Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier

Pic/Satej Shinde

Together, we pray

Two young devotees offer namaz outside Sunni Jama Masjid in Bandra on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

Young minds, bold voices

Zidaan Castellino plants trees in Malad with BMC officials in 2023; (right) Zidaan Castellino

The Western suburbs have found a promising green crusader in teenager Zidaan Castellino. When the 15-year-old noticed that the felling of trees near St Anthony's Church in Malwani to widen roads was making his visits to the church a tad hotter last weekend, he decided to write a concise letter to the BMC. The letter not only voiced his complaints but also suggested a practical solution. "The trees were a vital part of the church-going experience for the residents. While I am not against widening roads, the balance can be maintained by replanting trees between drains along the road," he told us over a call. Castellino's interest in conservation isn't recent. After a similar plea last year that drew attention to cutting of trees in the Jankalyan area of Malad, the BMC replanted trees with the teenager's assistance. "Being a young face in the field is a double-edged sword. Some days people ignore and dismiss your concerns, and on better days you're applauded for having a fresh perspective," the young civil services aspirant revealed. "I see kids my age around me growing more mindful of plastic usage, upcycling and conservation. It gives us hope that together we can not only wish for a greener Mumbai, but go out and work towards it," Castellino reassured us.

Rap rhymes for a reason

Shubham Tiwari, Vedant Chorge, Sourav Bagal, Chinu Shrivastav and Shafi Al Shaikh in a moment from the music video

Five city-based rappers are showing us how hip-hop can go beyond diss tracks. Social Issues Cypher Vol 1, a new single, has brought together rappers Shubham Tiwari, Vedant Chorge, Sourav Bagal, Chinu Shrivastav and Shafi Al Shaikh to shed light on social issues prevalent in the city. "My verse speaks of the rising vandalism and organised crime in my area," revealed Shaikh, a Kurla resident. For Aarey-based rapper and law student Chorge, it was an opportunity to talk about corruption in the ecologically sensitive area. "I hope it reaches the people in power, and opens their eyes to our reality," he shared.

Game on for Mumbaikars

An in-game still from the Mumbai map in the game; (right) Omkar Patil

Fuelled by the frustration of not finding familiar streets in popular video games like PUBG and Fortnite, Panvel-based game developer Omkar Patil of Adhyos Studios has set out to build Udaa. The new first-person shooter (FPS) video game is based in Mumbai among other locations like Goa and Rajasthan. "We have incorporated elements like Mumbai's iconic skyline and kaali-peelis into the gameplay. While the map isn't based on a particular neighbourhood, it encapsulated the spirit of the city. The game is close to completion and we will release a beta version as soon as next month," Patil told us.

Driving a change in Bhandup

Jennifer Isaac; The female drivers; the first vehicle being handed over

The Pink Auto Project launched by Rotary Club of Bhandup is on a mission to turn the streets of the neighbourhood more inclusive by empowering female auto drivers. "We noticed how some pockets of Bhandup West that live under the poverty line had a recurring problem of women having no independence or sense agency of their own. This is our first step towards changing that," shared Jennifer Isaac, club president. The pilot phase of the project saw five women from the area receive bright orange auto rickshaws at a subsidised price. "We would've loved pink, but regulations call for female-driven auto rickshaws to be this shade of orange," she laughed, adding that the club made accessing these vehicles easier by arranging for subsidies and easier loans. "This gives the drivers a sense of ownership and hence, independence," Isaac shared. This diarist is happy to report that the club will soon take more than 80 women under its wing following the pilot phase.

Taking the gallery online

Red Mumbai by Satish Patil will be one of the works to go online; (right) Sanjana Shah

With an eye to having a global footprint, Worli's Tao Art Gallery launched a new online space this week to reach out to its patrons. "The focus of the online gallery will be separate from the physical gallery," explained Sanjana Shah (below), creative director, Tao Art Gallery. While the artists associated with the gallery will interchange their exhibits between the online and physical spaces, Shah noted, "The online gallery will have special and separate curated monthly or bi-monthly exhibitions. The idea was to expand further and have more access to audiences globally."