Readers of a generation will recall the sound of the foot paddle in the Singer sewing machine. Once a mainstay of every home in India, it is now a piece of nostalgia. But the stitches they made could tell stories by themselves. Gurjeet Singh is more than familiar with these stories, and their deeper contexts. His latest exhibition, Dreamers, is a collaboration with artisans and weavers from Jaipur Rugs to create shapes, forms and textures that speak of such personal journeys. Growing up in the village of Algon Kothi, 50 kms from Amritsar, Singh would observe his mother and four elder sisters always taking up stitching and embroidering projects. As an artist, his search for new forms saw him turn back home. “I found this process enjoyable, creative and open to the possibilities of telling stories,” he reveals. I want to go home, 2025, Gurjeet Singh The journey to Dreamers though began in 2023 when Jaipur Rugs reached out to the artist for a residency programme. “I found the story of the foundation, and their work resonating with my own. I recognised the struggles of those artisans from an underprivileged background, and wanted to discuss it,” he shares. The artwork, The Portraits of Boogli and her Mother. Pics Courtesy/Chemould Prescott Road Gallery The 31-year-old spent over a month travelling across Jaipur, meeting the artisans and collecting stories. “The skills on the loom might be passed down through tradition, and perhaps even fading, but each one adds a certain individuality to the works they create,” Singh points out. The visits were not limited to villages like Aspura, Narhet, Kushal Singh Ki Dhani, Aager, Sadwa and Amer — built around these communities. “I was also allowed to visit the Jaipur Central Jail, where the inmates work on rugs and looms,” he adds. These shapes, stories and expressions found their way into the seven artworks that will be on display in the city. Bahu Mukhiya In the backdrop of these experiences, the title of Dreamers immediately finds context. It also opens up the artist’s approach to material. Singh shares, “I had to find a material that would define my language of expression. We opted for sari silk that was used again as weave in carpets. I also wanted to make the works more interactive in terms of texture. I wanted to play with that form, while giving the artisans their own freedom.” A view of the works, Black Sun, 2025 Freedom is a key part of these expressive works. Singh recalls the story of Boogli, a young weaver and collaborator, and says, “When I visited her house, I thought only she worked the loom. I soon realised that her mother also weaved, whilst remaining in the shadows. For instance, when I asked [the mother], if she travelled in a plane for an award, and she demurely looked around and answered ‘Who will let me go?’ That one sentence speaks of a lot many things. And her weave becomes a metaphor for her own unsaid dreams.” ON May 8, 6 pm onwards (preview); May 9 to June 7AT Chemould Prescott Road Gallery, Queens Mansion, Colaba.
07 May,2025 09:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarPardon our French, but not speaking a second, third, or fourth language in 2025 is just so passé. Whether you want to indulge in your favourite foreign language shows, dive head first into a new culture, or simply show off among friends, now’s the perfect time to begin the journey of learning a new language. Here’s where you can get started in the city. Bonjour! Students at a French class. Pic courtesy/Afmumbai Alliance Française Bombay’s multi-level French courses categorised into weekend, regular and fastrack, means you can learn at your own pace. The centre conducts two-hour-long classes five days a week, online and offline.AT Ground floor, Churchgate Chambers, Churchgate; HiLife Mall third floor, Pherozeshah Mehta Road, Santacruz (West). Log on to: bombay.afindia.orgCall: 8928492437 (Churchgate) Guten tag! Learn German online through Zoom or opt for intensive, super-intensive or evening batches on-site at Goethe-Institut Mumbai’s upcoming summer classes. An online placement trial lets you gauge your proficiency and find the ideal level.AT Chhatrapati Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Fort; Bhagwati Vidyalaya, Naupada, Thane West.Log on to: goethe.de/ins/in/en/sta/mumCall: 9167403569 Hola! Get fluent in Spanish the fun way at Academia De Espanol’s classrooms across Mumbai. This academy hosts weekly screenings, cultural workshops and webinars with native speakers. Time-strapped or indecisive learners can opt for the virtual one-on-one lessons available all days of the week.AT Academies across Borivli, Kandivli, Andheri, Chembur, Thane and Navi Mumbai.Log on to: academiaespanol.comCall: 9372250533 Ni hao! India China Academy’s beginner course keeps things simple with an easy introduction to Mandarin through the Pinyin script and basic pronunciation. Sprinkled with cultural workshops like crafting Chinese lamps and Call: igraphy sessions, the beginners’ course promises to get you fluent in basic Mandarin.AT Lumos, Mogra Pada, Natwar Nagar, Jogeshwari East.Log on to: indiachinaacademy.comCall: 9819849485 Konnichiwa! Students at a Chinese calligraphy session. pic courtesy/INDIA CHINA ACADEMY ON INSTAGRAM The Fujiwara Language Institute offers six-month-long Japanese courses at each level beginning from absolute amateurs, available both online and offline. If you get the hang of the language, you might want to join an educational trip to Tokyo with the group this September.AT Bhavani Shankar Road, Dadar West; Shah Baug, Pedder Road Log on to: fujiwarajapaneseconsultants.com Call: 2223514728 Annyeonghaseyo! Brush up the basics of Korean with the Cambridge Institute’s two-month course. You’ll master greetings, self-introductions, and the Hangul script while learning from native speakers for a truly immersive experience. It’s perfect for anyone swept up in the K-wave.AT Andheri West, Kandivali West and Ghatkopar West. Log on to: cambridgeinstitute.co.in Call: 9322820652 Marhaban! Learners at an origami class. Pic courtesy/FUJIWARA LANGUAGE INSTITUTE ON INSTAGRAM Set aside one day every week to learn Arabic with Mumbai University’s part-time course starting next month. Conducted by the Arabic Language Department established in 1993, the three-hour online/offline classes offer a flexible way to get started.From June 14 onwardsAT Zoom; New Lecture Complex, Mumbai University, Kalina. Log on to: parttimecourses.mu.ac.in Go regional Tamil Sangam: Join The Navi Mumbai Tamil Sangam’s free afternoon classes to learn Tamil from senior members of the community. ON Sundays; 12 pm to 2 pmAT Sector 9, Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Kolis Study Point: Learn the intricacies of Bengali with linguistics instructor Kalyani Bhattacharya’s slow-paced tutorials in English and Hindi. AVAILABLE YouTube eLearn Punjabi: Learning Punjabi is easier when lessons are broken down into 10-minute snippets. From learning the Gurmukhi script to basic conversations, the online repository is free to access. Log on to: elearnpunjabi.com Bhasha Sangam: This child-friendly app opens the doors to learning regional languages like Tamil, Assamese, Kannada and Punjabi at home. AVAILABLE Play Store and App Store
07 May,2025 09:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleVaibhav Sooryavanshi isn’t just the youngest player to score a century in Indian Premier League history; he’s also scored the second-fastest century in this T20 league cricket tournament. And he’s all of 14 years of age. But the Rajasthan Royals (RR) opening batter, Sooryavanshi isn’t the first player that the game has lapped up and tossed into the spotlight of fame, fortune and adulation. To quote a recent example, Prithvi Shaw, touted by many to be cricket’s boy wonder, found no takers in the 2024 season; instead the only headlines he made were for his lack of focus and indiscipline. Is it any surprise then that RR coach Rahul Dravid’s immediate response to Sooryavanshi’s success was to create a safety net that can help steer the young player away from distractions and help him achieve his full potential? Parents must take care to praise the children’s efforts, curiosity and persistence, over their successes. Representation pics/istock “In a world that applauds early success, the spotlight often shines the brightest on children whose talents surpass their years. While the applause may be loud, it often drowns out the quiet emotional needs of these young achievers. As a coach, I see this not only in my clients, but also in the way I raise my own daughter. And I firmly believe that brilliance must be balanced with grounding. Otherwise, early achievement can quietly distort a child’s sense of identity, self-worth, and social belonging. The real work lies in helping them define who they are —not just what they can do,” explains emotional intelligence coach, Dr Taylor Elizabeth. She points out that many children struggle with challenges such as equating being loved or accepted with their achievements, isolation with regards to their peers, as well as an often-paralysing fear of failing, disappointing, or falling short. Creating the new normal Taylor Elizabeth Dr Nahid Dave, a psychiatrist at Thought Matters, says that most parents and caregivers of young achievers struggle with moderation: “The balance between appreciation and constructive criticism is important — you cannot be appreciative all the time, nor can you rationalise constant criticism and the mistaken belief that you are pushing your child to do better. The latter can be especially counterproductive as the child begins to strive constantly for validation and appreciation from his/her parents,” she explains. Additionally, she and Dr Elizabeth lay down the following guidelines for parents and caregivers: 1 Curtail social media: While a strong presence and following on social media can have monetary gains for such children, it is important for the account to be managed by the child’s parents or an external adult. “Children’s minds are very vulnerable to external influences, and they may not be able to understand the veneration and brutal brickbats that come with their public persona,” Dr Dave says. Children can be vulnerable, especially on social media, and need to be guided by parents 2 Effort over outcome: Praise your child’s persistence, curiosity, or emotional courage, not just the win, advises Elizabeth. At the same time, remind them regularly that their value does not lie in applause. Say things like, ‘I love who you are — not what you do.’ This separates the person from the performance. 3 Emotional role-modelling: “If you’re overwhelmed, name it. If you’re proud, express it without inflating it. Children absorb not just our advice, but also our tone, presence, and behaviour,” Dr Elizabeth explains. She also asks that parents allow children to feel their full range of emotions: “Don’t rush to fix their loneliness, jealousy or sadness. Allow them to name it. Understanding emotion is a lifelong advantage.” Dr Nahid Dave 4 A level playing field: If a child is excelling at a sport or another activity that used to be an interest and is now a career option, they must also be given the opportunity to break the monotony with another hobby that is just that — a hobby. “A non-gadget activity helps children to connect with their peers and find common ground. It also normalises the child to his/her peers to an extent and helps them to form meaningful friendships, without comparisons or competition,” Dr Dave adds. Shashank Goenka Shashank Goenka, founder and managing director of Finland International School, Mahalaxmi, observes that schools too have a part to play in creating a supportive ecosystem for early achievers. “Regular mentorship and a cohesive approach in tandem with parents can help children to feel understood and accepted. Student counsellors and coaches can ease the strain of ‘fitting in’ to quite an extent by helping children to better shoulder the burden of expectations without becoming overwhelmed,” he advises. Mind over matter David Reid In his new illustrated book The Seven Secrets (HarperCollins), mental performance coach David Reid describes the strategies that cricket maestro MS Dhoni uses to stay calm on and off the field. Reid, who is now associated with the Chennai Super Kings team, says that these tools can also help children to better manage the stresses that are thrown their way by both life and sports. Sharing the importance of being present in the moment, Reid emphasises meditation as a powerful tool to achieve mindfulness and calm. Another method outlined in the book is to use slow, intentional breathing to ease performance anxiety before undertaking a difficult task, such as playing an important match. The book is available as a free resource for children and their parents on the website sevensecrets.in
07 May,2025 09:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Anindita PaulBookshelves Mid-century tree-shaped bookshelf This book shelf is in a tree shape with branches. This quirky furniture is ideal for a children’s study room.Cost: Rs 64,649Log on to: etsy.com Ladwing natural bookcase Pic courtesy/thehomedekor.in Add a little jazz to the way you keep your books with this unique ladder-shaped bookshelf that is compact and with its out-of-the-box design, fits perfectly into a study room.Cost: Rs 14,000Log on to: thehomedekor.in Boat-shaped wooden bookshelf Pic courtesy/furnweave.com Sail through your reading experience with this boat-shaped bookshelf.Cost: Rs 17,231Log on to: furnweave.com Solis metal floating wall shelves Pic courtesy/modernquests. If you are looking for minimalist furniture yet something different for your books, this circular metal bookshelf is a must-consider. With its simple design and classic look, it stands out. Cost: Rs 17,999Log on to: modernquests.com Bookends Dachshund bookend Pic courtesy/morataara.com This bookend is made out of a wooden dachshund sculpture that gives an impression of hunger as the book space is kept at the tummy. It symbolises a hunger for knowledge.Cost: Rs 4,700Log on to: morataara.com Hard work matters bookend Pic courtesy/vaaree.com The theme of this golden colour bookend is hard work matters. The sculpture is perfect for a plain white wall. Cost: Rs 3,999Log on to: vaaree.com Shell-shaped marble bookend Pic courtesy/modernquests.com This bookend is a shell-shaped marble piece. The classic decor is a fit for any living room or study area.Cost: Rs 2,399Log on to: modernquests.com Bookshelf décor Indoor plants Pic courtesy/plantorbit.com Plants bring happiness in a dull life. English ivy is an apt indoor plant to decorate your bookshelf. It’s also evergreen in nature. Cost: Rs 109Log on to: plantorbit.com Cutesy props Pic courtesy/houseofekam.com Use paper mâché animals to add colour to your boring bookshelf. They are not just attractive but also sustainable. Cost: Rs 1,500 onwardsLog on to: houseofekam.com
06 May,2025 09:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Minal SanchetiSome names are just a natural fit in the context of literature. For years, this writer would find the name of Gieve Patel alongside his peers like Arun Kolatkar, Eunice De Souza, Dom Moraes or Nissim Ezekiel in the course literature of Indian English studies. It turns out, so did Avaan Patel. The daughter of Gieve Patel, and a theatre maker herself, recalls with humour, “I would often have students in school tell me about dad’s poems that were part of the ICSE syllabus. I would often think, ‘I hope I don’t have to study it.’ I love the poems, but at that age, one doesn’t always want to study your parents’ work.” Time changes everything, they say. Tomorrow, the director will join some members of the original cast of the plays, Princes and Savaksa, in a dramatic reading at the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation Gallery in Fort. (From left) Etchings of Nosherwan and Meher Jehangir by Gieve Patel The plays will be read in the same space that hosts Patel’s exhibition, A Show of Hands: In Memoriam: Gieve Patel. “I grew up with all of these worlds around me. I was 10 years old when we started rehearsal on Savaksa. I would help the cast learn the lines,” the actor-director tells us. The reading will include Princes and Savaksa. The first play earned him the Sultan Padamsee award. Gieve Patel (left) and Sabira Merchant in Mary Stuart, directed by Gieve’s wife, Toni Patel The choice of being a theatremaker was a natural progression, then. She admits, saying, “For me, the sound and rhythm of the language was very important. It was something I learnt being surrounded by poets, actors and directors, including my mother [Toni Patel].” The language is also what Meher and Nosherwan Jehangir found striking in the works by Gieve. “It was deliberately crafted to suit the purpose of the plays,” shares Nosherwan. He should know. Aside from being actors, Nosherwan and Meher taught language, speech and drama for over four decades at the Jehangir School of Speech and Drama at Nana Chowk. Meher adds, “Over the years, we often worked on excerpts of Savaksa and Mr Behram [directed by Toni] with our senior students for Trinity [Guildhall London]. The examiners from London were very intrigued.” Meher and Nosherwan Jehangir in the play, Mister Behram In 1982, the duo was still in their late 20s and starting out. “We first played it 43 years ago at Max Mueller Bhavan, under Pearl’s [Padamsee] direction,” Meher recalls. Prod them on the memories, and they share that Gieve was often balancing work as a practising doctor, artist and playwright simultaneously. Nosherwan Jehangir and Roger Pereira in a moment from Savaksa Daughter Avaan adds, “I was in my 10th standard when he was working on Mister Behram. He would write at 3 am in the morning. The rest of the day would be taken up by the clinic and his painting. He would do all of this within the course of the day with no sense of outward stress.” Nosherwan and Meher Jehangir Each of his facets informed the other art, they say. Nosherwan points to the motif of eczema present in Savaksa. A couple of etchings of Meher and Nosherwan by Gieve, during the rehearsals give further proof of this observant nature. “This happened all the time. Sometimes he would be gazing in the distance at someone. ‘I am studying a face. I might use it in a painting,’ he’d say,” she recalls. Avaan Patel This moment of pause and recollection might return as the cast comes together. They will be joined by names such as Persis Mistry, Conan Pereira among others. “I suppose us and Roger Pereira are among the few members from the original cast left. It was a wonderful time in the city,” Meher recalls with a nostalgia that visitors might have a chance to experience once again. ON May 7; 6 pmAT JNAF Gallery, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Fort.
06 May,2025 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarFrom ketogenic and low-carbohydrate diets to intermittent fasting and detox recipes, the variety of dietary routines and fads that have flooded our feeds and shelves in the past decade has been huge. While these regimes might work for a good chunk of people, the widespread popularity and misinformation surrounding these dietary plans can often push you to the wrong path. Moreover, the idea of a healthy lifestyle isn’t strictly related to diets either. It can be as simple as knowing what works best for your body. (From left) Nicole Linhares Kedia and Karishmma Chawla “When it comes to adopting a healthy lifestyle, there are different categories of people with different eating patterns. We call this the concept of bio-individuality, where one person’s food can be another person’s poison. This simply means that while nutritional requirements vary from person to person, you need to know what aligns with your body and gut and you can make magic out of what you eat,” Karishmma Chawla, functional medicine nutritionist and lifestyle educator explains. In a city as professionally-driven as Mumbai, we have identified four sets of people from its working population, the repercussions of the lifestyle they are bound to follow and what they can do to lead a healthy life without having to stick to diets. Different routines, correct eating 1. Corporate professionalsConcerns: Working in high stress, time-bound work environments Start your day with healthy alternatives like overnight oats Corporate professionals might have to deal with stress and tight deadlines all the time, but healthy, thoughtful choices can be beneficial both mentally and physically. Chawla suggests, “Start the day with a protein-rich smoothie or a quick meal like eggs on toast or overnight oats. Cooking in bulk over the weekend can help you avoid last-minute unhealthy choices.” Keep yourself hydrated Nicole Linhares Kedia, sports nutritionist and integrated health coach shares, “Corporate professionals tend to indulge in excessive caffeine intake throughout the day which can elevate cortisol levels. This can contribute to chronic inflammation over time. Staying hydrated and limiting sugar, alcohol and heavily processed foods can make a big difference. It is also important to be mindful of your meal time. Eating heavy meals close to bedtime can interfere with digestion, blood sugar levels and sleep. Finish your last meal three to four hours before going to bed to allow your body time to properly digest.” 2. Shift-bound professionsConcerns: Late night hours, irregular eating and sleep patterns For a city that never sleeps, it is necessary for lifestyle choices to also mould themselves to the late work hours. Kedia lays out the environmental triggers that can also affect your digestion. “Prolonged exposure to pollution or excessive Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can activate inflammatory pathways in the body. Minimising exposure and using protective measures when possible can help keep these in check.” Quinoa khichdi Chawla observes, “Late-night workers often face irregular meals and rely on sugary, processed snacks that can disrupt gut health. These foods feed on harmful gut bacteria, leading to poor digestion, and low immunity. Instead, choose slow-digesting foods like oats, millets, or quinoa with protein like eggs or paneer. Swap chips and biscuits for roasted nuts, seeds, or boiled eggs. Consume lemon water, buttermilk, or herbal teas. Eating small, balanced meals throughout the shift keeps your gut steady even during odd hours.” 3. College studentsConcerns: Juggling academic pressure, proximity to junk food Avoid processed, carb-high dishes Given the cheap and easy availability of fast food joints near educational institutions, students are prone to indulging in quickly made, high-processed food which can result in inflammation. A simple meal of dal rice is nutritious and easy to make “Fresh fruits, leafy greens, tomatoes, and whole grains are inflammation-fighting powerhouses. Rich in polyphenols and antioxidants like lycopene and beta-carotene, these foods help the body combat oxidative stress. For those evening cravings, you can pack nuts and seeds like flax seeds and walnuts for a nourishing and filling snack,” Kedia reveals while Chawla adds, “You don’t need fancy ingredients to eat well. A one-bowl meal of rice, dal, vegetables, and curd is balanced, affordable, and easy to make.” 4. Sedentary workforceConcerns: Zero-activity lifestyles, round-the-clock jobs Add sprouts in your meals A good portion of the city’s working population is stuck in front of desktops leaving very limited time for body movement, which also impacts your digestive system as the experts tell us. “Long hours of sitting and irregular eating patterns can disrupt gut function, slowing digestion and encouraging gas, bloating, and fatigue. Constant snacking on tea, sugary drinks, or processed foods feeds harmful gut bacteria and throws off your digestive rhythm. To support gut health, opt for simple high-protein meals like sprouts, boiled eggs, paneer, or vegetable sandwiches made with whole grains. These provide fibre and nutrients that promote good bacteria. Swapping white rice or bread for brown rice or multigrain options improves digestion. Even short walks between long sitting hours can stimulate gut motility, and cutting down sugar in your tea or switching to herbal options can reduce gut inflammation and acidity,” Chawla summarises. Smart way to eat Engage in physical activity Dos>> Opt for seasonal ingredients like carrots, tomatoes, lychees and iced apples>> Take the effort to do a brisk walk or some kind of bodily movement>> If you are someone who orders in, choose grilled or sautéed dishes over heavy, greasy ones Don’ts>> Don’t go to bed immediately after meals>> Limit heavily processed foods like sauces, MSG, or flavour enhancers>> Try not to eat too quickly or while you are stressed as that can disrupt gut function Information courtesy: Karishmma Chawla and Nicole Linhares Kedia
06 May,2025 08:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha PandaThe dust and inevitable concretisation around the city have become part of a Mumbaikar’s lives. In a report by this newspaper (April 22, 2025), a four-year study by Respirer Living Sciences revealed that Mumbaikars continue to breathe air with PM10 (particulate matter) levels in the city consistently above the national safety threshold of 60 micrograms per cubic metre all-year round. “Though asthma is influenced by many other conditions, presently, the poor air quality tops it all,” shares Dr Sundeep Mestri, pulmonologist, MGM New Bombay Hospital, Vashi. Describing recurrent cough, runny nose and breathlessness as common symptoms, Mestri points out that the symptoms are manageable, provided the right measures. Dusty city Tejasvi Momaya is among the many adapting to the situation. The 33-year-old Thane resident’s asthma flared up over the last few months. Like many asthmatics, she relies on her inhaler and medications. However, she recommends additions. Regular breathing exercises and yoga can help alleviate asthma symptoms “An air purifier at home helps. When it gets too stressful, I occasionally take a break from the city, preferably in the hills,” she shares. Radhika Bhatia does not always have that luxury, being an entrepreneur. A resident of Vikhroli, Bhatia has suffered from congenital asthma. “While my resistance has improved, I am still vulnerable to exposure to dust particles and pollution,” she admits. The solution lies in self-care and adapting. Knowing her condition, the 29-year-old chooses to limit where and when she commutes in the city. “I always protect myself by wearing a mask. My choice of commute will be through my car, or a cab,” she shares. Radhika Bhatia Hitarthi Pandya did not let her acute bronchitis stop her work, even in the dusty Mumbai summer. “I have come up with a travel kit of my own, that is a part of my outfit,” she reveals. Equipped with two double-masks, a nebulizer and medication, the kit helps her stay on point. Learning through illness For Pandya, the struggle with allergies and wheezing led to a personalised solution after several trial-and-error methods. She suggests speaking to an expert to adopt the use of supplements like liposomal vitamin C and a lung detox to boost the immune system. “I have developed a routine every night. I opt for a session of salt water gargling, and some somatic exercises before bed. The somatic exercises help open up my chest to enable better breathing,” she says. Bhatia opts for regular steam inhalation in addition to the breathing exercises. The rising dust particles from debris, construction and traffic has led to a rise in respiratory illnesses across the city. PIC/ASHISH RAJE Diet also plays an important role in reducing inflammation. Pandya observes, “I avoid any food that can cause bloating, or eating till my stomach is full. It causes the stomach to pressure the diaphragm. You cannot fix the external issues completely, but do not let it stop you from your goals.” Effective management Understanding your symptoms and managing them can help, shares Mestri. “Early medical treatment should be administered to avoid viral and bacterial infections. Adequate respiratory exercises, especially physical activity should be encouraged in both groups (young and old) to keep their cardio healthy.” Tejasvi Momaya and Hitarthi Pandya Breathe easy with these tips >> Double-mask when stepping out>> Steam, and somatic exercises on a regular basis>> Avoid smoking>> Avoid dusty places and commute only when needed>> Understand your body’s needs, and act accordingly Dr Sundeep Mestri Case study: Be alert, act soon A 45-year-old traffic constable had recurring bouts of sneezing, redness of eye and coughing over the last one and half year. In the recent past, he had developed breathlessness as well. The significant wheezing and breathlessness inhibited his walking. He was started on bronchodilators, anti-allergies, cough suppressant, and inhalers. Within 10 days, he showed improvement. The issues returned when he stopped medication. I had to explain that if he wishes to stay healthy, the inhalers had to continue. The moral of the story is early and continued medication, as long as your physician advises. Do not self-medicate. Courtesy Dr Sundeep Mestri
05 May,2025 10:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram Iyengar | Minal SanchetiLast week, curator, archivist and writer Neville Tuli launched the Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (TRIS). TRIS is a digital platform that seeks to function as a search engine and a repository for researchers, scholars, creative professionals, and the general public interested in India Studies. It reflects over 30 years of Tuli’s efforts towards archiving India and providing an alternative educational framework, free from interfering ideology and its dependence on funding. He tells us over the call from Delhi, “Unless education is first fundamentally free of patronage, it becomes very hard to maintain a certain integrity.” Neville Tuli at an exhibition. Pics Courtesy/ Tuli Research Centre for India Studies, New Delhi (TRIS) Tuli is of the belief that even though education in India has held a high station within families, the joy and process of learning have been disrespected. Not only is there an emphasis on rote learning, but the focus of knowledge dissemination too remains limited to textual learning, despite so much packed within visual forms, he elaborates. “Knowledge is as inherent in the visual as it is in the textual,” he says. We’re not provided with enough tools to understand the language of the visual. For instance, he reveals, “Indian art was being taught in the 1990s, with black-and-white textbooks without an image because one didn’t want to pay the extra cost for coloured images. Human mind only went along with the logic of the written text, which had boredom inherent in it.” What’s in store? The idea for this archive germinated in 2020, and since then the team has been building the platform. There are 16 categories, which range from cinema, fine arts, and photography to architectural heritage, economics, and animal-human-nature continuum. One of the most fascinating archives on the website is of cinema. A search for Raj Kapoor, Gulzar, Amitabh Bachchan, or Jaya Bhaduri, will take you to posters of their films, song-synopsis booklets, out-of-print magazines, books spotlighting their work, old reviews, lobby cards, and photograph stills over the years. “I lived outside India for 30 years. For any Indian who’s lived outside, Hindi songs are the greatest glue to their family and their country. Given my mother was a die-hard fan of Hindi cinema, my love for its songs started as a young child,” Tuli reminisces. “Hindi film songs allow us to believe we belong here.” Elvis Presley themed playing cards The basic unit of the website is an object: an icon, a city, a director, an exhibition, a sanctuary, etc., not an idea. “I did not want to impose an ideology,” Tuli shares. Although a quick search on the Internet throws up texts, many old photographic and written ones have been lost. This is where such archives become instrumental to help understand the developing language of modern and contemporary India. Search engine Tuli recollects a childhood memory of visiting the collector Hussainibhai Bookletwala. The latter had invited Tuli home after finding him near the Novelty Cinema on Grant Road. “The family of four lived in a confined dark space, yet he had hundreds of little lockers with his 55-year-old collection of Hindi song-synopsis booklets.” That was a defining moment for the archivist, inspiring him to expand his own collection. Tuli subscribed to Marg magazines, and actively looked out for memorabilia everywhere, including auction houses, which sold posters of Hollywood cinema, and personal collections of scholars, collectors, distributors. For the team at TRIS, the biggest challenge was then in transferring this treasure to precisely categorised and updated excel sheets and maintaining them for the website. They tried numerous Excel sheet templates and formats for each particular document type. The end result is arguably, a win-win for India’s envious cultural ecosystem. Log on to: tuliresearchcentre.org Guide’s Top 5 cool finds 1 Photographer Felice Beato’s Lucknow series (Mutiny photographs)2 Gieve Patel’s 1966 solo exhibition invite3 Film advertisements and handbills of Charlie Chaplin’s work4 Sharmila Tagore’s photographic stills on Filmfare covers and lobby cards5 Elvis Presley themed playing cards, 1997
05 May,2025 09:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaFor an entire generation, the first visual experience of the sport of drifting came courtesy of the film, Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006). Han, the suave street-racing professional, gives the young protagonist Sean a lesson in the wide winding roads and vast, empty parking lots of Japan. While Mumbai has neither — you’d be lucky if you find a road that has not been dug up — a brother-sister duo from Gurugram are playing Han in a hope to unearth new motorsport talent in the city. “I grew up in Gurugram learning how to drive surrounded by racing enthusiasts. I attempted time trials, circuits, and races, but felt out of place. Then I discovered drifting. Something instantly clicked,” shares Mugdha Grover, co-founder, Bad Boi Drifts. For the uninitiated, drifting refers to a technique where the driver oversteers, causing the car to slide along a turn sideways while maintaining control. This creates a visually striking, controlled skid. The drivers in action at a competition in Bangkok Mudit Grover, Mugdha’s brother and co-founder, has recently returned from the South East Asia Drift Series in Thailand with a podium finish in the amateur category. At the upcoming beginner-level course in Mumbai, the duo will be joined by their team of instructors in assisting absolute beginners behind the wheel. “The beginner sessions cover everything from fundamentals like steering, timing the drift and controlling the vehicle. As we progress, the course grows more challenging, threading together multiple drifts, putting on a show, and drifting with a partner car in tandem,” Mugdha reveals. Practising this sport comes with its own price tag, Mugdha agrees. From getting your cars tuned by experts to finding the right place to practice, networking is a skill that will take you places, she suggests. “Much like any other motorsport, drifting is best enjoyed in the company of other enthusiasts. The community is slowly gathering steam here in Gurugram, but Mumbai is not far behind,” she assures us. Mugdha performs a donut stunt in her drift car With their proximity to the renowned Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida and a workshop where the duo spends days customising their rides to perfection, we cannot contest the fact that Mumbai has some catching up to do. “There are a handful of racing tracks in Mumbai that allow drifting from time to time. But that only means we have to make the most of our time in the city,” Grover remarks. Where does someone who grew up daydreaming of pulling off drifts like Han go after these day-long sessions, we ask the athlete. The natural progression, we learn, is to become a part of the community, learn how to tune your car, and finally find private open spaces to practise. If you have a thing for the podium, the duo is open to mentoring new talent. Mugdha Grover “It’s a long drive with all our vehicles and equipment from Gurugram to Mumbai. It’s almost like moving a whole garage between cities,” Grover points out. After their pitstop in Thane this weekend, the duo hopes to return to Mumbai once every month to keep tabs on the growing scene. Will they be drifting into the city in style? You wish. They’d be lucky if they find a road that has not been dug up. ON May 10 and 11; 9 am and 4 pmAT Raymond Ground, Pokhran Road, Thane West.LOG ON TO district.inENTRY Rs 1,50,000 (includes access to a drift car, instructor and refreshments)
05 May,2025 09:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleAuthors like Ruskin Bond, Agatha Christie and JK Rowling were part of our growing up days. But when it came to William Shakespeare’s works, be it gauging Hamlet’s grief-stricken soliloquies, or Romeo’s passionate declarations of love, it was important to get a grip on the language and grammar. Writer-director Amitosh Nagpal begs to differ. “When we were touring the world for shows of Piya Behrupiya, which is a Hindi-Bundeli adaptation of Shakeapeare’s Twelfth Night, we noticed how we had to include subtitles for the audience. This prompted me to think about the importance of language in striking a chord with viewers. In India, the English we speak is very different and layered with accents. The idea then was to adapt a Shakespeare play that a middle-class viewer would enjoy and relate to,” he shares with us over a call, a night before the tenth production of Mandli Talkies’ play, Middle Class Dream of a Summer’s Night, at a city venue. Having toured cities like Ahmedabad and Delhi, the two-hour long musical production will take the Bard’s 16th century comedy, A Midsummer’s Night Dream and put a colloquial twist to it. “If a middle-class person goes to watch a Shakespearean play, they might not be able to relate to it. There is great writing of course, but the language would be very alienating to them, which is why it was important to stage a production that is inspired from the speech of a common man, which often consists of phrases like “Come forward, beta,” or “Do this, na.” How a Maharashtrian speaks English is very different from how someone from Tamil Nadu or West Bengal would speak the language. This is what makes the whole thing interesting,” he explains. An alumnus of the National School of Drama, Nagpal’s humble beginnings in Karnal in Haryana often guides his urge to bring in a classic Indian sensibility to his work — a theme that shines through his cinematic and theatrical oeuvre. “Back then, we would often be asked to read and stage plays by Shakespeare. Amitosh Nagpal I would refer to these books that had heavy Hindi translations of the dramas and that would make no sense to me. Nobody really talks like that,” he recalls. This is where the director’s understanding of India’s diverse cultural nuances, especially in the context of a middle class setting finds a spot in the chaotic world of the Shakespearean play where humans collide with fairies, lovers are manipulated and multiple subplots converge for an iconic comedic climax. Nagpal’s adaptation, aided by an ensemble cast and peppered with subtle political commentary and regional humour, will attempt to capture all of this in this production. “I am extremely conscious when it comes to writing for theatre or even cinema. I want the story to reach the last common man in the room. The thing with Shakespeare is that the more you get into his dramas, the more accessible it becomes. I surely plan on exploring more of his work,” he reveals before signing off. ON May 4; 4 pm onwardsAT Experimental Theatre, NCPA, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point. LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.comENTRY Rs 500
03 May,2025 08:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha PandaThe Special Hangout, a city-based NGO for children with special abilities, is setting up a unique flea market at the World Trade Centre. The market will have stalls that sell handicrafts, home-cooked food, and fun games for both adults and children. But what makes it different is that the stalls will be set up by children and young adults with special needs. Ritu Vig Ritu Vig, the NGO’s founder, reveals what visitors can expect from the stalls, “You’ll find a beautiful variety: handmade artifacts, expressive paintings, and personalised stationery. There are also stalls filled with delicious baked goods, wholesome food, and fun games.” Throughout the day, the space will host a vibrant line-up of engaging activities like a drum circle, music and movement sessions, art therapy, and hands-on DIY art stalls. A collection of paintings by artist Vanshika, who will present her works at the upcoming flea market The organisation aims to empower children with disabilities. Vig shares the idea behind the flea market, “The idea emerged from something we see all the time — so many people with disabilities have incredible talents, but society often can’t see past their limitations. Whether it’s baking, making beautiful handmade crafts, or cooking with love, their skills are real, and they deserve to be celebrated.” Vanshika Their goal is to create a fully inclusive space where everyone can come together, connect freely, and celebrate the unique talents within the community. She says, “Whether you’re a parent, a child, a student, a professional, or just someone looking for a meaningful day out — you’re invited to be a part of this special experience. ” ON May 3; 12 pm to 6 pm AT North and South Lounge, ground floor, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade.FREE
03 May,2025 08:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Minal SanchetiADVERTISEMENT
