07 January,2024 06:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Team SMD
Pic/Atul Kamble
A young cricketer is silhouetted against the cloudy sky at Oval Maidan in Churchgate.
Shrikrishna Chitale addressing attendees of the global meet
They may not be known as a business community, but the Karhade Brahmins of Maharashtra - specifically cities like Thane, Pune and Dombivli - have been nurturing a platform to discuss entrepreneurship for over a decade now. A foundation set up by Ravindra Prabhudesai of Pitambari Products Pvt Ltd has helped community members to network, seek guidance in business matters and share leads at crucial points. Many established names in Indian business, like Laxmanrao Kirloskar (of the Kirloskar group) and Ravi Pandit (KPIT Technologies), trace their lineage to this community. January 6 was witness to a global meet organised by the Pune chapter, where Shrikrishna Chitale of the legendary Chitale Bandhu Group was the chief guest. "Since the Foundation's establishment, the profits earned by the community's businesses have grown by over 200 per cent," senior leaders shared.
Twenty Januarys ago, Indian cricket fans were hoping history would be made at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), where Sourav Ganguly & Co tackled Steve Waugh's Australians on the fifth and final day of the fourth Test on the sixth day of 2004.
Steve Waugh is lifted by his Australia teammates during a lap of honour after Day Five of the fourth Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 6, 2004. Pic/Getty Images
A victory in the SCG Test would give India its first Test series win on Australian soil. But it was not to be, as Waugh walked out to bat for the last time and played a familiar, battling innings. His 80 prevented India from making more inroads and the Test was drawn; the series ending 1-1.
Waugh's teammates lifted him and gave him a grand farewell. This diarist and other journalists in the press box couldn't help watching. Also present in the media lounge was Greg Chappell, who covered the series as a television commentator. An off-air, Chappell didn't even attempt a glimpse of what was happening at ground level. There was a magazine piece to finish and that was his focus.
Greg Chappell acknowledges the applause from the Sydney Cricket Ground crowd after reaching his century in the final Test against Pakistan on January 4, 1984. PIC/GETTY IMAGES
His professionalism came shining through just like it did in his farewell Test 20 years before Waugh's at the SCG. Chappell was on the verge of going past Sir Don Bradman's 6,996 runs to become his country's heaviest scorer in Test cricket. He achieved that with a hundred in his last Test innings, but always said that the main objective was to win the Test (against Pakistan), which was accomplished too. No wonder they called him Greg the Great.
Meena Mutha
Today is a big day for the Manav Foundation. The not-for-profit trust has since 2004 been working in the mental health space. Their mission is to ensure that people dealing with mental health related issues are assimilated into mainstream society. "To this end, we conduct therapy sessions assisted by animals, art or music, and rehabilitative activities," says founder and trustee Meena Mutha. For the last 20 years, Manav Foundation's rehabilitation center has shifted five times to various locations due to several constraints. Now, however, they finally have a permanent address, thanks to venture capitalist Vallabh Bhandari, who bought them a space in Lower Parel. While they moved into it in December, it will be formally inaugurated today, with actress Bhagyashree and author and mental health advocate Aparna Piramal as the chief guests. With no worries about the monthly rent any more, the Foundation is looking forward to focusing on their mission, and frankly, we couldn't be happier for them.
Kainaz Jussawalla
Kainaz Jussawalla has come a long way since her latest book was released in February last year. The ex-air hostess already has two prior books under her belt, but her third - Who Wants To Marry Kai Juicewalla?: One Life, Many Loves, Endless (Mis)adventures - was a cathartic memoir for her. It also earned her a nomination for the best English non-fiction category in this year's Pragati Vichaar Literature Festival (PVLF). "I feel blessed," she tells this diarist. "I wrote the book while going through my struggle of being single and dealing with the pressure that women like me feel everywhere. The nomination is testament to the fact that when you let go and allow destiny to take over, wonderful things can happen to you."
