Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Pic/Shadab Khan

Swingout, sister

Nurses and medical students take a break and celebrate International Nurses Day at Masina Hospital in Byculla on Tuesday

Eating out from Tagore's kitchen

Rabindranath Tagore may have a Nobel Prize in Literature, but for home chef and filmmaker, Madhumita Pyne, his culinary journeys are far more fascinating. Pyne has organised the second edition of Thakurbarir Ranna, recipes from the house of Tagore.

Madhumita Pyne

She revealed, "The Tagores were exposed to world cuisine which was not for most people. It reflected on their food, and they experimented by modifying European dishes to their palate." The recipes belong to the women. "The women of Thakurbari would compete with each other to create new innovations." From the meatballs in Keemar doi bora to Panchphoron machh (in pic), customers can soak in the experiences.

A night full of art

Art can often surprise and reveal. Artist Tanujaa Rane's (below) latest collection offers the same promise. Titled Epilogue for light, it will be housed at Mumbai's Chemould Prescott gallery from tomorrow. With motifs of animals, light and abstract phases of the moon, Rane told us the art was an attempt to compel viewers' awareness of vision. "The movement in the works is to draw attention to complex details in the bodies," she explained. For art lovers, there is the advantage of Art Night Thursdays. City galleries will extend their viewing schedule till 9 pm to encourage the working public of the city to take some time off to appreciate art.

Standing with Khotachiwadi

The heritage of the city is an issue close to our heart, and when readers notice, it feels good. The unauthorised destruction of a 100-year-old building in Khotachiwadi's heritage tenement did cause outrage. After a collaborated effort from residents in the neighbourhood, the BMC did stop the demolition drive. The diarist spotted a lovely moment of reader connection with this newspaper's coverage in its April 29 edition, posted on the neighbourhood's notice board for everyone to read. One does not write for recognition, but such moments are encouraging for reporters. Even as this newspaper keeps tabs on goings-on across the city, this is a moment of pride. In Mumbai, development often precedes heritage conservation. But to this diarist, the notice board serves as a reminder of our duties.

Aiming for the radio stars

What were you doing at the age of 17? This diarist was giving up on calculus. At 17, Aditi Iyer (below) has become the youngest Indian solo artiste to enter two global radio charts - World top 200 (indie) and Europe top 200 (indie). "I was preparing for my 12th grade Maths finals when I got to know. It felt unbelievable and whatever I was revising flew right out," she laughed. Of course, she has also entered the DRT mainstream list, alongside Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat and Ed Sheeran. "I look up to these artistes so much; they're unbelievably successful and it feels unreal to have my name next to theirs," she added. With her 12th Boards on hand, the young performer is already onto her next challenge - Mathematics.

An inclusive lens

Pic/Sujata Sinha

Like many projects that were born of the vagaries of the pandemic, Amplify Photo Fund was introduced last year to help Indian photographers through lean periods. Besides that, this diarist learnt the fund offering three grants worth Rs 50,000 each, has a deeper purpose of building an egalitarian field of work. Ronojoy Sinha Dutta (in pic), founder, shared with us, "For many years, photo stories have been told through the eyes of privileged upper-caste males. We wanted to devise a counter-culture, and provide marginalised storytellers with resources to own their narratives." As the fund returns with its second edition - submissions for which are open until May 30 - Dutta shared, "We welcome submissions on identity, community and belonging." Interested folk can head to amplifyphoto.org, and have their work reviewed by jury members such as researcher Mridu Rai, city chronicler Aslam Saiyad, and photographers Binaifer Bharucha and Deepti Asthana.