29 April,2025 06:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
Two children pore over a smartphone screen on the stairs of a foot overbridge at Santacruz railway station
A child seated in his revamped wheelchair. PIC COURTESY/KHUSHI GANATRA
When it comes to assistive mobility devices for persons with disabilities, one size doesn't exactly fit all, says disability advocate Khushi Ganatra. To that end, Ganatra is now customising wheelchairs for Mumbaikars through her new venture Raah. While a young user recently got a revamp with a splash of colours and a âSave Trees' slogan, Ganatra is now focussing on utility customisations. "Depending on your condition, age, and area of residence, the wrong wheelchair can, in fact, do more harm than good. In a city where having access to a wheelchair is rare in the first place, I can only hope tailor-made devices become the norm soon," she summed up. Interested individuals can reach out to 9022326763.
Fr Milton Gonsalves with his books, each chronicling a neighbourhood in Mumbai. PIC COURTESY/DEBASISH CHAKRAVERTY
Last week, Mumbai bid adieu to a familiar chronicler of its bustling lanes. Father Milton Gonsalves, who donned many hats over his illustrious career as a priest, principal and historian, will continue to live through his inimitable documentation of neighbourhoods like Andheri, Kalina, Sahar-Kurla and Chuim village, among many others. "He was an encyclopaedia of the history of Christianity in Mumbai. Through his books, he probed beyond the obvious and spotlighted many unknown stories from the community," revealed history enthusiast Debasish Chakraverty, who was closely associated with Gonsalves in his later years. The historian's new book, a photo journal of Mother Mary's statues located across Mumbai, will be released posthumously in May. "With Fr Milton, we lose a vital link that connected us to the city's past. It leaves a void that is not easy to fill," Chakraverty told this diarist.
A moment from the drum circle session. PIC COURTESY/AGRO SOCIETY
If you heard the sound of drums on your Sunday walk in Agro Garden in Belapur last weekend, rest assured, it was emanating from a group of citizen volunteers having some fun in the garden. "The Agro Garden is a chunk of land that is highly biodiverse, and has sprawling green cover. As citizens of Sector 9, CBD Belapur, we have taken it upon ourselves to preserve and raise awareness about this green gem hidden in plain sight. We invited the drum circle to play a session here," shared Rasika Shastri, member of the Agro Society. Apart from the drums, the volunteers also set up a breakfast session where they served Kerala cuisine for attendees. "There is a dearth of experiences that connect you with nature in Mumbai. We're also planning to host more sessions and camps for children in the upcoming months," Shastri added.
This Maharashtra Day (May 1), Sanjay Gandhi National Park is suggesting you turn paparazzi to document the state's original inhabitants. The Shekru or Indian Giant Squirrel, the spotted deer and diverse plant species are the focus of the Park's new reel creation initiative.
"Our efforts are usually confined to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) limits, but for Maharashtra Day, we wanted to bring out stories from the hinterlands and lesser known sanctuaries. Our official state animal - Shekru - for instance, is not common in Mumbai, but thrives in the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in Pune district and the woods in the Konkan belt," shared nature education officer Akash Mhadgut. Those keen to share their sightings can tag @sanjaygandhinationalpark_yeur in their Instagram posts.
A child performs on-stage at the celebrations in Dharavi. PIC COURTESY/COLLECTIVE_mumbai on Instagram
May 6 will mark 11 months since the Jai Bhim Nagar demolitions in Powai left its children stranded without a roof over their head. But hope is far from lost. At a belated Ambedkar Jayanti celebration in Dharavi last Sunday, children from the settlement took stage to present their talent through music, rap and speeches. "It marked an important moment because the children got the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals in Dharavi. We also presented a handbook detailing the events of the past 11 months," shared Huma Namal, activist. Those keen to read the report can log on to @collective_mumbai.
