Mumbai Diary: Sunday Dossier

Pic/Anurag Ahire

‘Bro, is he real?'

Two boys gape at a man practicing callisthenics at Bandstand promenade

Love aaj kal is more friendly

At Tinder's recent soiree, at Olive, Khar, which mid-day was invited to, while most of the table was having a taste of the freshly brewed "situation-sip", Communication Director Aahana Dhar revealed a surprising twist in modern dating. She confessed that while she is happily married, her Tinder profile is set to ‘friend' mode. The result? A match with a man who showed her around another city in another country and eventually became a dear friend. "We never said that Tinder is meant for a specific thing," says Dhar. Love might not always be the destination, but genuine connections can be the most unexpected pit stops in the journey of life. But if that is too much commitment, you can always hop onto the situationship bandwagon that seems to be touring that city these days. Rumour has it, ladies prefer it more.

Of a man who wore many hats

Gieve Patel

Gieve Patel, the 83-year-old veteran, who passed away on Friday evening due to cancer, was many things - painter, poet, playwright and doctor. While the world may remember Patel for his iconic work to which he dedicated his life, art curator and critic Ranjit Hoskote will fondly remember him for his wisdom and humour. "He had such an amazing sense of humour and approached the world with a combination of humour and immense wisdom. He had a deep sense of understanding of human vulnerabilities and an innate ability to find delight in any situation," shares Hoskote, who had known Patel for around four decades. He added that the late icon had an intense level of curiosity for the natural world, which perhaps was due to the fact that he grew up between rural Gujarat and Mumbai.

Mumbai or Kolkata, no pleasant WC semis memories for India

The England team celebrate their 1987 World Cup semi-final win over India at the Wankhede Stadium. PIC/GETTY IMAGES

While we keep hearing that India are destined to play their ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final in Mumbai on November 15, there is also the possibility that Rohit Sharma & Co will play the critical game in Kolkata on November 16. This magnificent, so far unbeaten side will break new ground at either venue if they end up winning at Wankhede Stadium or Eden Gardens.

Also read: Mumbai: Mobile thieves collect 'return gift' on SRK's birthday outside Mannat

The Sri Lankans celebrate the dismissal of India's Mohd Azharuddin (not in pic) during the 1996 World Cup semi-final. Pic/MID-DAY ARCHIVES

For, India lost the 1987 World Cup semi-final to England in Mumbai and also the 1996 semi-final to eventual champions Sri Lanka, both heartbreaking exits while chasing targets. Never can one rule out the glorious certainties of sport, so let's hope the World Cup semis jinx at Mumbai and Kolkata doesn't continue for India fans.

Baat toh ‘Sach' hai

Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday

Sri Lanka was packed off inside 60 runs on a thunderous Thursday in Mumbai, but behind that demolition and India's catapult to the semi-finals, there were more serious messages. UNICEF South Asia Regional ambassador and legend Sachin Tendulkar called for gender equality with Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lankan cricket icon, during the India-Sri Lanka match at Wankhede. Tendulkar and Muralitharan pressed a button which lit up the stadium in UNICEF's iconic cyan blue colour, indicative of the UNICEF and International Cricket Council (ICC) partnership, rather like two set batters at the crease. From 2022, the UNICEF and ICC have leveraged their partnership to empower girls and young women through the game. "The World Cup is an opportune moment to bring people together and promote hope and equality for every child. Ensuring the participation of girls in sport can challenge gender norms and change attitudes in playgrounds, homes and schools. I urge all to pledge to treat boys and girls equally, irrespective of gender and to build a world where all children especially girls, have equal rights. Girls and boys everywhere, dream of a better future, and when girls do better, we all do better!" Tendulkar said in a message to all.

India through Bhanu's eyes

In an ambitious follow-up to their 2023 exhibition on Bhanu Athaiya's legacy, auction house Prinseps will host an event to celebrate the Oscar-winning designer in Goa from December 5 to 17. The show at Aguada Fort brings in an Indian gaze - a homecoming of sorts, given how inspired Athaiya was by the country. Mumbai is at the very heart of her work, especially as the only female member of the Progressive Artists' Group: "You can still see the artist in her - and what she learnt at the JJ School of Art - in her sketches, her designs, her detailing. Artist VS Gaitonde actually created two paintings of her, where he takes inspiration from her own style. We are displaying a painting by her titled Rangmahotsav, that's never been publicly displayed before," says Prinseps VP Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil (in pic).