In his foreword to Hindi author Sheela Rohekar’s novel, Miss Samuel: A Jewish-Indian Saga (Speaking Tiger), translated by Dr Madhu Singh, Professor HW Wessler poses a significant question: “How much diversity does the modern nation-state allow?” It is part meditation and part observation about Rohekar’s book, which explores this idea through the story of a family belonging to the Bene Israeli Jewish community in India. Although her novel was originally written in 2013, its recent English translation only necessitates us to think if much has changed in the last 12 years. While there is awareness of the existence of the community, its population has only declined. Moreover, as Rohekar notes, “They have no voice of their own... they have remained either mute or short-sighted outsiders.” The Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue (above) in Kala Ghoda is the second oldest Sephardic synagogue in Mumbai When Lucknow-based Rohekar met Wessler a few years before she wrote her novel, she had drawn characters who seemed more familiar to her readers. “At the time, most of my characters were Hindi-speakers, either Hindus or Muslims.” After an elaborate conversation with him, she created the world of Miss Samuel, giving us the narrative of her community. “I was hesitant [initially] that readers would neither understand the names of the people from my community, nor find it easy to understand me.” Yet, she felt she had an entire universe inside her that was in search of an outlet. The alienation experienced by Rohekar and her family in real life was portrayed most deeply through her protagonist, Seema Samuel. She reveals, “Even though I’ve been married to a Hindi-speaking writer, this ‘ekakipan’, this loneliness has not left me. It is what motivates me to write.” Sheela Rohekar Singh, former professor of English and Modern European Languages at the University of Lucknow, recalls stumbling upon Rohekar’s novel during one of her trips to the Bharatiya Jnanpith Book Store in New Delhi. “While going through the new books on their shelves, my eyes fell on this rather unusual sounding name among the Hindi novels. I picked up the book and read the blurb. It hadn’t struck me then that I’d be translating the book, but I sat with it one night and finished reading it in one go. It was such an overwhelming experience. Something shattered within me; I felt I was un-homed,” she says. The novel examines ideas of this loss with sophistication, even when it shifts between the past and the present. Madhu Singh Singh would visit Rohekar at her Lucknow residence frequently. Sharing cups of tea and biscuits, they’d speak “like friends”. Singh recollects, “It’s important for there to be a symbiotic relationship between an author and a translator.” Having turned to the author to understand the idiomatic turn of phrases, she adds, “When you read the novel in Hindi, you find plenty of Gujarati-Marathi expressions, snatches from Hebrew prayers, and the Old Testament. Even though I read it in Devanagari, as a Hindi speaker from the northern belt, I didn’t use these expressions.” It was a massive challenge. Singh’s primary aim, however, was to understand Rohekar — endearingly called “Sheela-ji” — as a person to communicate the latter’s sentiments. Additionally, she visited the libraries in London during a fellowship and researched about the community. Rohekar extolled Singh’s painstaking efforts in translating the text with empathy and care to ensure Rohekar’s culture and flavour of writing live on in the English language. The Bene Israeli Jewish community in India has had to adopt new cultures in their constant quest to look for a new home, a place of safety and belongingness. For instance, readers will find the characters often speaking Marathi, initially an alien language to them. Rohekar laments, “We’ve adopted so much to become part of the society, but the irony is that we couldn’t ever be.” Remembering a poignant moment involving the death of a character, she concludes, “Whom do we turn to share our sorrows with?” Available At leading bookstores and e-stores Cost Rs 499
01 March,2025 09:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaGrowing up, this writer would often be scolded by her parents for not eating enough greens. The sight of a leafy dish would often prompt us to flee from the table altogether. Though the situation has changed considerably over the years with us and many of our ilk, to the point where we subconsciously scan restaurant menus for dishes that have veggies or micro greens in them — one’s vocabulary for the unknown, flavourful and nutritious herbs and plants that nature has to offer remains woefully limited. So, when we came across Forgotten Greens, an online project conducting a wild food walk in Kharghar for the first time in the city, it intrigued us. A bunch of foraged greens. Pics courtesy/Forgotten Greens “We have been organising these walks since 2019. The idea is to educate urban citizens about the wild edible greens that grow in their city, and change the perspective that food comes from supermarkets,” Shruti Tharayil, the founder of the platform shares. What started as a passion project for Tharayil, based on her interest in plants and natural flora, has now scaled the length and breadth of the country. Tharayil hopes to sensitise people about urban ecology through these walks that are often followed by stories and recipes. “There is a general misconception that if you want to experience nature in metropolises, you have to go to a village or take a trip to the outskirts of the city. We want to challenge that notion by taking people along on a jaunt where they can discover nature within a concrete jungle too. One just needs to develop an eye for it,” she explains. (From left) Oxalis corniculata; dumplings made from mixed greens Open to people of all age groups, the walks usually take place in public parks or community farms where participants engage and interact with each other to discover and relish these natural delights. “On these walks, we smell and taste the plants, talk about their properties and the various ways in which they can be cooked and grown. Once when I was conducting a wild food walk with school children in Gurgaon, we came across a tiny, sour-tasting plant called Oxalis corniculata [creeping woodsorrel]. The kids loved its flavour. Later, a boy came up to me, and asked if he could buy the plant from an online site,” she shares amidst laughs. Tharayil adds that through the project they are keen to nudge people to relook at these offerings from our local ecosystems. Shruti Tharayil “Every city introduces a different set of flora and it is always fascinating to discover seasonal plants and unpack their properties in that locality. Last year in Bengaluru, we covered almost 12 plants in a very small patch of vegetation. It is interesting that you don’t really need to scour a forest to know more about these plants and herbs. They are growing among us. As summer arrives, the vegetation will get very dry. We will return in the monsoon season to continue our walks,” she concludes. ON March 2; 4 pm to 6 pmAT Earthen Routes Community Farm, behind St Jude India Childcare Center, Owe Camp, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. REGISTER @forgottengreens (limited spots) COST Rs 600 (for children between 5 to 15 years of age), Rs 1,250 (for adults)
01 March,2025 09:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha PandaIn 1939, Stefan Norblin de la Gourdaine was a refugee. The Nazis had invaded Poland, and Norblin and his actress wife evaded capture by pawning their jewellery to escape Europe. His journeys would lead him to India, and leave behind a unique legacy of rare murals that reimagined Indian mythology. Hosted by Art Deco Mumbai, writer-podcaster Kamayani Sharma’s talk today on Mythologies, Murals and Modernism: Stefan Norblin’s IndoDeco will explore this often-ignored aspect of the Art Deco movement. A mural of the Goddess Durga with signature Art Deco elements. Pics Courtesy/Chitraanjali. Stefan Norblin in India on YOutube; National Audiovisual Institute Poland & Embassy of Rep. of Poland The talk is part of Art Deco Mumbai’s ongoing initiative to celebrate the centenary year of the art movement. “Bombay was designed and defined by many European émigrés. This [Norblin’s art] is an interesting intersection between art and architecture, where we are looking beyond the traditional built form and into the interiors,” shares founder-trustee Atul Kumar. From Norblin’s mural works in the Umaid Bhawan, Morbi and Ramgarh Palaces, the presentation will also explore his style and form. Stefan Norblin. Pic Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons For Sharma, the artist is an old muse. Her first introduction to his work was in 2011 when NGMA Mumbai, in association with the Polish National Museum, had held a retrospective. “I was blown away by his aesthetic,” says the writer. Describing his life as a classic émigré story, Sharma reveals, “He was already an accomplished artist when he arrived in Bombay. He lived at Nepean Sea Road.” A mural depicting the Sita swayamvara from the Ramayana Whether the city’s Art Deco had a direct influence on Norblin can only be speculated, but Sharma observes, “There was a large group of émigrés, such as Rudy Von Leyden and Walter Langhammer — who did not belong to the Art Deco movement — but were helping to foster modernism in Bombay during this period. Norblin was familiar with them.” While there are few artists from Europe who display the sensibilities of Indian mythos that Norblin does, Sharma offers Nandalal Bose’s Kirti Mandir murals, and Abdurrahman Chughtai’s interpretation of Indian myths as a parallel from the period. Kamayani Sharma A simple Google search on Norblin’s art will reveal the strikingly dramatic style of his work. The Ramayana is depicted in the Classical Greek idiom, with defining Art Deco forms and figurines. “Mind you, Indian mythology is not as easy to interpret. You have to be really invested,” Kumar points out. The presentation will focus on the defining Deco elements in the artist’s work. The Mumbai-based Sharma says, “For instance, there is a painting of the Goddess Durga at the hunting lodge connected to the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur. She is a Durga like you have never seen — basically a Greek Goddess with Indian motifs. There is also the use of the Pharaonic headdress for instance, informed by the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb — a sensation at the time — that finds its way into his work.” Kumar concludes, “The focus of the movement is often limited to industrial and architectural expression, and we wanted to highlight the diverse ways in which it found expression. ON Today; 5.30 pmAT Tarq Art Gallery, KK Navsari Chambers, Fort. LOG ON TO @artdecomumbai (registration mandatory)
28 February,2025 09:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarI’m in a tizzy. So much is happening, and even more needs planning,” exclaims Ekta Bhandari, co-founder of city-based readers’ club Read A Kitaab over our phone call. And perhaps ‘tizzy’ is the perfect way to summarise the controlled chaos behind assembling a literature fest that appears textbook perfect on the outside. This weekend, Bhandari, co-founder Anurag Kothari and their team are giving the RD National College in Bandra a makeover. They’re expecting guests — readers, authors, storytellers, and characters from your favourite comic books. Ekta Bhandari and Anurag Kothari The key agenda, the co-founder says, is to approach the festival from a ‘By, of, and for the reader’ perspective. With over 48 authors gathering on campus, attendees can choose from panels on genres like humour, food, business and erotica, or attend a dynamic line-up of workshops ranging from poetry open mics and pitching fresh ideas to publishers, to the unique ‘human library’ experience, where attendees transform into open books, sharing their stories to those who lend an ear. A quirky installation is placed inside the children’s zone Catering to the diverse readers from the city means carving out room in the city’s perpetual space jam. As a collaborator, the college will offer its 600-seater auditorium in the college for panel discussions, and the badminton court will transform into a children’s zone where workshops like Create Your Own Comic by Amar Chitra Katha, joined by the festival’s mascot Shikari Shambhu will keep young minds engaged and entertained in safe hands while adults explore other sessions. A moment from the club’s regular meetings for readers It’s not always a given, so we’re delighted when Bhandari shares that the event is fully accessible to persons with disabilities (PwD). “We did not want it to be an afterthought, but a conscious effort right from the basic plan to place ramps, accessible railings and ensure inclusive washrooms for the visitors,” she signs off. ON March 1 and 2; 10 am to 8.30 pm AT RD National College, Linking Road, Bandra West. LOG ON TO @readakitaab (for pre- registration and full schedule) (registration available at venue) The Guide’s fave sessions A previous children’s session. PIC COURTESY/WOODPECKER BOOKS It’s a party: A storytelling and activity session for children will transform the outdoor area into the Mad Hatter’s tea party to bring the tale of Alice in Wonderland to life.ON March 2; 4 pm AT Children’s Lounge All hearts: Author Neerja Pawar will decipher the art of turning your love letters — real or purely fictional — into captivating stories that are ready to be published.ON March 1; 2.10 pm AT Conference area Turn a new page: Disability rights activist and entrepreneur Khushi Ganatra and Singapore-based teen author Sanjana Kanamarlapudi will explore the potential of accessible books and audiobooks in translating the joy of reading for members of the PwD community.ON March 2; 2.10 pm AT Garden area Voices from the homeland: Lt Cdr Bijay Nair (retired) of the Indian Navy will join author Bhaavna Arora to answer a simple yet pressing question: What does loving your country really mean?ON March 1; 1.15 pm AT Conference area From the margins: Authors Bhushan Korgaonkar (left), Aditi Paswan and Maitreyee Kamble will shine a light on the representation of marginalised communities in Indian literature.ON March 2; 3.05 pm AT College auditorium Also Check Out Booked in Mumbai The MaxCity Valley of Words Lit Fest makes its Mumbai debut with discussions, book launches, and more. Catch Kurush Dalal’s deep dive into Indian spices or witness Shabnam Minwalla, Murali Ranganathan and Srinath Kesnur trace the city’s transformation from Bombay to Mumbai, among other immersive events. ON March 1 and 2AT Kitab Khana, Fort; National Gallery of Modern Art Mumbai, Fort. LOG ON TO @maxcity_litfest (for registration and full schedule)
28 February,2025 08:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleA vegan restaurant in London called Plates has become the first in the United Kingdom to be awarded a Michelin star, signalling a shift for plant-based diets from a niche afterthought to serious conversations about the future of food. Mumbai too has been witnessing a spurt in options available to vegan diners, offering them a choice of cuisines, courses and culinary cultures without compromising on their dietary beliefs. Here are The Guide’s top picks for a vegan-friendly eating-out soirée. A vegan meal at the (right) Michelin star-winning vegan restaurant in London. PICS COURTESY/INSTAGRAM All things avo If the blistering heatwave is any indication, the coming months will see most of us swapping hot meals with cool, refreshing salads. And here, the avo herb garden scores high with its fresh ingredients and visually stunning presentation. A halved avocado topped with a creamy, herb-infused avocado mousse and garnished with a golden honeycomb lattice, this is an avo-lover’s dream come to life.AT Tango Tamari, Hotel Kings International, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu. CALL 9820026746COST Rs 595 onwards Just beet it Just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s boring — this quinoa and beetroot burger, served on vegan buns, with vegan mustard mayo and vegan cheese sauce, lives up to the claim with its delectable and indulgent composition. The crispy onions and jalapeño peppers add a nice textural contrast and make this a satisfying mouthful.AT Brunch and Cake, Raheja Altimus, Dr GM Bhosale Marg, Worli. CALL 8657500061COST Rs 725 Say it with seaweed Hiyashi wakame combines fresh seaweed sourced from Japan with Amazu, a traditional Japanese vinaigrette. And, for many vegans, this is the closest to seafood they’ll get. The dish is briny, unusual and intriguing enough to appeal to vegans and vegan-adjacents who are eager to try something new.AT Mizu Izakaya, Ganga Jamuna Building, 14th Road, Khar West. CALL 9372023641COST Rs 731 onwards Turn up the turnip It’s hard to look at a bulbous turnip and associate it with anything delicate, but the artistry of good vegan cooking lies in transforming even the most unassuming ingredients into flavour-filled dishes. This turnip and chive chilli oil dumpling pairs the earthiness of turnips with the freshness of chives and rounds it up with a chilli oil hit to make a flavourful parcel.AT Koko, Trade World, Kamala Mills Compound, Lower Parel.CALL 7715963030COST Rs 550 onwards All Thai-ed up No, it’s never too hot for dessert but you could switch up your regular gelatos for tub tim grob (below), a delicious Thai-inspired vegan dessert that features crunchy water chestnuts, toasted peanuts, coconut milk and palm sugar syrup. Simple but satisfying, this dessert hits the sweet but not too sweet spot.AT NMACC Arts Café, Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, BKC. CALL 8928407494COST Rs 450 onwards Order In Flavours of spring Studded with edible flowers, with flavours of truffle and basil accentuating a fermented almond cream base, this vegan cheese is an edible ode to spring’s bounty. It makes for a striking centrepiece for a fulsome grazing table, bolstered by crackers, nuts and fresh fruit.AT Gourmestan; @chefshivanisharma CALL 7770075125
28 February,2025 08:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Anindita PaulThis week, all things Thailand descend upon Mumbai at Amazing Thailand Food Festival 2025 organised by Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mumbai, in collaboration with chef Seefah Ketchaiyo. In its second year, visitors will gorge on Thai delicacies at live food stations, soak in live music and get entertained at the gaming zone. “It’s not just about food; we are also introducing Thai products, showcasing cultural performances, including a Thai band named Khamvisedth. Mumbai-based DJ Savio D’souza will also present Isaan music, which is the traditional music of northeast Thailand. This year will see a wider variety of regional dishes that are not commonly found in Indian Thai restaurants. We’re also collaborating with White Rabbit Bar from Chiang Mai for a special cocktail menu on March 1,” says Ketchaiyo. Khua kling This year focuses on the rich flavours of all four regions of Thailand. The festival also features food stalls by homegrown chefs who run Mea Aie, Chaiyo and Khao Kaeng Factory in Thailand. While northern Thailand brings you hunglay pork rice, khao soi chicken, and chiang mai sausages, the northeast (Esaan) offers laab gai, grilled pork skewers, and esaan sausages. Bold flavours from the south include kluy kling pork and deep-fried southern chicken. Bangkok dishes such as khao man gai and grilled pork ball skewers will also be part of the fare. This year, the festival offers delicious vegetarian fare like spring rolls, crispy tofu, mushroom cake, deep-fried wontons and khao soi. A kra prow station will dish out fragrant rice paired with Southern Thai curry and rice. Kha nhom jeen For the popular chef — who has been running Seefah and newly launched Khao Man Gai in Bandra while serving Mumbai and India Thai food for a decade — research is the starting point. “It’s been a lot of eating and learning from the source. When I return to Thailand, my visits are centred on eating at local, sometimes hidden, spots that specialise in certain dishes. I talk to street vendors, old-school restaurants, and home cooks — because they hold the knowledge of true, regional Thai flavours. I also visit fresh markets to see what ingredients are in season, as that heavily influences Thai cooking. Sometimes, I work with chefs in Thailand to understand how a dish has evolved over time,” adds Ketchaiyo, who has handpicked the list of chefs from Thailand for the festival. Kaeng Hunglay “Some dishes need adaptation, not just in ingredients but in perception to help audiences appreciate flavours such as fermentation, strong umami, or spice combinations that are different from Indian food. Ultimately, the process is about balance — staying true to Thai flavours while making sure the Mumbai audience connects with the dish,” she signs off. Chef Seefah Ketchaiyo ON February 28 to March 2; 4 pm to 9.30 pmAT Amazing Thailand Food Festival, Corona Garden, St John Baptist Road, Bandra West.LOG ON TO district.inCOST Rs 250 (per day ticket) Seefah’s top reccos to try at the festival Kaeng hunglay (Northern Thai pork belly curry): Kaeng hunglay is a slow-cooked pork belly curry from northern Thailand, influenced by Burmese cuisine. It uses dry spices like cinnamon, star anise, and turmeric, along with tamarind and pickled garlic, giving it a unique sweet, sour, and mildly spicy flavour. The dish has a rich depth of flavour, with tender pork that melts in your mouth, making it one of the most beloved northern Thai curries. Kha nhom jeen kaeng tai goòng (Southern Thai-style rice noodles with prawn curry): This dish features fermented rice noodles (kha bhim jeen) served with a rich southern Thai prawn curry. The curry is deeply flavoured with turmeric, coconut milk, and a paste made from dried chilies, shrimp paste, and lemongrass. The combination of fragrant curry and soft fermented rice noodles creates a unique eating experience that is comforting yet complex. Khua kling moo (Southern Thai dry pork curry): Khua kling is a spicy and aromatic Southern Thai dish. Unlike traditional curries, it has no coconut milk. Instead, the pork is stir-fried with a dry spice paste made of lemongrass, turmeric, kaffir lime leaves, and chillies. It’s fiery, fragrant, and packed with umami, making it a favourite among those who love bold flavours. “In Mumbai, we’ve made sure to keep the original punchy flavours but are offering it at different spice levels so people can choose their comfort zone,” adds Ketchaiyo.
27 February,2025 10:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Phorum PandyaThursdayPicture on the move Attend Dada: An Accidental Pictorialist, an exhibition of photographs by DR Mody. TIME 4 pm to 9 pmAT Dilip Piramal Art Gallery, NCPA. FridayJazz it up The Sassy Songbirds. Pics Courtesy/Instagram Start the weekend on a musical note at a sea-facing venue, as you attend a jazz performance by The Sassy Songbirds as they bring their finest tunes and melodies to the stage. TIME 8 pmAT Catholic Gymkhana, near Taraporewala Aquarium, Marine Drive. LOG ON TO www.catholicgymkhana.com COST Rs 600 (non-members), Rs 300 (members) SaturdayOne for sisterhood Participants interact with each other during a previous session Attend a Women’s Day special table read session of Robert Harling’s play Steel Magnolias that explores the bond between six strong women. Time 7 pmAT Mukti Manch, Ground floor, Bharati house, Aram Nagar, Versova. CALL 9820767263 (limited seats) A muddy affair Relive childhood joys by attending a fun mud wall building workshop by Mitti Matters.TIME 4 pmAT Elite Design Architects, Sector 30A, Vashi, Navi Mumbai.LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.comCOST Rs 499 SundayBurst out laughing Prashasti Singh Watch stand-up comic Prashasti Singh as she dissects patriarchy and questions life choices in this set, Divine Feminine. Time 7 pm onwardsAT Sophia Bhabha Auditorium, Sophia College Lane, Breach Candy, Cumballa Hill. LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.comENTRY Rs 599 onwards Trip to the woods Children explore natural ecosystems during a programme. Pic courtesy/Instagram This weekend, enroll your kids for Capsule Earth, a comprehensive forest school education programme where your child will embark on a guided journey exploring the green environs of our city. Children in the age group of 4.5 to 16 years can enroll for the programme after a telephonic conversation.AT BNHS Nature Reserve, Film City Complex, Aarey Colony, Goregaon. EMAIL forestschool@rootsnatureclub.comCALL 9820613334 A walk through time A view of the Arnala fort. Pic courtesy/Instagram Explore the historical depths of Jaldurg, Arnala on the outskirts of Mumbai, with Siddharth Kailas Kale, in a guided walk by the Maritime Mumbai Museum Society (MMMS) and uncover the region’s ancient culture through the defence architecture and maritime history from the Gujarat Sultanate to the colonial period.Time 9 am to 1 pmMEETING POINT Virar railway station.CALL 9820465003COST Rs 1,500 (for members of MMMS), Rs 1,700 (non-members)
27 February,2025 10:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha PandaThere comes a point past the first 500m on a morning run when you wish you had stayed home. “We call it the brick wall,” says Swetha Subbiah, co-founder of the women-led sports community, Sisters In Sweat, with Tanvie Hans. This weekend, Subbiah will team up with the Bombay Running Club to launch an exclusive women-only run club in the city. Priyanka Walanju Though running is an individual sport for many, it can be challenging for women in India. Subbiah admits, “There has been a paradigm shift in women reclaiming sports in urban spaces, However, they can still be hesitant when it comes to running alone or in a large mixed group.” The club will be the first women-only running club in the city, says Priyanca Walanju, co-founder of Bombay Running Club. A runner for the last 10 years, Walanju says, “When you have women running alongside, it is comforting.” Sisterhood on the move “It is a myth that women do not like sport. Over the last five years, we have witnessed more and more women take to sports, from badminton and padel, to swimming and MMA,” Subbiah points out, adding that the run club is part of a diverse list of female-only sport sessions the community plans to host in the city. The opening day will also include a mobility session for the runners Walanju accepts that there are unique challenges for women in a mixed running group; the pace of male runners can often pressure women to try and keep up. There are also issues like running during menstrual cramps or finding the right sportswear. A women-only club offers them a platform to speak freely on diverse subjects. Even early morning runs of Bombay Running Club at 5.45 am can be a hurdle. “Though we have regular women runners who are always present, we understand many women miss out owing to their domestic responsibilities. That’s why we chose to offer them the flexibility of starting at 6.30 am,” shares Walanju. Planned progress As a sport, running requires discipline and a regimented programme. Subbiah remarks, “One of the key issues is consistency. Working with professional runners can help you overcome that brick wall.” Walanju underlines the approach saying, “A plan helps avoid long-term injury. We will offer a regimented training plan, shaped to suit individual needs and preferences.” Participants warm-up during a session in Bengaluru Yet, with March on the horizon and temperatures on the rise, the idea of running in Mumbai’s traffic can pose enough intimidation. Deepak Oberoi, co-founder, Bombay Running Club notes, “We have been conducting runs on the roads for a long time, and have structured a method. There will also be instructions offered on the run to stay in a single file, address during a road crossing or obstructions.” (From left) Tanvie Hans and Swetha Subbiah The first session on Saturday will be an icebreaker. “It will be an easy session with a light jog-run followed by coffee and conversations,” shares Walanju. Though the urban weather is not the best, Subbiah says, “We have to make the best of each cityscape. As a community, we want women to step out of their houses to experience sports and make new friends.” In the end, it comes down to helping women find their own space. Walanju notes, “No one is looking to make a podium finish right now. All you need is turn up, make new friends, and slowly achieve your goal.” FROM March 1; 6.45 amAT Sante Spa & Cuisine, Royal Opera House, Girgaon. LOG ON TO @sistersinsweat.in and @bombayrunning (to register) Running notes>> Opt for comfortable running shoes>> Choose weather-appropriate apparel that is easy, and comfortable>> Do not pressure yourself to hit a mark>> Take the inconsistencies with a pinch of salt>> Be open, and make new friends
27 February,2025 10:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarIf you find yourself stupefied by a conversation where the word zinfandel was thrown at you, you have my sympathies. The lack of my wine knowledge often amuses my friends who adore the drink. Luckily, a random Google rabbithole landed me on Cork Dork, a fun, but detailed app for winology. From matching grapes, to their wines, learning regional names and wine types through flash cards and puzzles (above), it can be a fun pastime. Perfect if you want to make an impression on your next date. Log on to: Cork Dork on Playstore
27 February,2025 10:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarAs I play/The city slowly reconstructs itself/Numbered stone by numbered stone,…’ wrote Arun Kolatkar in his famed Kala Ghoda poems. Not much has changed. “There is an impermanence that permeates through the city,” admits photographer and artist Philippe Calia. The Paris-born artist’s latest show, The Second Law that opens this week has a deep-rooted connection with the city, and Mumbai’s very own poet icon, Kolatkar. Arun Kolatkar. Pic Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons “The show’s journey began in 2011,” shares Calia, recalling the first year of his arrival in the city of Mumbai. Moving to Borivli, he would often spend time roaming around the city, photographing its many forms. “It was only in 2015-16 that I began putting together these photographs and videos in an attempt to make sense of them,” he reveals. Pas de Deux (Jayanthi’s translation) It was also during this time that he discovered the Bombay Poets, and Arun Kolatkar in particular. “The encounter with the works of Kolatkar was quite decisive for me, in particular with his Kala Ghoda poems. I was sensitive to his visions of the city, the objects and the potential beauty of the mundane. It also helped me build an understanding of the city,” he says. Decisive Arrangement (with Mahek and Kalim), 2024 Evoking found objects and installations through photography, text and video, Calia seeks to shape Mumbai’s persona. He views the city as illusory by nature. “One day things are present; the next day they disappear. Photography and art is an attempt to freeze the moment and give it a certain shape, even as reality tends towards decay and inevitability,” shares the artist. The show will feature Calia’s street photography countered against set photographs within familiar city spaces like the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Capitol Cinema. “It is like a window into the subconscious of the city where the familiar and unfamiliar are juxtaposed improbably, the way dreams appear to us,” he explains. Three Times, 2024. Pics Courtesy/Philippe Calia and Tarq The experimentation is not limited to the visual experience. Poetry also adds to the exploration. A key installation is the translations of Kolatkar’s poem, The Pattern. On one level, Calia wished to evoke the motif of the recurring pattern visually. “This installation is made of over a hundred small photographs that embody the recurring pattern. And yet, each photograph will also show you a marked difference in those patterns,” he points out. A view of the Kala Ghoda precinct. File pic The second level is achieved through an exploration of the city’s subconscious. He got the poem translated from English to Hindi, from Hindi to Gujarati and so on by legal writers across the Fort district — a nod to the gallery’s Fort location. It also resulted in poems that turned Kolatkar’s verses into something new, an homage. In his artist text, Calia writes, “In cities like Bombay, the everyday is experienced through multiple languages, in the form of jumps, cuts, assemblage, collage, bricolage, sometimes within the same word…The idealist — some would say nostalgic — can thus proclaim that translation is Bombay’s official language.” Philippe Calia Push him further, he laughs saying, “Being French, I remember reading Vile Parle on the station signboard, and translating it to ‘A speaking village’ in French.” In the end, the show reflects the city’s own surreal nature. Calia concludes, “It raises the question of Mumbai as Mayanagari — what is real or unreal? Photography is the perfect medium to raise this question, since it enables us to create a distance from the photographed phenomena and reflect upon the question.” FROM February 27 to March 29; 11 am to 6.30 pmAT Tarq, KK Navsari Chambers, ground floor, Fort.
26 February,2025 08:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarThe White Tiger by Aravind AdigaNami Mehta, student, Kandivli The book was lent to me by my neighbour. It contains sarcasm and humour mixed with serious concerns. It was very experimental of the author to do something like this. The character of the nephew really moved me. Although he barely spoke through the novel, he was symbolic of the good that everyone has within them. Raag Darbari by Shrilal ShuklaPoojan Bhatt, data analyst, Thane How much satire is too much satire? The book starts asking this from the very first page, along with delivering a scathing critique of post-Independence rural India. Some of the power dynamics in the book are also present in corporate IT culture. I loved how the author justified the title, as the whole village dances to the tune of whoever holds the power, symbolising the pervasive influence of power structures. Also, the word ‘raag’ ensures that corruption is methodically ingrained in the system. Reading this in Hindi was super fun. Red Flags and Rishtas by Radhika AgrawalVidhya Thakkar, marketer, Kandivli This is a delightful escape for when you need a break from the hustle-bustle of life. It’s a desi rom-com with endless banter, love, and plenty of drama. It’s light and entertaining, with its fast-paced narrative and shocking climax that you will not see coming. Show Your Work! by Austin KleonSeep Chaplot, artist, Andheri I never believed in the idea of starting an Instagram account for what you wanted to do. I always thought that the work would come to me if I just do it, but then I read this book. It changed my perspective. A lot of us don’t feel like talking about our work because we feel it’s too self-centred of us to be out there. This book helped me think of it in a different perspective. One of my favourite quotes was, ‘I like to work when everyone is sleeping, and I like to show my work when everyone’s working.’ Radio Free Afghanistan by Saad Mohseni with Jenna KrajeskiNirav Mehta, bookseller, Dadar I picked this up at the Jaipur Literature Festival recently. It offers a compelling look at Afghanistan’s modern history through the lens of independent media. Mohseni, a key figure in Afghan broadcasting, details how his network navigated political upheavals, Taliban rule, and the fight for freedom of the press. It’s a fascinating account of journalism’s resilience in one of the world’s most challenging regions. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu KawaguchiRohan Charles, project manager, Malad I picked it because the concept of a time-traveling café intrigued me — especially with its rule that you must return before your coffee cools. What I loved most was its emotional depth; the stories were bittersweet, yet heartwarming, reminding me how fleeting yet powerful moments can be in shaping our lives. The book is ‘right where you left me’, if it were a happy song.
26 February,2025 08:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaADVERTISEMENT
