Mumbai Diary: Saturday Dossier

Pic/Nimesh Dave

Sounds like meditation

Two men practice pranayam while the third catches up on the news at a musical themed park in Charkop, Kandivali.

Let's make Mumbai greener,the Japanese way

File photo of a Miyawaki garden in Mulund

Asking for some space in Mumbai is like asking for the impossible. Looking for a 5,000 square foot space is like asking for the Moon itself. What say, ISRO? Mission Green Mumbai, the organisation with a self-explanatory name, is looking for 5,000 square feet of open space to plant trees for a Miyawaki forest. This space should be between Churchgate and Bandra. Miyawaki is a Japanese technique, where the trees are packed very closely and densely in a small patch of green. The aim is to plant at least 1,000 trees. Subhajit Mukherjee of Mission Green Mumbai told us, "We have the funds for the entire project and will buy saplings once we have the space." With the latter at an absolute premium in the megapolis, Mission Green Mumbai with its mission Miyawaki will need infinite patience or a forest full of luck. This is a space race of a different kind. Call Mission Green Mumbai at 9323942388 if you're keen to know more.

Tailoring a sensitive revival

The restored lettering was handpainted by (right) artist Anil M Adangale

The hidden gems of Colaba reveal quite a few fascinating sights for the visual aesthete. "All you need to do is look around," said Daniel Sequeira, who owns the Karfule Petrol Station in Ballard Estate. A fan of all things antique, Sequeira's recent restoration project was the signboard of a neighbourhood tailor, a rarity in the age of online shopping. "I noticed the signboard during one of my walks in Colaba. The design, font and the aesthetics of the board caught my eye," he said. While others might dismiss it as another ordinary signboard, Sequeira said the use of wooden lettering is rare even in this neighbourhood. "I was hoping that they would not replace it with a vinyl flex. So, when I spotted it unchanged a couple of months ago, I offered to help fix it," he revealed. With friends chipping in, Sequeira set out to find the right signboard painter to hand paint the design to fit its original aesthetics. "It took us a few months to get the lettering completed, but it was completed earlier this week," he revealed.

Valley not straight

A still from Trans Kashmir; (right) Surbhi Dewan

A powerful story always finds a way to reach the audience. Like the screening of Trans Kashmir (2022), a documentary that highlights the ground reality of the transgender community in the valley. The screening was organised earlier this week by Vikalp@Prithvi which screens movies for free at Prithvi Theatre and online every month. "People are tired of the mainstream presentation of Kashmir in the media; they are curious to know how the queer community has been dealing with the situation for so many years," Surbhi Dewan one of the directors and producers of the movie told this diarist, adding that a refreshing perspective is widely appreciated.

Life under and over Mumbai's sea

Pic courtesy/Gaurav Patil; (right) Marine biologist Gaurav Patil

Marine biologist Gaurav Patil's new series of illustrations is a delight. "The first digital illustration focuses on the proximity of marine life and the city - concrete buildings in the background and marine life in the foreground. There's a metro, an octopus (usually spotted at Juhu beach) and target perch fish (commonly found by the shorelines)," Patil told this diarist. Check his artworks at @seasawarts.

Youth power

First meeting of Youth Action Circle

A group of youngsters are ready to take forward the Ministry of Mumbai's Magic (MMM), a four-year-old change-oriented platform. The group which includes artists, architects, and sports enthusiasts is called Youth Action Circle. "We chose people from different backgrounds and interests because it reflects the dynamic youth of Mumbai," said Malvika M, campaigner of MMM. She informs us that after a rigorous round of interviews, six of 50 participants were selected, adding, "Over the next four months, they will work on causes and issues. It could include simple issues such as mobility in the city."