Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier

The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce

Pout Perfect

A man and his toddler enjoy the sunny respite on a cold morning in a public garden in Bhandup.

Gate to the Northeast

Over the years, several books have been written, and debates emerged about the strife in the far eastern parts of India, and the recent horrific killings of civilians in Nagaland have reignited the debate over the controversial AFSPA. The Naga Peace Accord is in a state of uncertainty and the political situation in Northeast India is in the news again. Author Sudeep Chakravarti’s new title The Eastern Gate (Simon & Schuster India) reveals the backdrop of this ongoing conflict and offers insight into the understanding the politics behind it. “With this book, I hope to bring to public and policy attention the doublespeak, obfuscation and misdirection that accompany governance in Northeast India in general and the Naga peace process in particular. Both government and rebel leadership contribute to the chaos, when all the people want is transparency, dignity and peace,” he shared.

Mumbai call for Aruna Sairam

Renowned Carnatic vocalist and Padma Shri Aruna Sairam has come on board the city-based Artium Academic Board as faculty head for Carnatic music. In this capacity, she will draw on her more than six decades of experience and vast expertise to shape and nurture talent. Her latest campaign canvasses the interplay of music with technology, to make learning more accessible. Of her new role, Sairam said, “My association with the academy is very timely as I was looking to share my learning and experiences in the genre of Carnatic music, an art form I have worshipped over the years.”

Winging it while swinging it

When the cats are away, the mice will play. When the people are away, the birds will play. That seems to be the credo at the empty Mahatma Gandhi swimming pool complex at Veer Savarkar Marg, opposite Shivaji Park, near the old Mayor’s Bungalow. The birds, mostly seagulls, “arrive in the afternoon,” said S Patkar, assistant manager of the space. “They were not here when we had swimmers,” stated the top official. “It is a picture postcard scene, especially when they swoop down over the water and then take off together; it signifies freedom, when the atmosphere is all about restrictions,” he shared about the complex’s Kodak moment.

Let’s talk about sex, not stigma

Triggered by the alarming daily rate of rape cases even during the lockdown, a group of students from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies are working on an initiative named Saahas that focuses on de-stigmatising sex, especially topics such as consent and sexual health. “Many students are too embarrassed to raise their concerns about sexual health, while topics such as consent are often ignored,” said Siddharth Guha, its vice president. To learn more, visit Instagram.com/saahasofficial.

Bollywood, cricket and Queen

Bhat’s Illustration

For most people, the actor Ranveer Singh, musician Freddie Mercury, and cricketer Kapil Dev don’t bear much resemblance — at least, at first look. But for illustrator Prasad Bhat, who is also the founder of Graphicurry, a mash-up of the three was the inspiration behind one of his latest artworks, which was also shared by Singh on his social media account. Commenting on his muse(s), Bhat remarked, “I noticed that Ranveer is a fan of Freddie Mercury and had even dressed like him for a recent shoot. And then, with the film 83, I noticed an uncanny resemblance between him, the singer and Kapil Dev. I was taken by surprise when I woke up to find that Ranveer shared my artwork.” The artist, who often draws from trending topics for his themes, added that he had created other illustrations of the starry duo in the past as well — his most recent piece is a dedication to the actor Akkineni Nagarjuna. “It is gratifying when your work gets recognition and I hope this is the first of many such opportunities to follow,” he added.

Prasad Bhat

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