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

Sunday, September 16, 2007

People behind the words- Anil Agawane


Anil Agawane. Works as a librarian in a local college and runs a sarvajanik vachanalay (public reading space) on Kumthekar Road. His conviction that every individual owes a debt to the society serves as his main motivation to run this reading space and to write on the vartaphalak. A member of BJP, Agawane is proud that his vartaphalaks do not reflect his political views at all; he believes that while serving the society, one should always reflect on what would be in the best interests of the society and not on one’s own selfish motives.
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