about vartaphalaks...

the ubiquitous vartaphalaks which dot the older parts of pune city in hundreds, represent a fascinating case of public spaces which become sites of articulation of different kinds of agendas and identities, in an urban context. vartaphalaks generally serve as visual markers of the collective that exists in the precincts of that notice board. this could be local branches of political parties, youth collectives, residential collectives, auto rickshaw drivers’ unions and so on. the various symbols and imagery that is inscribed in and around these spaces and the content and the rhetoric of the matter written on vartaphalaks make for a public space extremely rich in visual content.

spaces around vartaphalak

spaces around vartaphalak
kumthekar road, sadashiv peth
this is a typical space as defined by a vartaphalak. this message was written a day after the civic election results were declared, expounding on the topic of 'kartavya': It is but natural to be enthused by victory and be disappointed by defeat. However our tradition tells us that more important than victory or defeat is our duty

spaces around vartaphalaks

spaces around vartaphalaks
tiranga young circle vartaphalak, ghorpade peth

Thursday, May 24, 2007

the moral discourse


जेव्हा विचाराचा दिवा वीझतो तेव्हा वर्तन आंधळे होते। When the light of reason extinguishes, conduct becomes blind.

i had written in my earlier post about a set of vartaphalaks which espouse on the 'good ways', 'ideal behaviour' and overall laud a moral life...here is a sample to give you an idea of the content and the rhetoric that goes into this moral discourse...

तुमचे विचार जर शुद्ध असतील तर आपल्याला जे वाटते अ फेव मोरे जर जे बोलतो ते करणे सोपे जाते। If your thoughts are pure then it is easy to say what you feel and do what you say।
साई सेवा प्रतिष्ठान, गुरुवार पेठ

a few more...

जर एखादा समाज आपली नीतीमूल्ये गमवील तर तो सर्वस्व गमवील । If a society loses its values, then it will lose everything. sai seva pratishthaan

सामर्थ्य...महत्वाकांक्षा...निर्भयता...अभिमान आणि औदारय या सदगुणांचा सुरेख संगम तरूणाईत असला पाहिजे!
Youth should be a beautiful combination of the virtues of capability…ambition…fearlessness…pride and generosity! muktai प्रतिष्ठान

यशस्वी माणसं स्वप्न डोल्यासमोर ठेवून काम करतात। अयाशस्वी माणसं केवळ कागदी घोड़े नाचावतात। यशस्वी माणसं आपल्या बरोबर इतरान्नाही यश प्राप्ति होईल या विचाराने काम करतात। यशस्वी माणूस वचनबद्ध असतो। अयाशस्वी माणूस फक्त आश्वासाने देतो।

Successful people have their dreams in front of them while working towards them. Unsuccessful people merely build castles in the air. Successful people think about how others would also benefit along with their own selves, while working. A successful person is bound by a promise given. The unsuccessful person merely gives false assurance. kumthekar road sarvaajanik vachanalay




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