Archives: Employee Stories

Dear Everyone,

I am Shantaram Borhade from P&ES, and I have proudly been a part of the Thermax family since 1998. On 5th January, 2023, I penned a letter to our Honourable Prime Minister. The subject of this letter was Cancer, a merciless adversary that is silently but steadily tightening its grip on our nation.

In my letter to the Prime Minister, I shared my concerns about the alarming surge in cancer cases throughout the country. I am no expert on global statistics, but the increasing number of cancer patients in our nation deeply troubles me. I drew attention to the stark reality that cancer does not discriminate; it claims the lives of the young and old, the rich and poor alike. To emphasise the gravity of this issue, I recounted the tragic stories of respected leaders like Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, and Manohar Parrikar, who succumbed to this formidable foe. Their battles with cancer serve as painful reminders of the hardships faced by countless ordinary citizens.

It is disheartening to note that a significant number of cancer cases are detected in advanced stages, making successful treatment an arduous journey. The unaffordable cost of cancer treatment compounds this suffering, leading some individuals to the brink of despair, with suicide as their last resort. Adding to the urgency of the situation, there isn’t a single government hospital dedicated to treating cancer in our country.

But rather than dwelling on despair, I proposed practical solutions to the Prime Minister, drawing inspiration from our nation’s victorious battles against diseases like polio, cholera, and tuberculosis. The path to defeating cancer, I believe, is also a path of progress. My suggestions included:

1) Annual Cancer Screenings: Advocate for regular cancer screenings for every young adult.

2) Expert Committee: Form a committee of experts to identify and eradicate the root causes of cancer, such as plastic usage, pesticides, adulterated food and pollution.

3) Comprehensive Patient Care: Ensure every cancer patient receives the care and support they need.

4) Affordable Medication: Make cancer drugs more accessible or even free, similar to the treatment of tuberculosis.

5) Nationwide Cancer Hospitals: Establish specialised cancer treatment centres across India.

6) Promotion of Healthy Living: Encourage and support a healthier lifestyle.

7) Research and Support: Provide motivation and funding to organisations and scientists dedicated to finding cancer solutions.

After sending the letter, I persistently followed up with the Prime Minister’s office. On 4th November 2023, my phone rang, and it was the PMO office on the line. I was overjoyed to learn that the Prime Minister had not only read my letter but had also agreed to implement many of the suggested measures. In this context, it is said that the department of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial assistance to the states and union territories under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of NonCommunicable Diseases (NP-NCD) programme.

The following points have been agreed upon by the Prime Minister’s office and Health Ministry, which outlines the planned actions.

1) Strengthening infrastructure

2) Human resource development

3) Health promotion

4) Cancer screening of citizens aged 30 years and above by Ayushman Bharat Health Wellness Centre every year.

5) Prompt diagnosis and effective remediation

6) Referral to the appropriate level of facility

When the Prime Minister’s office asked for my opinion, I expressed partial satisfaction with these developments, but I understand there is still much work to be done. I vow to continue our dialogue and collaboration on this crucial issue.

At times, I encounter obstacles, such as securing the necessary funds for this noble endeavour, and earnestly call upon those who have the means to step forward and support this life-saving cause.

My dear friends, this is an arduous journey ahead, and with your support, we can make strides in the right direction. Together, we hope to save lives and bring about change.

With gratitude,
-Shantaram Borhade, Mechanical Draftsman
P&ES MPP, Sai Chambers, Pune

Recently, I was on a leisure trip with my family when I happened to stop at a colourful and petite dhaba (food outlet). We ordered aloo parathas, hot tea, and finger food items. I was amazed by the cleanliness, happy faces of the staff and of course, the fabulous taste of the food at this outlet. So much so that I felt I should give a good feedback to the manager. As I was approaching the manager, my eyes quickly spotted an elderly man who was passionately cleaning near the entrance area. He was a decent guy. I asked him what made him work so passionately to clean the floor. He replied with a smile that it was his dream to serve people with good food and bring smiles to their faces. I interrupted and asked how he was achieving it by cleaning the floor. I was astonished by the reply. He said that bringing a smile to other people’s faces is an outcome of customer satisfaction. Maintaining cleanliness is one of the important parts. The manager arrived and revealed that the elderly gentleman with whom I was interacting was the owner of the outlet. I could not stop but acknowledge and salute his dream and purpose in life. This event stayed in my mind for some time. It took me back to my ongoing self-exploration journey of finding a dream and purpose for my life.

Finding a dream is a vast subject. For the sake of clarity, let me narrow it down to dreams that connect with the passion and purpose of life. Is passion and purpose the same? Well, I think they are quite different. I think passion is what excites the self, motivates the self, makes one happy or gives a sense of achievement, it’s more inward. While purpose is more focussed, reasonable, deep, and outward, we often know or find our passions but, it’s difficult to find a purpose. When was the last time you thought of finding a purpose in life?

The world is filled with infinite opportunities and possibilities. It’s up to us whether we are cognizant of them. Many people start with their dreams but often land elsewhere. Many often crib with whatever they think they are forced to do for a living, may it be a job or some business. Many find out ways to remain focussed and be successful even though they are not close to what their passion would be. The point is even if people land up doing different things, few still find ways to be successful in whatever they do, but does that give them satisfaction or does that make them happy?

I love exploring this space. It’s crucial to find purpose and, more importantly, the “why” part of it. I thought I should pen down a few thoughts brimming in my mind for the readers. Hope it will help in igniting spark and dreams.

I have always tried to find purpose in my dreams and so far, have been able to navigate through the rough waters, trying to get clarity around it. The good part I like about dreams is there is absolutely no restriction it’s an open mind that is full of unreal and fancy thoughts. But that’s how dreams should be – “unreal”, else how it can be a dream, it would rather be a reality.

There are many examples of people who thought differently, walked unchartered paths, and chased their dreams to make history. I can think of Steve Jobs who dreamt of “putting a computer in the hands of everyday people”. Stephen Hawkings dreamt of discovering the secrets of the universe and experiencing zero gravity, which he eventually did. But this may or may not happen with everyone. We have ample examples where, despite passion, things have gone completely wrong. I think there is a big connection between having a dream and chasing it. That connecting link is “believing”. Believing in dreams, believing in your abilities, believing in the outcome, believing in the people around you, believing that you can do it. This “believe” part is the biggest hope of converting dreams into reality. The good news is that we can make ourselves believe in just anything.

Dreaming can be rogue and vague. It is, therefore, essential to refine it before you manifest it. Refining would also mean we have to believe it first. For this, we need to have conviction, we may have to work hard to convince our minds. I think mapping our dreams, processing the information, and critically analysing it to verify real-life scenarios is an important step in refining our dreams. Our ability to simulate the dreams and run the simulations in various scenarios that we could think of would better prepare us for the refining of dreams. Many leaders, thinkers and coaches are better prepared for any situation because they “simulate” things proactively. They can picture themselves acting in a crisis situation, or handling press conferences that go wild or managing shareholder demands or responding to complex questions on a holiday while sitting in a chair comfortably. Now that there is conviction, it’s important to convert the dream into a goal or vision.

Once we have a goal or vision, I have found that sharing it with our close network, mentors and guides is important and beneficial. They can keep adding value which can help us to further refine the goal or vision. The more we keep sharing with them, the more we start believing in it. Once our goal is clear, our vision is set, half the work is done. It’s then time to break down dreams into milestones or minigoals, chart an actionable plan and execute the plan. The most important thing is to enjoy this process and embrace it joyfully because finally, this connects back to the purpose. We may fail, we may deviate but it’s important to rethink, revisit, recourse and enjoy the achievements in the process.

Well, this article is not intended to lay down any golden rules that can work, but I wished connecting some dots in our minds, toy with some thoughts and philosophies, provoke you to see the bigger picture, and check if all of it makes sense. I trust it will certainly trigger more thoughts and take you back to your dreams.

If you had a dream that you let be dormant, re-ignite the dream and fan the flames. Keep dreaming, keep believing in yourself and chase your dreams!

-Abhishek Bhave,
Growth Unit Head,TBWES, Energy House, Chinchwad

Hobbies play a very important role in our lives. They occupy our minds when we are free and also make us happy.

I started hooping in my childhood as a hula hoop was gifted to me, but little did I know that it would become a life-long hobby. I started learning various tricks with my hoop. And it has given me joy since then. Hooping has given me freedom, expanding my mind and creativity and providing the hope to see the beauty of my inner potential.

Hula hooping is a fun and spirited activity where you learn various hooping tricks. Hooping tends to strengthen your muscles. Gradually, you unlock each level of hoop tricks, just like the levels in video games. Day after day, you can see yourself at the next level.

Hooping is a pleasurable practice that helps you to express yourself. Hooping is a form of expression that will connect you with your body and mind and will make you want to move for joy, freedom (from negative thoughts) and rhythmic flow with some music.

Hooping can also be done with the help of yoga, as yoga makes you more flexible. Hence hooping and yoga both will give you more flexibility and a cheerful mind every day.

What I love about hoop flow is that it allows both the mover and the viewer to immerse in it completely. Moreover, hooping has helped me to reduce stress as it helps me to completely immerse myself in it. Over time, I’ve not only honed my skills but also shared my passion by volunteering in a 2023 tour organised by Eshna Kutty, teaching hooping techniques to others.

My favourite memory of hooping is practising a specific trick for a year and not being able to do it. Despite that, I kept trying and I could randomly do it one fine day. As much as I was surprised at myself, I also knew that I had been training my muscle memory to learn and master this trick and with time, I could achieve it.

I believe that engaging in diverse activities is essential as it allows us to fully immerse ourselves and find solace beyond our daily routines. After years of hooping, today, I can perform hula hooping with three hoops on three different body parts at the same time.

Thus, hooping, for me, has become a means of multitasking where I effortlessly hula hoop my way through everything that comes in life.

-Jessica Yogesh Mayur
Project Engineer, Enviro, Environment House, Bhosari

Innovation is vital for organisations to thrive and outperform competitors. Intellectual property (IP) knowledge is a valuable but often overlooked asset in this pursuit. Kodak and Nokia’s failures serve as cautionary tales, emphasising the significance of embracing innovation and IP knowledge for long-term success. Our goal should be to explore the transformative potential of IP knowledge, draw lessons from these mistakes, and provide actionable insights to foster an innovative environment in our company. 

Understanding intellectual property 

Intellectual property encompasses legal rights that protect intangible assets such as inventions, designs, trademarks, and creative works. Patents safeguard technological advancements, trademarks protect brand names and symbols, copyrights preserve creative works, and trade secrets safeguard confidential business information.

Learning from Kodak and Nokia 

Kodak, once a pioneer in the photography industry, failed to recognise the potential of digital photography, eventually faced a decline in market dominance and struggled to adapt, ultimately filing for bankruptcy. Similarly, Nokia, a leading mobile phone manufacturer, struggled to adapt to the emergence of smartphones. Nokia’s failure to innovate and meet evolving consumer preferences led to a decline in its position as a mobile phone industry leader. These examples, in my opinion, underscore the importance of innovation in attaining a market leader position and maintaining it through continuous innovation.

Leveraging IP knowledge for innovation 

There are several ways to approach innovation, but here are a few key strategies that can help

Encouraging crossfunctional collaboration: By promoting collaboration among different departments, organisations can leverage diverse expertise, perspectives, and insights, fostering a culture of innovation and generating innovative ideas and solutions.

 Monitoring competitors’ IP: Staying informed about competitors’ IP landscape provides valuable insights for innovation. By monitoring patents, trademarks, and other IP assets held by competitors, companies can identify gaps in the market and potential areas for improvement, guiding their own innovative endeavours.

Cultivating a culture of innovation

 Providing education and training: Equipping employees with education and training on IP rights and their relevance to innovation empowers them to identify opportunities and contribute actively to the company’s growth through inventive thinking. 

Incentivising inventiveness: Inventor incentives in terms of monetary reward for being an inventor in any patent motivates employees to share their ideas and fuels the innovation process.

Implementing clear IP policies: IP policies protect the company’s assets while promoting innovation. These policies outline how employees’ contributions will be safeguarded and encourage proper IP management, ensuring compliance with legal requirements. 

Listen to customers: Customer feedback and insights can provide valuable information on what problems need to be solved and what new opportunities are emerging. By engaging with customers directly, organisations can identify new needs and opportunities for innovation.

By integrating IP knowledge into innovation, companies can avoid the fate suffered by Kodak and Nokia. Embracing IP fosters creativity, collaboration, and forward-thinking. Let’s harness its power for a future where innovation thrives.

-Pankaj Thape
IP Head, RTIC, Chinchwad factory

“Life is a lot like a marathon. If you can finish a marathon, you can do anything you want.” – Oprah Winfrey

Running, for me, serves more than just a means to maintain physical fitness. It not only acts as a shield against lifestyle-related ailments like obesity, heart issues, blood pressure, diabetes etc. but also strengthens my immune system, joints, improves cardiovascular health and muscle strength. This could be the reason why most people practice running, but for me, this exercise holds a profound significance, surpassing its mere purpose of keeping me physically fit. It has also served as a catalyst for personal growth, helping me cultivate a better version of myself. 

Running enables me to do self examination. As I engage in my run, I engage in a conversation with myself, examining my actions and choices. If I have done something wrong, then the inner voice inside me tells me what wrong I have done. If I have done something good, then that inner voice prevents me from being arrogant. If I have to help someone, this is the time when I get reminders internally. Thus, running has become a gateway to selfreflection and introspection, allowing me to delve into the depths of my being and gain valuable insights.

Through my experiences in running, I have come to understand that desired outcomes are not attained instantaneously; they require consistent effort and enduring patience over an extended period. This principle extends beyond the realm of running, finding relevance in various aspects of our daily lives. There are often situations where we must exercise patience, recognising that certain goals or resolutions may take time to manifest.

I have learned self discipline through running. I’ve come to understand that without self-discipline, my performance suffers. This lesson applies not only to running but also in every area of life. 

Moreover, running has instilled in me the importance of time management. In my daily training, as well as on race days, effective time management is crucial. This skill extends beyond running and plays a significant role in various aspects of my life. I have learned how to set goals and work towards achieving them. It has been an essential factor in helping me reach my objectives both on and off the track.

Apart from these learnings, running has also helped me to become thankful in my life. When I am running, I express gratitude toward those who have contributed to my growth as a runner. I also remember the books / websites from which I learned something about running. This practice of gratitude has now transcended running and has become an integral part of my daily life. I recognise the importance of being grateful to anyone who has made a positive impact on my journey, fostering a mindset of appreciation and acknowledgement for the kindness and support I receive. 

Running not only cultivates a positive mindset but also empowers me to better control my negative thoughts and emotions. As runners strive to achieve specific goals within a designated time frame, they naturally maintain an optimistic mood throughout their runs. This positivity seamlessly extends to their daily lives, as they actively seek positivity in various aspects and individuals. Thus, running becomes a transformative practice that enhances my emotional well-being.

Running connects me to the community. Jogging through the streets and parks near me helps me to feel grounded and connected to Mother Nature and surroundings. 

During my runs, I experience a state of profound connection with a higher consciousness. Detached from thoughts, I enter a blissful flow where time, location, and even my own identity fade away. Covering distances of four to five kilometres, I find myself immersed in pure serenity—a pinnacle of inner peace and contentment that rejuvenates my spirit. Perhaps this is the state of ultimate bliss.

I acknowledge my limitations and know that I cannot make a world record. I also understand that every runner’s ability is different, and the only competition that lies is with myself. If my performance is better than my previous performance, I consider it a win, and if it hasn’t improved, I’ve lost. Falling behind is seen as a temporary setback, while improvement is celebrated as a personal victory. This principle extends far beyond running, permeating every aspect of life and motivates us to constantly strive for excellence. From a spiritual perspective, this mindset aligns harmoniously with the concept of becoming a karmayogi — a dedicated seeker of self-improvement through diligent action. 

– Veerendra RaselaVeerendra Rasela
TBWES – EXIM, Energy House, Chinchwad

Embarking on a long-distance cycling expedition is a profound adventure that pushes physical and mental boundaries. Pedalling for hours, covering vast distances, and conquering challenging terrains, cyclists discover newfound strength, resilience, and determination. This transformative journey unleashes the spirit of adventure within and fosters selfdiscovery for cyclists. 

This year, in February, I registered for one such transformative 220 km cycling expedition from Pune to Pandharpur (cycle wari) that took place in the month of June. Although I had completed many sub-50 km cycling trips per day in the past two years, the prospect of covering 220 km in a single day appeared to be a difficult target initially.

I am a part of the PCMC sprinters’ group, comprising runners,cyclists, trekkers and swimmers. Thus, the group assisted me in devising weekly and monthly training targets for a span of four months. They trained me on increasing energy and stamina, practising cycling regularly, and taught me strengthening exercises that needed to be followed every month. 

Since it was summer time, exposure to the sun was essential for 8 to 10 hours to get more used to it. The last leg of training made me realise that the task of cycling for a long distance is absolutely doable. In those 4-5 months of training, my mental framework also changed. With a couple of strengthening sessions and training on repairing cycles on the go, I gained confidence about my journey. Along with this, continuous mentoring on WhatsApp benefitted me as most people shared their successes and stories, which helped me gain insights. 

To complete my cycling expedition, I practised crosstraining like jogging and walking every day to keep the body moving. Due to following the rules correctly, consuming nutritious food and not stretching ourselves too much, my cycling group and I did not experience any internal injury even after completing 220 km. Thus, focussed training and dedicated practice helped me to achieve my goal.

The distance to be covered per day gradually increased from 50 km to 75 km, then 100 km, and finally 150 km. Engaging in longdistance cycling under scorching 42°C temperatures proved to be an endurance test, with numerous instances that could have discouraged me. Nevertheless, the energy from the 1,500 fellow cyclists propelled me towards my destination in 11 hours,40 minutes on the final day. 

I believe that making our hobbies our callings transforms our life immensely. When our hobbies become our calling, our inner drive changes. To achieve this, adhering to a routine purposefully, and maintaining an unbroken momentum, naturally propels us toward our chosen paths.

Thus, it’s essential to keep one or two long-term goals in a year. Keeping a long-term goal induces patience and willingness in you that ultimately helps you in your personal and professional life. Also, when we have a long-term goal in place, we always find a way of achieving it. Moreover, having a long-term goal helps in framing a mindset and makes us believe that one can overcome obstacles in life by planning and preparing for them in a better way. 

In today’s fast-paced world, our easy access to things makes us think that everything should happen quickly. With cycling, one gets time to introspect about their actions as cycling captures every passing second in slow motion, fostering profound memories of the surrounding environment.

-C. R. Subramaniam
Group Head, Process Engg., TBWES, Energy House, Chinchwad

‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ by Spencer Johnson is a captivating book that talks about change and the art of embracing it. This simplistic tale revolves around four characters residing in a maze: two mice named Sniff and Scurry, and two little people named Hem and Haw. Within the maze, they stumble upon three rooms abundant with cheese that never seems to finish. However, one fateful day, their beloved cheese disappears from one of the rooms, setting off a journey of discovery and adaptation.

When the cheese disappears, Scurry and Sniff quickly venture into the maze to find new cheese. Meanwhile, Hem and Haw complain and hold onto the hope that the old cheese will return, wasting their time and energy. Haw, realising that the old cheese won’t come back, sets out into the maze in search of fresh cheese. He leaves messages on the walls, hoping to inspire Hem to join him, but Hem doesn’t follow.

During the search for cheese, they go through all kinds of emotions — fear, anger, confusion and they look for the cheese everywhere they can think of. Eventually, Haw discovers new cheese and sees that Scurry and Sniff were already there. Spencer Johnson’s (author of the book) cheese chunks are a metaphor for what we desire in life: health, a nice career, money, goods, spiritual peace of mind, a loving relationship, etc. The maze resembles our workplace, family, or neighbourhood. Cheese doesn’t stay forever. At some point, we may all find ourselves without cheese due to unexpected changes in life and at other times, cheese supply may run out.

Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw’s stories show how to handle change. Thus, ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ explores significant and relevant life truths.

The message of this book is that life won’t always give you what you want and when you want it; sometimes things change unexpectedly. But if you can find ways to adapt and overcome your fears, then good things will come around again for you.

Here are five important lessons from this book

Lesson 1: Be prepared for change

The world is changing, and we need to be prepared for it.

Lesson 2: Move on and let go of the past

When things change, move on. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to adapt to new situations.

Lesson 3: Adapt: Be openminded to new things

Being open-minded and possessing willingness to learn are all important factors that people can consider when it comes to adapting to new situations.

Lesson 4: Learn to enjoy change

In this modern world, change is the only constant. Learning to enjoy change is a very important skill for people to develop. It allows us to make new discoveries and achievements in our lives

Lesson 5: Be prepared for continuous change

You will be surprised at how quickly things change. And when they do, we need to be ready to adapt and learn. If we don’t, then we will miss opportunities. We will be left behind, and our life will become stagnant. The author’s words resonate – “Life moves on and so should we.”

— Bhushan Belkhede
Chemical, Environment House, Bhosari

This is my second inning at Thermax. During my previous job, I used to walk around 6 km to and from the office every day. The daily walk routine brought a remarkable improvement in my health. Thus, when I re-joined Thermax, I was thinking of ways to keep myself physically active as my home and office are a little too far apart for a walk. This brought me to the idea of cycling to my office at Bhosari, Pune, and I implemented it immediately.

Choosing to cycle has been one of the best decisions in my life as I continued to maintain my good health (barring the viral fevers and flu) and overall well-being. In addition to promoting good health, cycling has proven to be beneficial in various other aspects. It effectively helps me manage stress and keeps my energy levels high, even after a long day at work. Moreover, since cycling is already integrated into my daily routine, there’s no need to set aside separate time for exercise or going to the gym.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my decision to cycle to the office is that it has inspired some of my colleagues to do the same. While some have adopted cycling as a regular practice, others have embraced it intermittently. Many others have expressed interest but have come up with various excuses such as coming to office sweating, traffic congestion on their route, inclement weather, waking up late, or feeling unwell. However, my consistent response has always been, “If you genuinely desire to commute to the office by bicycle, the only person who can stop you is yourself.”

I take great pride in commuting to the office on a bicycle, knowing deep inside that I am making a small but meaningful contribution to reducing carbon emissions. Most of us are well aware of the saying, “We don’t inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” It is a constant reminder that we have a responsibility to protect our planet for future generations. The reality of climate change cannot be denied, as we witness the increasing average temperatures, disturbances in seasonal cycles, more frequent natural calamities etc.

The world has changed since our childhood, and mostly, in an unfavourable way. We all have the responsibility to hand over the world to our next generations at least in the present condition, if not better. The key lies in acting against climate change, regardless of how small those actions may seem. Each person’s background and circumstances may lead to different approaches, but what truly matters is that we all take the initiative to act, otherwise the survival of our future generations is in jeopardy. My action towards battling climate change is cycling my way to office. What is your action?

– Ravikiran Jasti
Process Engineer, FGD, Environment House, Bhosari

My association with harmonica started when I was 12 years old. My father had a German make black coloured harmonica which he used to play. I always wondered how this
instrument was played, and one fine day, I took it out and started playing. I did not know how to play it. The famous harmonica tune of the song – 'Hai Apna Dil to Awara' from the film Solva Saal inspired me. Playing this song wasn't easy for me, and I ended up with only a few blows and draws. The harmonica was put back in the cupboard soon. I kept on trying and slowly could make it – though it was very basic and imperfect. The real journey began when I got an opportunity to attend one of the exclusive harmonica programmes at Bharat Natya Mandir in Pune. The playing of Shri. Nandu Belvalkar greatly influenced me. This was an
ideal chance for me to learn the better way.

Let's talk about the origin of harmonica. An instrument called ‘sheng’ was first invented in China a few thousand years ago. This was harmonica in its primitive form. The instrument had bamboo reeds, and became a prominent instrument in Asian traditional music. The sheng was introduced to Europe in the late 18 th century and soon became popular. Harmonica, in its present form, was first made by Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann in
Berlin in the 18 th century.

In terms of size, the harmonica is the smallest free-reed-and-wind instrument. We know this instrument as baja in Marathi from our childhood. We often bought it at jatras (fairs) in villages. Most of us think this is the simplest instrument to play. However, it is an instrument that can be misplayed easily. This is exactly what happened to me. Soon I started my lessons with Shri. Nandu Belvalkar, one of the renowned maestros in Pune. I learned that playing the harmonica required a certain technique. Harmonica is the only wind instrument that uses both the blow and draw technique, unlike other wind instruments, which use only the blow technique.

Harmonica constitutes parts as shown in the schematic diagram below. The cover plates of the harmonica are usually made of stainless steel material to protect it from corrosion with either a wood or plastic chamber. The cost of a harmonica depends on various aspects, such as its make (usually Seydel, M. Hohner, Suzuki, Swan etc.) and its type. They are available in different scales (major scale, blues scale, minor scale etc.) with different keys – Ab, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G etc. A few makes also offer custom tuned keys in the above scales.

There are mainly two types of harmonica – diatonic and chromatic. Diatonic harmonicas are designed to play in a single key though the standard Richter-tuned diatonic harmonica can play other keys by forcing its reeds to play tones that are not part of its basic scale. The tremolo harmonica is a type of diatonic harmonica having two reeds per note. In a tremolo harmonica, the two reeds are tuned slightly off a reference pitch – one slightly sharp and the other slightly flat. The chromatic harmonica is typically used in jazz, classical, pop, and in music where the melodies require more than a seven-note major or minor scales (like on a standard diatonic harmonica). It is a type of harmonica that uses a button-activated sliding bar to direct air from the hole in the mouthpiece to the desired reed plate. When the button is not pressed, the harmonica will play a diatonic major scale, whereas if it is depressed, the same scale will be played a semitone higher in each hole. Thus, the instrument is capable of playing all the 12 notes of a chromatic scale barring shrutis in Indian classical music. The chromatic harmonica can thus be contrasted with a standard harmonica, which can play only the notes in a given musical scale.

My guru, Shri. Nandu Belvalkar often says, “When a song is being played on an instrument, we are replacing the singer singing the song. We must honour him/her by playing melodiously”. Despite the fact that playing the harmonica seems simple, to be an expert and to have good tone quality, it is essential to maintain proper air pressure during blow and draw, hold your breath, locate the appropriate slot on the harmonica, seal your lips properly, move your lips and the harmonica, and use the slider to achieve the desired effect of vamping note bending etc. These are some of the technical attributes, and coordination of all of them while playing the instrument is a skill that needs to be developed. I am still trying to develop these skills.

Playing the harmonica is very similar to doing pranayamas – it uses the blow and draw technique. My personal experience is that playing the harmonica improves breathing and increases lung capacity.

Generally, harmonicas do not require any maintenance. It can be cleaned by just wiping it off with the help of a cloth or water. In a few cases, it needs to be tuned in order to restore its original scale. However, blowing too harshly can damage its reeds and require replacement. The purpose of this article is to share my personal experience with the harmonica, which has helped me to reduce my stress and anxiety levels, depression, and is helping me to live a peaceful life. But to tell you the secret, and if you take my advice – do not bother much about the historical and technical information given above. Get a harmonica and start playing the most melodious instrument!

Keep harping!

Parag Atre
TBWES

A heritage cycle ride from Pune to Hampi

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” – Greg Anderson

The most awaited cycle ride from Pune to Hampi was announced by the Indo Athletic Society (IAS) on 24 th October 2022. The dates of the expedition were 7 th to 12 th December. I booked for the same within no time!

The adventure proved to be one of the most memorable and thrilling experiences of my life. It was indeed a challenging expedition!

Day 1 – 7 th December – Pune to Shetphal (Mohol) – 225 km

This historical cycle ride was flagged off from Bhakti Shakti Garden, Nigdi. A group of almost 35 cyclists arrived at the spot at 04:00 am. After important instructions from the organisers and a few photographs, we started the ride at 04:35 am. Some 20 cyclists joined us from Nashik phata (at 5:00 am), and the remaining 20 joined us from Hadapsar. Once the group leader noted the headcount, the cyclists headed for the first leg of the expedition from Pune to Indapur.

We stopped for breakfast at Chaufula, which was arranged by our local cycling friends and then continued our journey. Despite the cold weather, everyone seemed to enjoy pedalling. At 12:30 pm, we, a group of five cyclists, reached Indapur, where lunch was organised at Hotel Mauli Prasad. We rested for half an hour after lunch and then resumed our journey to Mohol. At 04:30 pm, we reached Mohol's Mauli Raje Mangal Karyalaya, where we would spend the night. On the first day, we covered a distance of 225 km!

Day 2 – 8 th December – Shetphal to Vijayapura (Bijapur) – 160 km

On this day, the distance to be covered was 160 km – slightly less than the first day. All the cyclists left for Vijayapura at 4:45 am. The moonlight and blinking tail lamps made for a beautiful scene as all the cyclists went one after the other on the extreme left side of the road! Breakfast was served by the Solapur cycle club at 7:00 am. This was the point from where we had to take a sharp right turn perpendicular to the Solapur highway. After covering some distance, we came across a board reading – ‘Welcome to Karnataka’ along the banks of river Krishna. As usual, we took a break for a photo session and entered Karnataka. With small stops for hydration and rest in between, the journey went smoothly.

Thereafter, I rode solo for 80 km non-stop until I reached Vijayapura at 12:30 pm. Post lunch, we took some time off to rest. In the evening, we visited the Gol Gumbaz and Shivalaya. Another exciting and eventful day had come to an end!

Day 3 – 9 th December – Vijayapura to Hampi – 220 km

This was the last day, and we had to cover a distance of almost 220 km from Vijayapura to Hampi. We started at 4:00 am as planned, and it was freezing cold that day, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to change gears and apply brakes because of stiff fingers. At 6:00 am, we had a tea break during which we prayed for the sun to come up and provide some heat, but it was in vain. We started moving ahead in that freezing cold.

Although the road looked straight, it was an uphill climb. There is normally a downhill after going uphill, but in this case, we were greeted with yet another uphill. This continued for a very long distance.

We, a group of four cyclists, took a break for lunch at the Jai Maa Bhadrakali hotel along the highway in the afternoon. The restaurant served delicious South Indian food, after which we continued cycling.

The cycling intensified in the evening as the heat subsided. We entered the historical city of Hospete at 4:30 pm. I was the first one to reach! I was too tired, so I gulped four glasses of coconut water to restore my energy. From here, I needed to cycle for another 10 km to reach Hampi. Finally, at 05:00 pm, I reached my destination. We were thrilled to have made it here. After all our hard work and determination, it felt as if we had accomplished what we had set out to do. We had completed a total cycle journey of 610 km.

Arrangements for the night stay were made at a guesthouse near Hampi. The organiser welcomed us with warm greetings. Soothing music, rangolis, huge portraits against

Day 4 – 10 th December – Hampi tour – 15 km

It was the day to explore the majestic Vijayanagar empire (founded in 1336 and ruled up to 1646). We woke up early to visit magnificent temples and heritage sites crafted in stone. These included Malayavanta Raghunath Mandir, Laxmi Narsimha Mandir, Sasivekalu Ganpati Mandir, Kadalekalu Ganpati Mandir, Virupaksha Temple, Vijay Vitthal Mandir, Badavilinga, Hazara Ram Mandir, Mahanavami Dibba, Black stone Pushkarani, Lotus Mahal, Gajshala (elephant stables) and the remains of Krishnadevaraya palace.

These breathtaking sites depict how prosperous the Vijayanagar empire was! Later in the evening, a brief gathering was held where all the cyclists were felicitated with trophies and medals.

Day 5 – 11 th December 2022

This was the last day of the expedition. After breakfast, we bubble-wrapped our bicycles and loaded them safely into the truck. It was a free day for all of us, and we were allowed to wander in small groups.

I, along with four others, decided to visit the Anjeyanadri hill, the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. We hired a six-seater rickshaw and moved for Anjaneyadri. The temple was on a hill, and we had to climb about 575 steps. We reached the temple at 11:00 am, and after offering prayers, we started descending. Further, we visited the historical Pampa Sarovar and Shabari’s cave, where Lord Ram and Shabari had met.

In the evening, we reached the Hospete railway station, from where we started our return journey to Pune. We reached Pune the next day in the evening on 12 th December. We then departed for our homes with a lot of memories, emotions and a promise to meet again for the next expedition! I would like to conclude with a quote by author Zig Ziglar – “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. The best is yet to come.”

Ganpat Masal
TBWES (Materials)