Mumbai Diary: Friday frolics

Riders in the storm
It is up-the-ante time for the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) as the elections of Western India's apex racing body are just a month away, on September 8 to be precise.

McDowell Indian Derby held at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in February this year, is the signature event. Pic/Satyajit Desai

Soon the initial frenzy will be up to a cracking pace. Racing followers will remember last year's elections, won by current chairman K Dhunjibhoy drama and intrigue with ‘tapes released about a doping scandal at the last minute, which turned simmering controversy and confrontation into an all-out war.

This time, one hears that Vivek Jain, who was defeated last year will be contesting once again and he is fielding a team of six, all familiar names except perhaps for first time candidate Milan Luthria. Milan is a well-known film director and now, a race enthusiast as well.

Besides Luthria, Jain's team comprises, Geoffrey Nagpal, Zavaray Poonawalla, Gulam Vahanvaty and Champaklal Zaveri. We hear that the government has slapped some kind of Code of Conduct on the club, so they cannot ‘lure' the electorate with parties and gifts.

Who though can ban all the sizzle, the controversy, the scandal and the bitter feuds that now go with the territory so to speak that is a part of all RWITC elections given the high profile of the club. Ladies and gentlemen, it's open season. The gates slam open, for the elections. Bring out the binoculars... who says all the action, is on the track?

Pic/Datta Kumbhar

Face-off against the bomb: On the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, students with painted faces and hands, depicting anti-war and anti-bomb slogans, along with nearly 2,755 NSS Volunteers from 80 colleges of SNDT University and University of Mumbai walked along side social activists and peace-loving citizens who championed for peace and a nuclear-free world. The walk began at Azad Maidan and ended at Hutatma Chowk.

Like Mario's iconic bus?
This is what we love most about Mumbai roads, one never knows what awaits at the next turn.

On our way to work, we spotted this tempo carrying tons of used plastic cans, barrels and crates that ended up being the only beacon of brightness on the gloomy Western Express Highway.

Is it just us, or does it resemble the legendary cartoonist Mario Miranda's famous sketch of the overloaded bus, which, of course, had people packed like sardines?

Game on!
Gamers participate at the launch of Lenovo India Gaming Week 2015 in Chembur.

Pic/Shadab Khan

Over 35 gamers competed in the launch matches of popular games including Counter Strike and League of Legends.