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

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Locating the vartaphalak

The exercise of locating vartaphalaks in the city was interesting. It led me just about everywhere. Gullis, mohallas, bastis, peths in the city. Bazaars, durgahs, dhobi ghat, taalim, rickshaw stands. Ganesh mandals, ‘young circles’, political party offices. Busy chowks and traffic-clogged main roads. The objective of providing this inventory of places is to demonstrate the two defining features of a vartaphalak – it is essentially found in community public space. And it always represents a collective, be it a Ganesh mandal, a workers’ union or a specific caste group. This makes a vartaphalak a social phenomenon.

The images that follow are familiar, everyday images. And therein is the point. Vartaphalaks are an inseparable part of the city’s landscape and of our everyday lives. To me they seemed to stand in their places stoically as life went on around them, looking upon the happenings and as we will see further, reflecting these happenings as well.

In this picture can be seen a vartaphalak adjoining a chawl in Budwar Peth.

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