Recently, comedienne Bharti Singh took to Instagram and announced the date of her wedding with beau Haarsh Limbachiyaa, which is December 3. The couple has now revealed how their wedding card looks like, and trust us they are as unique and lovely as the couple.*Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa*Keeping the wedding theme in mind, which is taking place in Goa, the card box is white in colour, with a blue ribbon over it, which has a couple sailing in a boat. Doesn't it sound romantic? On the inside card cover, there is a picture of Bharti lifting Haarsh, with a beautiful tagline. The card also comprises the latest photoshoot done by the soon-to-be-hitched couple.
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*See Photos: Lovey Dovey Couple Bharti Singh And Haarsh Limbachiyaa Are All Set To Wed*
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http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/PineApple-s.jpg
*Friday*
*Drag yourself here*
Watch a drag performance by Alaska 5000, winner of a popular American reality TVâÂÂÂÂshow. Sushant Divgikar will also be performing at the event in his drag avatar, Rani ko-HE-nur.
*TIME 10 pm at Kitty Su, The Lalit, Marol, Andheri East.*
*CALL: 9987603114 *
*ENTRY: Rs 1,000 onwards*
*Learn to make a Gond painting*
India has a rich heritage of folk art owing to its many communities, and Gond painting from Madhya Pradesh is one such art form. Attend a workshop where artist Trishna Patnaik will teach you to create a vibrant Gond painting using a variety of motifs.
*TIME: 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm*
*AT: Vaishnavipratima, Vasan Udyog Bhavan, Lower Parel.*
*CALL: 24997999*
*COST: Rs 2,000 (inclusive of materials)*
*Dance all night*
Kick-start your weekend by grooving to the tunes of South African EDM artist Candice Redding (in pic, right), whose sound predominantly comprises fresh dance floor beats with big room basslines.
*TIME: 10 pm onwards*
*AT: 1Above, second floor, Trade House, Kamala Mills, Lower Parel. *
*CALL: 7700064111 *
*ENTRY: Rs 3,000 (full cover)*
*Saturday*
*Watch a powerful play*
Catch 07/07/07, a devised piece based on Reyhaneh Jabbari's letters. Directed by Faezeh Jalali, the 90-minute play is about the life of 19-year-old Jabbari, who lands a dream job on July 7, but two weeks later, finds herself in solitary confinement, and being tortured by prison authorities.
*TIME: 7 pm to 8.30 pm*
*AT: Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.*
*LOG ON TO: bookmyshow.com*
*COST: Rs 500 plus GST*
*Fold some paperer*
Sign up for an origami workshop with Varun Ravindran, a marketing professional who dabbles in the Japanese art form. At the workshop, you will learn how to transform flat sheets of paper into sculptures through folding techniques.
*TIME: 1 pm to 3 pm*
*AT: The Daily Bar & Kitchen, SV Road, Bandra West.*
*CALL: 9920446633 *
*ENTRY: Rs 1,500*
*Celebrate with kids*
Attend a two-day festival dedicated to items for children, right from sustainable clothing and pretty footwear to learning tools and candy. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the non-profit Angel Xpress Foundation.
*ON: November 11 and 12*
*AT: Pause, house no 25-D, Pali Village, Khar West.*
*CALL: 8850145106*
*Sunday*
*Attend a sunrise party*
The Magicrise rooftop party is for those of you who don't like to stay put in bed on a Sunday morning. Start with partner yoga by Jenil Dholakia, and follow it up with sessions of BellyJazz with Kanchi Shah, dance music by Sneha Tharwani and South Masala fitness by Anand Kumar.
*TIME 7 am to 11 am*
*AT: AER, Four Seasons, Worli.*
*CALL: 9820866657*
*COST: Rs 750*
*Sip on South America*
Savour cocktails made with two South American spirits, pisco and cachaça. The former is made by distilling fermented grape juice, while the latter is derived from sugarcane. Try the Asian sour, copa de Peru and bloody carioca, and nibble on prawn tacos and baby corn ceviche.
*TILL: November 30 TIME 7 pm onwards*
*AT: Lima, Maker Maxity, North Avenue, BKC.*
*CALL: 8691085781*
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/freak-deaths-image-s.jpg*Representational Image*
The three men hot into a fight when the victim, a carpenter by profession, refused to make a wooden drawer for the brothers. The trio had a fight and one of the brothers snatched a hammer from the victim and hit him with it.
After the victim collapsed, one of the brothers informed his family and even lodged a complaint of assault against the victim at Kherwadi police station. The victim, unfortunately, died while being treated at the hospital.
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http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Salman-Katrina-Tiger-s.jpg
According to an India.com report, the trailer of 'Tiger Zinda Hai'- sequel to 2010 'Ek Tha Tiger' has garnered the most likes. It has surpassed 'Baahubali: The Conclusion' trailer by getting over 6,48,000 likes, whereas 'Baahubali: The Conclusion' has received approximately over 5,41,000 likes thus far. Considering Salman Khan's previous outing 'Tubelight' proved to be a debacle at the Box Office, this achievement, merely in a short span of four days, shows to be a positive sign for the film's report card.
Salman and Katrina, both are reprising their roles as RAW agent and ISI agent respectively from 'Ek Tha Tiger' in the sequel, 'Tiger Zinda Hai'. At the trailer launch of the film, when Ali Abbas Zafar was asked about the tremendous pressure on him to take the franchise ahead, he said, "There's a lot of pressure. Obviously, it's such a big film with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. It's a big franchise and I did 'Sultan' with Salman, so there's an added baggage."
*Also read: **Salman Khan Refused To Kiss Katrina Kaif In 'Tiger Zinda Hai'?*
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Taapsee-Pannu-ten-s.jpg*Taapsee Pannu*
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Deepika-Ludhianvi-biopic-s.jpg*Deepika Padukone*
However, in a chat with Filmfare, the long-legged beauty denied the news of doing this film. She said, "No" and laid all rumours to rest. In fact, the actress was surprised on hearing this. Talking about her upcoming projects she revealed that she has only signed a Vishal Bhardwaj film.
The film will be directed by Honey Trehaan, and will see the 'Piku' pair, Deepika and Irrfan Khan, reunite on the big screen. The Vishal Bhardwaj film is based on journalist S Hussain Zaidi's novel Mafia Queens of Mumbai, wherein, Deepika will be portraying gangster Rahima Khan's character. Rahima Khan was popularly known as Sapna didi.
*Also view: #10YearsofDeepikaPadukone: Her Journey From 'ShantiPriya**' To 'Rani Padmini'*
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Illegal-connection-s.jpg*A resident shows the empty spot from where the power company ripped out the police station’s illegal three-phase connection to the building's common meter*
It may seem like just deserts for the Mankhurd police's illegal power connection to be cut but, unfortunately, they are not the only ones being punished.*The Mankhurd police station is situated on the first three floors of the Hiranandani Akruti building, which houses project-affected people from across the city*
The police station is situated on the first three floors of Hiranandani Akruti building, which was built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to house project-affected people (PAPs). The cops had hijacked the building's common electricity meter, which supplied power to the public passages, lifts and water pump. When this theft was discovered in September 2016, the power company, Reliance Energy, cut the connection altogether. Since then, the building's 200-plus residents have had to put up with dark passageways. Worse yet, they are forced to climb up the stairs of the seven-storey building since the lifts are not working. This gets even more frustrating because they have to keep running downstairs to fetch water, as the pump doesn't work either.*Anita Mali, fifth-floor resident*
*'Why should we pay?'*
Anita Shetty, who has to climb up to her home on the fifth floor several times a day, said, "We are living in a sorry state, as our lifts are not working and we do not get water supply at home. The society asked the cops to pay the outstanding amount, as they had used electricity from the main connection. But they did nothing."
"The cops kept saying that they had a separate connection; they refused to accept that they were using power from the common meter," added another resident.
The Mankhurd police were allotted space in the building in September 2009; they occupy 24 rooms in total. The other residents arrived much later, in April 2016. Less than six months later, in September 2016, they were shocked when the society was slapped with an electricity bill of Rs 2.5 lakh (July 2015 to Aug 2016).
Residents requested the authorities to inspect the power connection to get to the bottom of the matter. An MMRDA official recalled, "The inspection revealed that the police had joined a 3-phase connection to the common meter, which led to a higher usage, putting the entire monetary burden on the residents' shoulders."
MMRDA officials tried to persuade the cops to pay their dues, to no avail. That month, the power connection was cut. "We have been following up this matter since we moved in, but the police refuse to accept their responsibility. Because of their adamance, all residents are suffering. Why should we pay for the electricity used by the police? We hope this ends soon," said Kiran Patil, who lives on the third floor.
While the police still have an independent connection that supplies power to most of their premises, it's the residents who are forced to pay, one way or another.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Deepika-Padmavati-eight-s.jpg*Padmavati*
The legislator from Mumbadevi assembly constituency here, today held a press conference in the presence of the members of the Maharashtra unit of Karni Sena, which has already opposed the film.
"Bhansali has twisted the historical facts about the braveheart royal women of our country. It is nothing but an insult to our rich and glorified history. It has hurt the sentiments of the people of Rajasthan and the country," Purohit said.
"The legendary queen (Padmavati) has been reportedly portrayed in a bad light (in the film). Rani Padmavati never danced, rather all women from royal families lived a very dignified life and whenever they felt that their chastity is in danger, they would jump into fire, so that nobody can touch them. Rani Padmavati was one of them," he said.
A Rajput queen being shown as dancing in front of everyone is completely against the Rajput culture and pride. No community will be able to tolerate it and this is why distributors across the country have started giving the cold shoulder to this film, the BJP leader added.
Purohit, who is BJP chief whip in the Maharashtra Assembly, however, clarified that his support to Karni Sena was "personal" and it has nothing to do with his party. Members of the Karni Sena, who were present alongside Purohit, raised slogans against Bhansali and demanded that the Censor Board should not clear the film.
Umed Singh Shekhawat, the convener of Maharashtra unit of Karni Sena, said, "We are going to oppose it tooth and nail. The Karni Sena and 36 other communities will hold a march on November 20 against the film. Nonetheless, if the film is released, then we will hold demonstrations outside the cinema halls."
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Family responsibilities have finally led to two of the six crew members on board the seized Malaviya 7 near Scotland to return to India. But the poor weather conditions in Delhi stalled the reunion of one of them, Vijay Kumar, 40, with his family after 16 months, due to cancellation of services on Thursday afternoon.*Vijay Kumar (third from left) and Captain Ashish Prabhakar (wearing cap) with the other crew members*
Captain Ashish Prabhakar returned to Mumbai in the early hours of Thursday. While efforts to contact him did not yield results, mid-day could reach out to Vijay at the Delhi airport, where he spent entire Thursday, due to non-availability of a connecting flight to Amritsar.
mid-day, in the past few weeks has highlighted the plight of not only the sea fearers, but also the staff at the Mumbai office of M/s GOL Offshore Limited, which has not paid them for over a year.
The company, which was once amongst the top employee friendly organisations in the shipping industry, and an investor's favourite on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), with a share price anywhere between Rs 800 and Rs 850 until mid-2000, hit the lowest price of Rs 10.10 on July 18, 2017.
*No money to travel*
"The company would transfer around $1,100 (over Rs 70,000) in my bank account and my wife Narender Kaur, 38, could meet the expenses for our two sons Rishab Kumar, 12, Anurag, 10, and ailing father Sri Bishan Das, 76," Vijay said. He has not been paid for 16 months and the company owes him over Rs 11,20,000.
Vijay claimed he only had Rs 500 in cash and 50 Euro (around Rs 900) when returning. The 50 Euro was given to him by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) seafarers union. He said he would always return with chocolates from abroad for his kids, but this was the first time had had nothing to give them.
When asked why they decided to leave now, Vijay said, "There was no point in being on the vessel with no money or future. Also the family need my presence as there were instances when my children or my father was unwell, and my wife had to take over the responsibilities. Thankfully the tickets were sponsored by the locals." Asked about support from Indian High Commission in Scotland, Vijay replied in the negative.
*A ray of hope*
The Malaviya 7 crew has finally got a reason to smile as they have learnt that the vessel was sold. Captain Ashish and Vijay had left before the rest of the crew learnt this. Clay Vaz, a crew member on board said, "We do not know the exact amount for which the vessel has been sold. We are hopeful to return to India soon."
When asked about the dues, he said, "They will be cleared as per the norms laid by the court. We have been asked to leave the vessel by November 25, so we are counting the days." Another crew member said, "In September 2017 the Aberdeen Sheriff Court had directed the vessel be sold to recoup the wages owed to the crew (Approximately 6,12,000 pounds) by GOL Offshore Limited, which was under liquidation."
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http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Fadnvis-s.jpg*Devendra Fadnavis*
Two Parsi high priests have recently written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to realign the upcoming Metro III rail route saying it threatens the sanctity of two fire temples in south Mumbai, which would be a "great religious loss" to the community.
Talking about today's meeting, an official from the chief minister's office (CMO) said, "The underground tunnel is proposed to pass beneath a couple of agyaris, to which the community has objected. Fadnavis today held a meeting with the Parsi community representatives and the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) chief Ashwini Bhide."
"Fadnavis assured them that the agyaris won't be affected due to the Metro-III work," the official added. Mumbai BJP unit chief Ashish Shelar tweeted about the meeting and thanked Fadnavis and the Parsi community for coming together to find a solution.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/sharad-pawar-a-s.jpg*Representation pic*
"A lot of fun was being made of Rahul Gandhi by those in power. But today, the reverse is happening. People are accepting him now and huge crowds can be seen at his rallies," Pawar told reporters here.
Gandhi has been spearheading an aggressive campaign in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat, where Assembly polls will be held next month. The Congress has been out of power in the state for over two decades.
The veteran politician said the overall atmosphere in Gujarat is against the BJP, but refused to hazard a guess on the poll outcome.
"The overall atmosphere is against the BJP, but money power and government at the Centre can make anything possible. Hence, the political scenario there cannot be predicted before elections," he said.
Pawar said the NCP will contest a limited number of seats in Gujarat for which talks were on with the Congress. "We will team up with anybody who is against the BJP across the country," he said.
Pawar, the wily Maratha politician, said it was not right for the Shiv Sena to attack the BJP-led governments. The Sena is a constituent of the ruling alliances led by the BJP both at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
Pawar had recently revealed that Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and party MP Sanjay Raut met him and "seemed not satisfied with the BJP government".
Responding to a query, Pawar said his advice was "routinely" sought about affairs of the state government, but not always implemented.
Pawar alleged "bogus" cases were being lodged against farmers opposing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' Samruddhi expressway project.
"Such cases have come up before me. If this continues, the NCP will hit the streets along with farmers," he said. On the protests held by opposition parties on the first anniversary of note ban yesterday, Pawar said people were "destroyed" by the exercise. The Maratha strongman said farmers committed suicide during the tenure of the UPA government, of which is was a part, as well, but such instances were dealt with seriously.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/new-york-rape-s.jpg*Representational Image*
As per the police, the man befriended the girl, a class XI student, during his visits and won her confidence. police inspector Deepak Domb from Panvel City police station, said, “He convinced her that he loved her and wanted to marry her. She fell for his trick and agreed to marry him.”
The accused said that on July 22, he married her. As per Deepak Domb, “There were no rituals or legal procedures as he made her believe that accepting the marriage in mind is important and that they have got married. She continued to stay with her parents. ”
Further, on September 27, the victim left for college as usual but the accused had her elope with him. When the girl didn’t return home, her parents filed a police complaint.
Police inspector Deepak Domb said, “This ‘close family friend’ had not been seen since the day the girl went missing. We registered a case of kidnapping. After more than a month and a half, we traced the accused and the victim to Taloja where the accused had rented out a flat and the duo were staying together.”
When the girl was found, she was 11 weeks pregnant. The police said, “After counselling, the girl realised how the accused had taken the advantage of her vulnerability. The family will decide on terminating the pregnancy.”
The accused has been booked under section Sections 376 and 363 of the IPC and the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act. As per the police the man is divorced and has a 15-year-old daughter who lives with her mother since 2014.
When the parents of the accused informed the man’s estranged wife about his arrest, she said, “We have not been in touch since 2014, and I have nothing to comment. I and my daughter are happily staying without him.”
The police added, “His parents who survive on the monthly pension, were shocked to know of their son eloping with a girl of his daughter’s age.”
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http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Sai-Rajmachikar-s.jpg*Minoti Gore and Sagar Kulkarni*
*Start line call*
Runner Minoti Gore, who has registered for the half-marathon, says, "Most runners from Mumbai are monitoring the news of pollution hitting dangerous levels in the Capital very carefully. Running groups on social media are buzzing with information, there is loads of advice and exchanges between runners on whether it is advisable to go there and run."*Sai Rajmachikar*
Gore adds, "Running is a passion. It is pure joy. I am not going to cancel my Delhi trip; I will take a call closer to the date. In fact, I think I will go to Delhi anyway, and then, decide whether I want to run. I may go to the start line on Sunday morning and make up my mind then."
There has been plenty of advice from people who want to avoid Delhi, "but I am being positive," says Gore, adding that part of her faith is also "because the event is organised by the Mumbai Marathon organisers, and [hence] it will be top-notch, we will be taken care of."
*A chill pill*
Sai Rajmachikar from Mumbai says there is no let-up in her training for Delhi. The runner, back from running the 42-km (full) marathon in Amsterdam in October, is now getting ready to taper (cut back her mileage) for November 19.
"There is no fear, but there is plenty of chatter in running groups. The weather can change at any time. I may not have run if the marathon was today, seeing the state Delhi is in, but, who knows what will happen in a few days from now. I am hoping that the run happens; our flights and accommodation has already been booked."
Sai laughs as she says, "As it is, we do not train in the most pollution-free circumstances here too.""We are being advised by many not to go. We tell them to take a chill pill," she adds, explaining that she was "in the zone" now.
*Course for cause*
The marathon, as an event per se, is a gigantic moving billboard. It has been used by activists to push causes and reinforce messages, through runners and spectators holding banners, drawing attention to a certain cause.
Filmmaker Suvahhdan Angre from Pune, who has participated in the Pune and Mumbai marathons, says, "Runners must try and participate in Delhi, turn the half-marathon into a cause for raising awareness about pollution and what we, as laypersons, can do to curb it. Banners and posters along the route will be one way, the event itself can be an avenue to send this message."
The mantra is 'ab Dilli duuur nahin' for runner Sagar Kulkarni. "I am going to Delhi to run. If things get worse on the day itself, we will see, maybe I won't run then. Right now though, a group of runners, including me, with flights and hotel booked, is going to be there. The half-marathon has a 7 am start, which is a good time, not too early. I think we will be able to run, certainly training for the day; if not, then maybe make a weekend of it in Delhi anyway," he signs off with a laugh.
*Doc talk*
Dr Nilesh Gautam, senior interventional cardiologist, Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai, says, "It does not augur well if runners participate in the Delhi half-marathon. I think they should not travel if the smog does not clear. The high pollution means there is a lack of oxygen and toxic chemicals in the air. You will be consuming toxic material in the air, because if you are on the road for two to three hours, this is chronic exposure. This is going by the situation as of now."
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*Also view - Photos: 10 unsolved murders in Mumbai*
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Monkey-b-s.jpg*It was quite an unshakeable bond between a stray and a monkey at Thakurli station*
It took forest department officials and animal lovers a month to break through the bond of a stray dog and a monkey let loose at the railway station to catch hold of the latter after complaints from locals. Reason: every time they reached the spot to nab the monkey, his pal would bare those canines and bark his head off, not letting anyone near his mate.*The monkey sustained injuries yesterday while trying to escape forest department officials*
An animal lover from Kalyan, Suhas Pawar, 28, said that on October 19 they received a complaint from a railway engineer, Tushar Ranade, about a monkey roaming near the sub-station and harassing people. "Since then, we had been visiting the spot to catch the animal, but the dog thwarted all our attempts. We had found out that the monkey had nearly caused a short circuit twice," he added. Pawar said the two were such fast friends that the dog used to lick the monkey's injuries.
Range Forest Officer, Kalyan, S S Khedekar said they finally managed yesterday. "It was quite some friendship between the two. On Thursday, when we reached the spot, we asked the sub-station staff to distract the dog with food, and restrained it when it was busy eating. After that, we trapped the monkey. It sustained injuries during the whole drama. It was given treatment and will be sent to the SPCA centre in Thane," added Khedekar.
Animal lover Suhas Pawar said "Keeping a monkey is not allowed, so the caretaker has set them loose. There are two more in Shahad and Kopar, roaming around. Some people have treated them well and fed them, while a few others have given them hashish and marijuana and alcohol."
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http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Artwork-b-s.jpg*Mythical sea dragon by Curiot and Romina Romanelli. Pic/Akshat Nauriyal*
*A slice of history*
To reintroduce Mumbaikars to this slice of history, the St+art Mumbai 2017 Urban Art Festival launched The Sassoon Dock Art Project, where artists from across India and the world have been creating on-site installations and murals since October-end. This Saturday, the docks will transform into an experiential public art exhibition, with a line-up of interesting events, including curatorial walks, and music and dance performances for every weekend of November.*Artwork by Guido van Helten. Pic/Sneha Kharabe*
Kulavoor's maiden visit to the docks was two months ago as part of a recce for his artwork for the project. "A whole new place opened up to me. The way the tiny boats bob up and down in the sea, the economy of the place and the people who call it home - it was all very beautiful," he shares.*Sameer Kulavoor*
Haneef Kureshi, artistic director and co-founder of St+art India Foundation, says they have been in touch with the Mumbai Port Trust for close to a year for the project. "Our philosophy is that art is to be enjoyed by all. It should be present where people don't expect to find it." How has the local community reacted to the initiative? "There have been all kinds of rumours. Some think that a shoot is scheduled to take place here," chuckles Kureshi. "But there is excitement at the dock and that's the aim. It's quite something that in an ever-evolving city like Mumbai, this sliver of land has been almost in the same state since it was reclaimed in the 1870s."
*'Need more such initiatives'*
While Kulavoor's work is a perfume showroom that he has created on site, with two fragrances from the depths of the Docks, Mexican artist Curiot (Favio Martinez) is working with Romina Romanelli from Uruguay on a mythical museum inspired by the waterbodies around the dock. "We find the aesthetic in Mumbai quite different. Back in Mexico, a lot of public art is graffiti-driven," the duo shares.
Does the city need to do more for its public art? "We definitely need more such initiatives. What's sad is that one fine day, you wake up to a terribly executed, random installation at a buzzing junction," laments Kulavoor. "This city has some great artists. We need to put more thought into what we want it to look like in the long term."
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*Also view - Photos: 10 unsolved murders in Mumbai*
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Gutkha-seized-s.jpg*Huge amounts of the contraband was seized from a godown in Lakadabazar*
Two people have been arrested in the case – Shakeel Khan alias Shakeel Nagpada, 40, owner of the godown and Ahmand Sharafat Ali Khan, 28, who earlier used to run a pan shop in Nalbazar area.
On Thursday morning, while Rajendra Trivedi, ACP, EOW, was on his way to work, he spotted a tempo at the signal opposite Chitra cinema in Dadar. Though Trivedi was not suspicious of the driver, looking at him Khan suddenly blurted out 'sahab mistake ho gaya'. On hearing this, Trivedi asked him to park his vehicle on the side. Even without any interrogation, Khan revealed what he was transporting. Thereafter, he took Trivedi and his team of officers to the godown from where they seized the gutkha.
Following the arrests, the cops came to know that Shakeel has been in the business for the past five to six years. Sources said that earlier Khan used to run a pan shop in Nalbazar, but after he met some people involved in the business from the same area, he became a part of it. Sources said that initially there was not much profit but after the ban they started earning three times of what they used to get earlier.
Sources further said that Shakeel has two to three godowns in South Mumbai, which he has taken on rent, a house at Mataparvati Nagar Malabar Hill, a shop at Nalbazar and a house in Nagpada Shuklaji street, where he stays. Trivedi said, "Shakeel is doing this business since a long time. He has made a lot of money and bought properties across the city."
Meanwhile, some handwritten bills recovered from Khan have brought two other names to the fore - Mahesh Gupta alias Mahesh Vada Pav and Salim Murgi. They have been shown as wanted in the case.
According to sources, Gupta has been a part of the business for the last four years. Earlier he used to run a vada pav and tea stall, but after the gutkha ban he became a part of the racket and earned huge profits. He has a shop atMirzagalibMarket, a house in Nalbazar and four godowns in the same area. "Both Mahesh and Salim are wanted in the case," added Trivedi. Sources further revealed that two days ago police raided one of Mahesh's godowns and seized gutkha worth lakhs of rupees.
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Reality matters to NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who said on Thursday, that he cannot be Prime Minister with whatever little strength his party has. He told mediapersons that the thought (expressed by his party junior Praful Patel) that he would become the PM in 2019 was wrong.*Sharad Pawar*
He also negated a possibility of his party working with BJP in the future, and heaped praise on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for emerging as a crowd puller at political rallies.
"It's factually incorrect to say that NCP will work with BJP. In Gujarat, we are working out a possibility of joining hands with Congress because we don't have enough strength there," he said to a gathering at the Mumbai Television Journalists' Association on Thursday evening.
He said there was anti-establishment sentiment in poll-bound Gujarat, "but a huge amount of money is being used there, so I can't tell you what will happen (in Assembly elections)," he said. Pawar's increasing coziness with Congress was visible when he appreciated Gandhi, whom he had criticised in the past.
"The ruling party ridiculed Rahul Gandhi on social media and he (Gandhi) suffered because of that. But that ridicule is showing a reverse effect. Rahul is now being accepted by people who are crowding his political rallies," said Pawar.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Ishrat-s.jpg
Mumbra resident Rauf Lala, who has been helping the family in the case for the past 10 years, received a call regarding the order, from the CBI on Thursday.
"They were handing over the summon order to me, but I asked them to deliver it to the family. Different agencies have been probing the case, including the SIT and CBI. In a chargesheet filed by the CBI, it was clearly specified that Jahan was killed in a fake encounter and that there is no terror angle to the case," said Lala.
*Lawyer says*
Advocate Vrinda Grover, who is representing the Jahan family, said, "I think the three accused, who are top officials, have applied for their discharge. We will oppose the application, as at this stage the court should see whether there is prima facie evidence to prosecute them. There is enough evidence to prove that she was illegally detained and murdered, and later the incident was shown as a fake encounter. We will oppose the discharge application on November 14."
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http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Dead-body-bb-s.jpg*Representation pic*
*Estranged since long*
Speaking to mid-day, a police officer said, "Francis was working in a private bank. Though we have little information about his relationship with his wife, we have found out they were not living together since a very long time. We had conducted a post-mortem, the reports of which mention the cause of death as natural. No foul play is involved in the incident."
*Also Read: Mumbai: Naked, rotting body of 59-year-old man found inside his home at Fort*
A source said, "Francis's niece had contacted his children, Reena and Kelvin, via e-mail, to which they replied on November 8. They said, 'Thanks for informing us, but we can't come to India. We are not even interested in the property left behind, and you can perform the last rites and pray for his soul.'"
*The discovery*
The Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Marg police had found Francis's body on November 6. Officers said that he used to stay in a third-floor flat of Mughal Apartments. When a foul smell started emanating from his house, neighbours informed the police. Thereafter, the police broke into the flat and found him dead.
*Nov 6*
The day when Francis Xavier Countinho's body was found
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With so much smog in the air and so less green on the ground, this is definitely worrying news - the Central Railway (CR) hacking three fully-grown bottle palm trees opposite Thane station's platform 1. And the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) too isn't happy about it. On Wednesday, it slapped notice on CR for its action, done without permission.*Three fully-grown bottle palm trees opposite platform 1 at Thane station were hacked down by Central Railway officials*
*'Illegal act'*
A senior TMC official said, "The trees were hacked without permission from TMC's Tree Authority. Hence, we were forced to issue a notice, to Thane's station manager. They were fully grown and brought down in such a ruthless manner. We have given them 24 hours to get back to us with an explanation in writing for their action."
The notice, a copy of which is with mid-day, states that as per section 8 (1) of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975, no tree owner is allowed to hack fully-grown, live trees without permission from the Tree Authority, irrespective of the reason. There is a fine or jail for violation of this rule.
"We conducted a panchnama at the site and found that the trees were hacked without permission. This is an illegal act," a member of TMC's Tree Authority, Rahul Londhe, told mid-day. Thane station is currently in the middle of an upgrade with construction of several foot overbridges and passenger amenities underway.
*Railway's defence*
While railway officials refused to speak on record, CR's chief public relations officer said, "[It was done for] passenger safety… [it] is paramount. We will compensate by planting a huge number of trees on available land near Thane."
Officials added that the trees had been hacked because they were standing between two operational tracks and colliding with the overhead wires and related infrastructure, which could disrupt services and pose a safety risk.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/drowning-a-s.jpg*Representation pic*
According to police, Deepak Jhagir and Krishan, both residents of Police Colony in Hauz Khas, drowned in the river and died.
"The five friends were preparing for some competitive examination. Jhagir, who lived in a rented apartment in Wazirabad, had invited them for a get together. They together spent the whole evening and consumed alcohol," a police officer said.
Late into night, around 1:30 a.m, they went out for a long drive in a Swift car which was owned and driven by Deepak Kadyan.
As they reached Yamuna Khadar, Aakash wanted to visit the river bank and they headed towards Shyam Bank. Due to heavy fog on the bank, driver Kadiyan drove the car beyond the bank and the vehicle fell into the river, said the officer.
Aakash told police: "As the car fell into the lake, it started drowning due to which Jhagir and Krishan could not escape and eventually drowned. However, Aakash, Anand and Kadiyan managed to escape."
But it was so early that no one could be seen around. For three hours, they kept trying to get some help but no one arrived, the police officer said.
Around 3.40 a.m, a police patrol noticed them and came to their help.
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It's a trippy entrance, we can't figure out where the front door is. A facade of black-and-white marble and see-through glass depicts stop, play and pause signs. From outside, we spot a performance stage with wrought-iron art that reads 'Exist or Live'. We push play, and the glass doors slide open. We walk in and notice the bar. It's a boom box, with round speakers cut out to highlight the bartenders at work. The architect, Priyank Mehta has added a touch of equalizer lights that makes the stereo come alive. Lined by diner sofa seating on both sides, the centre features a high-seating community table, followed by lower tables to ensure all eyes are on the performance. There's no artist crooning as our visit is a preview, but owner Vishal Gurnani tells us that the focus will be on an all-day live concept. Their artiste line-up will include the likes of Ali Merchant and international artistes, including Olly Esse and Julia Bliss.*Dilliwale kabab. Pics/Falguni Agrawal*
Mixologist Nupur Joshi pours us her version of the Singapore sling. The sling fling (Rs 445) is a blend of gin and berries, which hits the nail on the head with a strong spirit content and a balanced sweet-and-sour taste. Our first starter is corn pops (Rs 249). The side dip of green chillies and mayo sets our palate on fire, one that we have to fight hard to douse. We pass this one for the tomato tango soup (Rs 199), which has a steamed veggie dimsum and a basil espuma. The dumpling tears easily and exposes al dente veggies that add a crunchy texture to the broth. The Dilliwale kababs (Rs 249) are a fun take on the Lucknowi dahi ke kebab.*Smoked long island*
Here, they consist of deep-fried bread pakora cushioning a warm yogurt ooze inside. But the dish we fall for - and we haven't even started to get tipsy - is channa mereya (Rs 199), a take on the Afghani mantu. Instead of beef or chicken, this one is stuffed with lentils and has chickpeas in a tomato puree.*Devil's kiss*
The tandoori dishes on the menu are all well executed. We like the fish koliwada that comes with a tartar sauce and a crispy bocconcini salad. By now, we have been planted with a devil's kiss (Rs 445) of orange juice, cherry syrup and a hint of basil. We forget to stir the drink, and take a deep swig only to find that the tequila packs a punch. Joshi smiles at our rookie mistake, and we give it a good stir. The cocktail changes colour and flavour, and it is likely to be the drink we will repeat on a night out. But, if you have signed up for just one drink there, we'd say go for the smoked long island (Rs 745), and cancel all appointments for the next day. The concoction is smoked with khada masala, star anise, cinnamon, cardamom and then shaken. You have tea, gin, vodka, rum and triple sec to lean on.*Interiors*
We savour a section of the mains with ghostbusters (Rs 349), their version of lamb chop lollipops. They are succulent and blend well with the yellow curry sauce, but the cloak of tempura could do with some masala. We end the meal with another drink. Our final tipping point is a spring-tini (Rs 445), a vodkatini-style drink with ginger, elderflower and peach syrup.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/watching-s.jpg*A still from Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya*
"We have reached a point where there is an explosion of media content for children. We need to think critically about how to consume it, and the idea behind the festival is to get families to come together and do that. The films chosen for the festival are meant to be teasers on what good media content for children is all about," says Parmesh Shahani, head, Godrej Culture Lab, on the timing of the event. The panel discussion will have participation from Sashwati Banerjee of Sesame Workshop India, Monica Wahi, founder, South Asian Children's Cinema Forum, Lisa Heydlahuff, director-founder, Going to School, Dr Shabbi Luthra, founder-CEO, Consilience Learning, and Dr Anupam Sibal, pediatrician, Group Medical Director at Apollo Hospitals and author of Is Your Child Ready to Face the World? Karla Bookman, founder-editor of The Swaddle, will moderate the session.*Parmesh Shahani*
Bookman, feels that children's media consumption and screen time are concerns unique to the world today, and parents have no role models to refer to. She elaborates, "While parents have a notion that too much screentime is bad for kids, they are also being told that technology can help their kids learn. The panel discussion is about exploring this contradiction, and the focus is on helping parents walk away with practical tools for making smart choices about truly educational media content for children."*Sashwati Banerjee*
The second day of the festival will witness the screening of Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya and Ottaal (Malayalam, English subtitles) as well as award-winning short children's films from Canada in association with the Canadian consulate.
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*Justice delayed or denied?*
After the multi-crore road scam came to light last year, BMC was prompt to take action against the six contactors found guilty in the first phase of inquiry. By April 2016, all six had been booked in an FIR.
Fast forward to April 2017, when the civic body submitted its second inquiry report to Mehta, this time indicting 11 contractors. Mehta immediately ordered that an FIR be registered. This time, BMC's losses were even greater - Rs 60 crore - as compared to Rs 11 crore ascertained in the first phase of inquiry. And yet, no case has been filed against the crooked contractors.
*Another six months*
Asked about the case status, Vinod Chithore, chief engineer of the road department, said, "We have sent show-cause notices to all contractors for blacklisting. Hearings are being held so that they can present their explanations. After following due process of law, further action will be taken."
Another civic official told mid-day, "In July, the BMC had sent show-cause notices to over 280 engineers found guilty in the first and second phases of the road scam inquiry. We are giving all the engineers a chance to present their side with documentary evidence. This process will take at least six months to complete. Till then, there will be no further action."
*Just a few of your crooked contractors*
Relcon Infraprojects, Mahavir Roads and Infrastructure, R K Madhani and Co, RPS Infraprojects, J Kumar Infraprojects, K R Construction (first phase), Supreme Infrastructure India Ltd, Prakash Engineers & Infraprojects, New India Roadways, Priti Construction, and Vitrag Construction (second phase).
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http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Mysore-Colony-station-s.jpg*The rake that caught fire at Mysore Colony station. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar*
*The fireball*
The MMRDA now faces a problem with respect to operations, as the fire has put one out of the four trains that had been running out of commission. That leaves officials with just three rakes, one of which will also have to be used for the trial run underway along the Wadala-Jacob Circle phase II. There are currently 10 monorail rakes in Mumbai - six under maintenance and four into service. Five more rakes are yet to be procured.
Joint Project Director (PR), MMRDA, Dilip Kawathkar, said, "On Thursday at 5 am, an empty monorail train caught fire at Mysore Colony station, and its last two coaches were burnt down. It was travelling from Wadala to begin the day's service from Chembur. No casualty was reported. The motorman, when the train reached Mysore Colony station, noticed smoke emanating from underneath the last coach and called the Fire Brigade. However, by the time a fleet of six fire engines reached the spot, the coaches were charred. It took an hour to douse the fire. All monorail services were suspended immediately. The metropolitan commissioner has ordered a complete check of all monorail rakes and an inquiry to find out how a fire-resistant train caught fire."
*Hosed down*
When mid-day reached the station, all entry points were closed and a notice put up that services stood suspended until further notice.
"In the morning, when the fire brigade and police came, we realised that the train had caught fire. The good thing was that no one was injured; had it caught fire during the day, it would have been catastrophic," said a local. While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, short circuit is suspected to be the reason.
Chief Fire Officer P Rahangdale said, "The fire was confined to two cabs of monorail stationed at platform 1, burning the electrical wirings, windows, doors, seats, flooring, roofs, tyres, electrical light panel, platform railing and polycarbonate sheet of roof of the station. It was extinguished using one big and one small hose line of three engines, after disconnecting power supply to the train and track. Monorail fixed firefighting installation was found in a working condition, but it wasn't operated by the staff."
The MMRDA has appointed an independent committee, which will be headed by P S Baghel, retired commissioner of railway safety, Western Circle. The committee will look into the incident.
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The area is named after an illustrious family that continues to own bungalow number 22, which today is decrepit from the outside. That's where Horn OK Please (HOP), a backpackers' hostel, is located on the ground floor. We reach there at 10 pm on a Monday having booked ourselves in for the night. Over the next 13 hours, we inhabit a different world altogether from the one in the streets just outside. It's almost as if we are teleported to a hostel anywhere in the West the moment we enter. Firstly, the place is spanking clean. In fact, it's so clean that Ambika, a guest from Bengaluru who's in Mumbai to study photography for a year, tells us over conversation, "I don't want to pay monthly rent for a place where I'll have to control the mess myself. So, I'd rather just spend Rs 800 a night here."
Secondly, HOP has successfully appropriated the European essence of a backpackers' hostel in terms of its décor and ambience. Attention to detail is of paramount importance in the hospitality industry, and the five proprietors have carefully thought out everything from the antique bric-a-brac on the walls to the charging points placed conveniently next to each bunk bed. The bedding itself consists of mattresses you can sink into, and if the air-conditioning in the dorms gets too cold, fluffy blankets save the night. The complimentary breakfast served at 8 am is a simple affair of toast, eggs, fruits and tea or coffee, which, actually, is a lot better than the soggy muffins that passed off for the same when we stayed at a similar hostel in Paris a few years ago.
Thirdly, HOP has guests from all over the world who flit in and out, which helps build a sense of community born out of temporary cohabitation. The night we are there, for instance, we share our drink with Alex from Finland who "can never say no to gin", Jan, a German who is still charting his trip across South East Asia, and Oscar, who tells us that he finds his native Iceland to be a "boring" country. We don't ask Lilia where she's from, but are surprised to find out that she is such a Bollywood fan that she knows more about the industry than even Ambika does. Ultimately, it is reaffirmed that even if it's over only 13 hours, you can forge relationships with people if you are willing to give it a genuine shot.
But most importantly, it's the five people who started HOP six weeks ago — Smith Jain (31), Rohan Shelke (33), Amar Ganjawalla (42), Rishabh Maskara (31) and Maskara's German wife, Adina Goerke (29) — who keep the hostel's ethos intact. They take turns to personally ensure that each guest is made to feel welcome and taken care of, even in the case of someone returning at 4 am after a heavy night out. Jain tells us that the idea of starting HOP struck them when they were once at a hostel in Budapest that knocked their socks off.*(from Top) One of the dorms, the reception area, artwork on a door, the living area and the dining section at Horn OK Please. Pic/Falguni Agrawal*
We won't be surprised, however, if their establishment has the same influence on one of their guests someday, as long as they keep up the good work.
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On a flat track, Anjuman scored 259 thanks to Devraj (90, 93 balls, 8x4) and Yusuf ( 55, 68 balls, 2x4), who stitched a 72-run partnership, for the sixth wicket. For the Borivli outfit Shubham Jagdhane (2-35), Vedant Mhatre (2-45) and off-spinner Bhavesh Patel (2-79) were the top performers with the ball.
Abhinav Vidya Mandir, in their reply, succumbed to pressure and were bowled out for 72. Anjuman's Anzar put on a disciplined bowling effort. Anzar was well-supported by leg-spinner Smit Dave, who claimed 3 for 5.
***
Anjuman Islam's Yusuf Wadiwala (left), Anzar Mirza and Devraj Rangu (right) at Oval Maidan yesterday. Pics/Atul Kamble***
*Parikshit shines with seven
*In another contest, spinner Parikshit Dhanak powered Oxford Public School's (Kandivli) to a six-wicket win over Parle Tilak Vidyalaya Marathi (Vile Parle) in a Div 'C' match.
The leg-spinner bagged seven for 38 as Oxford bowled out Parle Tilak for 112. Kaustubh Betkar top-scored with 21 for the Vile Parle school. Oxford Public School comprehensively chased down the target, thanks to Ryan Castelino's 28. For the Vile Parle school, leg spinner Pratham More bagged two wickets.*Oxford’s Parikshit Dhanak. Pic/Binaisha M Surti*
*Vedprakash misses ton
*In a Div 'B' match, IES VN Sule Guruji English (Dadar), riding on half centuries from Vedprakash Jaiswal, Shubham Girkar and skipper Aayush Zimare beat Gopi Birla Memorial School (Malabar Hill) by 293 runs at Cross Maidan.
Opener Vedprakash (96) and Shubham Girkar (90) helped Sule Guruji post 371 for five after electing to bat. Zimare contributed 77.
While chasing, Gopi Birla were skittled out for 78. Left-arm spinner Aayush returned with figures of 4 for 7 while Vikrant Bandekar claimed 3 for 23.*VN Sule's Vedprakash Jaiswal (left) and Shubham Girkar*
*Al Barkaat's massive win*
In another match at Cross Maidan, a collective batting effort helped Al Barkaat MMI English School (Kurla) clinch a 233-run win over Fatima High School (Vidyavihar).
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Lipi-s.jpg*Lipi Goyal*
This edition will include a panel made up of Lipi Goyal, Arpan Joshi and Shronit Ladhani, all avid travellers. Joshi is a full-time backpacker who quit his job in 2013 to travel. He has undertaken a coastal road trip on his bike from Kutch to Kolkata via Kanyakumari. Ladhani, meanwhile, is a young entrepreneur who has travelled to 34 countries.*Arpan Joshi*
Goyal, a performing artiste and emcee, has been on several solo trips across the world. She says, "As a solo woman traveller, you need to be careful while travelling. One of the things to do is read reviews before making bookings — whether it's for accommodation, activities or transport. I'll be sharing several other tips like this one, so that women can enjoy a trip without the stress."
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While encouraging his followers to buy tickets through his tweets, one sore member from twitterati wrote, "I'd rather watch paint dry." Das retorted with, "I'd rather you did too. Keeps you off the streets. Cheers." Can we have a 'how to tackle trolls workshop', Mr Das, please?
*Vertical entertainment*
It's interesting how the smartphone has come to define not just how we consume content but also what it looks like. Earlier this year, American singer Selena Gomez popularised the vertical video format when she released a music video, shot vertically on the front camera of a phone.
And now, singer Anirudh Ravichander, who shot to fame with the song Kolaveri Di, is coming out with a single, which is being called India's first vertical video. Titled Bewajah, the new-age love ballad has also been written and composed by Ravichander.
"Vertical is the new cool. Today's on-the-go generation needs something that is convenient and with this vertical concept, they really don't even have to tilt their phones," he told this diarist.
*Sorabh's got a flying accountant*
A proud Sorabh Pant revealed the result of five years of labour, his new novel, Pawan: The Flying Accountant. Currently on a pre-order status, the book is about Arjun Singh, an accountant by day and a demigod by night.
"How many people actually know their accountants? Accountants can work in anonymity and hide from the rest of the world," Pant told this diarist. He covers a range of issues in his book - from Indo-China relations, existential issues (the lead is constantly trying to kill himself) and an India with five prime ministers.
"The coalition government has reached such a point that they can't pick a majority and the country is in disarray," he admits. We'll wait to see how this accountant keeps his books in order.
*Rock the talk*
Royalty came a calling at Raj Bhavan yesterday as the Governor of Maharashtra CH Vidyasagar Rao received King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium at the breathtaking Walkeshwar venue.
The King was accompanied by a large ministerial and business delegation, while apne waalay log comprised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Secretary Sumit Mullick and others. Rocks dominated the meeting; no, we aren't talking about boulders, or even something on the rocks (a bit too early in the day for that).
When it's Belgium, rocks mean diamonds. King Philippe said diamond trade overwhelmingly dominated Indo-Belgian commerce. Fadnavis added that the state government has given the nod to the idea of setting up a university to offer courses centred on the diamond industry. He sought the cooperation of Belgium in setting up the university. That's what we call rock-solid support.*Pic/Satej Shinde*
*Leave it to the expert*
Chef Ranveer Brar seems unimpressed by TV actors Rithvik Dhanjani and Ragini Khanna's cooking skills at the launch of a new show.
*Sweet 17 at Union Park*
Bandra's iconic Olive Bar and Kitchen is turning 17, and they are celebrating by shaking things up all the way. Staring with the food, chef Rishim Sachdeva will be playing with traditional preservation methods such as pickling and fermenting, combining classic flavours and modern European trends and techniques - think roast chicken soup made with onion dashi, kefir, fermented onion, and onion seed oil; and lamb ribs served with charred asparagus salsa.*Restaurateur AD Singh*
If you love nursing drinks in the midst of their laid-back white interiors, you'll like the new beverage menu.It makes use of house-made infusions, cordials, seasonal shrubs made with herbs from Olive's kitchen garden. A special cheese menu will feature locally sourced versions from across the country.
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I dared to venture out of my Delhi apartment for the first time on Wednesday evening, after landing in from Mumbai on Monday morning. I popped into a Fortis health store in Green Park, en route to a friend's house and decided to experiment with a RespoKare mask, which, at Rs 399, was among the most affordable and seemed like a good option for my maid and for the sabjiwalas and garbage collectors in my area who have been going about their daily routine unable to breathe, yet unarmed to deal with Delhi's alarming and continually rising pollution levels. I had to cast aside my anger at the callous use of plastic packaging for a pollution mask, surely there were more eco-friendly options. The chemist helped me open the packet so he could tell me about the white dot that had to be stuck to the mask's surface. When it turned brown, it meant it was time to change the mask. This was Wednesday, 8.30 pm. Not even 12 hours have passed and yet, that dot is already half brown after this morning's brief outdoor exposure. It looks as though I may have to buy a Vog mask after all, since it is more durable, albeit more expensive. It irks me that the people living in the basti neighbouring my colony can't, in all likelihood, afford to do the same, nor can they afford an air purifier.*A group of cleaners brave Delhi's toxic smog on Wednesday, without the protection of exorbitantly priced masks that citizens are now rushing to buy. Pic/AFP*
What outright enrages me, though, is both the central and the state government's apathy to the severity of the problem. This is not anything unexpected. This could have been kept under check, it could have been controlled, prevented, but it wasn't.
And now we are all condemned to suffer, some more than others, depending on your net worth. It has been amusing, sometimes deeply unnerving, to read the kind of comments people are posting on social media that shame and blame Delhi's residents for this disaster as if they were solely responsible. It has made me think a lot about complicity, about how we will all be culpable for the impending apocalypse and the dystopia that invariably follows.
Growing up Catholic, I was encouraged to think a lot about the subject of sin, which was not simply a word, but a universe of morally compromising behaviour. Sins were categorised into mortal and venial. The former were those that jeopardised the fate of your soul, while the latter were relatively less damning. The Ten Commandments served as the general prescription for good behaviour, and I did know many self-righteous Catholics who were sure that since they weren't guilty of either having killed someone, or possessed their neighbour's goods, or committing adultery, they were in the clear. They would most likely land up in heaven.
I've been thinking about the afterlife a lot these last few days, because I've found myself somewhat hooked to the comedy, The Good Place, about a woman who, despite having been a terrible person on earth, dies and ends up not in hell, but in what is called the good place. She is fully conscious she doesn't belong there, but the bad place is so frightening, she pretends she is entitled to be in the good place and decides her best strategy is to earn her place there by trying to be good. She enlists her alleged soulmate, an ex-ethics professor, to school her in the philosophy of goodness.
I'm undecided on the notion of the afterlife. The finality of my death doesn't disturb me. But that doesn't mean I am not invested in the idea of salvation, or redemption, and I think that given the realities of the world we inhabit today, one that is characterised by capitalist greed and mindless corruption, we need to think harder about the boundaries of sins, and perhaps stop spending so much effort and energy thinking about morality. Instead, we need to consider a more egregious kind of inequity, the sins we commit against the environment, for which retribution will not be deferred to the afterlife but is already being meted out as we breathe.
I am not one to preach. My only big accomplishment this year was switching from sanitary napkins (a source of hazardous waste) to the menstrual cup (I cannot recommend it enough). But I am still struggling with eliminating plastic from my home, not using chemical-based detergents. I am yet to begin composting, yet to invest in a full-fledged kitchen garden, yet to curb my dependence on electronic goods so as to curb the waste it creates. But I am trying every day to think of the environmental consequence of every choice I make. I'm a long way off from redemption, though, because all our fates are intertwined by our collective eco sins. Like it or not, we're all in this together. And this is definitely not the good place.
*Deliberating on the life and times of Everywoman, Rosalyn D'Mello is a reputable art critic and the author of A Handbook For My Lover. She tweets @RosaParx. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com* Reported by Mid-Day 17 hours ago.