Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

Pic/Atul Kamble

No swag without safety

A security guard masks up while staying ever-vigilant in Prabhadevi.

A Tata tell-all

Over the years, the Tata Group's influence on the Indian business landscape has been monumental. In a new book launching on June 14, titled #TataStories, its veteran employee Harish Bhatt is sharing 40 stories from the group's history, with the intent to inspire. "This is a storybook with a difference, featuring tales of passion, purpose, courage, grit, resilience, failure and success. We hope that these stories can inspire and provoke us, even move us to ever more meaningful action in our own lives," he said, adding that the stories hold life lessons for readers. In the book, expect to learn how a diamond twice as large as the famous Kohinoor was pledged to survive a financial crisis; about a meeting with a "relatively unknown young monk" who later came to be known as Swami Vivekananda; the first-ever Indian team at the Olympics; and how the words ‘OK TATA' made their way to the backs of millions of trucks on Indian highways.

In memoriam

To mark World Environment Day, the Asiatic Society of Mumbai (ASM) paid a virtual tribute to noted environmentalist and activist, the late Sunderlal Bahuguna (inset). The tribute, titled Naturally Mumbai, was an hour-long lecture facilitated by activist and author Bittu Sahgal.

"We have grown up hearing stories of Bahuguna and the Chipko movement. I had the opportunity to meet him a few times. In fact, environmental activism in Mumbai has been greatly influenced by his presence," shared Dr Shehernaz Nalwalla, chairperson at ASM's Mumbai Research Centre.

Let's hear it for the fashionistas

Shalini and Sushmita Purandare

To aid the fight against Covid-19, Sushmita Purandare and Shalini, creators of a podcast called Fashionably Awkward, have joined hands with the founder of NGO Matr, Praveen Chauhan, to create an initiative named Ekhada. They plan to conduct live sessions virtually, with industry experts in fashion and marketing, throughout the month of June to help students and beginners, while also contributing to a good cause. "Ekhada is our way of contributing and encouraging people to donate," shared Purandare. "We want people to gain knowledge while supporting a cause," added Shalini. Log on to
@fashionably.awkward on Instagram to register.

Equal writes

The Bombay Review has announced the longlist of nominees for their CPB Queer Writing Fellowship this year. Of the 10 fellowships, two are reserved for young South-Asian queer writers. "Being recognised as a writer during Pride Month is a memory I will cherish. It's important that people from all marginalised communities, including queer writers, be recognised in literary spaces. We have a lot of rich experiences to write about," shared Prithvi Vatsalya, journalist and nominee.

25 years of storytelling

On June 27, beloved children's publisher Karadi Tales will mark 25 years in the industry. Speaking about the landmark milestone, co-founder Shobha Viswanath shared, "In June 1996, we started Karadi Tales with the aim of creating a space for Indian culture in mainstream children's literature. There have been several incredible moments for us since - from Naseeruddin Shah immediately agreeing to be the voice of Karadi, the bear, for our first audiobook, to working with the great poet Gulzar, who translated and lent his voice to our Hindi audiobooks. In 2010, we launched Karadi Path, a social innovation enterprise to help children learn the English language through a process of discovery." The team has also lined up a host of celebratory activities including launching The Little Book Makers podcast and a Zoom birthday party for children. Here's extending our congratulations.