From its humble beginnings as a village of musicians, Pune grew into a centre for academics and culture before metamorphosing into an industrial power horse of the western Indian state of Maharashtra. In the meantime, its pleasant weather and hilly green environment attracted the British who established a cantonment here and transformed Pune into a major garrison town. Visitors to contemporary Pune find it an exciting ‘happening’ place with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and tremendous potential. Modern Pune is home to industrialists, artistes, academics, students, retired civil servants and military personnel and acolytes of Osho.