10 January,2022 06:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Satej Shinde
Commuters pay little heed to personal safety and COVID-19 guidelines, as they cross the railway tracks in Thane
A past edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival
Due to the growing threat of the pandemic, the Jaipur Literature Festival that was supposed to happen towards the end of this month will now take place from March 5 to March 14.
Commenting on the postponement, festival producer and managing director of Teamwork Arts, Sanjoy K Roy (inset), said, "The situation made us postpone it, but we also thought of taking it digital entirely. Then, so many messages poured in. People were keen to not miss the on-ground experience. We have our fingers crossed for the fest in March that we will carry out in a hybrid format."
(From left) The mural in Belapur and Avantika Mathur
"As a street artist, I started this year itching to paint. To me, what stood out was that instead of going out to parties and celebrating, most people ushered in 2022 in the company of their loved ones, craving inner solace. With so much going on around us in terms of the third wave, the only thing that's truly in our control is the peace that we feel within ourselves. That became my theme for my new mural," said Avantika Mathur, of a brand-new artwork she's created near her home, in Belapur, Navi Mumbai. The 10x5 foot-mural has been painted on a plain grey wall, which Mathur promises is the first of the at least 100 walls she plans to paint on this year. "I was recently unwell and have been quarantining; else, you'd have seen more of my work by now. I hope this art inspires people to take a break from the external chaos and reflect," added Mathur.
The folks at Tulika in Chennai have a cool new title in store for readers in a month's time. Titled We are the Dancing Forest, the book is based on an adivasi song that showcases nature in all its glory and is a tribute to first dwellers of the forest. It has been illustrated in the Gond folk art form by well-known artist Venkat Shyam. The book, its editors tell us, "Is a glorious ode to nature and those who live among it, this taps right into the instincts of children - fun with words and rhythm, and a yet unspoilt ability to be alive to the interconnectedness of the natural world." The adivasi song has been written by Raj Shekhar, based on the original from Telangana. It has been translated to English by Devashish Makhija from the original Hindi lyrics. Nina Sabnani has collaborated with the artist Venkat Shyam for this upcoming title.
During the earlier COVID-19 lockdown, when this megapolis was at a standstill, citizens went back in time, down memory lane and nostalgia ruled. With the current Omicron wave things have slowed down considerably, and nostalgia is back on our WhatsApp chats. Like this vintage picture of an advertisement of the Taj Mahal Hotel, doing rounds on some Colaba-specific chats. In its quaintness, lies the delight. Like the catchline featuring tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain goes in a different context, in fact an advertisement for tea, we are also tempted to say: âWah, Taj boliye'.
For youngsters interested in the environment, Where Is My Tree, a non-profit, is conducting an essay contest. Participants can choose from six topics, which range from deforestation to indoor plantation. "All participants will receive a certificate and the winning essay will be shared on our website," Ayrama Sahay, their marketing and communications head, told us.
