbai… But MMRDA seems to have misplaced priorities… should it not be investing in developing infrastructure? Can we finish the simple metro and monorail projects before we take this flight of fancy? Even pothole-free road will do for a change!

3M wonders if the name of this tower will be CST – Chhatrapati Shivaji Tower?

Khalap resurrects ‘Maha Gomantak’

Even as Maharashtra and Karnataka spar over the disputed border areas, Ramakant Khalap (Ex MP and Chairman of Goa Law Commission) proposed that the Goa borders should be redrawn! This has its origins in the concept of ‘Maha Gomatak’... a state covering all the Konkani speaking areas like Sindhudurg District in Maharashtra and Karwar area in Karnataka.

Rediscovering our roots

Last Sunday, 3M decided to admit his 3 year old daughter in Kalangan, a cultural organisation that teaches music in addition to conversational Marathi to kids. I was pleased to see a bevy of kids and parents to apply for the admission… and then came the difficult part for us… filling up the form in chaste Marathi. If it was just filling the name and address, I would have done it in a jiffy… but giving answers to questions like “How do you spend time with your kids?”… That is all together a different ball game! Getting the right word in Marathi was difficult… and even if you get that right the रस्व and दीर्घ can kill you! I really felt ashamed that after wearing my ‘Marathiness’ on my sleeve… and online, I am unable to write properly in Marathi…

So all those ‘half baked’ Maharashtrians like 3M, 2 organisations are trying to revive Marathi… one in Pune and one in USA! While Aksharbharati has arranged for free Marathi Classes in Pune… Brihan Maharashtra Mandal has tied up with Bharti Vidyapeeth to teach Marathi in 46 Centres across USA.
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मराठा तितुका मेळवावा

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महाराष्ट्र धर्म वाढवावा

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‘Spirit of Bombay’

If Aakar Patel of Mint is to be believed, Mumbai… sorry Bombay was created by Surti Banias… and the ‘Spirit of Mumbai’ is actually ‘Spirit of Surat’! Mr. Patel mentions only the Gujarati speaking founding fathers of Mumbai i.e. Banias, Cutchi Memons and Parsis… What about Konkani Musalmans, Chitpavans, East Indian Christians, Pathare Prabhus, Saraswats, Daivadnya Brahmins etc? 3M suggests that Patel should take a stroll in the Bhau Daji Lad Museum @ Byculla to understand who the ‘Founding Fathers of Bombay’ were!

Mumbai is successful because it rewards merit… irrespective of the person’s origins... Not because of any single community!

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SSC vs Others

Congress seems to have woken up to the fact that Marathi Manoos matters when it comes to elections in Maharashtra… Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, the education minister in the current Congress led government in Maharashtra has come up with the 90-10 formula to solve the SSC vs ICSE/CBSE inequality!

Two decades back when 3M was seeking admission in FYJC @ Mithibai College, the situation was reverse… the SSC guys would score better than the ICSE/ CBSE types. Hence the later would get grace marks to even out the inequality… surprisingly Shiv Sena didn’t protest at that time!

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Cluster Development by Community

In a unique experiment, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community has decided to redevelop the Bhendi Bazaar area… A noble thought indeed but hope that they don’t end up making faceless blocks… what 3M calls ‘MHADA Follys’. They should be taking expertise of organisations like INTACH so that the area does not loose the distinctive look that it currently has… BTW the fabled Chor Bazaar is part of this precinct.

3M is sure that given the fact that the community has done a fabulous job when they resurrected the Saifee Hostipal… this will be a well planned project.

सांग सांग भोलानाथ Sang Sang Bholanath

As schools reopen this week, kids are praying for heavy rains that can prolong their summer vacation!

ही 'राज'नीती

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Another Email fwd...

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महाराष्ट्र माझा.. मी महाराष्ट्राचा

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मी मराठी मी मराठीम्हटलं तरका पडली इतरांच्या कपाळावर आठी?
दिसलीच पाहीजे सगळया दुकानांवर मराठी भाषेतली पाटी
बसायलाच हवी होती अशीया दादा लोकांवर मराठीपणाची काठी
दूर केलीच पाहीजे हीत्या लोकांची दमदाटी
आता फुटली आहे मराठीपणाच्या सहनशीलतेची पाटी
ही राज नीती खरंच नाही बरं का मराठी मतांसाठी
हा तर खरा आवाज आहे मराठी अस्तित्वासाठी
बोलतंय कुणीतरी आता मराठी माणसासाठी
राज तर पुकारतोय लढा मराठीच्या रक्षणासाठी
पाहा सगळ्या क्षेत्रात काय झाली आहे मराठी माणसाची गोची
रोजच्या रोज माणसे येवून येवून मुंबई भार सहन करेल तरी किती?
मुंबईच काय, ते तर शिरलेत आता मुळा मुठा नदीच्याही काठी
द्या सगळे मिळून लढा मराठी मातेच्या गुदमरलेल्या जीवासाठी
त्यासाठी आपण विजयी करायलाच हवी ही 'राज'नीती

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Interestingly today is Raj's birthday

Cross Connection?

मुंबईकर आणि मराठी - an interesting email

Got this interesting email from Suvarna (an office colleague) that highlights how Marathi Manoos himself is responsible for the state of Marathi Language in Mumbai... I have included some of the views from the email...

3M fails to understand why most Marathi Mumbaikar hide their origins in public?

Kripashankar Singh to don greasepaint!

Mumbai Pradesh Congress Chief - Kripashankar Singh is making a temporary change in profession … from Neta to Abhineta! True to his original quote - “UP is my Aai (Mother)… Maharashtra is my Maushi (Maternal Aunt)”… he is acting in a Bhojpuri and a Marathi Movie!

Rahul leaves ‘Ms. Kalavati’ high and dry

Now that Lok Sabha elections are over, ‘The Future of Congress’ seems to have forgotten the ‘Aam Aadmi’. A year back, Rahul Gandhi used Kalawati’s name to make an impassioned plea in favour of the nuclear deal. But now she complains that she has still to get the benefits promised by the prince…

Madam, please do not have high hope… u are not the only one... there are a billion other Indians who have been similarly taken for a ride in the last 60 years!

Nitish upset over Pune remarks

As Nitish Kumar helps Bihar to “stand on its feet”… Anti-Bihari comments by academicians in Pune during college admissions irk him!

Narrow gauge is alive and kicking

Even as Indian Railways continue to dismantle Narrow gauge rail lines in forgotten corners of India with Broad gauge ones… the ‘Tribal Traffic’ on NG lines in Vidarbha-Chhatisgarh is only increasing!

जिवलगा कधी रे येशील तू Jivalaga kadhi re yeshil tu

Dedicated to the Monsoon which is still evading Mumbai

Thackerays turn pro-Brahmin?

Balasaheb Thackeray’s father – Keshav ‘Prabodhankar’ Thackeray was a social reformer and one of the initiators of the ‘Samyukta Maharashtra Chalwal’. Before that, he was at the forefront of the ant-Brahmin movement in Maharashtra. Surprisingly, his grandsons have taken pro-Brahmin stance… Raj has defended Babasaheb Purandare against ‘Maratha Chauvinism’ while Uddhav has castigated the Maratha lobby for ‘trying to change history’.

फक्त मराठी

Unhygienic Education!

Pune is traditionally considered to be the ‘Seat of Education’ (विद्येचं माहेरघर) in Western India… but this survey clearly shows that when it comes to basic education we are light years away from even providing basic hygiene!

MMRDA to ‘facilitate’ UP-Biharisation of Mumbai

Even as Maharashtra Economic Survey shows that the State is inundated with migrants from UP, Congress-NCP government wants more of them! MMRDA has announced a scheme to construct 5 lakh houses that can be given to the homeless on low rent for a period of 5 years. On the face, it looks like a noble scheme to get rid of the ‘Slumbai’ tag that the city has acquired… But Ratnakar Gaikwad, MMRDA Chief, has stated that you do not need a domicile to get a rental flat in the new scheme… an open invitation to migrants! Why should the taxpayers’ money be used to get more people in this overburdened city? Instead the funds should be used to improve the housing of existing people in Mumbai… irrespective of their mother tongue!

Afraid that MNS will make political capital out of this issue; Shiv Sena declares that it will not allow ‘laying of even a single brick’ for such a project!

Pookutty… the ideal migrant?

Suddenly film industry is wearing their ‘Love for Maharashtra’ on their sleeve… At a recent award function in Pune, Aamir Khan emphasized that how his mother taught him Marathi as a kid… while Rekha claimed to be a ‘Daughter of Maharashtra’. She even attempted a ‘Maharashtra Majha… Mee Maharashtrachi!”… Don’t know if a certain Mr. Thackeray will sue her for copyright violation!

But away from this lip service, Resul ‘Slumdog’ Pookutty is actually contributing towards improvement of Marathi Film Industry… his way of giving back to the state which nurtured him… indeed the kind of ‘migrant’ Maharashtra needs!

MHADA blames the software

After TOI showed us that all is not well with the MHADA lottery process… MHADA officials claim that it is the software that has goofed up and the same will be scrapped… 3M wants to ask one question to these guys… “Hum log kya Alibaug se aaye hai kya?”

“Marathmoli” Savita Bhabhi

3M is sure this is not something the SS-MNS had in mind when they insisted that usage Marathi should increase in Maharashtra… Savita Bhabhi, the Indian “exotic” cartoon series, is now available in Marathi!

Pawar's watch shows 'wrong time'

ये रे ये रे पावसा Ye Re Ye Re Pawsa

Where the hell have the rains gone?

MAHAPOL POWERLIST June 09 Edition

click on the image to see larger version

The complete list of 25 most powerful politicians is as follows -

1. Sharad Pawar (68) NCP 0
2. Bal Thackeray (82) SS 0
3. Ashok Chavan (50) INC 0
4. Raj Thackeray (39) MNS +3
5. Chhagan Bhujbal (60) NCP -1
6. Gopinath Munde (59) BJP -1
7. Uddhav Thackeray (48) SS -1
8. Vilasrao Deshmukh (63) INC 0
9. Narayan Rane (56) INC 0
10. Nitin Gadkari (60) BJP +2
11. Ajitdada Pawar (49) NCP -1
12. R R Patil (52) NCP -1
13. Praful Patel (53) NCP 0
14. Murli Deora (71) INC +3
15. Gurudas Kamat (51) INC +3
16. Prakash Ambedkar (51) RPI -1
17. Ramdas Athavale (55) RPI -3
18. Vinay Kore (37) JSP -2
19. Sushilkumar Shinde (66) INC 0
20. Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil (76) INC 0
21. Manohar Joshi (71) SS 0
22. Vijaysingh Mohite Patil (64) NCP 0
23. Vinod Tawde (45) BJP 0
24. Sadashiv Mandlik (76) IND (New Entry)
25. Supriya Sule (39) NCP (New Entry)

Party Code:

BJP – Bharatiya Janata Party

INC – Indian National Congress
IND – Independent
JSS – Jana Surajya Shakti

MNS – Maharashtra Navanirman Sena

NCP – Nationalist Congress Party

PWP – Peasants & Workers Party (Shetkari Kamgar Paksha)

RPI – Republican Party of India (any faction)

SS – Shiv Sena

Movement on the MahaPol ladder –
0 : Zero indicates that there has been no change in the ranking over the previous month.
+X : Plus indicates improvement in ranking over last month and ‘x’ indicates how many ranks he/ she has moved upwards.
-X : Minus indicates degradation in ranking over last month and ‘x’ indicates how many ranks he/ she has moved downwards.

To understand the methodology used for the ranking click here.The figure in bracket indicates the age of the politician.

Analysis

• MNS vote share in Mumbai is next only to Congress as they were able to pocket almost 2/3rd of Shiv Sena’s votes. In addition MNS was the leading party in 10 assembly segments. All these developments have propelled Raj Thackeray to number 4 position.
• Due to the poll debacle of NCP, Ajitdada and RR Patil have slipped two positions (leading to Gadkari’s rise)… but Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel have retained their ranks as they were able to get their earlier portfolios at the centre.
• Murli Deora shoots up 3 steps of the ladder on two counts. His son was able to retain his seat even after lackluster performance and stiff competition. Secondly, Deora was able to retain his portfolio when other “over the hill” ministers were shown the door.
• The other Mumbai congressman – Gurudas Kamat also got a 3 point boost due to his unexpected win and entry into the central cabinet.
• Ramdas Athavale has been pulled down 3 steps due to his defeat… while the other Dalit leader, Prakash Ambedkar has come down one step inspite of his defeat as he was not a sitting MP.
• Inability to show their prowess in the elections has thrown Jayant Patil and N D Patil out of the Mahapol list.
• Two new entrants in the list… Sadashiv Mandlik the sitting MP from Kolhapur was denied the ticket by Sharad Pawar in favour of Chhatrapati Shahu, Scion of the local royalty. Mandlik rebelled to fight and win the election. Supriya Sule finally makes it to the list as she starts reasserting herself in the Pune region… overruling Ajitdada at times!

MahaPol can be directly contacted on mahapol25@gmail.com