Ah, Puneri Patya, those enchanting signboards that grace the vibrant streets of Pune, dripping with sarcasm and sassy officiousness

As a seasoned Punekari, you must relish the sheer audacity of your brethren, whose bluntness and straight talk could make a diplomat blush. Perhaps, deep down, you too possess that wicked sense of humor; after all, they say the apple doesn’t fall far from the acerbic tree!

Pune, once a serene haven known for its leisurely cyclists and contented pensioners, has blossomed into an unruly metropolis. The population of two-wheeler bikes now seemingly surpasses the number of actual human residents.Who needs camaraderie and conversation when you can share the road with an army of handlebar warriors, Right?

Oh, those haughty Mumbaikars, with their raised eyebrows and feigned sophistication, belittling their more illustrious Puneri counterparts. They claim it’s due to our laidback attitude and lack of sandy shores. Well, who needs a beach when you can have a barrage of witticisms?

Allow me to enlighten the clueless souls who dare call themselves Punekars and yet remain oblivious to the grandeur of Puneri Patyas. Oh, the horror! Puneri Paati—those omnipresent Marathi signboards gracing homes, shops, restaurants, and every nook and cranny of Puneri establishments. They are the heralds of acerbic wisdom, the masters of scathing instructions, like a literary slap across the face disguised as a friendly reminder.

Now, the origins of these Patyas are as diverse as the flavors in a delectable Misal Pav. In the bygone days of the Peshwas, those lofty Chitpavan Konkani Brahmins who ruled over the city, their authoritative conduct—nurtured by their lofty caste status—left an indelible mark on Pune’s cultural fabric. And voila! The city embraced its sense of superiority, teetering precariously on the precipice of arrogance. But fear not, dear friends, for Pune’s pride does not lead to dishonesty or unfairness. No, no! Punekars simply possess a remarkable talent for unfiltered honesty, a penchant for communicating with unparalleled bluntness.

Yes, Punekars are blunt, seemingly rude, and perhaps not the most effusively friendly bunch, but they are righteous—a concept that might bewilder those new to the city’s idiosyncrasies. They embody the very essence of Pune, like a hand-woven tapestry of authenticity and bluster, leaving no room for ambiguity or sugar-coated deceit.

The illustrious late PB Jog, that celebrated lawyer and former deputy mayor, deserves our sincerest gratitude. He was a maestro of scathing commentary, adorning his residence on Tilak Road with a staggering 42 Patyas, each wielding a tongue sharper than a razor’s edge. His belief in his own divine right to dispense wisdom inspired a wave of audacious signboards, as if everyone suddenly possessed the power of enlightenment, condensed into a witty one-liner.

And oh, the joy of encountering a Puneri Paati in its full glory! Like a riddle wrapped in a jest, these signboards guide us through the labyrinthine streets, imparting their wisdom with a mischievous wink. They gleefully lay out the Do’s and Don’ts, like a theatrical performance that elicits both laughter and a gnashing of teeth.

Consider, for instance, the sacred siesta time between 1 pm and 4 pm when the city’s old retail shops shut their doors, proclaiming, “Behold! We take rest
Or nose wrinkling and declaring ‘ Amachi kunthe hei sakha nahi ( We don’t have branches anywhere else )

Long live my beloved city as without you where will we intellectuals sharpen our acerbic tongues dripping with sarcasm and wit and also amplify and magnify our skills.
Pune tithe kay une,
Ahe sarva June(old)
Punekarancha punya Pune