Mumbai Diary: Saturday scene

At the peak
While we celebrated Independence Day and marked the achievement that our freedom fighters had made 69 years ago, a small bunch of people celebrated by adding another feather to their cap.

The team atop Mount Kilimanjaro

Mumbai-based travel company, Life Away From Life became the first Indian adventure travel company from Maharashtra and Mumbai, to unfurl an Indian Flag on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania on August 15, 2015.

The three climbers, namely Prateek Deo, Sanjay Gupta and Tushar Tripathi, reached Uhuru Peak located at 5895 metres at 11:05 am. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and rises approximately 4,877 metres (16,001 ft) from its base to 5,895 metres (19,341 ft) above sea level. The first recorded ascent to the summit of the mountain was by Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller in 1889.

A bawra at heart
Through all of yesterday, we were humming Swanand Kirkire's Bawra Mann (from Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi), and for good reason. We heard that the lyricist-singer would be crooning this melody at an event to honour former badminton ace, Pullela Gopichand.

Pullela Gopichand

Organised by Smaaash Sports Foundation along with Bawraas, the event will take place this evening at Smaaash, Lower Parel. Bawraas is a project conceptualised by stand-up comedian Vikram Sathaye, composer Shantanu Moitra and Kirkire, to build careers of talented individuals.

"It's one thing to be talented but it's an achievement if you can create new talents. Gopichand has created more bawraas through his academy," beamed Kirkire. We agree.

City on my mind
Students from the Pomegranate workshop, an extra curricular activity workshop participated in a project titled ‘My City. My Canvas'. The youth arts program affiliated with the Mayor's Office in New York City, comprises Mumbai-centric public art by 9 to 14-year-olds from different Mumbai schools.

Shloka Subramaniam, Saachi Sabnis and Muskaan Ghai check out their sound box. Pic/Datta Kumbhar

The art installations made by students showcase Mumbai through the eyes of children. Ananya Rathore, Nysa Agarwal, Aarav Prasad and Aishwarya Kachalia made a game based on hurdles on the roads in Mumbai.

Hitashi Badani and Gauri Padalkar's installation is on the train tales, which is based on the lifeline of the city. Shloka Subramaniam, Saachi Sabnis and Muskaan Ghai have made a sound box comprising sounds in the city. Ghai says, "We were told to note down our idea of Mumbai."

Padalkar informs, "Crowds, congestion, traffic and sound pollution are the topics that we thought of first in relation to our city." Kyra Gore and Hrishita Acharya's installation is on pickpockets. Gore says, "My father was robbed in the crowd recently and that gave me the idea." The event will be held at this Sunday at The Hive Khar (W), from 11 am to 1 pm, and is free and open to all.

After years, months, nights...
Hot off the printing press, Salman Rushdie's Two Years, Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights (Hamish Hamilton, Penguin India) reached us last morning.

The jacket, bathed in blue (the textblock was also painted in blue). This will be Rushdie's first book in five years. We'll have to wait until mid-September when it hits shelves.