After fighting with death for nine days with 77 per cent burns, Shobha Gawale (26) finally succumbed to the pain of burns on Saturday morning. But before she died, she fulfilled her last wish by telling the tale of torture and domestic violence to police in her second statement that her in-laws perpetuated on her for years.
mid-day on May 23 highlighted the plight of the woman from Bhiwandi who was set ablaze for being unable to bear a child. She was called 'barren' and repeatedly subjected to domestic violence and dowry harassment. But in her first statement to police, due to her health condition, she could only complaint about the physical harassment that she underwent and how her husband doused her in kerosene and lit fire on her. But she couldn't inform how for days she was repeatedly subjected to domestic violence.
In the back drop, police only charged him under section 307 (attempt to murder) of Indian penal code and arrested them on the next day. But no charges of domestic violence was imposed.
But Shobha wanted to punish him for all the injustice and torture she suffered for seven years of marriage. Thus she wanted to give her second statement to police. But police didn't pay any heed to the repeated requests of her brothers to record her second statement.
"Why just attempt to murder charges be imposed on him? He has been abusing my sister for years. We want him to get punished for all his tortures so we wanted police to take her second statement," said Dhyneshwar Gaikwad, her eldest brother.
mid-day in its another story published on Wednesday, highlighted how police refused to take her second statement and kept postponing the issue knowing her deteriorating health condition. But finally, police on Friday night took her second statement when she was kept on oxygen.
"We are thankful to the paper for ringing the bell for us. I think my sister was alive so that she could tell the police about all the sufferings. She died just few hours after giving the statement," said Gaikwad.
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*Lunchtime at Gharoba sees a flood of diners, especially office-goers from Parel, who make a dash to the eatery for its veg and non-veg thalis. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar*
One woman is busy stirring the ladle into a pot of chicken curry — its pungent, coastal aroma wafting through the room — while another is feverishly scrubbing empty vessels. Padwal doles out a few instructions in Marathi, and then heads to the garment shop, next to her eating joint. Here, she makes a quick note of the number of outfits stitched, before returning to the empty eatery to chat with us. Thanks to the mid-afternoon lull, Padwal can spare a little time.*A veg thali at Gharoba includes rice, roti, dal, two side dishes and pickle. It costs Rs 60*
Until an hour ago, she and her team of 10 middle-aged women had their hands full, serving their famed veg Kohlapuri, Malwani sol kadhi, and surmai fry (among other things). “Around 100 people have eaten here since morning,” she says, after crosschecking the figure with Ranjana Kate (46), who handles the accounts. “Same story, Sunday to Sunday,” Kate adds in Hindi.
The Stri Hitwardhini Audhyogic Sahkari Sanstha, popularly known as Gharoba, still runs the garment business — stitching and selling gowns that women lounge in at home — that began under social worker Kamala Vichare (84) in 1966, as a platform to provide employment opportunities for women.
But, in its 50th year, the business has taken an interesting turn. Padwal, who started the eatery near the garment shop in 2007, has just opened another food joint at Kamgar Stadium in Elphinstone Road. Today, the women’s establishment has become synonymous with home-cooked food. Gharoba’s kothimbir vadi, modaks, puran polis and Malwani meals draw people in hoards, as much as its taak (buttermilk), amla juice and kairi panna drink.
But, even as the association marks its golden jubilee, Padwal, who took over from Vichare in 1992, points out that this success story could have gone another way. “The place where the eatery now stands was given on lease to Sahakari Bhandar in the mid 1990s for 10 years after we consulted our former head (Vichare). At the time, we only had the garment shop,” recalls Padwal.
“What I realised was that while we had started Gharoba to provide a means of livelihood to women, not everyone had the skill to stitch or sell dresses. But, almost all women, who came to me for a job, knew how to cook. So, I thought, why not start a food business?”
Unfortunately, she says, Sahakari Bhandar wasn’t obliging and refused to vacate their property. “My workers and I went on a three-day-long strike, sitting outside the store until they finally agreed to give back what was ours. It was just a handful of women fighting against an entire conglomerate, but we won the battle.”
*Healthy start*
In December 2007, when Padwal first opened Gharoba’s eatery, they introduced it as a healthy snacking joint. “Since I was young, I’ve enjoyed making new dishes. So, I decided to bring some of my kitchen experiments to the new business. We started as a dosa joint, selling moong, beetroot and carrot dosas and idlis. That went on well for five to six months. But, we soon figured that people enjoyed vada pav and samosas more,” says Padwal.
Meanwhile, Gharoba landed a tiffin deal with a major pharmaceutical company in Mumbai Central, and began supplying lunch to its employees. Within the next few years, its meals won over a large tribe of office-goers in Parel, and Gharoba began to serve lunch and dinner.
Today, work at Gharoba begins by 5 am in the morning, with the cooks — brothers Indal and Promod Jaiswal — and the handful of women, slogging it out in the kitchen making the dals, sabjis, chicken and fish curries, for which orders begin to pour in from as early as 11 am, says Kate, who has been with the establishment since 1996. All the cooks were first trained under Padwal.
The veg thali at Gharoba costs R60, and the non-veg thali (fish or chicken) is priced at R90. “We aren’t here to make profits, but provide women employment opportunities,” says Padwal, while explaining why her meals aren’t overpriced. And while the eatery has barely 10 tables, the steady flow of customers, keeps it going. “But, we take a lot of home delivery orders daily, and that’s more than the number of visitors we get here,” says Padwal.
"On an average, around 1,400 rotis are parcelled from here every day," adds Kate. And her co-worker Sheetal Gangan (55) alone supplies 400 rotis, religiously making them from home every day, before reporting to work at noon. Padwal allows this leeway for her female staffers. "I don’t want to burden my staff. They already many responsibilities at home, which they cannot ignore."
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Mangesh-Mankar-s.jpg*Mangesh Mankar*
Mankar, who is undergoing treatment at Shivam Hospital in Dombivli, says he arrived — as usual — at 7 am on Thursday and was working at the big plant of the factory, towards the rear of the premises with workers Kishor Bhosale, Mayuresh, who had joined just the day before, and Shushant Kamble, and his boss, Nandan Wakhatkar (32). The blast occurred at the small plant near the entrance.*Debris cleared from the site of the blasts in Probace Enterprises’ factory in MIDC Phase-II in Dombivli. The rescue operations ended yesterday*
"As soon as we heard the noise [from an explosion], we started running. But in a second, I was flung into the air,” he recalls. Mankar landed a little away and lost consciousness for a few minutes. When he came to his senses, all he saw were raging fires around. “I couldn’t see a thing through the fire and the smoke," he says.
The worker managed to limp towards another factory behind to save himself. “I suspected that another explosion was minutes away. So, I got as far away as I could. If I hadn’t moved from there, I could have been trapped under debris," he says.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Papiya-s.jpg*Papiya and Madhushree Bagchiis at Bandra which opened earlier this month. Pics/Prabhanjan Dhanu*
The 34-year-old teamed up with Madhushree Shila, her mother, to launch the Bengali food take-away and delivery joint on May 9. The place, Papiya tells us, is born out of a labour of love and healing.*The Bagchii special mutton is not boiled but marinated in the traditional panch phoran masala for six hours before it is cooked*
"Asho, ekhane bosho (you sit here)," Papiya tells her 60-year-old mother, pulling up a chair.
Wiping the sweat off her brow, she settles onto a stool. "I lost my father to a heart attack in 2009 and my younger sister to an accident in 2013. I opened this place to keep their memory alive. Our family was big on food, and as a child, I was brought up with delicious flavours. Everyone who came to our house knew it was an open house and they would be fed great meals,” says Papiya, who quit her advertising job in January after her mother took ill.
"I started at a design company, worked in a production house even, but I knew I was not doing what I was meant to. When my mom was unwell, I took the plunge. I am a good hostess like my father," says Papiya, who lives at Bandra's Perry Cross Road with her twin, Piyali, and Madhushree. "And, we have a fourth member, Mischief, our cocker spaniel." Born in Kolkata, and studied in Pune, Papiya moved to Mumbai in 2011.
*Maternal family recipes*
Most recipes on Bagchiis’ menu have been handed down by Madhushree’s maternal family. She took them down in an exercise book when she was to marry in 1978. Having never cooked before, Madhushree would memorise the recipe she would have to make. “By the time I reached the kitchen, I would forget. I would rush back to my room, refer to the exercise book and start again. It was a sight," exclaims Madhushree, who finally taught them to a 14-year-old home help. “Then, he became a better cook, and I got lazy,” she laughs. Madhushree’s husband Aloke was a leisure cook, acing biryanis, kebabs and rezala. "He became our khichdi master," Papiya fondly recalls. "He used a lot of dahi, and traditional panch phoran garam masala."
It took some coaxing for Madhushree to taste his khichdi. "Once, he had made mutton liver and it had no oil and spice. It was rubbish! But, I tasted his khichdi, it was awesome. I asked for a second helping, and he was in seventh heaven.”
When Aloke cooked, it was a team effort, making his daughters chop the vegetables and add the masala. “He would always shout instructions, ‘Ye dalo, woh dalo!’ And I would ask him, ‘Who’s the real cook here?’” laughs Papiya.
*A light Bengali meal*
Chef Pramod, who hails from Orissa, rustles up a few dishes for us to try. The first is his specialty, the Doi Phulkopi — cauliflower cooked in curd, and lightly tempered with curry leaves.
The food at Bagchiis is influenced by East Bengal, a spicier version of what is served in the West, that “uses too much gur (jaggery)” as Madhushree puts it. Rui Machcher Bhijebhaja is a white sweet water fish stuffed with onion and garlic paste. The zing of mustard hits our nostril and makes our eyes water. Yet, it’s tough not to take a second bite.
The menu is extensive and Papiya curates the specials’ on the blackboard every day. “Those who eat this food are taking a bite of my childhood,” she says, serving us Baghchiis special mutton that her mother has prepared. Instead of boiling the meat, it is marinated for six hours to soften, and then cooked on a stove. The curry is cooked separately and mixed later. "The fun of eating mutton is biting the bones. Sadly, my teeth are giving me trouble," says Madhushree.
The garam masala takes centrestage in the Dhokar Dalna, made with three types of dal, and served in a red gravy, while kasundi makes us tear up again in the Chhim Chechki made of edamame.
"There's malpua, don't worry," Papiya promises, as we polish off the dish, along with some aam panna.
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After his stint as presenter at the Rio Games ends in September, he plans to move to Scotland, the birthplace of golf, to soak in some expertise. “I always plan my vacations around sport. Scotland is home to golf, and has so much history attached to it,” he says. But that’s not the only reason to head there. “I’m also a foodie, I think it comes with being Parsi. So, I am looking forward to taking off on some food trails as well.” Jumjo ji.
*Role reversal**Pic/Shadab Khan*
Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar takes a selfie with his fans at a store launch in Lower Parel on Saturday.
*Chowder Singh gorges on city street food*
Stalking, at least on Instagram, is not a crime. Delhi blogger Mohit Balachandran, better known as Chowder Singh or the ‘head masalchi’ of Soda Bottle Openerwala, has been gorging on Mumbai delights. His feeds speak of trips to Kurla and Sion Koliwada.
We asked what the Dilliwala was eating in Mumbai. “Sion Koliwada has an authentic Punjabi scene going on,” he said. Did we hear right? A Delhiite has taken a liking to Mumbai’s butter chicken. “Yes, I know, most of the places here have a skewed, commercial taste. But the Sion Koliwada area has three gurudwaras and they serve authentic Amritsari fare. I love Hazara for its butter chicken, and Hardeep Punjab for its Prawn and Fish Koliwada.”*Chowder Singh*
While he gorged on some aam ras and puri at a small joint called Raj Mahal near Kurla station, he discovered a woman who sets up a thela with her son. “They sell poha, sabudana khichdi and vada, and puri bhaji. You’ll find office-goers stop at her stall to pick up their lunch.”
When we prod him a little, he confesses, he’s not here just to gorge on street food. “There’s another SodaBottleOpenerwala on its way soon. That’s all I can tell you right now.”
*Talent, for all it’s worth*
DJ and producer Arjun Vagale and his brother Nakul are not the ones to let good musicians go, even if it means making charitable exceptions.
The brothers, who run I Love Music Academy — rated as India’s best school for DJs by Rolling Stone India in 2012 — is now helping deserving students fulfill their musical aspirations by offering financial aid for a course that costs over Rs 3 lakh a year.
“It’s still a niche industry, without much local infrastructure, so our new packages will empower more students to achieve their goals. The aim is to help dedicated students who lack the resources to pursue their dreams,” says Nakul.
The packages will be rolled out in early August. Meanwhile, we’d suggest that musicians dream on. Because nothing’s stopping great talent, really!
*Muzumdar on course to Brisbane*
Amol Muzumdar, the most unfortunate of modern-day Mumbai batsmen to have missed out on India colours, has impressed pundits with his television commentary in domestic cricket. However, the 41-year-old Vile Parle resident has other cricketing pursuits too.*Amol Muzumdar*
Next week, Muzumdar will be Brisbane-bound to be at the Centre of Cricket Excellence to kick off a Level III High Performance Athlete Management Course coaching course with an eight-day stay in the Queensland capital.
All these years, Muzumdar was involved with cricket in the Netherlands, but this year, Australia beckons. This diarist remembers how Muzumdar was part of the Mumbai team to visit Down Under for a tournament involving other domestic champions the world over in 2001, but he was not allowed to board the plane due to petty administrators from his home cricket association.
*A date with Tate*
With no signs of slowing down, art collector Kiran Nadar is set to champion Indian artists worldwide. Earlie, her museum has collaborated to bring retrospectives of VS Gaitonde and Nasreen Mohamedi to the Guggenheim and the MET Breuer respectively. Now, she supports the first international retrospective of late artist Bhupen Khakhar, who was synonymous with the spirit of Mumbai.Kiran Nadar
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*See science at play*
11 AM: The holidays are nearly over, but not before some fun in the sun. With swings, slides, skipping ropes and sandpits, this special summer edition of Chai and Why will explore science at work in the playground. It’s suitable for children above seven, but adults can join in.
*Where: The Alexandra Girl’s English Institution, Hazarimal Somani Road, Fort*
*Call: 97571 57795*
*Do a Bolly dance*
7 PM: This is one guest list you should Call to get into right away. The 11th edition of The Bucket Project, Where your champagne glasses runneth over, is themed around Bollywood and nicknamed The Balti Project. So, get ready for a mega-dance off, along with a cocktails.
*Where: Escobar Tapas Bar, VN Sphere, Turner and Linking Road, Bandra (W)\*
*Call: 9820587879*
*Get swept off your feet*
6 PM: If you are single, and looking to more than just mingle, here is a fun way to do it. Sign up for marriage portal Footloose No More’s karaoke evening, a chance to let your hair down and find a voice you can’t get enough of. Are a bathroom singer? Go ahead, strut your stuff.
*Where: Venue available to Registered participants only*
*Entry: Rs 1,200 (cover charge)*
*Register: www.footloosenomore.com*
*Help the homeless*
6 PM – 10 PM: The Street Store, a global initiative that started in South Africa to address the issue of homelessness, presents its first pop-up in Mumbai. Join them to support this shopping experience for the homeless. If you have clean clothes, bags and stationery to donate, head there early.
*Where: Amphitheatre, Carter Road, Bandra (W)*
*Call: 9833934334*
*Try a new menu*
8 AM – 12.30 AM: Café Mangii has launched a new menu, with some twists to classics. There are new appetisers like Baked Jalapeno Molten and Prawns Franseca, pastas like wheat penne pomodoro and, for desserts like fruit and nut fondue.
*Where: Café Mangii, Mangal Bhavan, 14th Road, Khar; Business Garden, Hiranandani Garden, Powai*
*Prices: Rs 155 onwards*
*Call: 9833934334*
*Sharpen your knife skills*
11 AM – 1 PM: Whether you are a home chef or a serious professional, this workshop will train you to master your knives, without chopping off that finger. Learn dealing with watery eyes while chopping onions, cutting veggies into equal juliennes, or chopping garlic finely, and become a pro with knives.
*Where: Blue Bulb, A7, New BEST Colony, Gajanan Maharaj Road, Goregaon (W)*
*Entry: Rs 999*
*Call: 32270033*
*Pose with your pets*
4 PM – 10 PM: Over cocktails and nibbles, earn bragging rights about your furry friends at Swagg Wag. Oil massages, nail art, a live pet food counter and a splash in the pool are just some of the things on offer at this pet fest. Care to enroll them in a fancy dress competition too? There are prizes aplenty for the best-dressed pets.
*Where: Yellow Bar All Day, 21st Road, Khar (W)*
*Entry: Rs 1,100*
*Call: 9820678389*
*Try an eco-food fest*
4 PM – 11 PM: Well, we have heard of organic food festivals, but an eco-friendly food fest has to be a first. Head to The Beauty and The Feast, a unique food fest that claims to have biodegradable resources to serve food and also promote minimal packaging to reduce environmental damage. And there are art installations too!
*Where: Ballard Estate*
*Giggle with the girls*
8.30 PM: All you ladies out there, it’s time to take the stage and share your tales with a touch of whimsy and loads of funnies. Comedy on The Big Mic — India’s longest running series of open mics — is hosting a night just for women, along with stand-up comedian Jeeya Sethi. And, of course, men won’t be allowed, unless they are sitting in the audience and giving the ladies a cheer.
*Where: The Hive, 50-A, Huma Mansion, Off Union Park, Khar (West)*
*Entry: Rs 200*
*Call: 9619962969*
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Relish Cantonese delights*
11 AM onwards: If you crave authentic Cantonese cuisine, Royal China’s new array of dim sums and entrées is likely to blow your mind. The new dishes that include Peking Duck Dumplings, Chicken Money Bags, Butterfly Prawn Dumpling and Bak Choy Dumpling in Chilli Oil, promise to take traditional Cantonese dim sums to a whole new level.
*Where: Royal China. 192 Turner Road, Bandra (West)*
*Call: 26425111*
*Listen to classical renditions*
7 PM: Here’s some cheer for Western Classical music fans. Noted pianist Evelyn Dias, who has performed in the US, France and Czech Republic, is bringing together an eclectic programme that will run the gamut from Clementi’s Sonata in B flat Major Op.12 to the works of American composer Richard Danielpour.
*Where: Experimental Theatre, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point*
*Entry: Rs 300 – Rs 500*
*Call: 22824567*
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*Watch a psychological thriller*
9 PM onwards: What happens when the ghost of your past, pays you an unexpected visit? A new psychological thriller play, 27 02 02 Zaheen Shah, starring Joy Sengupta and Dilnaz Irani, takes you into the home of an upper middle class family that opens its doors to a stranger on a stormy night. The stranger’s visit opens old wounds that will both thrill and shock.
*Where: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu Church Road, Janki Kutir, Juhu*
*Entry: Rs 250*
*Call: 26149546*
*Happy feet on the ramp*
11 PM: Here’s a chance to watch your kids show off their swag on the ramp. The Indian Kids Fashion Week (IKFW) is providing a platform to young talent, between ages 4 and 14, to sport creations of some of the country’s finest designers. To get your child to join in the fun, Register online.
*Where: Phoenix Market City, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Kurla (West)*
*To Register: www.ikfw.in*
*Enjoy Kailasa live in Navi Mumbai*
6 PM onwards: Gear up to entangle yourself in a soul-stirring journey as sufi artiste Kailash Kher and his fusion band Kailasa perform live in Navi Mumbai. Their line-up will comprise an innovative set of Bollywood, classical, western and folk music. For die-hard Kailasa fans, this show will be hard to miss.
*Where: CIDCO Exhibition Centre, Sector 30 A, Near Vashi Railway Station, Navi Mumbai*
*Entry: R750-3,500 *
*Call: 9969333231*
*Swing to jazz*
June 4 — 5, 6 PM onwards: Make most of your weekend with a specially curated two-day workshop on Street Jazz and Contemporary dance. Richard D’Costa of Richard’s Academy of Dance & Arts, who has formally trained in several International dance styles like Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop will be leading the session. Don’t miss your chance to unwind!
*Where: Beat n Bounce Studio, Crescent Royale, Off Link Road, Andheri (West)*
*Call: 9930029294*
*Get the farmer’s special*
June 4 and 5, 12 pm onwards: After 37 successful Farmers’ Markets across the country, Karen Anand and her team are back with the Mumbai Market. Get ready to meet exhibitors from across the country and diverse spaces such as horticulture, kitchenware, food manufacturers and start up vendors. Shopping and eating? You wouldn’t want to leave!
*Where: High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel*
*Call: 43339994*
*Swing to jazz*
June 4 — 5, 6 PM onwards: Make most of your weekend with a specially curated two-day workshop on Street Jazz and Contemporary dance. Richard D’Costa of Richard’s Academy of Dance & Arts, who has formally trained in several International dance styles like Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop will be leading the session. Don’t miss your chance to unwind!
*Where: Beat n Bounce Studio, Crescent Royale, Off Link Road, Andheri (West)*
*Call : 9930029294*
*Get the farmer’s special*
June 4 and 5, 12 pm onwards: After 37 successful Farmers’ Markets across the country, Karen Anand and her team are back with the Mumbai Market. Get ready to meet exhibitors from across the country and diverse spaces such as horticulture, kitchenware, food manufacturers and start up vendors. Shopping and eating? You wouldn’t want to leave!
*Where: High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel*
*Call: 43339994*
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*Catch Shobana live*
June 2, 7.45 PM onwards: Classical dance exponent and actress Shobana Chandrakumar is set to regale audiences in Mumbai with Dancing Drums Trance — a Bharatanatyam performance that will reconstruct the varied avatars of Vishnu and the ever-evolving mythology of Siva. The dancer will combine Indian classical, qawwali, Bollywood and electronic music to create the spectacular collage of rhythm and movement.
*Where: Nehru Centre, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli*
*Entry: Rs 200 – Rs 1,000*
*Call: 24964676*
*Plan your next travel*
May 30, 6 PM onwards: Bitten by the travel bug? What better way to feel inspired than in the company of fellow travel enthusiasts? The Sisterhood of Travellers is organising a fun gathering, Where you can share your travel stories, and plan your next trip over food and drinks. The best part — you don’t need a membership to join this sisterhood.
*Where: Doolally Taproom, Shop No. 5/6, Geleki, ONGC Colony, Bandra (West)*
*Entry: Rs 500*
*Contact: pants@sisterhoodoftravel.com*
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*Visit an art exhibition*
Ongoing till June 5, 10 AM – 9 PM: Don’t miss the exhibition of contemporary artists Shailesh Kamble and Sudeep Kamble, who are showcasing their new work ‘Hues of life’ this season. The presentation reveals their unique perceptions about life in oil and acrylic colours on canvas and paper along with dry pastels on paper.
*Where: Art Walk Gallery, Hotel Trident, Nariman Point*
*Call: 9594046998*
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/29-Eknath-Khadse-s.jpg*Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse owes the BMC’s water department R 2 lakh ( right) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has an outstanding electricity bill of over Rs 33 lakh*
A query under the RTI Act has revealed that at the top of the list is the big man himself, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He used 10,969 kilolitres of water at his bungalow, Varsha, running up a bill of Rs 1,86,126 in 2015-16. He has a pending water bill of Rs 244778 for this bungalow. The water bill for his other bungalow, Torna, is Rs 32,239. Fadnavis has an outstanding electricity bill of over Rs 33 lakh for 15-16 for Varsha and Rs 5 lakh for Torna.
Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse owes the BMC’s water department Rs 2 lakh for usage at his plush Ramtek bungalow. Khadse has to also pay BEST Undertaking R16 lakh for using 1,03,272 units of energy.
Finance Minister Sudhir Mungatiwar owes the water department Rs 55,543 and Rs 5 lakh to the electricity department for the same period. Speaker Haribhau Bagade, who resides in Agradoot, has to pay Rs 7,760 to the water department. Education Minister Vinod Tawde has used around 5,072 kilolitres of water and owes Rs 1,29,225 to the department.
It’s not the just BJP ministers, but also Shiv Sena netas who seem to be unable to curtail wasteful usage. Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam owes BEST Rs 6,81,114 for power usage and Rs 7,184 to the BMC.
*Going scot-free?*
“If you look at the bills of the ministers, you will realise that water conservation measures in the time of drought make only for good speeches. They have used electricity and water in abundance,” said Chetan Kothari, an activist who filed the application under the RTI Act.
Kothari questioned the authorities’ duplicity over non-payment of dues.
“Nobody will cut their (the ministers’) supply. But if you and I were to default on our payments, the wireman would be at our doorsteps in two months.”
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Melwin-Fernandes-s.jpg*The coffin bearing Melwin Fernandes’ body is dug out at the Worli cemetery*
The bone belongs to Melwin Fernandes, who allegedly committed suicide in the US, nine months ago. His body was buried at the Worli cemetery soon after. But, the body was exhumed last week after the family had alleged that the corpse had been moved from the graveyard. They demanded that a DNA test be conducted on it.
The autopsy was first conducted at Nair Hospital. “We had removed the hair samples, tooth and femur bone to conduct the DNA examination and as per the procedure had cleaned the bones before sending the same to the police, in a sealed cover. The police was asked to handover the cover to the FSL,” a forensic surgeon said.
“On Thursday, a police constable from Worli police station visited the FSL laboratory, Kalina and submitted the samples. However, he was surprised when the concerned staff at the dispatch accepted only the hair and tooth samples, but refused to accept the bones. He told the police constable that it was not cleaned properly and that the sample was stinking badly,” the forensic surgeon added.
“If the laboratory scientists cannot bear the stench, they should shut the FSL,” the surgeon added.
When contacted, a police officer from Worli Police station said, “We will approach the FSL again next week and will request them to get their remarks in writing.”
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Khamkar, allegedly jumped from the terrace of R City Mall on the night of May 25.
Employed with Jupiter Services, he was repairing the cellphone towers on the mall. Cops say that Khamkhar posted a message on Facebook which read ‘Iam finished my life, Iam disturb. Sorry’.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Under-construction-s.jpg*The under-construction Nav Palmyra CHS. Chandra Kamra said he would cooperate in the investigation. Gautam did not respond to mid-day’s calls or text messages*
Suraj Samant, vice-president of Patel Realty, which undertakes construction and redevelopment projects, has filed a complaint against Dubai-based Manohar Sawlani, and two brokers — Chandra and Gautam Kamra. In his complaint, Samant alleged that in 2014, Sawlani — through the Kamras, who run a company called The Crew — had expressed interest in buying an 890-sqft flat on the fourth floor of the under-construction building from Patel Realty. The flat was then valued at Rs 2.65 crore.
"Once the deal was finalised, Sawlani paid us Rs 44 lakh and was issued an allotment letter. Sawlani didn’t pay the next installment of Rs 40 lakh, due in July 2015. He also did not pay the service tax of Rs 2.24 lakh,” Samant alleged.
However, the Kamra brothers claimed they had already handed over R45 lakh to Samant towards payment of the said flat and filed an affidavit in court. This money, alleged Samant, was a separate transaction and a non-refundable token amount for the purchase of his Santa Cruz office valued at R4.5 crore.
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The story follows more of a nice arcade ladder system where you play either as Richar Aldana or his buddy Duke Diamonds. The game is based on a French comic book called Lastman. No, you don’t need to read the comic series to get the game, but the characters are better explained there.
In the game, Aldana’s girlfriend is captured by a mysterious villain and you have to go save her by fighting opponents, who increase in strength, while trying to stop an experimental drug called Antitrans. The story mode can only be played by one person which is really a missed opportunity here.
The gameplay is fairly simple: Beat the crap out of the other guy. At your disposal you have sofa, chairs and other stuff to throw at them and some power-ups that appear around the tiny map could give you a significant advantage.
You can also turn into an Antitrans by collecting three power-up symbols of the creature. With the creature power-up you can easily finish the fight.
Multiplayer mode lets you play one-on-one or two-on-two sessions. While the one-on-one works well, the two-on-two is chaos, but the kind that will have you arguing and having fun with your friends. Try and get extra controllers as the keyboard gets cramped very quickly and the game is better suited to a controller. There is no online multiplayer.
The game is fun and overall it is well worth the asking price. However, single player may get boring after the initial nostalgia value runs out. We also wish the game would explore the characters more, not everyone will want to read the comic series.
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TMNT has been a part of everyone’s childhood since they first appeared on TV nearly two decades ago. Which one you grew up watching depended on which version was out on TV at the time. There have been several games that have come out since the success of the show. While there have been awesome ones like TMNT: Turtles in Time and TMNT: The arcade game, there have also been turds in the form of TMNT: Out of the Shadows and TMNT: Mutant Melee. This new one is somewhere in between. While it is playable and some aspects are done well, others suck the life out of the fun.
The game plays out as a 3D street brawler where you take on numerous underpowered enemies till you fill up the bar for the boss. April O’Neil is in your ear telling you about what’s happening around the city, so you can go around and lay down the law. If you weren’t paying attention, Turtle vision will tell you where to go next. Most of the tasks require you to defeat a hoard of enemies or take down a certain number of foes. There are some sillier missions which make no sense.
The ranking makes no sense either. Sometimes when you have done well you will be assigned an A or possibly a B rating. A shoddy job will earn you an S.
You can also level up your character’s skills, but in most combats you can hardly tell the difference. Once you finish a certain number of missions on the map, you can unlock the boss of that level. There is no pay-off or satisfaction of defeating most of the bosses. While some of the combat and combos during boss fights are really good, the boss is usually stupid enough that plain button mashing will defeat them, even in higher levels of difficulty. Though we recommend you try the combos, which can be executed easily by pressing a combination of two or more buttons.
The game suffers from poor AI overall. So, while playing single player it is very hard to control your brothers. They just seem to do random stuff. But play the same stage played with friends is an enjoyable experience.
Mutants in Manhattan also suffers from poor level design. This is especially evident in the underground levels, and there are too many of them. It feels claustrophobic and very repetitive. There isn’t much to explore and even fighting bosses in the sewer is just meh, compared to the city, even the intelligence of friends doesn’t uplift environment in the sewers.
Perhaps the most compelling reason not to get this game is the price. At Rs 2,500 is it fairly expensive for the PC. Ideally I would pay round Rs 999 for it. Despite the issues, it is a lot of fun to play with friends and the graphics look great.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/29-Narayan-Rane-s.jpg*Narayan Rane*
Congress does not have enough fire power to take on the BJP government in the state, and Rane is seen as the potent weapon against the BJP.
The Congress is yet to announce a candidate for one more seat.
Sources said that the party will allow the NCP to contest two seats and help the former ally in voting as well.
Rane’s rehabilitation means more trouble for the government as well as his detractors within the Congress who were happy to see him languishing on the sidelines.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Booch-s.jpg*Bella Carlstrom. Pic/Satej Shinde*
The 24-year-old model may have hit a home-run with her Kombucha label which she is calling Bella’s Booch. When we tasted a chilled glass of lemongrass ginger flavour, we were surprised at how good it was. It was refreshing, and had a natural taste, instead of the concentrated, saccharine beverages we are addicted to. It was just the right amount of sweet, and the lemongrass ginger was not too overpowering. “It’s a coolant of course, but it’s also a pro-biotic and keeps your gut in shape. If that’s taken care of, your immunity is going to be off the charts,” says the New Zealander.
Carlstrom, who moved to India from Sydney in 2012 to pursue greener pastures in modelling, says that it’s been a childhood habit to cook with mom, Toni, in the kitchen. And it was during a visit home in the last few years that she learnt how to make the Kombucha. “My mom is the eternal yogi, always making something new and healthy. So she started making the booch, and taught it to all of us. Actually, the weather in India is perfect for it.”
The Kombucha’s roots go back to ancient China, Japan and Korea. It’s a labourous process to make a batch and takes a certain knack to prepare the perfect brew. Carlstrom first brews a batch of black tea and lets it rest overnight. She then adds the most important ingredient. “That would be the ‘mushroom’ called SCOBY, a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast,” explains Carlstrom. Basically, it’s a group of genetically identical or nearly identical organisms living together, usually of the bacterial species. “You can make your own SCOBY by adding vinegar to the sugared tea, and slowly, but surely, it will take shape,” she says. It usually looks like the umbrella top of a mushroom. Once the SCOBY is immersed in the tea, it takes 10 days to ferment, at the end of which the SCOBY has sucked in the colour and the sugar. “I then add the flavours, like beetroot, apple, strawberry, spiced apple and blend it. Once it’s drained, it’s ready!”
Right now, Carlstrom is stocking the glass bottle of the booch at Bandra’s iBar for R400. If you want a refill, come back with the same bottle and pay only R300. But it’s getting hectic. “I have to now double my production. As people taste it, they want more,” she laughs.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Kamlakar-Patil-s.jpg*Kamlakar Patil, circle officer from the Thane collector's office.*
They allegedly arrived drunk at a residential complex in Ganesh Nagar in Dombivli, refused to step out of their car to perform the audit and abused worried locals who sought answers on the relief process.
When the locals realised that the officials — circle officer Kamlakar Patil and the four talatis — were drunk, they called out their unprofessional behaviour and handed them over to the Manpada police.
Santosh Keni, a resident, said the officials had made a pit stop at a bar before arriving at the locality. "They were drunk and perfunctorily surveyed the houses while sitting in their car. When people began questioning them, the officials ignored and even abused them. After we found out that they were drunk, we caught them and handed them over to the police."
"They are hurting our sentiments at a time of tragedy," rued Keni.
Suhasini Rane, the district BJP vice-president, too, questioned the official’s conduct. “Here, people have no food or water, and the officials are enjoying themselves. An inquiry should be conducted to ensure that such incidents do not recur."
Shantaram Awsare, senior inspector of Manpada police station, said Patil had been sent for a medical examination. "It’s a good thing that some people handed the officials over to us. Otherwise, they would have been lynched by the angry mob."
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Identified as Amar Gopichand Polke (42), Sunil Vatkar (35) and Balu Patole (38), the accused confiscated the complainant’s cellphone, claiming he had pornographic material on it. The victim, identified as Sion Sajalkumar Das, 28, was abused and robbed of Rs 1,500.
*The incident*
Das, a Kolkata-based cook who worked in Pune, was travelling to his hometown, in Pargana district on the Pune Howrah Express last month. Since the train was fully reserved, Das sat near the toilet and dozed off. "A policeman kicked me and asked me for my cellphone. I told him I had a ticket which was not confirmed and would pay the extra fine,” said Das.
The three constables allegedly abused him for watching porn clips. "They refused to return my phone and even the TC turned a blind eye. I had all my savings to pay my child’s school fees, which they took and forced me to get off at Daund," said Das. He managed to reach his hometown with his head bleeding and with the Rs 2,000 he had stashed in his pocket. On hearing similar incidents experienced by his friends on the same train, he lodged a complaint.
Vishwa Pansare, railway superintendent, Pune Division, said, "The case, which was registered with Howrah police station on May 23, has been transferred to our station as the incident took place here. We have arrested the three constables on the basis of description and time of travel. Once the complainant identifies them, we will conduct an internal inquiry against them."
Inspector Abhay Parmar, in-charge of Pune railway station, said, "Passengers had earlier complained but no one was ready to lodge a complaint. We didn’t know that our policemen were involved in it."
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Kiara, born on October 10, 2009, in India, was a student of Vile Parle's Gokalibai School. She was the third daughter of Kansas resident Dharmesh Ved, an American national, and Sejal Dhutia, 40, who now lives with her parents in Khar. The couple is estranged and locked in a domestic violence battle, which is now being heard in the SC.*An age-progressed image to four years, circa 2013, of Kiara uploaded on Lighting their Way Home, a group aiding the search for missing children*
According to officers at the Khar police station, where a medico-legal case has been lodged, Kiara was found lying unconscious in her bedroom by her maternal aunt. She was rushed to the nearby Hinduja Healthcare Surgical Hospital and was shifted to Lilavati the same day. Here, she was treated for over 10 days and was, on April 29, declared dead. Since the cause of death could not be ascertained, the doctors informed the Khar police which registered a medico-legal case as per procedure, after which her body was sent to Juhu's Dr RN Cooper Municipal Medical College & General Hospital, where an autopsy was conducted.*Kiara’s mother Sejal Ved *
*Parents’ legal battle*
Sejal and Dharmesh had an arranged marriage in 1999 in Mumbai. Ten years later, the couple filed for separation in a US court, which was granted. However, Sejal's family claims that as the divorce had not taken place according to the Hindu Marriage Act, it cannot be considered legal. Sejal had filed a case for Kiara's custody in India. A case filed by her family alleging domestic violence, dowry harassment and a demand for maintenance is pending in the Supreme Court. While the couple’s other two daughters, Payal and Neeti, continue to live with Dharmesh in Kansas, America, Kiara was living in Mumbai with Sejal. Dharmesh alleges that though he won the custody of Kiara in 2011, Sejal had 'abducted' her and fled to India in October 2011 on a fake passport. Dharmesh said a felony warrant was issued against Sejal on November 21, 2011. The websites of several organisations that work towards tracking missing people, including Lighting their Way Home, seek information on Kiara, last seen in Leawood, Kansas, on May 25, 2011. They identify Sejal as her 'abductor and non-custodial mother'.*An infant Kiara*
A member of the family, not wishing to be identified, said, "Dharmesh wanted a son and after she gave birth to their second daughter, he began assaulting Sejal. She was hit and kept in the bathroom for several hours at a stretch. She suffered physical assault and mental harassment by Dharmesh. It’s driven her over the edge and she is currently undergoing counselling. Her father visited them in America four times, but the matter was not resolved."*The Khar building where Sejal now lives with her maternal family. Pic/ Prabhanjan Dhanu*
He added, "Dharmesh even demanded dowry and asked for a petrol pump in America and a bungalow in Aamby Valley." The family member said, “Dharmesh had been informed about Kiara’s admission to the hospital, but he never came to meet her."
*Father’s allegations*
Dharmesh has procured documents from Lilavati Hospital pertaining to Kiara's case. A copy of these is available with mid-day. These reveal the line of treatment given to Kiara between April 19 and 29.
According to the documents, the first medical intervention that Kiara received was by a neighbour, a professor of anesthesiology at a city medical college. They tried to resuscitate her but with no result. On the way to Hinduja Hospital, there was another attempt at resuscitation. The on-duty paediatrician at Hinduja found that Kiara was unresponsive, with no spontaneous respiration.
Treatment at Hinduja, according to the report shared by Dharmesh, restored a heartbeat in the six-year-old after which she was shifted to Lilavati Hospital, where she was taken to the ICU for further treatment.
Dharmesh alleges that an informant (it is not clear who this person is) told him that a tablet of Trika (alprazolam) — an anti-anxiety medication — was found next to the child at her home and believes that this may have led to her death.
The Lilavati document that he shared states: “In view of suspected poisoning, activated charcoal plus milk of magnesia was given on Day 1 and flumazenil infusion was started as the urine s/o benzodiazepine toxin present.
Subsequently, she received parenteral nutrition as kabiven as per need.” The report says that the child had suffered irreversible brain damage.
On April 29, at 10.05 am she had a cardiac arrest and could not be revived. She was declared dead at 10.24 am.
Dharmesh also alleged that though Kiara was clinically dead on April 19, she was declared dead only 10 days later. He told mid-day over the phone from his Kansas residence that he suspects foul play in his daughter’s death and that his wife’s family enjoy the support of influential people in Mumbai.
*The medical standpoint*
In a letter to the US Consulate, dated May 4, 2016 (a copy is with mid-day), the medical superintendent of Lilavati Hospital Dr Sitaram Gawde confirmed that Kiara was being treated at the hospital between April 19 and April 29. "This being a medico-legal case, police was informed about the case and her dead body was handed over to the police for further investigation (post-mortem examination). This hospital has not issued any death certificate in the case of Kiara."
Speaking to mid-day, he said, "Since the police is already investigating the case, I do not wish to make any statement.” On the subject of the death summary (the letter is with Dharmesh), he said, “I do not wish to comment."
A senior hospital official, not wishing to be named, said, "The child was brought in a critical condition to Lilavati, she was unconscious and was on ventilator support. While her heart was beating, there was no oxygen supply to her brain and she had suffered brain damage. Her central nervous system was not responding though all efforts were made to revive her. The case was treated as a medico legal case and police was informed accordingly."
"The point was that the child was under some influence of drug, and upon enquiry, the informant found to have noticed the tablet, Trika, lying next to the child at her home. An internal urine test conducted for toxicology also confirmed the presence of benzodiazepine toxin, confirming that the child had ingested the said tablet. But how and how much quantity is a matter of police investigation," the official said.
When asked the reason for keeping the child in the hospital for 10 days, although she was not responding to treatment, the official clarified, "As Indian laws do not permit euthanasia, and as her heart was pumping, we tried our best to revive her till the end. All internal papers have been handed over to the US Consulate, after we received a letter from them."
*Toxicology reports awaited*
The body of Kiara, whose funeral has been conducted, was sent to Cooper Post-Mortem Centre, where an autopsy was performed. According to officials at the center, “The cause of death has been kept pending as we are awaiting the histopathalogy test report form JJ Hospital, which will confirm or rule out if the child was suffering from any ailment. The toxicology report from the State Forensic Science Laboratory, Kalina, will give details on the question of alleged poisoning.”
When mid-day asked Dharmesh if he planned to come to India to investigate Kiara’s death, he said, “There is only corruption in India. My daughter was an American citizen and she was abducted. I don’t even believe in your (Indian) judiciary.” Dharmesh has not made any complaint in the matter with the Mumbai police. Sources at Khar police station said that there’s an FIR lodged by Sejal against him at the police station, alleging domestic violence. If he were to land in India, he would be arrested by Khar police.
Meanwhile, senior inspector at Khar police station, Ramchandra Jadhav said, “We are investigating Kiara’s case. We are waiting for the post-mortem exam report. Once that is out, we will go ahead with our investigations.”
Sejal’s parents refuted all allegations of foul play.*Voices*
*Sejal’s family member*
After their second daughter, Dharmesh started assaulting Sejal. She was hit and kept in the bathroom for several hours at a stretch. She suffered physical assault and mental harassment by Dharmesh. It’s driven her over the edge and she is currently undergoing counselling
*Ramchandra Jadhav, Senior PI, Khar police station*
We are investigating Kiara’s case. We are waiting for the post-mortem exam report. Once that is out, we will go ahead with our investigations
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Ashmita-Jain-s.jpg*Ashmita Jain of St Joseph High School in New Panvel, who scored 99.6 per cent, celebrates with her family*
With the average pass percentage as high as 99.68 for Maharashtra, the results have brought smiles to many. A total of 43,471 students appeared for the examination, out of which 43,330 cleared the exam. As usual, girls did better.
A total of 17,593 girls appeared for the examination, out of which 17,554 cleared, recording a pass percentage of 99.78. Boys, on the other hand, recorded a pass percentage of 99.61.
*Girls grab top ranks*
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*Ashmita Jain: 99.6%*
*St. Joseph High School, New Panvel*
For Jain, who was just four points away from bagging a 100 per cent score, studying is more than just passion. "Studying is my hobby. It is all that I did throughout this academic year," said Jain, who aspires to become a doctor. Interestingly, Jain dislikes social networking and does not even have an email address. "I do not find Facebook interesting. I would rather spend my time reading newspapers and magazines," she said.
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*Radhika Joshi: 99.4%*
*Shaikh Karamshi Kanji English School, Mulund*
Even after scoring over 99 per cent, Joshi does not want to opt for the regular Science route. She says she'd rather pursue an MBA and wishes to join IIM. "I am not interested in engineering or medicine. I feel I am good at management,” said Joshi. Unlike the raging trend among Class X students to join coaching classes, Joshi studied on her own. "What you can study on your own cannot be taught by anybody," she said.
*Winning against all odds*
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*Nimilika Puppala: 83.6%*
*Rajhans Vidyalaya*
Puppala was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when she was in primary school. But, with the help of her parents and school counsellor, she has done well all along. "I was expecting this score because I studied a lot. I will definitely be joining the Arts stream," said an excited Puppala, who enjoys writing stories in her down time. Puppala’s father Chandramohan said, "Social skills have been an issue. But, the school has been very supportive."
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http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/P-Chidambaram-s.jpg*P Chidambaram*
The high command has overruled state Congress president Ashok Chavan's recommendation of MP Avinash Pandey and asked former union finance minister P Chidambaram's nomination from the electoral college of Maharashtra Assembly because the Congress does not have enough MLAs to get him elected to Rajya Sabha from his home state Tamil Nadu. With 42 votes, Maharashtra Congress can elect just one MP, and this development has left Maharashtra Congress, which needs a boost after a dismal electoral show against the BJP in 2014, disappointed.
Voting for the Rajya Sabha polls is slated on June 11.
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*Ashay Gangwar and Harshit Saran. Pic/Tehniyat Fatima*
Meet 25-year-olds Ashay Gangwar and Harshit Saran — childhood friends from Lucknow. Gangwar is an engineering graduate from IIT-Kharagpur, and Saran has an MBA from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies.
The railways sees around 3,600 deaths annually in Mumbai. "We are making a 60-second short film that shows what other people see when an accident occurs. We want to change the perspective towards the railways," said Gangwar.
The duo has already identified a few locations for their shoot and plans to wrap it up within two weeks. “We want people to realise that we are doing as much as possible [to safeguard lives]. For the death toll to come down, everyone has to take precautions while travelling," said Anand Vijay Jha, senior divisional security commissioner (Mumbai), Western Railway.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/Vasai-Fort-s.jpg*Mangroves at Vasai Fort*
It was a late summer walk and I had sighted an Osprey swoop down and catch a mud-skipper. And, just as I was about to get my primitive camera out, the flying ghost disappeared into the dense mangroves.
Mangroves are not any single plant species but an entire habitat in which a whole community of plants are found. The habitat spans from the landward freshwater side to the saline seaward side, with specialised brackish water plants adapted to hours of submergence under tidewaters. Around 35 species of true mangroves plants have been described in India. Of these, 20 have been identified along coastal Maharashtra and 15 are found around the mouths of
Mumbai’s rivers.
Mangroves are a rich and economically important ecosystem that thrive in the tidal mudflats in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Due to the daily influx and outflow of tides, mangrove plants are forced to be salt-tolerant and hence, referred to as halophytes. Due to the excessive water and silt brought in by the river and sea, there is a perpetual shortage of dissolved oxygen, due to the large quantities of decaying matter. Mangrove plants have specialised breathing roots that project out of the soil, called pneumatophores. Their submerged, anchorage roots selectively absorb water while limiting salt intake. Some plants also have specialised salt and water exuding glands in their leaves.
With respect to Mumbai’s islands, mangroves locally called Tiwar are one of the most important ecosystems, as they cushion the land from the ingression of the sea. The original island owners, Kolis (local fishing community) worship the mangroves as they are breeding grounds for most fish and home to many medicinal plants. They use the wood of mangrove trees for house building, furniture, as fuel and in their fishing activities.
In the early 1990s, over 37 sq km of mangroves existed in and around Mumbai, largely in the Thane creek, Sewri-Mahul Bay, Mahim, Versova, Gorai and Ghodbunder region. There were also mangroves along the coast of Bandra, Malabar Hill and Colaba. Over the last century, land reclamation has substantially increased city boundaries. But, within the last decade, we have lost over 40 per cent of our mangrove cover. The same reclamation and linear construction such as jetties, bridges and promenades, have resulted in the emergence of new mangrove areas, such as those along Bandra Bandstand, the Palm Beach Road (Navi Mumbai) and in the Bhayander region.
Avicennia marina is the most common mangrove species in Mumbai, along with Meswak (Salvadora persica) and Sea Holly (Acanthus ilicifolius). Sadly, they have to tolerate heavy levels of industrial and household pollution, which includes heavy metals such as lead, mercury and chromium.
Mangrove forests are perfect examples of the resilience of nature and they thrive in the harshest of field conditions. However, there is an increasing fad among corporates and NGOs to spend lakhs on planting mangrove saplings. What one needs to do is clean up our mudflats of plastic and spilled fossil fuel. These mangroves, which are home to fish and crab, will automatically replenish fishermen’s nets.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/29-Sonam-Kapoor-s.jpg*Sir Ian McKellen with Sonam Kapoor at the opening ceremony of the 7th Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival at Liberty Cinema on Wednesday. Pic/Shadab Khan*
The British Film Institute (BFI) has curated 18 British Shakespeare films to celebrate Shakespeare’s 400th death anniversary with a global tour, with Sir Ian launching the tour in Mumbai. The BFI, British Council, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and National Centre for Performing Arts collaborated to invite Sir Ian for a series of events, including a Q&A with Aamir Khan, which launched the MAMI Film Club, a screening of Richard III with a Q&A, the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, and a reception given by Kumar Iyer, British Deputy High Commissioner, Mumbai, to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.
Sir Ian got a thunderous ovation at his Q&A with Aamir Khan — you could feel the audience’s love to him on your skin that night. Take a bow, Mumbai, for showing such love for a distinguished, 77-year-old Shakespearean actor — apart from Bollywood stars. “I keep waiting for the phone to ring,” said the ultra-modest Sir Ian, despite being among the most popular British stars, with a roster of over 100 films and innumerable plays. As he is gay, he tended to “avoid romantic roles” and so ended up playing villains and wizards, he said. After he came out, though, his relationships and acting got a lot better, he pointed out, “as I no longer had to fake things.” Thanks to Sir Ian, the Indian media, otherwise obsessed with her red carpet flounciness quotient, accidentally discovered that Sonam Kapoor had an intelligent question about women in Shakespeare, and was familiar with Portia — brava!
Richard III, directed by Richard Loncraine, which Sir Ian co-wrote and acted in, was a remarkable choice of film to flag off the India tour. It is about a murderous, fascist dictator in a fictionalised, 1930s England, “as England might have been,” as Sir Ian put it. Sir Ian as Richard III directly addresses the viewer, making him complicit in his murders. Richard III’s ambition to the throne sees him commit a series of murders, including his brothers Henry VI and Clarence, Prince Edward, Edward’s wife Anne and his two young nephews. Yet, finally lonely, he commits suicide. The screening had chilling resonances not only of Hitler, but of current events in this country, and the climactic suicide is but cold comfort.
Later, after work meetings with Robin Baker, Head Curator, British Film Institute National Archive, it was a pleasure to chat with him at the Kala Ghoda Café. Funny how the conversation meandered around birds. He told me how peacocks, belonging to a posh Indian neighbour, peered in at his mum’s windows in England. He recalled how the BBC once sent a cellist into the garden “to accompany the nightingales.” And, over masala chai, he made me a charming orgami crane, delighted that his childhood memory would still allow him such pleasures. At least for such small pleasures — and much else — thank God for the British!
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Smiling into the eyes of her second beautiful baby girl, she looked forward to leaving Breach Candy Hospital. But souring things there, in the middle of the maternity ward, stood a bossy mother-in-law loudly banning her about-to-deliver daughter-in-law from taking the room my friend had occupied. “Don’t get admitted here,” she shrieked in warning. “It’s ashubh, inauspicious to even enter!” Pointing to my friend she actually shook her head hopelessly and said, “She has had two daughters. Let’s move. A shared cubicle is better for you than such an unlucky private room.”*Representation pic*
Shuddering at the memory of the incident, my friend said, “She simply would not allow the daughter-in-law to place her packed overnight bag in my room for a minute.” We winced, wondering whether that voiceless mother did give birth to a girl after all.
Gender despair perpetuated by women really has to be the worst, the unkindest cut. What’s more, there’s no end to the posturing. One grandmother we know never tired of repeating that old ditty ‘A son is a son till he takes a wife, but a daughter is a daughter all her life.’ Yet, when her own daughter lay peacefully feeding a newborn girl, she could not resist saying, with a quick commiserating hug, “Better luck next time, darling.” Next time brought another daughter to their home.
Quite contrarily, the stats seem cheerier than they’ve been for a while: data from a recently released BMC survey registers 2015 as the year with 933 girls born per 1,000 boys.
This is significantly ahead of the national average of 918. But 11 major wards stubbornly still buck the progressive trend with a worrying gap between the genders.
Rah-rah figures are nothing except eyewash. Son worship is so sadly systemic that we are inured to horrific episodes. Appalled as we might be on hearing them reported, we’d like to believe this is the way village India reacts, and “we wouldn’t”. The troubling truth is that “we” are not much different.
Female infanticide takes too many forms, with the same shocking results of course. While a pregnant woman in the rural interior may be force-fed local poison to shake off a suspected girl foetus sprout inside her womb, city clinics oblige the well-heeled by performing abortions with impunity. Every law in place, mockingly framed in bold print on their walls, these cubicles continue to snuff out little girl lives before they have even begun. Lax follow-up of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act means poor checks or crackdowns on sonography centres and illicit clinics. NGOs like Lek Ladki Abhiyan point out a glaring lack of political will to investigate the mystery of missing girls.
Pre-conception sifting is as disturbing a trend. I’ve seen society “ladies who lunch” munch gingerly on gynaecologist-recommended alkaline foods to up their chances of having boy babies over girls. One of them announced to the chattering coterie around — “If it works for me, darlings, you bet I’ll share details.”
In her book, May You Be The Mother of a Hundred Sons, journalist Elisabeth Bumiller interviewed women across the country. The title derived from t
Reported by Mid-Day 16 hours ago.
Reena Kapoor, who will now be seen in the upcoming new family drama show 'Shakti...Astitva Ke Ehsaas Kii', is in love with her onscreen children Mahira Khurrana and Tasheen Shah.
Parksite police, Vikhroli, has discovered that Pradeep Khamkar, 30, who had committed suicide earlier in the week had announced his intention on Facebook. Khamkar, allegedly jumped from the terrace of R City Mall on the night of May 25.
*Beijing:* At least five people were killed and other three remained missing following a flash flood in south China's Guangdong Province.
Actress Vidya Balan says she is a greedy actor and doesn't believe in restricting herself to Hindi film industry.
*Vadodara:* Mumbai-bound Duronto Express was today held up for nearly an hour at Vadodara junction railway station after the commuters alleged uncleanliness in coaches and non-serving of breakfast on board.
*Business Wire India*It may seem unbelievable, but it's true! A 7-year-old girl, Akshaya Sundar from Chennai, Tamil Nadu could make it happen to write and publish her first book that is now available worldwide in more than 100 countries and 39,000 locations.This miracle has come true only because of the self publishing concept in India. Since 2011, Educreation Publishing, a leader in self publishing books in India, has created a platform 'www.educreation.in' that can be used by any emerging authors to self publish their books in a professional way.