Pune’s metamorphosis from cultural to economic capital

Pune, popularly the cultural capital of Maharashtra is a city with a future that promises to be as interesting as its history. Pune has been known by a plethora of sobriquets - Queen of the Deccan, Oxford of the East, and most recently pensioner’s paradise.

Pune is one of the few historical cities of India with a glorious past, a pioneering present and a promising future. Being surrounded by beautiful hills and the Sinhagad fort, Pune is among the greenest urban areas in the country with more than 40 per cent of its area under green cover and has a very conducive climate.

Pune, being part of the cultural capital of Maharashtra, exemplifies an indigenous Marathi culture and ethos, in which education, arts and crafts, and theatres are given due prominence. Its contribution to the cultural enrichment of the region dates back to being the birthplace of the poet-saint Tukaram and Jnaneshvara, the author of the well-known commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita. It is also the home of great freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Veer Savarkar and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Pune has been the finest example for the blending of the culture and heritage with modernization. Pune being the host of the traditional Pune festival and also Osho Commune International, can definitely be conferred the title of the veritable heartland’ of cultural Maharashtra.

The city of Pune first gained its importance as the capital of the Marathas in the 17th century. Being a long-standing bastion of the Maratha Empire and home to the legendary Chatrapati Shivaji, Pune is the centre of traditional Marathi culture, in which education, arts and crafts, and theatre are given pride of place. Since earlier days to the present times, Pune with some of the finest educational institutions provides quality education and is a prime factor in attracting both Indian and international students. Pune now, with its increasing inflow of population from every part of India and abroad is slowly becoming a cosmopolitan city and is now an important commercial centre.

In the recent days, the cultural capital of Maharashtra is growing into a major industrial and commercial centre. Its commercial belt of Pimpri-Chinchwad have been the hub of some of the biggest names in the manufacturing and IT industry However, Pune still retains the old-world charm of narrow winding roads which tender an interesting contrast to the open, spacious new city. At present Pune the 7 th ranking industrial metro of India, has evolved from just being the cultural capital of Maharashtra to being the industrial and economic hotspot of the region. With this had simultaneously increased the importance of better infrastructure and road link connecting Pune to the financial capital Mumbai. To meet this demand, a four-lane expressway was opened to traffic in 2000 which now has an average of 12,000 vehicles plying on its roads everyday. All these factors have contributed in transforming Pune, the erstwhile cultural capital into an economic zone and an investor’s paradise to eye for in times to come.

About Author
Steven Markig
USA

Category: Travel