The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Atul Kamble
Building Concrete dreams
Two workers take a break by an open window of an under-construction high-rise BDD chawl in Worli.
Recreating Raza through rags
(From left) A stringed instrument created from waste objects; an SH Raza-inspired artwork made from reused plastic. Pics Courtesy/Indu Harikumar
Despite the many art galleries that dominate the city, it took illustrator Indu Harikumar a journey to Bhopal to discover some new creators. “I was invited and hosted by the Azim Premji University to conduct a workshop for art teachers across the state of Madhya Pradesh around the theme of environment. I also wanted to look at how they could use what is available, and look at the environment in different ways,” revealed Harikumar. The three-day workshop that concluded yesterday saw participants watch the Paraguayan film, Landfill Harmonic, as well as create musical instruments from found objects. “One of the activities was to observe the environmental issues around, and depict it using SH Raza’s Prakriti as inspiration — since SH Raza hails from Madhya Pradesh. There was a feeling of community since they had to produce things they had never done,” she signed off.
SH Raza
Celebrating the seafarers
Participants compete in a previous run. Pic Courtesy/Greenaiders; (right) Paresh Pimpale
To spread awareness about the oceans, Greenaiders, a city-based NGO, is organising a 10km run. The run will be held on June 29, at the Domestic Cruise Terminal, near Princess Dock, in association with the Mumbai Port Authority. The co-founder of the organisation, Paresh Pimpale, said, “Since 2023, we have started celebrating the Day of the Seafarers (June 25) and Mumbai Port Authority’s Foundation Day (June 26). They are celebrated to acknowledge the work of the people working on the ships and vessels. Runners for Ocean is a platform to sensitise the running community about the importance of the water body as a significant geographical feature.” The runners will not be provided with T-shirts or medals for environmental reasons. If you’d like to sign up, check
@greenaiders on Instagram for details.
East Coast jam for Purbayan
Jordan Rudess and Purbayan Chatterjee in rehearsal. Pic Courtesy/YouTube
Sitarist Purbayan Chatterjee is on an American sojourn. The Andheri-based composer has been jamming with pianist Jordan Rudess, best known for his role in the progressive metal band, Dream Theater. “This is a very special project,” shared Chatterjee, “one that has grown organically out of our friendship.” He recently shared a video of the duo’s East meets West fusion. “It started off with two pieces, and is gradually developing into an album. At this point, we’re just playing together and trying to build a chemistry and synergy and write songs together,” he told this diarist.
All hands on deck
Children plant saplings during the plantation drive in Malad
As much as we love Jackie Shroff’s spirit, being in the company of a single sapling doesn’t do you much good. Twenty thousand saplings? Now we’re talking. Mission Green Mumbai will attempt to pull off the mammoth plantation across 11 neighbourhoods in the city this month. “We have planted nearly 1000 plants in the INS Hamla premises in Malad. The focus is on native tree species,” Subhajit Mukherjee, founder shared. To join the effort, call 9323942388.
SoBo group greens Breach Candy
The citizens planted 50 coconut tree saplings in the space
There are green shoots of hope branching out at the Tata Garden in Breach Candy. The rise of the Coastal Road Plan had put the green acreage under risk. While the plan did accede space for some of the environmental concerns of the residents, it seemed to have lost its charm. Now, The Breach Candy Residents’ Forum has decided to rectify this concern. “The Tata Garden is so named because it had been adopted by the Tata Powers long ago,” shared Nigam Lakhani, member of the Breach Candy Residents’ Forum. “However, recently, the garden was losing its charm, and the greenery was almost negligible. So, we decided to take the initiative and host a plantation drive on June 5 as part of World Environment Day. We reached out to the BMC D Ward garden department who helped us with the plantation, while the Coastal Road Department helped to get the debris removed. An NGO provided us with 50 coconut tree saplings. We hope to turn South Mumbai into the lungs of the city,” Lakhani revealed. It might be ambitious, but it is a welcome move.
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