February 2015 by Bandra Buzz newspaper

BandraBuzz creating community connect since 2010

PEOPLE’S POWER FINALLY SURMOUNTS SRK RAMP Saturday, 14th Feb. 2015 saw the BMC demolition squad swoop down at dawn 7:30 am on the illegal ramp built next to ‘Mannat’, encroaching almost half the width of the Cement road; that leads to the Mount, Bandra. This 300 year old originally stepped pathway was conveniently cemented to create a road to allow vehicle access to the newly built side gate that leads to the recently built rear annexe building. After activists doing plenty of spadework, in terms of public protests, ofﬁcial letters, RTI documents (for over ﬁve years) - the demolition action by the BMC, only happened when MP Poonam Mahajan wrote a letter to demolish this illegal ramp. It was celebration time for hard-core ac-

tivists, with sweets served generously. This social struggle for justice started about 5 years ago, when John Miranda - an East Indian social activist from Pali; who ﬁled an RTI regarding the illegal ramp. In the process, he opened a bag full of skeletons - information about a lot of surrounding plots around the Mount Mary Basilica, that are Collector’s & East Indian land usurped through the years by builders who then developed them and sold ﬂats to unaware buyers. Then Cynthia Fernandes, an ardent activist; followed up enthusiastically to build up steam. Thereafter, this issue came into the public domain. Turn to Page 3 >>

02 FEBRUARY 2015

BANDRABUZZ

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) protest against Bandra Ration Office Corruption

On 22nd Jan. 2015, the NCP swung into action against corruption at the BMC level. Syed Meraj Husain lead a morcha against the Bandra Ration office, against insufficient ration to the needy. The poor were worst affected. It is a known fact, that no official work can be done by a lay man, without going through an agent. More than 500 NCP Bandra Taluka party workers gathered outside the local

ration office and gave a protest letter to the Head Ration Officer, Mr. Pawar and informed him that the corruption happening there, will not be tolerated. The banners and slogans created an impact, with the Head Officer meeting the NCP Representatives and promising to see that their grievances are addressed Jayesh Kumar

NEWS

BLACK MONEY - GHAR WAPSI An open letter to our Prime Minister, Mr. Modi Dear Mr. Narendra Modi, Most of us voted for your party in April 2014 at the Parliamentary Elections - and later in the year at the Assembly Elections. We voted for ‘Change’. We voted for ‘Good Governance’. We voted to support ‘Anti-Corruption’. But, what is happening now? The fringe groups, supposedly getting support from some of your party members; are dividing our country. Bandra is the best example of ‘Unity in Diversity’. In Bandra, for years people of different faiths have lived together peacefully and joyfully celebrated each other’s festivals. Children enjoy eating marzipan sweets, puran polees and biryani - and burst crackers with their friends. Most importantly, it is a fact that many Bandraites have inter-faith marriages, without conversions. People of all faiths throng to Mount Mary Basilica, Bandra - the way they worship at the Sai Baba Mandir in Shirdi. So, why now this ‘Ghar-Vapsi’ programme? Faith is a personal affair. It becomes public when politicians come in to ‘divide and rule’. Please keep them (the fringe groups) in control. Sometimes, silence can be mistaken for consent! Instead, use this ‘Vapsi’ programme to bring back the BLACK MONEY stacked abroad; as you had promised before elections - and for which we voted you to power. A proud, but concerned Bandraite. Shyama Kulkarni

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NEWS

BANDRABUZZ

FEBRUARY 2015

PEOPLE’S POWER FINALLY SURMOUNTS SRK RAMP Among politicians, it was complaints from Brian Miranda (Municipal Councillor from Kalina) and Adv. Ashish Shelar (before he was elected MLA) who initiated action against the illegal SRK ramp by sending letters to the Municipal Commissioner. The activists who were responsible for protesting against the ramp (in alphabetical order) are: Anil Joseph (Perry Road Association), AOCC, Aubrey Pereira (social media), Clifford Carmen Foundation (Adv. Shane Cardoz), CROSS, Dolphy D’Souza, Greg Pereira (SOUL), Mumbai Gaothan Panchayat, Pali EI Association (Neil Pereira), Watchdog Foundation (Adv. Godfrey Pimenta & Nicholas Almeida), etc. There was tremendous support from the local public, who were frustrated that no action was being taken for so long - even as certain local people were justifying the SRK ramp on flimsy grounds. This was a victory for the locals, who were even being prevented from using this pathway to and from the Mount. The sigh of relief on the faces of those at the demolition scene was unique in recent history, even as the BMC’s two JCB operators were busy on both ends of the illegal ramp. More than 20 workers were employed to do the job, with each group supervised by BMC officers. Since it was built with iron rods re-enforced in the cement structure, electric welding machines were used along with jack hammer drillers to break into the solid surface. At the end of the first day, about half the job was done. On the second day, a lot of debris was removed periodically. This cleared the area to enable further workflow at a steady pace. The Bandra Police did an excellent job of keeping the situation calm, by barricading the road entry on both sides, preventing any accident - as emotions among activists were rising. Press vans were seen all around. Re-

porters wanted the ‘live demolition’ background to be within their frame. Activist groups basked in the glory of being part of the photo or video, with the SRK ramp demolitions ‘live’ in the background. These photos, videos went viral on social media, with creative comments that astounded all viewers worldwide. Heavy crossﬁre discussions, as to why this took so long; soon took centre-stage

in Bandra-based social media. Valentine weekend in Bandra was indeed full of action in neighbouring niche areas, with the Carnival and the Mahindra Blues festival; creating camaraderie and community scenes, that make Bandra unique. Mehemood Laheji

04 FEBRUARY 2015

BANDRABUZZ

Letters to the Editor WHY IS MODI QUIET? What will it take for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak out about the mounting violence against India’s religious minorities? Attacks at Christian places of worship have prompted no response from the man elected to represent and to protect all of India’s citizens. Nor has he addressed the mass conversion to Hinduism of Christians and Muslims who have been coerced or promised money. Mr. Modi’s continued silence before such troubling intolerance increasingly gives the impression that he either cannot or does not wish to control the fringe elements of the Hindu nationalist right. The VHP is reportedly planning a mass conversion of 3,000 Muslims in Ayodhya this month. The destruction of the Babri Mosque there in 1992 by Hindu militants touched off riots between Hindus and Muslims across India that left more than 2,000 people dead. The VHP knows it is playing with ﬁre. Mr. Modi has promised an ambitious agenda for India’s development. But, as President Obama observed in a speech in New Delhi last month: “India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith.” Mr. Modi needs to break his deafening silence on religious intolerance. Bhagwan Thadani SRK RAMP DEMOLISHED So ﬁnally the FIRST STEP has been taken. Now the entire CONCRETE STEPS should be freed of all encroachments from top to bottom. It should be declared as a HERITAGE STEPS so that it can be used as a walkway by the public and if possible, to display Bandra's History - on both sides of the walls. Rehan Merchant I take this opportunity to thank your newspaper – Bandra Buzz, for taking up the SRK Ramp issue and portraying it in the right light to your readers. Your complete coverage is commendable and has led it to its logical ending. Keep up your good work for THE TRUTH Anil Joseph

From the Poonam letter that decided the SRK Ramp fate, I drive down to just one conclusion - the BMC doesn't listen to the common man, unless he is backed by a celebrity or a politician, which in reality is a sorry state of affairs. Rishard Andy D’Souza A FEAST FOR THE EYES !!! Victory to the people of Bandra. Thank You ... Poonam Mahajan MP. At last.. THE ILLEGAL RAMP encroaching upon the road by SRK is demolished. Sudhir Kamath UMBRACHA PAANI It has been observed by the police authorities and a few responsible East Indians all over Mumbai that the latest trend in celebrating the ‘Umbracha Paani’ by the younger generation of the East Indian Community now resorts to carrying liquor bottles and glasses in their hands, drinking on the roads and sometimes dancing in unethical manner. They also throw buckets of water and are seen colouring the faces of not only the participants but sometimes even the general public. Many of these incidents are happening not only in the villages of Bandra, but also in most of the gaothan areas where the local East Indians reside in Mumbai. This is one of the main reasons why many of the Bollywood movies and TV serials portray Catholics being alcoholics which not only tarnishes the reputation of Catholics but also of the East Indian Community, in general. Many of the older generation of the community enjoyed this event in a very disciplined way by hiring a jazz band, colourful costumes where the participants were dressed up in different characters and the style of dancing on the road was traditionally the East Indian folk dance. A note of caution to the so-called sons of the soil, that if this act of indiscipline continues on roads and public places, in future, the police authorities themselves will ban this tradition by not granting permissions to newly married couples wanting to organize their ‘Umbracha Paani’. Clarence Gomes

EDITORIAL

Editor's Note Dear Readers, February 2015 is a unique month in many ways. We have 4 perfect weeks - from Sunday to Saturday. In the country’s capital, the Common Man’s Party has halted the juggernaut of the ruling party. Closer home, commoners are creating change, with people’s power showing results. In Bandra, ﬁnally a Bollywood star’s illegal ramp has been demolished. With that nip in the air, it is still reasonably cool – before the heat of summer sets in. Yes, the new MP & MLA has made a difference, however small; to help resolve Bandra’s Burning Issues, by deciding to act. We voted them to ‘walk their talk’ - and they are doing it. Illegal Demolitions at Bandra Reclamation, Kadeshwari, Dr. Ambedkar Road, Danda, Hill Road & other areas are a welcome start towards cleaning up the rot that has piled up through the years. Now, the icing on the cake is the SRK Ramp demolition – truly a Valentine gift to the people of Bandra. Bandra Buzz has left no stone unturned to cover these events that are changing and cleaning the face of Bandra. Your favourite neighbourhood newspaper will always keep you updated about news, views and issues that matter most to you. Your interaction with us is vital to make Bandra, Khar & Santacruz a better place. As we welcome spring, with warmer conditions, let’s greet our Hindu brothers and sisters a ‘Happy Holi’ – spreading splashes of colour in our hectic lives. Till next time, take care.

Merck N. D’Silva Editor-in-Chief 9820783616

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this paper, are of the authors - and do not reﬂect the opinion of the publishers and editors, unless otherwise stated. Readers should act on the information provided, only after consulting with their own independent advisors. The publishers and editors of this paper shall be in no way be held responsible for any such action, or consequences thereof.

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06 FEBRUARY 2015

BANDRABUZZ

HEALTH

Sporting success without Steroids Natural nutrition can enhance your chances of being the ‘Next Sports Champion’ Today, in competitive sports; the margins that make a difference between success & failure are getting smaller and smaller. With toxic food & environment being beyond our control, we can make informed choices to steer towards success, if we have the correct detailed information. You need to understand the dynamics that determine a healthy body – and give you the power to pursue success. Yes, this could be your stepping success to have sporting success without steroids. By using steroids over a period of time, the dosages will be quite high to continually enable the players to become bigger, stronger and faster. As a result, they become more prone to injury. Understand that with steroid use the muscles become stronger, but the tendons that attach the muscles to the bones become comparatively weaker.

Because of this, a great imbalance develops between the muscles and the tendons, so that in time; the tendons tear or actually rip off the bone because of the excessive muscle strength. This is one reason why we see so many injuries to the tendons in ball players. However, in their natural state, the tendons are quite elastic and can take great

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BANDRABUZZ

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 2015

Supari Talao to host M United 2k15 Cup For most residents of Bandra, sports are an integral part of life. For them, life without sports would be like a pencil with broken lead. Pointless! Living this passion for sports is M United Sports Club. Founded two years ago with the aim of promoting sports and encouraging young talent in & around Bandra, the club has organised a floodlit rinkfootball tournament which will be held on the 20th & 21st February at the famous-in-Bandra Supari Talao grounds. 20 teams will vie for top honours, which include a cash prize for the winners, in an event that promises to be an exciting one given that the top players from the city will be playing. Also gracing the two-day event will be Mrs. Alka Kelkar, Deputy Mayor of Mumbai and MLA Adv. Ashish Shelar, Mumbai’s BJP President who is also the sponsor for the tournament. The football tournament is not the first event being organised by this club. A two-day rink hockey tournament at the famous St. Stanislaus School grounds was also successfully organised by them in December 2013, which hosted the likes of Mr. Claudius DeSales, International Technical Official at FIH and Yuvraj Walmiki, current member of the Indian Hockey Team. Mr. Mayur Ghosalkar, Chairman at M United Sports Club says that the main aim of their organising such events is to promote youngsters to take up sports over other easily available social vices. With this in mind, the club undertook a football coaching camp earlier in 2014, for around 150 underprivileged street kids, who were provided with free training kits, and an opportunity to experience the joy of playing the world’s most popular game.

Mayur Ghosalkar (centre) of M United Sports Club alongside his team at Supari Talao grounds Giving us Bandraites some more reasons to cheer is the fact that the club is also going to announce a mini-Olympics later in the summer which will be a multi-disciplinary sporting event for various age groups including games like basketball, hockey, volleyball, cricket and a marathon to

name a few. While we can be sure that our summer is going to be an eventful one; for now, let’s head out tomorrow to cheer for our favourite teams at the M United 2K15 Cup. Valerian D'Costa

Falcon Brothers lift Bandra Gymkhana ‘Open Rink Football Tournament’

Mens Winners - Falcon Brothers Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacriﬁce, dedication and respect for authority. The Bandra Gymkhana held its Annual Open Rink Football Tournament from the 02th 13th Feb. 2015, on D.P.R.C. grounds, Bandra receiving a record number of entries (90 in the Mens Open section, 22 in the Veterans section and 12 in the Womens section.) Change is the only thing constant and thus to enhance the venues suitability, they are leaving no stone unturned to install the state of the art facilities be it the new ﬂood lights to allow night matches or developing the ground to lay a new turf. "These are

Women Winners - Bandra Packers

needs and not necessarily wants and we need this" - Hon. Gen. Sec. Cornel Gonslaves, D.P.R.C. Any game always has a winner and a loser but the spirit with which one actually olays the sport is what matters at the end of the day. This years tournament saw a lot of upsets in the initial stages. Last years runners-up Salvation Dadar were beaten by MTSC Juhu 4-0 in the second round while holders Bombastic Rockies went down to U.K. United in the quarter-finals. In one of the most exciting semi-final matches of the tournament Joga Bonita advanced to the finals by beating favourites

Veterans Winners - Golden Boys

U.K. United 5-4 in a match that went into a tie breaker and then into sudden death. Aaron for U.K. United failed to score and Daniel notched the match winner for Joga Bonita to enter the finals. In another semifinal Falcon Brothers got the better of Boca Juniors 3-2 via the tie breaker. Goals from Rohan Thomas (2), Wayne Oliver, Lloyd Vaz enabled Falcon Brothers, Mazagon lifted the Bandra Gymkhana Open Floodlit Rink Football Tournament by beating Joga Bonita 4-2, for the loosers Sunny Dsouza and Joshua Fernandes were the scorers. In the final of the Veterans section Golden Boys Malad beat Golden Gunners

Andheri 1-0, scorer being Manoj Nair. In the Womens ﬁnal Bandra Packers 2 (Valencia Mascarenhas, Laura Estibeiro) beat Bombastic Rockies 1 (Liam Mathews). After running around and watering the turf grass with the sweat they broke on the ﬁeld, it was time to reward the best footballers for their excellence and hard work. Rohan Thomas (Falcon Brothers) was declared Man of the Tournament Mens section while Manoj Nair (Golden Boys) and Laura Estibeiro (Bandra Packers) of the Veterans and Women's section respectively were declared the same. Derrick Drego & Sidhhant Kapai

08 FEBRUARY 2015

BANDRABUZZ

LIFESTYLE

Bl!ng It On Accessories are the most important part of a woman’s ensemble, be it for daily dressing, a formal dinner, and for that matter, even the party at your friend’s place. While we keep up with the newest fashion trends and styles with our attire, it is the jewellery that completes our look. Imagine wearing an elegant dress without a matching necklace and beautiful earrings. Or that ﬁne new top without a colourful bracelet to go with. Well, I sure can’t imagine that! Be Bl!ng is just what we all needed. In operation since 2006, this brand now has a new outlet at Chapel Road. With its colourful, creative and sometimes funky-yet-so-elegant designs, this fusion of Indian and Western jewellery is the type we’ve always been looking for but have never been able to get our hands on. With a blend of beads and stones (Agates and Druzys), some German silver and what have you, Mahek, along with her husband, Nazim; (pro photographer and conceptual think-tank) weave magic through their unique and customised handmade jewellery, which is the most important aspect of their creations. Completing a course in professional jewellery design and manufacture from Popley Design Studio back in 2006, Mahek

says her designs are for women of all ages, whether you’re soon-to-be married or celebrating your golden wedding anniversary, a college student or even your five year old cute little daughter. Even a return gift for your child’s birthday party could be a beautiful bracelet or a pretty necklace. And it’s not just all for the women; classic stone bracelets and cufflinks are also made for the men, adding style and refinement to their formal and social wear. Every Monday, a new unique collection of jewellery is released at the store, whether it’s charming bangles and chic bracelets, stylish necklaces and graceful earrings, or even flawless rings and carved pendants. For those looking for some handy fashion advice, every Thursday at noon, Be Bl!ng releases their Thursday Tip, which also gives a sneak peek of their upcoming Monday release of their new designs on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & other social networks. Well, if you haven’t as yet found that necklace you’ve been desperately looking for, rest assured it’s at Be Bl!ng! Catherina Apts, 78 Chapel Road, Bandra (W) 9833887522 / 26431431 V. D'Costa

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BANDRABUZZ

FEBRUARY 2015

Mav's Cakes & Bakes - a fresh take on cafe food

L to R: Mavourneen Peters (owner) of Mavs' Cakes and Bakes alongside Nadia Mendes (Store Manager) at their newly opened cafe on Waroda Road Heard about this unique place and decided to visit. Met Mav herself (she returned from delivering a Minecraft birthday cake) and her 2 young associates. It’s a great place to hang out while eating yummy sandwiches and baked goodies. Well located at the start of Waroda Road, the Carmel Convent side; this café hits all the right notes. Speaking of which, you can make music on the in-café guitar! The attractive and inviting white and pink café offers customised cakes and deli-

cious home cooked food...freshly baked and cooked. Great menu of select daily specials which could range from Thai curry to prawn curry, delicious cake by the slice, freshly made sandwiches to order and cupcakes. Here’s what we had: Red Velvet and Chocolate Cupcake, a slice of the daily cake – was a delicious old style one with superlative frosting and a beef sandwich. All good – fell in love with the cake sold by slice and

I’ll certainly go back for more. Mav herself up her job at IBM and relocated from Dubai, to focus on what she does best. The café opened on Republic Day. It’s certainly buzzing, there was a group of young people sitting outside (alfresco eating). We sat inside (air conditioned) on bean bags. There’s a brunch on Sundays – a typical menu: fried chicken, roast beef, devilled ham sandwiches, pasta, French toast and pancakes, cupcakes chocolate cake with

strawberry ganache. After this the café closes on Sundays – open all days of the week. Check out their Facebook page Mavs' Cakes and Bakes and visit Mavourneen’s store at Firous building, Waroda Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400 050 or Call 98198 73959 loveslifefoodmumbaifoodie.blogspot.in Pic Courtesy: Nelvin John

10 FEBRUARY 2015

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CAMPUS

Aarambh’ 15: Dream. Believe. Achieve. Indian Oil Servo presents Aarambh 2015, powered by Navbharat Times & in Association with Spykar, scheduled on 25th January, reached a new level with the support from its sponsors and the presence of its participants. At the beautiful promenade of Bandstand, you could see people running the marathon & thereby promoting the cause of improving the lives of young kids in slums & rural areas. Our sponsors who helped us in making this marathon a success were Absolute Spa & Salon, Bachelorrs, Bandra Buzz, Baraesti, Body Canvas, Della Adventure, Di Bella, Enlighten India, EsselWorld, Frapp, Grand Resort, HaagenDazs, Healthy Treats, Inox, Jazz Up, Mad Over Donuts, Mahindra Genuine Spares, MM…Maroosh!, Oye! 104.8 FM, PowerHouse Gym, Punjab Grill, Red Bull, SMAAASH, Star Residency, The Little Door, WitNext and Your Genie. Aarambh saw registrations of 950 participants inspite of it being a Sunday morning. We saw RJ Nitin and RJ Akriti of Oye! 104.8 FM, infusing enthusiasm into the audience and carrying on a playful banter with them. Their presence added a touch of fun and frolic to the sporty event. Actress Richa Chadha of Ram-Leela, Fukrey fame, graced the occasion with her presence and spoke about the importance of health and ﬁtness. She stressed on the value of exercise in everyone’s lives. She gave away the prizes to the winners of cash worth Rs. 30,000 and vouchers worth Rs. 70,000. She also interacted with the crowd in a candid manner and spoke about her upcoming ﬁlm. What was the most beautiful aspect of Aarambh was that it saw those who run as a hobby and those who run as

a profession, mingle together to create the essence of the event. We saw people from all age groups running together. Every participant received a certiﬁcate from the SMILE Foundation and vouchers worth Rs. 2000 from various sponsors. The Social Responsibility Forum (SRF)

thanks all its participants for encouraging their endeavour and for giving their precious time for a good cause. We promise that Aarambh is going to be bigger and better next year and we hope to see you again. Foram Pandia

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FEBRUARY 2015

Thinking of an International Education? There has been a sharp increase in the number of international schools in Mumbai over the past few years. These schools primarily offer the curricula of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (commonly known as the IB) and of Cambridge International Examinations (the IGCSE, the Cambridge 10th Std exam and Cambridge A levels, equivalent to the 12th grade). The increase in the number of schools is a reﬂection of the growing interest in different teaching methodologies and assessment frameworks, as opposed to the prevalent system of rote learning, as well as the desire of more and more students to pursue undergraduate studies abroad. The IB Diploma Program and Cambridge A Levels, students feel, offer them an edge when applying to competitive universities. Students who are applying abroad need to take certain tests, depending on the country, university and and the speciﬁc course that they are applying to. The majority of colleges in the United States and Singapore require students to take either the SAT or the ACT. Some American colleges also require students to take a certain number of SAT Subject Tests. In the

UK, Oxford, Cambridge and other universities require students to take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) exam. Students also have to take speciﬁc exams for admission to specialised courses such as law (LNAT), medicine (BNAT) etc. The SAT and the ACT both place considerable time pressure on students (the SAT even has negative marking), and most students need tutoring and loads of practice before taking the tests. Preparation is best started immediately after the 10th Std Board exams, with the aim of taking the SAT or the ACT between September and January when the student is in the 11th Std, and before the IBDP and A Level workloads pick up. SAT Subject Tests are best taken between the 11th and 12th standards, since these are subject speciﬁc and a large part of the syllabus is often covered in school.

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UCDC elevated as ALC of MKCL Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. Making an attempt to change the world with the ever growing field of Computer Science and Technology, The Computer Academy run by Urban Community Development Centre (UCDC), Bandra West, has been elevated as ‘Authorized Learning Centre’ (ALC) by Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd. (MKCL) for Diploma and Certificate Courses. The Diploma certificates will jointly be issued by Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) and Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE). The revamped and well equipped computer academy was blessed and inaugurated by Fr. Paul Vattathara, SVD Provincial Superior, Mumbai Province on 4th February 2015, in the presence of a large number of students of UCDC’s various diploma courses, besides priests, staff, volunteers and doctors. Apt reason of applying for registration as an Authorized Learning Centre is mainly due to the convergence of vision of MKCL with UCDC. In future, only an IT Literate society can enjoy a greater share of job opportunities. MKCL believes that there exists a great potential in our society to emerge as a knowledge-led economy due to its

large but latent talent pool of young population. Creating a knowledge-led economy and knowledge-based societies in the world is a key to survival and development of people in the emerging knowledge era. For us at UCDC the challenge is one and the same, that of transforming the migrants and the less-privileged masses, the target group of UCDC, into a new knowledgeled economy by developing its talent pool in right direction. This transformation can be accomplished by imbibing a culture of life-long learning. Life-long learning by these migrants in a metro city like Mumbai can be sustained only if knowledge resources can be made available and accessible to them at affordable costs. UCDC by afﬁliating with MKCL and getting registered as an ALC, is thus attempting to help lay solid foundations of knowledge society so critical for the survival, development and empowerment of the migrants in general and youth in particular.

They have also designed Vacation Computer Certiﬁcate Course for students of Secondary and Higher Secondary schools after their Board exams. The courses offered are: -Business Management (Ofﬁce Assistant, Tour Planner, Business PPT Specialist, Marketing Executive, Excel Expert, MS-CIT) -Computer Programming (C and C++ Programmer) -Hardware & Networking (IT Network Technician, IT Hardware Technician, , IT Security Technician) -Finance (Tally Expert) -Digital Arts, Graphics & Animation (Content Illustrator, Desktop Publisher, AutoCAD Draftsmen Graphic Designer, Photo Editor, Stationery Designer) Sidhhant Kapai

12 FEBRUARY 2015

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NEWS

Abbasi Glass Center and Frames “A picture paints a thousand words” is a well-known proverb, but what is it that holds & preserves that picture & the thousand words that go with it? A humble fibre body & a talented person to guide us to that particular frame, now this frame when completed with a picture immortalizes a memory that is fond to us. Memories is what governs a human life, memories help dissect life into various stages, childhood, adolescence, formation of a young adult & then the wonderful memories of one’s own kin. Now that we are aware about the value of a picture & its frame let us give due credit to the people who capture & help us treasure these priceless nostalgic avenues. Abbasi Glass Center and Frames has been catering to these emotions since 1978, founded by Mr. Abbasi Sadikot and now managed by Mr. Murtaza Sadikot. We take a walk down memory frame lane with him while he shares insights into his world. Learning the tricks of the trade from his brother at an early age of 8, Murtaza has been surrounded by pictures forever and is an expert in this sector. In his own words, “A picture and frame are like a husband and wife and it is my job to find the perfect pair, to make them stand out as a couple. To find a combination that completes the two when put together.” A shop that is located

just opposite the iconic Bandra Talao, Abbasi Frames is decorated with close to 200 odd frame designs. Technology has helped reduce labour but at the same time the quality is not as before, explains Murtaza. Frames were earlier imported from Germany and not too much needs to be said about German quality and standards, he recollects spending nights at this quant shop, cutting those frames with precision of an eagle to make the frame ﬁt perfectly, whereas now it is all just computerized and programmed based. Time brings change and Murtaza embraces that change, because it helps give a better product to the client, reduces any damage cost that may be incurred due to human error & most importantly creates time that can be used to diversify and invent new products in order to survive in this competitive business. They undertake orders for glass interiors & have worked with reputed builders like Lokhandwala Developers & many more. They also provide glass, mirror and props requirement for movies & shootings. Their last venture was with the acclaimed feature ﬁlm 3 Idiots, you never know the next time you see a villain being hurled through toughened glass on-screen it may be a product of our own neighborhood Frame and Glass Center.

Mr. Murtaza Sadikot at his Bandra store located near Bandra Talao Giving an exact tally to the number of frames that has been dispatched from the shop is challenging because of the 35 years stint Murtaza has had but the numbers are not as important as compared to the memories that they hold together he insists, but to put an end to our curiosity he estimates making 250 frames on an average every month, so calculating the total number of frames made here can help us brush up our math skills. From priceless memories to priceless pictures this place has seen in all,

since quite a few Mr. MF Hussain, Mr. NS Bendre & other renowned artists works have been framed at his store or at the customers house. Compliments & gratitude are in order to this tiny shop with a big heart that has framed not just pictures but our lives. After all images our Gods, memories & sights of our loved ones is all that we live for. Sidhant Nayangara Pic Courtesy: Nelvin John

Feng Shui Chat with Maria Hussain… Add zip to your Love Life and Relationships -Personal / Relationship Consultant -Transformational Motivational Coach

-Feng Shui Expert and Advisor As you can see, February is a busy month. I hope you can get your home de-cluttered, deeply cleaned, re-arranged and refreshed before February 18th when the Chinese New Year Begins. In a few days, we will be welcoming the year of the Sheep. Not a bad coincidence to start new beginnings with your loved ones and celebrate love, peace and harmony. I understand that you’re a relationship expert. My husband and me argue to no lengths, what remedies can you suggest for a couple like us? Christine Fernandez Harmony in your marriage is a crucial factor that can prevent this kind of friction. First examine your home. Check the east area-that is related to family life and harmony-of every room. If there are any metal objects, they will be destroying the wooden element that is representative of this area. When wood is not allowed to function in

this area, it affects family life - thus causing disturbances among couples or any other relationships at home. Replace the metal with three wooden items such as carvings, ﬁgurines, green plants and/or a water element such as a table top fountain or aquarium—but not in the master bedroom. Even though I consciously try my best to change my behaviour so that it does not ignite my husband’s irritable, angry side – just about any event sparks a bitter argument that is affecting our love in our relationship. Who or what needs to change? Claudia D’souza To strengthen your marriage, inspect the southwest area in each room, making sure there are no wood items. Wood destroys the earth element of marriage, which is a determining factor to keep the balance right in a relationship. Put anything made of earth materials-terra cotta, clay, porcelain, natural crystals (not Swarovski, Lalique, etc. which are considered as water elements), geodes, stones, minerals and so on—in multiples of two in the southwest portion of the room. Also introduce the colours yellow/gold, white, pink or red in the southwest, and give your efforts extra punch by introducing ﬁre—which makes earth—in

the form of candles or light. Just as your relationship, you and your family should experience a home that radiates peace, balance and harmony.

Maria Hussain is available for personal, home and business consultations visit www.bhcfengshui.com.

A Feng Shui consultation is a small investment in your future happines.

For more information Call: +919967678652/ +912226439663

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FEBRUARY 2015

Over 700 LGBT turn up @ Gulabi Mela

LGBT groove with Tabitha Thomas during her Zumba sessions The Humsafar Trust (HST) is a communitybased organization working for LGBT health and rights. Yaariyan is HST's youth group that is a vibrant space catering to almost 2500 LGBT youth between 18 - 28 years online & offline. Yaariyan is a voluntary group that is managed by around 15 LGBT youth who have been organizing the Gulabi Mela for over three years now (this being the third time). Gulabi Mela is a non-profit initiative for Yaariyan and The Humsafar Trust and for the last two years, all profits made by them were donated to Queer Azaadi Mumbai. This year, Gulabi Mela was among Queer Azaadi Mumbai events leading to the final pride march on Jan. 31, 2015. The Gulabi Mela had a very humble beginning three years ago; the first time it was held in a small venue and barely had ten stalls all by LGBT individuals and LGBTfriendly enterprises. The Mela even then was a popular event and was attended by around 150–200 individuals. The response took the Yaariyan team by surprise who then identified an avenue to host similar events at least once a year to provide LGBT and LGBT-friendly individuals and businesses a space to showcase their talent. After a second phenomenal year that saw at least 400 individuals, Yaariyan’s Gulabi Mela took an even bigger leap this year. Encouraged by the overwhelming and growing response that the Mela drew dur-

ing the previous two years, the organizers made a wise choice of collaborating with the dynamic duo of Ashwin Fernandes and Aksha Parwani (who are known to encourage, support and nurture young talent) by having them on board as the Venue partners and deciding to hold the Mela at Mac Queens terrace banquets. They pulled out all the stops to lend their unstinted support to ensure the success of this colourful Mela. Held at this amazing, spacious, LGBTfriendly venue Mac Queens in Bandra, the Mela saw over 700 people visit the event from 3.30 - 10 pm. The colourful decoration personally supervised and conceptualized by Ashwin & Aksha ensured that the venue created the right mood for the Mela. They ensured that the vibe was unmistakably vibrant & symbolised the theme of the Mela. There were over 33 stalls selling everything from food to accessories to dreamcatchers to tarot readings… everything legit under the sun really! Clothing and accessories brands such as Azaad Bazaar, Item Number, Rang Biranga, Colors of India, Ornaate, particularly made a mark with their colourful patterns, while the food stalls served everything from cupcakes to momos to Mediterranean fare. This year, the Gulabi Mela saw participation from other NGOs & individuals supporting other causes too. The Humsaaya Welfare Sanstha (working toward LGBT

Rainbow Voices Mumbai (Mumbai’s ﬁrst gay choir) at the Gulabi Mela 2015 health and Rights), Art for Akanksha (working toward the cause of universal education), Tattoos for a cause supporting Arpan (working to support survivors of child sexual abuse) all had stalls at the Mela. For the souls leaning toward arts, the event also hosted Pictures against Prejudice (a Queer Azaadi Mumbai event) that provided platform to artists and photographers to voice their dissent against LGBT discrimination via art as well as poster making for everyone who wished to paint their views on freedom and equality. The event was partly sponsored by The Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives with India HIV AIDS Alliance as a supporting partner with Bandra Buzz as the Online partner and Mac Queens as the Venue partner. Highlights of the evening were performances by Mona Ambegaonkar (who reads elected stories from Out - the queer anthology), Rainbow Voices Mumbai (Mumbai’s ﬁrst gay choir), Zumba with Tabitha Thomas (in her second year, requested back by popular demand) and the much-loved Bandra boy Sushant Divgikar, who stole the thunder with his energypacked singing while enthralling his brethren from the Rainbow community! The organizers of the event felicitated champions from the LGBT community and their supporters who ran the recent Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon for the

cause. The champions included Mr. Devesh Khatu (who completed running his 50th marathon and did the entire run for this one), Pallav Patankar (eminent LGBT activist and spokesperson) who successfully completed the 21 Kms Half Marathon, Ms. SonalGiani who ran the dream run to speak out about LGBT rights and won an award from BJP spokesperson Shaina NC for “Best Costume” for her depiction of a rainbow in shackles, Mrs. Padma Iyer - mother of noted gay rights activist – Harrish Iyer and Sushant Divgikar. Ms. Jayanti Shukla, Vice President - United Way, joined the felicitation where a rainbow cake was cut to celebrate the success at the run! The evening ended with a sundown that played everything from Electronic Dance Music to Lavanis and the crowd was charged with a sense of freedom, energy, fun and mirth. For individuals who had come for a space to breathe free as LGBT individuals, the Gulabi Mela was a haven that beckoned. Individuals had come in from places as far away as Delhi, Pune and Gujarat just for a “slice of that freedom to be” and the organizers hope that they continue to being the space that they are for many more Gulabi years to come.

Pradeep Divgikar Pic Courtesy: Sridhar Rangayan

14 FEBRUARY 2015

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A Carnival for the Community!

Mount Carmel Road - Sports

St. Roque Road - Environment

Rebello Road North - Social Evils

Rebello Road - Bollywood

Dr Peter Dias Road - Comic

The cosy little ground - tucked away at St. Roque’s Road, on one of the laid back localities of Bandra, often comes alive with excitement of children’s chatter & laughter. On Saturday, 14th February 2015, when the world was busy whispering love into each others’ ears, St. Sebastian’s Recreation Ground stood in the night like an ‘oasis of light’, shouting to the world - the messages of love, unity & harmony for all God’s creation! As the Western skies were turning to gold over St. Andrew’s spires, the ‘floats’, which had assembled earlier behind Mehboob Studio; began to move towards the ground accompanied by music, song & dance. The themes given to the 5 groups ranged from ‘Sports Unites the World’ to ‘Conservation of Environment’ - & reflected their efforts to weave relevant issues into the traditional celebration. The ideas were successfully projected by all the floats, through appropriate attire, commentaries, dialogues, songs & the beautiful props that were created by loving hands. After being received by uproarious welcome by the spectators, each group performed on stage to showcase its theme, evoking much appreciation, fun and laughter. Barbara and Gia were perfectly in sync as they proclaimed, “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink…”! ‘Bollywood’ gave Khandala a miss and brought the ‘Chamakchallo’ in - to charm the audience into a state of happy oblivion. The knight with the shining armour was discarded in favour of the meek bridegroom for Princess Honey. What left most of us dumbstruck, was the display of lavish, yet beautiful costumes, some of them royal, period costumes befitting monarchs like King Pogo & his lovely Queen Paprika! The bevy of Bollywood beauties twitted around just one hero of a Shah, much more handsome & stately! The solar-panels, waterfalls, taps, flowers, coconut trees mixed freely with the two bins of segregated garbage. All forms of sports, including pretty cheerleaders; brought the world of sport alive. Was that the circus with a stern ringmaster, taking the little rabbits and svelte swingers to task? The three distinguished judges: model and actress Lisa Ray, Chairperson of H/West Federation Anandini Thakoor and Ex-chairperson of Minorities Commission Abraham Mathai; looked as though they wished to reward every contestant with a prize! However, the first prize went to the sportsmen, second was won by the environmentalists and the third went to the empire now ruled by Knight Sebastian Sorpotel! Congratulations to all ! The theme for this Carnival was aptly chosen - ‘Community Spirit’ through love, unity & harmony, the need of the hour. Though St. Sebastian’s Homes Society comprises 7 roads, the 5 participating groups kept up the spirit, without letting the audience feel the absence of others. It was evident that the sponsors had been generous with their support. The contesting groups were: Peter Dias Road, Mount Carmel Road, Rebello Road North, Rebello Road South & St. Roque’s Road with 30 odd contestants in each group. The cogs in the giant wheel locked in beautifully - & worked without a clash; staging a show that rocked the audience. The music by Ian & Debie had the young & old on their toes, ready to dance the night away! The food stalls kept hunger at bay. The inimitable host Daryl Loyola, no stranger to the people of Bandra, was the anchor. He shouldered the responsibly of knitting the proceedings of such a vast magnitude, with much humour and wit. At times he must have gone overboard with his Santa Claus act, announcing prizes galore! To achieve this all within 10 days is marvellous - and it speaks of how well the members bonded to produce such magic. Thankfully, St. Valentine’s message of love and care was showcased to appeal to all age groups, even little kids of 3 or 4 summers! Keep up the community spirit friends, leading us to follow you!! Vera Alvares

Ranwar - Circus of Superheroes

Winner 1st place - Mount Carmel Road - Sports

Dr Abraham Mathai, Lisa Ray & Anandini Thakoor

Lisa Ray shakes a leg with Darryl Loyola

BANDRABUZZ

NEWS

FEBRUARY 2015

Waste not, Want not Here today, here forever Haven’t we all heard this before? Yes, but we’ve never really looked at this phrase more closely than now. Mumbai city with its population touching close to 18 million people is bursting at its seams. Each person generates about half a kilo of waste every day. You can only imagine how much kachhra that is! And the thing about waste is that there’s nowhere for it go! All the trash we create goes straight to our natural environment: landﬁlls, water bodies, air…… our refuse is everywhere. The idea behind the phrase we began with, is that if we do not waste resources then we ensure there is enough for everyone’s needs, including the generations to come. How do you manage waste? Start with the 3Rs RUR (Are you reducing, reusing, recycling?) is an organization involved in a number of environmental projects from raising awareness to implementing solutions in waste management. Founded by Monisha Narke, an Engineer by education, RUR came about when Monisha researched the issues of waste ﬁnding an intricate connection to surrounding communities. Her concern for the future generations was mirrored among other mothers

Monisha Narke announcing the awards of the bench to winning housing societies

TETRAPAK recycling collection bin with a reward of a FREE bench! The attraction on display was a bench made completely by recycled tetrapaks collected through collection bins placed at Reliance Fresh and Sahakari Bhandar stores. Any housing society interested in getting a beautiful, strong bench for their garden or compound for free, can ﬁll out and drop off a request form at the closest Sahakari Bhandar store. Mail monisha.narke@gmail.com for the form. Also check out their work at www.rur.co.in

Relay race in the background and umbrella painting in the foreground at her child’s school. Ever since, they have been creating innovative ways of getting the important message across of the 3Rs: Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. Trash Festival 2015 With the kind cooperation from Mrs. Clera P. Almeida, principal of St. Aloysius School in Bandra West, RUR together with TERI and TETRAPAK, held the 3rd TRASH festival on Thursday, 29th January 2015. TRASH an acronym for Thinking, Reﬂecting and Acting for a Sustainable Habitat, is a one of its kind event aimed at raising awareness among communities through school children and their families. TRASH also celebrated the achievements of students and showcased innovative methods to reuse, recycle and reduce waste. The day was a merry mix of activities for the school children beginning with an awards presentation, followed by events like TRASH couture, waste relay race and umbrella painting. There were a few stalls from other organisations working in this domain such as ARREGOGREEN by Denzil Rego, DIRT by Natasha D’Costa & Christopher Pereira and an innovative waste composting bin which creates both bio gas developed by Kabir Udeshi.

Tomorrow will be late, start practicing the 3Rs today! A lot of interest is generated by interesting activities for communities such as the TRASH festival. We need to grow closer as communities and work together to face massive issues such as waste and their adverse impacts on BOTH humans and nature. We must understand that our lives are inextricably linked to nature. We cannot lay waste our precious natural resources – that would mean digging our own grave. Now is the time to segregate, compost and dispose waste through safe processes. Now is the time to practice the 3Rs. Tomorrow will be too late! Sonal Alvares

Tetrapak collection bin and bench made of recycled tetrapaks

Navjeet Rural Inter-School Drama & Dance Competition No one has ever become poor by giving and as they say charity begins at home, The Navjeet Community Health Centre of the Holy Family Hospital which is a strong supporter of raising the standard of children and empowering the younger generation, specially the tribal children in Shahapur Taluka in Thane district, has been from time-to-time organizing various programmes for them. On 5th February 2015, Navjeet organized an Inter-School Drama and Dance Competition at Chandroti village in Shahapur Taluka. Sponsored by the Earnest John Group of Companies, talented children from 20 government schools (90% of them belonging to tribal community) came together on a common platform to participate and exhibit their talents and creativity. Children from 18 schools registered for the dance competition, 10 schools registered for the drama competition. The ceremonial lighting of the lamp was done at 10.30 am by the Sarpanch, Mr. Jagdish Jagale, along with other distin-

guished guests and Sr Bindhu, Director of Navjeet Community Health Centre. The beauty of the Indian culture was promoted in a graceful manner by tiny kids with huge

pure hearts in their chests. The programme began with the drama competition, some of which brought out powerful messages on religion and envi-

ronment. This competition lasted till the lunch break, after which a sumptuous lunch lovingly prepared by the villagers was served to all. After the lunch break the programme continued with the dance competition where children danced to popular Bollywood numbers and folk songs. Mr. Tejas, a mimicry artist for entertainment also put up a short standup act and a student of Std. IX from Z.P. School, Ms Mukhawane spoke on the importance of women’s education. Her speech was very motivating, inspiring and par excellence. In the end, its not how much we give but how much love we put into giving is what actually matters though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it's wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices. Sidhhant Kapai