Mumbai Diary: Sunday Dossier

Pic/Anurag Ahire

Mama's little boy

A mother gets her son school-ready in Mahim East on Friday

A stitch in time

Let Love Bloom, a six-part quilt forming a flower garden along the walls of the iconic Panjim Church in Goa, is currently on view, and is the result of a collaboration between the church, the Corona Quilt Project and Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts. The quilt brings together over 3,000 narratives of hope, love, trust and renewal in the face of the global pandemic.

Dia Mehhta Bhupal

In 2020, interdisciplinary Mumbai artist Dia Mehhta Bhupal and fashion entrepreneur Neha Modi founded the Corona Quilt Project, a collaborative art initiative inspired by quilting traditions around the world. It has attracted submissions of over 12,000 squares stitched together for an installation series, collectively called Rise, across various cities in sites like the Jindal Mansion, Worli Promenade and Haji Ali Sea Face in Mumbai. "Rise draws continuities and solidarities between human and nature, artificial and natural, then and now. The concepts chosen embody our current reality and consequences of the pandemic," says the artist.

How Pathare Kshatriyas came to live in Mumbai

Mumbai-based Indologist, art historian and author Sandeep Dahisarkar will be revisiting the history of the Pathare Kshatriya community that migrated into the city several centuries ago in a soon-to-release book titled, The Pathare Kshatriyas of Bombay (Sahit Prakashan, Goa). The book will be launched by Dr Tejas Garge, director, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Maharashtra, on January 1, 2022, at the Asiatic Society's Durbar Hall. Not to be confused with the Pathare Prabhus, the Pathare Kshatriya, also known as the Pachkalashis, along with other warrior classes are said to have migrated with Pratapa Bimba from Champaner in Gujarat, and have contributed in their own way to the development of this island city and its neighbouring areas. Dahisarkar, who managed to trace 29 of 66 families that migrated with Pratapa Bimba, has reconstructed their journey by investigating important Marathi sources like Mahikavatichi Bakhar. "What has happened over the last many years is that the history of this migration was not considered authentic, because there was no direct evidence related to this particular king, but some years ago, in 2017, when the University of Mumbai led the The Salsette Exploration Project, which I was also a part of, an inscription was discovered in the BARC that mentioned the name Bimbasthana. It in some way confirmed that the king was not part of lore," says Dahisarkar, explaining what compelled him to research the book. The book also comments on the changing occupation of this community from a group of warriors to skilled carpenters, among others.

A roaring gift

Upasana and Anushpala at the zoo in Hyderabad

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Upasana Kamineni Konidela from the Apollo Hospitals' family, has adopted a lion and a lioness named Vicky and Lakshmi at the Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, as a present to her sister Anushpala, who recently got married. "Although I'm not a supporter of animals being bred in captivity, we need to respect these animals to educate people. During the pandemic, our zoos suffered as they didn't have funds. The reason I adopted them is because we have to learn to live in harmony with nature. Instead of giving jewellery to Anush, I thought this was more thoughtful."

One year ago, that wretched 36!

India's Ajinkya Rahane makes his ground during the December 2020 Adelaide Test. Pic/Getty Images

A lot can change in one year. Ask the Indian Test cricket team, who on this day last year, were dismissed for their lowest-ever score - 36-9 against Australia - at the Adelaide Oval. The scars were expected to be deep, but India bounced back with victories in Melbourne and Brisbane to clinch their second consecutive Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. India under stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane (with Virat Kohli on paternity leave) attracted well-deserved kudos from the cricketing world. Though India lost the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, they ended the Pataudi Trophy series in Old Blighty leading 2-1. That came after a series win over the Englishmen at home. More recently, they triumphed over the Kiwis in Mumbai. Kohli & Co's last challenge of the year is the December 26-30 opening Test at Centurion versus South Africa. Boxing Day has nothing to do with the combat sport, but our flannelled men will have to fight like hardened pugilists to overcome the Proteas. A victory will be the perfect New Year's gift and to end the year with only three losses (two away and one at home) in 14 Tests would mean India's 2021 was memorable. Rahane and Kohli ought to be proud.

D'souza's desert island is an oasis

Singer/songwriter Nikhil D'souza has roped in Grammy-award winning producer Martin Terefe for his new song, Desert Island, which released on Friday. Terefe has worked with artistes like Jason Mraz and Mike Posner, and lends an international feel and flavour to the single. Also, D'souza's voice, full of feeling, and sad and surreal lyrics, will keep you hooked to the song. "Every song of mine before, have begun with one instrument - either a guitar or drums, but this is the first time, my song has begun with a synth. Terefe has a completely different way of working than what I am used to. We took many takes of the song, and picked the take that had the best vibe, instead of the most technical one."