Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Twins Khushnazi (left) and Khushnuma Bomi Gandhi pose with the photo that appeared in mid-day 23 years ago at Lalbaug. Pic/Ashish Raje

And... 23 years later

Twenty-three years ago, mid-day had wished its readers on Parsi New Year with a photograph of little twins Khushnazi and Khushnuma Gandhi greeting each other on the festival outside a fire temple at Princess Street. In a quest to recreate the image, we put out a call for the twins on this page on August 5. Loyal mid-day reader Mrs Kavarana, and also the mother to the twins reached out. Thus, we were able to re-shoot the now grown-up twins in time for the festival. "They were happy when I met them," said Ashish Raje, mid-day's principal photographer, who had also clicked the frame in 2000. "Their excitement reflected in the choice of attire for the shoot. The apparel was of a similar print and shade to what they had worn as babies when I had first captured the image."

An illustration of freedom

Artworks which are part of the infinity illustration

It's the time of the year when posts about the Indian Tricolour dominate social media feeds. Among the many, we chanced upon an infinity illustration by writer and illustrator Ajinkya Bhasme (inset). The illustration started with a woman draped in a Tricolour saree, and zoomed in on her bindi to show significant milestones that occurred before 1947; including the Quit India Movement.

The timeline further covered the 2005 Mumbai floods, the Odisha train disaster as well as Chandrayaan III's recent launch, among other memories that remain etched in most Indians' minds. "These are some instances that moved me - both happy and sad. They depict what we've experienced as a country and how, despite all, we have always come out stronger and united," Bhasme told this diarist. The images were zoomed in until we were back to the woman in the sari, making it an endless loop. Check @bhasmewords to watch it.

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The idea of Independence

Rohit Chawla's photographs will be displayed at the festival

Building on this idea, a five-day festival called the Independence Project launched in Ballard Estate's IFBE yesterday. The festival, which explores independence of one's beliefs from societal norms, was opened by photographer Rohit Chawla and Bharatanatyam expert Navtej Johar. "We take the term independence too seriously sometimes. It also means the subtle fights for individuality we make daily," programme director Sarita Vijayan told us. The films, debates, dance performances and art at the festival will explore the same theme.

Salaams to our martyrs

During the awards ceremony

On Independence Day yesterday, Ekata Manch (EM), a charitable trust in association with Children Welfare Centre Law College in Malad, honoured the family members of 15 Indian Army martyrs. The awards ceremony was conducted with an intention to promote peace, harmony and national integration; and to highlight these jawans' sacrifices.

Ajay Kaul, principal, Children Welfare Centre High School, and president, Ekata Manch

"As citizens, we owe a lot to the army, so we decided that we should felicitate them every year. This will motivate students, and help educate the future generations about the contribution and sacrifice needed to protect a nation," Ajay Kaul of EM told us.

Exploring anthemic scales

Ricky Kej conducts the orchestra. Pic courtesy/Sairam Sagiraju

Independence Day feels incomplete unless you hear the strains of the National Anthem echoing from across the neighbourhood or your housing society. Composer Ricky Kej shares that memory. To pay tribute to the country's 77th year of Independence, the multiple-Grammy Award-winner has teamed up with UK-based Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London's famed Abbey Road Studios for a new iteration of Rabindranath Tagore's composition. The piece also has a special meaning for the composer. "It [the anthem] is the first piece of music that I learned to play on the keyboard," Kej told this diarist over a phone call. The composer pointed out that he had previously created a version as a tribute to the climate warriors in 2005, and another in a collaboration with 12 refugee singers living in India last year. This time, he chose to focus on the grand scale. "I have had an existing relationship with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. They are among my favourite orchestra, and fit perfectly with the epic scale of the idea," he shared. The team worked on the piece for three months with the 100-piece orchestra, utilising the dynamics of every instrument at the studios once immortalised by The Beatles. "It took a lot of experimentation before we started, but the recording itself took about 45 minutes. Also, the musicians are amazing. You have to give them only the sheets," the composer explained.