New district Cong president

* Considering the clout that the current president of the Kalyan District Congress R B Singh enjoys, his opting out of the race for the district presidential elections at the eleventh hour, in favour of Pundalik Mhatre has raised quite a few eyebrows. Does the election of Mhatre herald a setback to the North Indian lobby which has been active in local politics for quite a few years now?

Morcha for power

* May 26, midnight, saw an irate group of people take out a morcha to confront the Executive Engineer of the MSEB. Since the last few days, electricity supply in Kalyan has been extremely erratic, going off every five minutes. The protesters included Nandu Joshi, Dilip Kane, Manesh Joshi and Chandrakant Bhoir. The engineer attributed the power cuts to an overload and less supply. The morcha resulted in, for a change, restoration of regular power supply. The citizens have demanded cutting off electricity to bars and other amusements at night to prevent this overload.

Principal concerns

* While on power supply, the least one expects the MSEB to keep in mind when they decide to have power-cut is the exam schedule. Last Friday the students appearing for exams at the Birla College had a difficult time deciding between fanning themselves and writing their papers.

Soon the whirr of a generator kicking to a start broke the defeaning silence. Invigilators and students alike heaved a sigh of relief thinking that the college had made alternative arrangements for power. When nothing happened for quite some time frantic enquiries were made. It was learnt that the generator was only for the principal's cabin. What was that about some being more equal than others?

Pathare felicitated

* Leading industrialist Jaykumar Pathare was felicitated in Kalyan by the Kalyan Nagri Satkar Samiti, established under the chairpersonship of Datta Kelkar. Pathare was born in Kolhapur, and came to Kalyan in 1963 with the intention of making a career in cricket. What was cricket's loss turned out to be a gain for the world of hosiery as the undergarments firm he set up grew to becomethe Rs 140-crore-VIP business house.

Civic identity crisis?

* A mistake has been pointed out to this diarist by a civic official. The name of the civic body, he points out is Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) and not Kalyan Municipal Corpration (KMC) as it was written in this diary last time. The error is seriously regretted Sir and this diarist stands corrected. Which brings us to the question why the inscription on the KDMC building still says KMC. Ditto with a lot of the civic body's cars too. Charity in this case does not seem to begin at home, wot?

Vishnu Mandir golden-jubilee

* On May 29, the Vishnu Mandir, Kalyan will complete 99 years, and will celebrate its golden jubilee year. Intitially, Gheladooji Gokana had constructed a small temple, and in 1950, Seth Jivandas Dayalji and Manilal Anandji started the construction of the present temple, which was completed in 1952.

Principal sent to America

* Vasant Purohit, principal of the Vidya Mandir School at Manda, Titwala, left for the US on May 27 for further studies in `Education to the poor and Adivasi areas'. Purohit has served in the field of education for 35 years, educating rural Vanwasi and Adivasi children. An MA, BEd, and Ayurvedic doctor, he has always been interested in job-oriented education.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.