TLC: The Learning Curve by Afternoon Despatch & Courier

ANNUAL STUDENT MAGAZINE 2012 - 2013

Student Editorial Board Claudelle Monis Subadh Kumar Nayak Avril Ann Braganza Anil Dias Arunima Sathe Prisilla Nadar Niharika Salvi Design Rajan Ranshoor Printed at Antec Graphics Shop No. A1, ‘D’ Wing, Uday Co-Op. Hsg. Soc.Ltd., 60 Feet Road, Dharavi, Mumbai 400 017

Avril Ann Braganza

Arunima Sathe

Anil Dias

Learning for life Reports

8 - 11 12 - 23

Photo Feature

Claudelle Monis

Features

25 - 42

Books

43 - 45

Niharika Salvi

Prisilla Nadar

Subadh Kumar Nayak

Turning the curve Sure, we knew we were going to learn a lot in our journalism course at SPICE. What we didn’t know, however, was what we were going to learn and more importantly, how we were going to do so. Accustomed as we were to the traditional manner of learning, we were (pleasantly) surprised to find that our experience across the year helped us fashion a learning curve that was completely different from what we had expected. We discovered that learning is not always confined to a class room and we picked up so much practical knowledge and hands-on training that we wanted to use all of that to showcase learnings that take place across various other walks of life. Our magazine, therefore, has been divided into various categories presenting the journalistic skills we have aquired over the course: reporting, feature writing, photography, editing, designing, marketing and more. But apart from these tangible skills, each of us has also learnt to work in a team; to be tolerant of, and receptive to, others’ ideas; and to think out of the galaxy. And, as we worked on this magazine, we also realised that we were acquiring some very valuable knowledge about our city. We can only hope that The Learning Curve will change our readers’ perceptions the way it changed our own.

Anil Dias Arunima Sathe Avril Ann Braganza Claudelle Monis Niharika Salvi Prisilla Nadar Subadh Kumar Naik

LESSIONS

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Learnings for life A year is a long time in journalism. Or in the life of aspiring journalists. What have we students taken from our year of living differently?

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LESSONS

I’ll be all right year ago I was a surprisingly naive 23-yearold, who was best described as a pushover, looking for the easiest opportunity to run away from anything scary life threw at her. When I was accepted into the Journalism course at SPICE, I naturally found myself excited but anxious, unsure of what lay ahead of me, and how I would handle it. When I look back today, I find myself changed; actually, evolved would probably be a better word. Once the initial trepidation had settled down after the course began, I found myself neck deep in training, learning to write reports, reviews, interview people and edit copy. Before long, I was enjoying the power that came with the ability to make a story reach people. But I also realised the responsibility that came with it. What started off as thorough theoretical training slowly moved towards practical experiences, leaving me with little choice but to confront my fear of making an idiot of myself. I found myself more comfortable ap-

proaching people and getting information for my stories. I, however, did not realise how much this would matter, till I interned at DNA, where I was considered a part of the team and not treated like a child. Apart from all the journalismrelated knowledge that I’m taking away with me at the end of this course, I’ve also learnt quite a few life lessons which are going to stay with me for a very long time. Being an easily trusting person, the first thing I’ve learnt is to stop accepting everything at face value. Secondly, I’ve learnt that there are multiple truths, because the truth changes with time and circumstances. A journalist should therefore be up-to-date with events. Thirdly, difficult stories might come my way. If it’s told in the right way, it will make it to where it should be. Finally, I learnt that no matter how much I was tempted to go astray or give up, I shouldn’t. That if I stayed true to my values and my responsibility to tell the story honestly, I would be all right.

Claudelle Monis

Subadh Kumar Nayak

Ready to face the world now!

tudying in the very first batchof the journalism course at SPICE was simply superb. Being a student from an Oriya-medium background, it was very difficult for me to cope not only with the challenging situations in one of the most developed cities of the country but also the qualities demanded from a professional journalist. However, as days passed, I gradually became more open to new opportunities and challenges, a quality that is vital for a journalist. Provided a unique opportunity to enrich my knowledge and experience through some of the outstanding educators from the media industry in India, I have been taught both at head level (as a professional journalist) and heart level (as a good human being and credible journalist). Apart from learning that credibility,

clarity of thought, logical presentation, dedication, determination, discipline, and adherence to deadlines are essential for a good journalist, I have become self-motivated and ambitious, ready to accept responsibilities and be a student always, keeping myself open to new experiences. I also learnt the importance of team work in this profession. It made me develop a caring attitude, more sensitivity to the needs of others, to be a good listener, give and receive both criticism and compliments tactfully and easily. I have learnt also that preparation is a must before doing anything; the one must practise patience and persevere even if there are no results to begin with. SPICE has empowered me to go out and confront obstacles like a professional journalist and a good human being.

LESSIONS

Managing time and the tide of work tudying journalism at SPICE has taught me not only journalism but other lessons in life as well. Through team work, seven of us have managed to bring out an eight-page tabloid as well as a magazine. And I have learnt that by working together, coordinating, assigning work and helping each other out, we can work systematically and efficiently with good re-

Avril Ann Braganza sults. This is important not only in a newspaper office but in other aspects of life as well. I have also understood better the value of time. Having to work on many assignments and deadlines, many of them due around the same time, I have learnt to be more organised and conscientious in my working so as to avoid wasting long hours over one assignment. Life is getting busier and busier day by day. Today, everyone’s excuse is ‘no time’ and often when youngsters leave college and plunge into a working environment with responsibilities, long working hours and limited free time, adjusting to a new routine is difficult. The Journalism course being a post-graduate one, we were no longer treated like kids, given responsibilities and required to put in our best. It has gradually helped me learn to balance my time between daily assignments, family and friends and all the other activities which I am passionate about, which is vital once we start working. The Journalism course required us to travel within our city, meet people and conduct interviews on various issues. Before the course I rarely ventured out alone to unknown places and hesitated to talk to strange people. But as I was required to do so, I gradually gained confidence in speaking up and getting the information I required. I

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From surreal to real here’s only one word to describe the experience of doing a post-graduate diploma in journalism at SPICE: surreal. Because I never thought I would be learning from some of the biggest names in the industry, people who have been there and done it all. I wanted to be a journalist because I like to write, and because newspapers have always fascinated me. But what all my experiences and lessons here taught me was that writing is just a miniscule part of being a journalist. Journalism isn’t just a profession; it’s a way of life. It’s a profession where you get to learn and experience something new every day. Anil Then there are also certain challenges along the way — long hours, late nights and extensive traveling. A very important lesson that I learnt was to never look down on anyone. In other words, one must not have a superiority complex. Everyone is important, and you never know when you might need their help. In the early stages of the course, we learnt about the structure of a newspaper and how the industry functions and I was awe-struck after discovering the number of elements that go into bringing a newspaper to your doorstep every day. A lot of attention was paid to grammar and vocabulary, which was really helpful because as a reporter, especially when you’re chasing a deadline, you need to write correctly — quickly.

The course included photography, page-making and designing, skills that are essential for every journalist. We also learnt the role and importance of PR and advertising and how they complement journalism. The highlight of the course and probably the toughest month was the Broadcast module. We realised that TV is not only about looking good on screen, but getting the news out first, no matter where in the world the event takes place. We learnt how anchor, write for television and to make a rundown. The fun part was when were asked to make a television story on current events. It was then that we realised the many difficulties a television journalist faces. For me, the best learning was the inDias ternship in the month of March. I got an amazing opportunity to work in the sports section of the Times of India, and I will forever cherish my time spent there. As a budding journalist, there is no better feeling than that of being in a real newsroom and writing for a media giant. My job was to report on domestic football and cricket games. My colleagues there were really helpful and took time to solve any difficulties I had. They helped me develop many contacts and allowed me to assist them in getting their stories. What I was really surprised at was the informal setting in a newsroom, there was no issue of authority or seniority. I got a feel of how what work would really be like: press conferences, interviews and of course, that deadline rush. It was awesome.

discovered parts of my city that I did not know about and I can now say I have learnt much more about Mumbai in these last few months than I did during my entire life. As part of the course, we also had to complete a one-month internship at

a newspaper. Going out into slums, seeing the plight of affected families after a fire or an accident and working with deadlines has made me stronger and helped me learn that nothing is impossible to achieve once you put your mind to it.

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The lessons learnt ournalism for me was just an- tasks. But I still have to learn to tailor other profession, something that my responses to circumstances. Life excited me and would also help will teach me. The biggest lesson I learnt is that I me earn a fortune and live hapcannot achieve anything by building pily forever. But I was so wrong. It’s not just a castles in the air. Whenever a new profession, it’s a way of life which project came up in our class, my first move was to think about it for days. never lets you live tamely. But I learnt that I could be It gives you the freedom of experimenting with your life and it careless and irresponsible, that conmakes you understand the unspoken verting your thoughts into actions can be difficult problems and the and often, I little joys of our Arunima Sathe needed to be world. Journalism taught me to be selfless, pushed to complete my work. To it made me think about others first. I some extent I have overcome that learnt to smile even though I was boil- failing, I think! This course may not have changed ing with anger inside. I learnt the art me completely, but it made me accept of not showing my feelings. Journalism for me is a profession in my flaws. It made me feel that like every inwhich your ego could be hurt every single day. But I understood that no dividual, I also have my own unique matter how roughly people treat you way of learning and the only person I there is always a story behind their be- need to compete with is my own self. For me, journalism is like a firm havior. I learnt to focus better on what is ladder with which I can climb my imporant and how to prioritise my way to success.

Everything from scratch ournalism was taught right from to write just a few paragraphs, but scratch at St Paul’s Institute of after joining this course, it has beCommunication Education come quite an easy task for me. I also (SPICE). One mian part of the learnt the importance and pressure of course was about newspapers and deadlines, something I hadn’t experimagazines; the other was about enced before. television. My learnings During this are not just limited Niharika Salvi course, we to my professional were taught a lot of things. From life but I have also learnt many posianalyzing the news, reporting and tive things that changed my personal feature writing, to valuable grammar life. For instance, I improved my conlessons to interviewing and learning versational skills. During the course I how a television newsroom works, we interacted with different kinds of peowent through it all. All of this has had ple for my stories and I learnt to hana great impact on my personal as well dle them at their best and worst. as professional life. I have changed These conversational skills gave me quite a lot over the course. the confidence to go forward and talk Writing wasn’t something I was to people and get my work done. good at. Earlier I used to take hours I also got to know the city better.

LESSIONS

Right place, right time do not consider myself even a budding journalist in this exciting world of media, but I am sure I will make a mark in this industry because I have learnt to be confident and to be strong. At first, I thought I had the guts to become a journalist, but I soon realised that guts are not enough; you have to show your confidence and courage not only in your attitude but also in your writing. And after my internship as a business reporter in the Afternoon Despatch & Courier, I realised how people treat you when you show them

Prisilla Nadar your Press Card. That respect and attention means a lot. I discovered that journalism is not for those who want to take it easy; it is for those who want to work. I also learnt not to get attached to my stories, to just ‘file and forget’. I have learnt a lot, from writing to speaking to reporting. We all thought that TV reporting would be easier than print journalism, but it did not take long to realise that it is the toughest job in this world. To fulfill any of our dreams, the first step we take is very important. I am confident that I have chosen the right path to achieving my dream by being in the right place at the right time.

Although I have been living in Mumbai for a really long time I didn’t get a chance to roam around the city very often. I have started moving around on my own now, whereas earlier I always had someone with me whereever I went. All these things have boosted my confidence a lot. Now I do things that I had never ever imagined I would be able to do.

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State teachers make hard decisions More than 50,000 university and college teachers are now part of the on-going agitation, focusing on the boycott of the examinations. By Arunima Sathe

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demand chart was submitted to the government by the Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (MFUCTO) earlier this year, which highlighted the issues faced by university and college teachers who were appointed between 1991 and 2000. These teachers were being deprived of their pension benefits even though PF deductions have been made from their monthly salaries during the long periods of their service. MFUCTO’s general secretary Tapati Mukhopadhyay says that their meeting with the Chief Minister remained inconclusive, and the protest would continue. “We understand the problems our students are going through but now it’s time the state government understands our situation. Our primary demand is regularisation of NET/SET affected teachers and payment of 80 per cent of Sixth Pay Commission arrears,” says Mukhopadhyay. The protest started on January 15, 2013. This long-drawn out teacher’s boycott may also result in rescheduling of the summer vacations if the pending exam work cannot be completed by the end of this month. The university is planning to take its final decision in the next few weeks. While senior university officials deny any plans to extend the term, a section said that if a lot of examrelated work remains pending on April 30, this solution might be considered. “If the protest continues there may be a chance of delay in announcement of the results as well,” says a teacher involved in the protest. “MFUCTO decided to continue their non-cooperation action as the steps taken by the government have not created confidence in their minds, so the withdrawal has been postponed,” says Mukhopadhyay. The protest, which was initially going to end within 72 days, entered its 85th day on April 29.

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CYCLE REBy Avril-Ann Braganza

Alonde School in Vikramgad, Thane has received 28 bicycles through the Campus Bicycle Project.

he Campus Bicycle Project, started recently by a few students from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, has had its first success. Twenty eight bicycles were delivered to Alonde village in Vikramgad, Thane, on April 6, 2013 thus relieving some of the village’s children of their long walk from home to school and back every day. Alonde School, where these children study, has approximately 1,200 students, many of whom walk three to five kilometres to reach school. The students are given cycles based on three criteria: performance, attendance and the distance they have to travel from home to school. The campaign first started out as a sub-activity of a project called ‘Green Initiatives’ of the Social Service League (SSL), a social organisation within the St Xavier’s College campus in Mumbai, and was gradually developed by Chryslynn D’Costa and Radhika Dhuru in 2010. After D’Costa and Dhuru graduated, Tasneem Kakal (19) revived the

Arnaz Mithuji spreading the word at Ramnarain Ruia College in Matunga.

Where it all began: Nolina Minj encouraging Xavierites to be a part of the Campus Bicycle Project.

project as an independent entity in November last year with an aim to involve other colleges as well. This project is a drive through which college students gather unwanted bicycles, repair them and distribute them to needy children in villages within Maharashtra. The main aim of the project, said Kakal, is to “reduce school drop-out rates in areas where it is as high as 90%, to increase

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-CYCLE enrollment as the bicycle acts as an incentive, and to increase household productivity where the kids are allowed to take their bicycles home, since this provides opportunities for the parents to travel as well.” “The initial idea was to recycle cycles but experience taught us better, so now we focus on getting funds first,’ said Nolina Minj, one of the volunteers and a student who has just appeared for her third-year exams. As the basic necessity is the funds to repair and transport these bicycles to the villages, the initial target for these dynamic youngsters were festivals and events in various colleges and exhibitions where they could spread the word and create awareness about the drive among people. “We started off at the SSL Exhibition where we received a tremendous response and also collaborated with KaChing, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies’ (NMIMS) festival as their Social Engagement Partner and with Aarohan, the Ruia College festival, amongst others,” said Kakal speaking about their efforts to get this project going. “We have also

tied up with The LaptopSkin Vault where Rs. 5 -10 is donated to the project with the purchase of a laptop (or an iPad) skin” she added. They have also received support from group members of the Lions Club who sponsored 45 second -hand bikes for Alonde School and have been able to raise a sizeable amount through student donations. While these youngsters have successfully managed to deliver 28 bicycles within the last four months, it was not without challenges. “It’s not all

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about raising funds and getting people to donate their old bicycles. We try and get the person donating his old cycle to repair it if needed and to somehow get it across to us but this is not always possible and practical. In 2010 we had arranged a tempo on the last day of the drive and picked up bicycles from Thane, Andheri and Bandra but only when we had collected the cycles did we realise that not all of the cycles could be mended and that it would cost approximately Rs. 600 per cycle to repair others,” said Minj. Apart from that, coordinating with the bicycle owners and studying for exams has not been easy. While some of these youngsters have been spreading the word, others have gone around picking up old cycles, spoken to leading bicycle companies who are willing to sell their cycles at discounted rates

Fatema Kakal and Tasneem Kakal all geared up at their stall during Aarohan, the college festival of Ramnarain Ruia College.

Naomi Menezes and Pradnya Bhatikar getting cycle donations at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Orlem, Malad.

and have visited villages to establish contacts with school principles. No matter the challenges these youngsters are enthusiastic about thes outcome. “We often forget the hurdles that the education/schooling system is burdened with. One only thinks of the presence of schools, teachers and the students, but people often forget major absences like that of roads and infrastructure or societal constraints that are actually major hurdles. This project is a step forward in tackling these gaps and realising the dreams of many children who wish to have an education,” said Kakal.

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Helping children on the path to health

Volunteers of the Girija Welfare Association with some of the children they have helped.

“Hare Rama, Hare Krishna” is how they greet their visitors. They are the children of Girija Balgruha, an orphanage in Khargar. Run by the Girija Welfare Association (GWA), an NGO that was established in 2004 and has, since then, provided homeless and needy

By Niharika Salvi children with a place to live and other basic amenities like good food, proper clothing and education in an English medium school. They have two shelters across Mumbai, one in Kharghar and one in Panvel and each shelter has 30 to 35 children. GWA may sound like just another NGO that helps orphans, but it is definitely more than that, especially because its work isn’t limited just to the kids in their NGO. It also provides financial help to children who are affected by HIV/AIDS or cancer. Vasant Kunjar, President of the organisation, has been helping people who suffer from HIV from the time that the disease was untreatable. He says, “At that time, the disease was considered taboo and people who were suffering from the disease were abandoned by their own families. That is why I started helping these people.”

Kunjar and his brother are in the exports business and they run the NGO together. Initially, they only provided food, clothing and shelter to HIV/AIDS affected people, but now the NGO has tieups with two hospitals, Nirmala Niketan in Mankhurd and Jyoti Care Centre in Karamboli. Most of the patients who come to GWA for help are kept in these two hospitals and the NGO takes care of the financial part of the treatment. Kunjar and the NGO also children suffering from any other kind of disease. One such kid is Kurban Sheikh, who is blind and suffering from tuberculosis as well. He lives in Ulhasnagar with his father, Sheikh Shakeel, who is unemployed and hence can’t afford to pay for his son’s treatment. Sheikh Shakeel found out about GWA through a friend and approached them and since then Kurban has been receiving treatment and now his condition is improving. “They helped me a lot. Kurban is

Volunteers Aamir and Leena holding a cashbox and an official card that contains the description of the patient.

much better now than he was before I came here,“ says the boy’s father. Recently, GWA has started helping children suffering from cancer as well. “I thought Tata Memorial Hospital didn’t charge money for the treatment they gave cancer patients, but when I went there I saw for myself that they don’t treat people for free. So I decided to help at least the children suffering from the disease,” says Vasant Kunjar, who is very positive about this new project. Almost two months ago GWA formed a volunteers group to help these children. The volunteers go from train to train and ask people to donate as little as Rs 20 and the collected amount is given to the child’s parents later. GWA is the first NGO to start such a project and people are responding very well to it. There are around nine volunteers working on this project, some of them as employees with the NGO, while others volunteer for free. There are also a few students who work in their free time. “It feels nice to work on such a great project and to help people in need,” says Leena Sarode, a volunteer. They generally begin work around 12 pm from Thane and go as far as CST and report back to the NGO around 6 pm with the collected money. When they ask for money they carry a card that contains all the information about the child they are collecting money for. So far GWA has helped three children: Jitendra Kumar Prajapati (11), Shashank Gawali (9) and Anjum Shah (10). Two of these children, Jitendra and Anjum, were being treated in Tata Memorial Hospital when Kunjar personally visited the place, while Shashank’s parents approached GWA. Kunjar visits the Tata Memorial Hospital once in a while to look for children whose parents can’t afford the treatment and goes through their documents personally and selects a child. Even though GWA is not able to collect the entire sum of money the treatment requires, they help as much as they can from their side. Kunjar says, “Abhi shuru kiya hai, (I have just begun) but I want this effort to go very far and I hope to help as many people as possible with this project.”

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MuMbaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S goRgEouS MonuMEntS

By Prisilla Nadar

umbai is not only the financial capital of the country, but also a city where history comes alive. It is known for its heritage structures like CST and the Gateway of India but there are innumerable little-known and often-bypassed structures that are a direct link with its past, sadly crumbling because of the apathy of its authorities and citizens alike. SION FORT Sion Fort, built by the Portuguese, served as a boundary between Mumbai and the Salcette islands. Because of this strategic location at the absolute end of Bombayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s islands, the area was

fortified to act as an outpost and lookout point. Located at the summit of a conical hill, Sion fort was provided with a small watchtower with 9 to 10 guns and 60 soldiers under a captain. There was a fresh water tank acting as a catchment for water from the hill top, supplied to the soliders stationed at the fort. Today, the tank, which is dry and overrun by vegetation, can be accessed by means of a flight of steps. Gerald Aungier, a governor of the city in the 17th century, supplied the forts of Mazagaon, Mahim and Sion with cannons. One of these cannons still exists at the fort, lying in the dust.

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AMBARNATH SHIV TEMPLE The temple of Ambarnath was built in the Bhumiija style dating back to 1060 AD, according to an inscription. It was built during the reign of the Silahara dynasty using basalt stone. The temple originally had a walled enclosure, which is now missing. The temple consists of a garbhagriha, and a mandapa with three porches on the north, south and west. The temple is built in such a manner that the first sunlight falls on the Shivling every day. It is believed by some people that this temple was built by the five Pandavas in just one night! The beautiful architectural details include amazing carvings so intricate that one needs a whole day to observe each set. Better read up a bit before you visit this place for, of course, there is no guide! VASAI FORT Call it the Bassein Fort or Vasai Kila, this is one of the biggest forts in Maharashtra. It was built in the early years of

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the 15th century. In the 18th century, the fort was taken over by the Maratha army under Peshwa Baji Rao’s brother Chimaji Appa. After them, the British took over the territory from the Marathas. Several watch-towers still stand, with staircases leading up. It is said there were three chapels inside the fort built according to the Portuguese style. There are many carved stones, some weathered beyond recognition, others still displaying ancient symbols. This fort with a great history is now usually used for film shootings and one rarely sees any tourists or women, sicne it’s considered not too safe a place to visit. HASNABAD MAUSOLEUM Hasnabad or Shah Hasan Ali’s Maqbara ( mausoleum) is a genuine treasure hidden in this city. This mausoleum, often called Mumbai’s Taj Mahal, is the resting place of the 46th Imam — Aga Khan I, Imam of the Nizari Ismailite sect of the Shiite Muslims. Built around 1884, this marble structure took a full three years to build and the minaret, now painted in white, is said to be 19 feet high. Non-Muslims are not allowed inside the mausoleum. So you’ll have tobe content with enjoying this beautiful white marble structure from outside.

GLOBAL VIPASSANA PAGODA TEMPLE This temple is a replica of the Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Burma and is coming up in Gorai in Mumbai. Though most people think it is a Buddha temple, it is really a massive meditation centre. Its Burmese architecture is an expression of India’s gratitude to Burma and the chain of teachers who preserved and kept alive the technique of Vipassana in its pure form through generations. The height and breadth of this pagoda is 325 feet and it is said to have the world’s first pillar-less dome. Huge pieces of rock were brought from Rajasthan, and interlocked only with the use of limestone (chuna). The asthi (ash) of Gautam Buddha is kept above the dome which was donated to the Indian government by the Sri Lankan government.

The golden paint, brought from Ireland, is weather proof. Each door, made from Burma teak, depicts the life of Gautam Buddha, and was donated by Burma government. There are 200 fans underground and 24 exhaust fans for ventilation. This dome can resist earthquakes up to 8 on the Richter scale and is expected to last 2,000 years.

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Wanna go

scuba diving in Mumbai?

SCuba stands for SelfContained underwater breathing apparatus.

Anees Adenwala, co-owner of the Orca dive club, at school in the pool.

By Anil Dias THIS SUMMER, Mumbai’s kids can enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime — to learn scuba diving at the BMC swimming pool at the Andheri Sports Complex. This is part of a scuba diving training program which has been started as a joint initiative by the BMC and the Orca dive club. The BMC plans to extend the facility to childrne in its schools at nominal rates. The scuba training camp was inaugurated on April 3 at the Andheri Sports Complex with an aim to develop a liking for adventure sports in children. Training for several other sports like swimming, diving, badminton and tennis is also available at the complex. Anees Adenwala, co-owner of the Orca dive club says, “Though the cost factor is a little high, we will introduce these kids to scuba diving at nominal

rates, because doing something for the BMC and the community is great.” The only challenge that the BMC faces is that, for scuba diving, the highest standards of safety and cleanliness are a must in the swimming pool. Anees says, “It’s simple: if the pool isn’t clean, scuba sessions are cancelled because it is no fun diving in a dirty pool. Diving is meant to be a fun, non-competitive sport and also helps you to experience the flora and fauna of a place.” The entire course consists of three modules, of which only the first two — theory and dives in the pool— are done here in Mumbai. For the third module, one has to travel with a group of scuba divers to destinations such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Maldives and Thailand in order to get their Open Water Diving license.

Utkarsh Shah, who had gone with the group on one such trip to the Andaman Islands says, “Scuba diving is your passport to the marine world. The pool sessions are rewarding as they take you through the necessary skill sets needed by a scuba diver. The trip was amazing as we made contact with species other than humans as well.” Adenwala, an instructor affiliated to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) has been associated with scuba diving for the last 16 years. Having spent years diving in the Lakshadweep islands, his knowledge and expertise help many members of the diving community to have fun-filled and safe dives. His passion for the sport and love for the sea is the driving force in bringing the sport of scuba diving closer to people here in India.

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Mumbai: New address for drought migrants t is now official. The Maharashtra government has declared that the drought situation through which the state is currently passing, is worse than that of 1972, regarded as a benchmark for a bad year. This is in spite of the fact that Maharashtra has the highest number of large dams in the country and most of them were built after 1972. Initially the government declared drought in 122 talukas in 25 districts, but subsequently revised it to 125 talukas in 16 districts which included 3,905 villages. Over 70% of the crops have been damaged and farmers have suffered

By Subadh Kumar Nayak losses worth thousands of crores. The most affected districts are Nashik, Solapur and those in Marathwada and western Vidarbha, which saw less than 10% of the expected rainfall last year. In the badly-affected Marathwada region, only 9% water is left in the dams compared with 30 % last year. In western Maharashtra, the stock is 32 % against 40 % last year. The drought situation in Maharashtra has attracted political attention, with the Union government announcing an Rs 1,207 crore debt relief package in March. However, the major reason for the drought is perhaps the cultivation of sugarcane which is the backbone of western Maharashtraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agrarian econ-

omy. Though the government policy mandates that no more than 5% of irrigated land can be used to grow sugarcane, in Pune district alone, nearly 40 % of the total irrigated land is under cane cultivation. Experts say that, on an average, sugar factories need about one lakh litres of water a day. Since sugarcane is a water-guzzling cash crop, water from the dams is being diverted to irrigate the sugarcane fields. And so questions are being asked as to why water meant for drinking needs is being supplied to sugarcane fields, some of which are owned by influential people. Squeezed out of their villages by water scarcity, lakhs of people, including some of the students from parched interiors, have locked their houses and are migrating to the cities like Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed and Osmanabad. Some of them have gone even to neighboring states like Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The rural flocks in Mumbai are now standing on the doorsteps of rich and private sectors asking for employment. They sleep on street corners, take a bath under the cover of darkness and take turns to cook. They are seen hanging around mostly near construction sites and railway stations in Vasai-Virar, MiraBhayander and Sanpada, waiting to be hired as laborers by somebody, especially by the contractors. Other places like Naigaon (E) and Ghodbunder Road in Thane have also become home for the drought-affected.

2013-13 But, back home, they are farmers, some of them even owning fields. Some of them claim it is because influential people divert the water for cultivation that they do not get water either to drnk or to cultivate. They say although the government supplies water to their villages once in a while, no monetary aid has reached them yet. The state government has taken a policy decision that water from dams would be first used to meet drinking water needs. However, at the behest of politicians, water is allegedly diverted to irrigate sugarcane fields, as for example from the Khadakwasla dam. This happens only because of the close connections that politicians in Maharashtra have with sugar factories and sugar cooperatives, a majority of which are controlled by the ministers in the government. This has forced migrants of the drought-hit villages to say that drought is a crisis created not by nature but political clout. And here is what some of them say. Maruti Rambhu (30) from Ropala village in Solapur district, the epicenter of Maharahstra’s drought said, “So much money is spent in the name of irrigation projects, so why do we still have to face drought? There may be many reasons but the most important reason is very poor governance by our leaders. In fact they do not want to solve the problems. If problems are solved, no agenda will be there for their election speech. They are more concerned with filling their bank accounts rather than the welfare of the people. Instead of working in the drought places, they just sit and watch the exodus of poor farmers.” The fact that drought is a crisis created not by nature but political clout, would be vividly clear for an individual if he knows that just a few kilometers from the village is the Vithalrao Sugar factory run by four-time MLA and local Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) strongman, Babanrao Shinde, where there is little sign of the drought. To crush, melt and cool tonnes of sugar, factories like Shinde’s depend heavily on water from the Ujani dam. Nearby there are at least two more factories —

REPORT

Adinath Sugar factory, run by NCP legislator Shyamal Bagal, and the Indreshwar Sugar factory run by Cooperative Minister Harshvardhan Patil. They get water, but some of the villagers live just a few miles from the dam, one of Maharashtra’s biggest, but don’t receive a drop of its water. “Some of my relatives live near the

Maruti Rambhu with his family under Sanpada bridge

Ujani dam, but they too do not have water,” said, Kartik Bade (25) from Ghevsai village of Jalna district. After declaring 2012-2013 as Maharashtra’s worst drought since 1972 the state government added insult to injury by declaring that in 1972 the state had to face shortage of both food grains and unemployment. This time it is “only water that is in scarcity.” In 1972, 30 lakh villagers had reported for work under the employment guarantee scheme. Now, against the availability of 20 lakh jobs, only 2 lakh villagers have reportedly sought work. This is a plus point for the government! However, when asked, Ganesh Munde (27) from Solapur said, “I finished my intermediate collage in 2008. Yet, I could not pursue my studies only because we depended on agriculture to solve our financial problems. I tried for a job but I could not get one. Though I am an average student, I would have managed

to get somewhere but what to do, everywhere corruption and politics play the major role.” “If the state government does not take immediate action to solve the problems of water scarcity then many students like me, who get money from cultivation to study, will surely stop studying and as result unemployment will be on high,” Munde added. Migrant farmers who are the backbone to the economy are facing such hardships only because of the mismanagement of water. They wanted their leaders to visit their villages and solve the ongoing problems to some extend but according to them, none of the politicians have visited. Many of them have now sold the bullocks that they valued as priceless and goddesses. A man living at railway stations in Vasai-Virar who did not wish to be named, said, “We have seven acres of land but what value they have now? Due to lack of water we have not cultivated it for two years. We do not have good water even to drink. I thought we would die of starvation in the village. So we decided to sell all the cattle we had for whom we had no water and fodder. But none of the politicians ever visited us to consoled us in our bad time. Only during elections they visit door to door with folded hands.” Many have been in Mumbai for the past ten months. “Living on the pavements and under bridges is better than living in the villages and the water in Mumbai’s public toilets is much better than that supplied for drinking in the villages by the government”, said one such migrant. (Some figures sourced from the Internet.)

PHOTO FEATURE

2013-13

Summer Learning By Avril-Ann Braganza

They cannot go to school but the will to learn is ever present even on the pavements of the Juhu- Versova Link road.

Kids learning the art of cupcake decoration during their summer holidays

Summer holidays put to good use learning stitching, an important but dying interest.

A seven-year-old-girl learns to cycle with the help of her older brother

2013-13

FEATURE

What are international tourists told about Mumbai’s Dhobi Ghat that gets them so interested in it, wonders Anil Dias

What’s so special about the

ver wondered why so many tourists flock to Mumbai’s Dhobi Ghat? Or what‘s so special about it that there’s always a group of foreigners peering down from the Mahalakshmi Bridge, eyes focused on those skinny, topless dhobis washing Mumbai’s dirty linen? Or why anyone would pay to see people wash clothes at all? From the flyover that heads towards Saat Rasta, the 162-year-old Dhobi Ghat looks like a neat concrete game of Tetris, with interlocking grids of washing pens. The laundering is all done

manually, with the dhobis standing in concrete troughs, ankle deep in a solution of soapy water. After the clothes get a good soak, the dhobis thrash them on flogging stones and rinse them thoroughly. Next, the clothes are immersed in massive boiling vats of starch and then hung out to dry. Finally, they’re neatly ironed and packed in orderly bundles to be returned to their owners. Literally tons of dirty laundry is washed in this manner every day and these traditional laundrymen are much in demand, as their services cost far less than those of any modern, high-tech laundry.

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2013-13

Imagine all of Mumbai getting their laundry done here, thinks Rene Peck admiringly

“Simply unique”, says Alistair Lobo from the UK. “The assortment of colours is eye-catching”.

Dani Granados from Costa Rica wants to know whether we have washing machines at home!

Interestingly, you will rarely find a Mumbaikar gawking at them. So, I wondered, what are tourists told about the Dhobi Ghat that gets them so interested in it? Renee Peck, a journalist from the USA on a tour of Mumbai, says, “It’s amazing how everyone in this city gives their clothes to one place to wash.” What? She actually believes that the whole of Mumbai, all of the 18.4 million people that live here, get their clothes washed by roughly a thousand dhobis? She can hardly be blamed though, for that’s what she’s been told by local guides who charge approximately Rs150 a head for a tour of the Dhobi Ghat. I wonder what all these tourists think — that we in Mumbai don’t own washing machines? Or that we are so united that we even wash our clothes at the same place? Dani Granados from Costa Rica has an answer for me.

“Don’t you people have washing machines at home?” she asks. I explain to her that most of the laundry in the ghat doesn’t come from homes and families, but from large organizations like hospitals and hotels or restaurants and guesthouses located in the vicinity. But not all tourists visit the Dhobi Ghat just to see “where Mumbai gets its clothes washed.” Alistair Lobo from the UK seems genuinely fascinated by it. “It is simply unique; you won’t find anything like this anywhere else in the world. Also, the assortment of colours on display is eye-catching,” he points out. He is also amazed by the magnitude and history of this place, and the fact that there are so many workers and so many garments all in one place. Now, that’s something I agree with. Even if you won’t find me peering over the Saat Rasta flyover again.

2013-13

Although Play Station and Xbox rule the roost at many an Indian home, there are still a sizeable number of aficionados who believe interacting over board games is far better than staring at a computer screen, finds Claudelle Monis

FEATURE

he crowd erupted. One half cheered. The other half swore. Amid the chaos, a member of the losing side sat down with his head in his hands, defeat clearly visible on his face. A team mate placed a hand on his shoulder and tried hard to cheer him up, “Don’t worry, man. We’ll get it next time”. If you thought this was the end of an IPL match, you would be so wrong. It was the end of a board game. Prashant Maheswari, founder and organiser of Mumbai Board Gamers, laughs as he reminisces about one of the

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2013-13

many ‘Mega Meets’ he has organised for the group. “The enthusiasm is contagious. It’s amazing how seriously these games are taken,” he says. Formed a little over a year ago, Mumbai Board Gamers has more than 350 members and meets at least once a week. “We all meet up after office hours — at a cafe if we have new members, or at a member’s place if it’s just us regulars. And we can play for hours at a stretch,” says Maheswari. Specialising in strategy board games like Settlers of Catan and The Resist-

“Games bring people together, and there’s nothing like a good board game which acts as a perfect ice breaker for shy kids.” MIhIR VoRA Former gamer and one of the founders and organisers of Board Game Bash

ance, Mumbai Board Gamers has made several adults change their minds about board games being child’s play. As Maheswari says, “I still get strange looks when I tell people I organise meets for board game lovers. They all think board games are for kids, but once I sit them down and explain some of the games and rules to them, they realise how wrong they were and join in with complete enthusiasm.” Mihir Vora, a former gamer and one of the founders and organisers of Board Game Bash, another group for Board Game lovers, was given an ultimatum by his wife when her patience ran out with his constant gaming. “Either the Play Station was out, or I was she told me. I gave up the Play Station, but don’t regret it one bit”, says Vora. Board Game Bash was formed in 2009, when a handful of board game fanatics

set out to discover other like-minded individuals. “We started out with around fifteen people at our first meeting, and have grown to a family of over a thousand”, says Vora. Armed with the idea of helping people enjoy the interactions that these games encourage, Vora divides his collection of over 140 board games into two categories. “The first category is the fun games, consisting of general board games, and we spend mot of our time mostly getting new entrants familiar with the rules. The second category is made up of certain games reserved for an event we call ‘Under the Stars’ which is held at Carter Road. We begin with Pictionary, move to Taboo and end with Dirty Minds,” he explains. With both groups comprising members in the age group of 20-40 years, it’s clear that adults seem to be quite geared up to this revival of sorts. But what about kids? How interested are they in board games? “They aren’t very enthusiastic now, but I think it’s primarily due to a lack of exposure”, says Vora. “Make a board game attractive to them, make it interesting, and I’m sure they’ll be sold”, he adds. Maheshwari echoes similar sentiments, but adds that board games are a good means of encouraging older children to think and socialise. “There’s nothing like a good board game to serve as an icebreaker for shy kids,” he points out. “Games bring people together.”

FEATURE

2013-13

The great

Arunima Sathe visits some of Maharashtra’s drought-hit villages and finds farmers and families in deep despair with no solution in sight Wa l k i n g through the narrow, unconstructed roads of Navade village in Kalamboli, Navi Mumbai, I spot a winding queue of people. Almost simultaneously, I hear three huge tankers honking at me to get out of their path. Perhaps there’s a big function or a marriage on in the village, I think. But as I walk on, I see that the people in the queue have lined up with all kinds of vessels for filling water. It’s drought that has brought them out here, not any celebration. By the time I managed to locate Navade’s Congress corporator, Alka Bhagat. the village was in a frenzy as the tankers started offloading their water. “We feel very bad for our people. My daughter and I have to fill our vessels and learn to manage with about 5 litres of water every two days”, says Bhagat. She tells me about the various measures that the village has taken to conserve water, including water conservation, with rainwater harvesting next on the agenda. Navade is one of over 11,800 villages of Maharashtra facing the spectre of drought this year, the worst in the past four decades. The state’s big cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Amravati and Nagpur are much better off, but no-

The villagers of Kamothe Gaon waiting for their occasional ration of water

2013-13

FEATURE

Something used to grow here once, says this villager from Beed

body knows for how long. In the rural areas, people are dying of thirst, farmers have no income, children are falling prey to all kinds of diseases. The atmosphere was so tense wherever I went that I hesitated to even smile when I met villagers. Those villages that are classified as drought-hit get some help, but others that have precious little water but are not classified as drought-hit, are left to the mercy of the elements. Takkagaon which is located about two km away from Panvel, Navi Mumbai, is one such village. Its residents get water intermittently and only at 3 am in the morning, a timing that obviously disrupts their daily lives and work patterns. At Kamothe village, Deepak Patil says, “My daughter was giving her board exams and she was not able to study because we were all busy standing in the queue for the water tanker.” He asks a rhetorical question: “If she fails in her exam, will the government compensate us?” Sakharam Patil of the Panvel Panchayat Samithi talks about the measures he has planned for his village. First, he is organising a ‘Save Water’ program, in which people will learn about the efficient use of water. “It’s sheer misery for me,” he says. “I cannot see my people going through such a tough time, but I can’t help them ei-

Water, water every “where” ?

ther. All I can do is get water tankers for them, which is a temporary solution.” Navi Mumbai may be a wellplanned city, but the consequences of development are being faced by the villages around it. Ramesh Khandagde from Khandagaon, near Panvel, says “When construction was going on in Panvel, CIDCO created an underground pipeline just about 500 metres from our village to supply water to the construction sites. We explained our water problems to them and asked them for a solution but they didn’t even bother to answer our questions, much less do something about our

problems.” The state government says Rs 414 crore from the current financial year has been spent on emergency measures to provide drinking water, but villagers say they have not received any appropriate help. As always, drought is accompanied by the twin problem of migration of villagers to the cities. With no water and no work in their home towns and villages, rural folk have headed for Maharashtra’s big cities. Many immigrants say that the water in the city’s public toilets is much better than the drinking water supplied by the government in the villages. As the government throws its hands up, it is the NGOs and private organisations that are busy collecting money and resources for drought-hit areas. Their objectives are to provide drinking water to village communities, provide feed for the cattle and instal pipelines from borewells to residential areas for drinking water supply. Though massive funds are being raised for the cause and people from all over the world are donating money online for it, it is nowhere near enough, given the enormity of the situation. Predictions are that this drought could get worse in the coming days, especially if rainfall is lower than normal. April has been a cruel month, May threatens to be worse.

FEATURE

2013-13

(but it’s nasty stuff about you) Indian college confession pages are low on maturity and empathy in comparison with their Western counterparts, discovers Claudelle Monis

hen 21-year-old Warren D’Silva was on Facebook a few weeks ago, he received a notification informing him that he had been tagged in a post on his college confession page. Despite being one of the most popular kids in school and college, D’Silva was a little nervous about the post; he hoped it wasn’t a nasty one. To his relief and amusement however, it was just a secret admirer asking him out. “I’ve been mentioned twice on the page, but thankfully both were positive posts. It’s nice, but a little awkward to be complimented and asked

out in public like that, but I guess it’s better than being made fun of or called something mean,” says the collegian. D’Silva is just one of several kids all over the world who have subscribed to updates from the confessional sites of their schools and colleges. The craze has so taken India by storm that in Mumbai, even localities like Bandra, Kalina, Vakola and Borivali have confession pages of their own. With anonymity being the primary driving force behind these pages, confessors get a thrill talking about incidents or issues that would normally be embarrassing or taboo. While some

2013-13 pages allow the object of affection or angst to be named, the identity of the confessor is withheld, so the posts go from touching nostalgia to venomous bile and include everything from cheesy pick-up lines to direct proposals, venting of pent-up anger to actual confessions. The comments on these posts however, indicate the fact that readers take them far from seriously and, more often than not, look at them as prank posts by friends or classmates. Vaibhavi Rao*, who studies in a suburban college, was mentioned in a post by a secret admirer on her college confessional page. “I was flattered at first, but when I looked at the writing style in the post, I was convinced one of my friends had something to do with it. I politely replied ‘thank you’ and left it at that”, she says. Confession pages abroad, however, are quite a different proposition. Not only do they stick to the concept of confession without any nasty targeting, they also display a maturity in their responses. While most confessions revolve around familiar topics like sexual escapades and crushes on classmates or professors (which invite corny responses), some confessors use the anonymity to talk about difficulties they face with their academic courses, friends, relationships, parents or questions of self-identity. For instance, a simple yet relatable confession about a week ago on the Columbia College Chicago Confessions page reads thus: “I’m excited for the new ppl to come next semester but at the same time I’m terrified. On another note I feel as though the friends I make here I will probably never see them again, either they drop or transfer out of

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school. Its just really sad cause it’s not easy making friends, am i right?” (sic) You might assume that other students would trivialise the post and laugh at the confessor for sounding somewhat immature. However, the responses, though few, were surprisingly empathetic and mature. One person said, “People enter and leave your life for a reason; don’t worry,” while another advised, “It’s easy making friends, you just need to put yourself out there.” Says Mayur Shah*, a final-year student from a college in South Mumbai, “I’ve read confessions on college pages abroad and am amazed at how kids know what to say and when. My college page here only has a bunch of people showing off, trying to be cool, or just being nasty. It gets annoying after a while.” Will maturity and empathy ever make it to our confession pages here? Will these pages offer a platform for shy and not-very-popular students to express themselves? “It’s highly unlikely,” says Shah. “College has almost always been about being cool and popular, and showing emotion is a big no-no. I doubt people will take an emotional post seriously, or react maturely.” But, as that Columbia College Chicago post said, it’s all about putting yourself out there in more ways than one. *Name changed on request

FEATURE

2013-13

You have to fight Tochi Raina is one of Bollywood’s most exciting new playback singers with a string of hit songs that include Iktara (Wake Up Sid), Pardesi (Dev D), Gal Mitthi Mitthi (Aisha) and Saibo (Shor in the City). Mainly known for his Sufi numbers, he has done jingles, musical shows for TV and the stage, and is all set to consolidate his position in Bollywood. Here, in his own words, is his story as told to Prisilla Nadar

was born in Patiala, Punjab, where my dad was a government servant. My grandmother was a sitar player; my uncle, Ratan Singh, is a renowned violin player; and my grandfather, Akaali Kaur Singh, was a saint. Though I come from a musical family, no one was ready to teach me music, because it needed rigorous practice every day, and they thought I was not ready for that level of commitment.

So I learnt music from Pandit Vinod Kumar, who is a devotee of the great Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan; from Ustad Bhure Khan; Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan; Ustad Altaf Hussain Sarang; Pandit Mani Prasad; and Pandit Sitaram. I also learnt the tabla for 10 years. I came to Mumbai on June, 16 2003, after 12 years of solid practice. I first met Dev Anand saab and he gave me his blessings after listening to my own composition. Getting a chance in Bollywood is all about building contacts and it took me five years to build enough contacts. After five years of hard work, I reaped the fruits of my labour — music director Sanjoy Chowdhary gave me a chance to sing Bulle Shah in the movie A Wednesday. But the song that got me huge recognition was Pardesi, which I sang for Dev D, so it remains, for now and forever, my favourite song. Ironically, I never dreamt of becoming a singer, but I am a singer now. So I don’t think about the future. Also, I’ve never felt super excited about becoming a singer. People ask me to sing and I sing—that’s it. I enjoy both playback singing for

“I would like to sing for Salman Khan one day and now I am working very hard to give international recognition to my live band “Band of Bandagi.”

movies and singing with a band though both efforts are quite different. The first goes according to the director’s script but with a band, it is our own composition. Now I have a few dreams. I would like to sing for Salman Khan one day. I’m working very hard to gain international recognition for my live band, Band of Bandagi. We’ve also formed a band called Punjabi Squad 61 which has recently launched its first album titled Control Nai Hunda. And finally, I’d like to open a music gurukul for small kids. As for competition, I believe that you have to first compete with yourself, fight with yourself. Whatever I do, I do it for myself, not for others. And if you work hard continuously, no one can beat you. Even today, I practice for five hours every morning. So my advice to all aspirants in this field is: Don’t lose hope, be positive, and practise every day.

2013-13 In business, loyalty counts

That’s what Amarlal Ramrakhiani, a self-made businessman who took the plunge late in life, believes. By Prisilla Nadar

For succeeding in any business, three things are a must: loyalty, transparency and most importantly, experience, says Amarlal Ramrakhiani (53). The businessman, who comes from a middle class family and struggled during his school days, is now CEO of NForce Human Resources Consultancy Pvt Ltd, headquartered in Mulund. It offers professional services in the area of Recruitment & Outsourcing to major players in the IT segment as well as in Engineering, Construction, Banking, Finance, Insurance, Sales and Marketing— across all industries and across the USA, Middle East, Africa & India. Ramrakhiani completed his HSC in Jaipur with the help of a scholarship and then moved to Jodhpur for further studies. An electronics engineer, he started his career with a French company as a trainee engineer in the area of data communications. After three years there, he joined another company as Assistant Man-

FEATURE

The joys of a no-profit venture

When Raj Iyer finally achieved financial success, his thoughts turned to those less fortunate than him There was a time when Raj Iyer roamed the streets of Mumbai looking for a job. It is an experience that left a big impact on him. Which is why, today, when he is a successful businessman, he devotes a fair amount of his time to helping the less privileged earn their living. Iyer, who hails from a lower middle class family, now runs a financing company called Sai Sahakari Path Sanstha, which he founded in 2008 for financing entrepreneurs or self-employed people from the less affluent sections of society. “My father was an army man and my mother began as a clerk in the income tax department. But after some years, she took an exam that enabled her to become an income tax inspector,” he begins. He, however, did not get into the army or government service; he did a diploma in mechanical engineering and after completing the course, he roamed the streets of Mumbai looking for a job. “But I got nothing for a long time. Finally I got a job with an oil company in Mumbai and I did well there. Now I take special lectures about oil and petroleum for students and I encourage students to join petroleum engineering,” he says. Once he had done well for himself, his thoughts turned to the less fortunate. “After earning enough money for myself, my friends and I decided to help other people. So we bought a company which was going to shut down and now we provide finance for the less privileged, especially for autorickshaw drivers. We have never worked for profit; we just want to help these people,” he notes. Like so many of our other achievers, he advises young people not to lose hope. As he puts it, “Life is not easy; there will be lots of obstacles. But keep fighting, keep learning and do not lose hope. Success will be yours one day.” ager, Marketing, and stayed there for seven years. There were more moves till he finally became Vice President of Microtech Software and Consultants Ltd. And then he took the leap. “After gaining 20 years of experience I decided to start my own business in 2002. I also wanted to secure

my children’s future. I started with Human Resource Consultancy services because it required less investment and less manpower. But like any another venture, it needs a lot of hard work. I’ve been running this business successfully for more than ten years now, and I’m geared for the next decade as well.”

FEATURE

Struggle has many shades Mumbai has many stories like this – plucky young men and women chasing a dream and making it by dint of hard work. Niharika Salvi meets actor Abhidnya Bhave to hear her story

2013-13 erhaps you’ve seen television actress Abhidnya Bhave play the negative character of Vidya in the Marathi daily soap, Ek Mohor Abol, which airs on ETV Marathi. It’s taken her just two years to get this far. But a great deal of struggle has gone in before those two years. Before joining television, Bhave worked as an air hostess with Kingfisher Airlines for more than two years, but lost her job during the recession. So she got back to her studies and completed her graduation before she decided to get into television. She stepped into the industry thanks to a Marathi beauty and talent show. For a year she did small roles in Hindi soaps like Bade Acche Lagate Hai, CID and Pyar Ki Ek Kahani. But even after all those performances she hadn’t bagged any major role. When she had “Even today I almost given up hope, she was offered Ek make sure that I Mohor Abol. “They signed me on without any audition or a look test and I’m really read a Marathi thankful to them because that was my first newspaper daily big break,” she says. at least for 30 She had to suffer some nasty experiences along with the good, too. One such minutes.” happened when she narrowly avoided the casting couch at a look test for a Marathi film. She chooses not to name anyone, but relates, “When I entered the place there was just one person to take my look test. That’s when I realised there was something fishy and I left immediately.” Still, she believes her real struggle began after joining Ek Mohor Abol. Since

she didn’t have any professional acting training, her skills were limited to what she saw on screen. She practised for hours in front of the mirror and worked very hard on her facial expressions because, she points out, “The camera captures every little detail and if you miss even a single expression the entire scene has to be reshot.” Another barrier was her language skills. Although she comes from a Maharashtrian background, her Marathi wasn’t too good because she went to an English medium school. Besides, she says, the Marathi one uses off screen is different from that used onscreen. She says she has improved tremendously by practicing her Marathi daily. “Even today I make sure to read a Marathi newspaper every day for at least for 30 minutes,” she adds. For Abhidnya Bhave, the learning never stops.

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FEATURE

GoinG, GoinG…

Sooner than we think, the flavor of Mumbai’s traditional wadis will be pure nostalgia, finds Anil Dias, as he visits one such enclave in south Mumbai

hen you think of Mumbai’s architecture, heritage structures such as the Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the art deco buildings along Marine Drive come instantly to mind. These are structures that come mainly from the British colonial era. But one must remember that, before the British, the Portuguese also had colonies in India. Very little is left of Portuguese architecture in the city today but one of the great reminders of colonial style housing of that era is Khotachiwadi, a small village that lies in the heart of bustling Girgaon. Though it may seem like a mere dot on a busy cityscape that is caught in an unrelenting time warp, step into Khotachiwadi and it is as if one part of Mumbai continues as if the 20th and 21st centuries never happened. To explore Khotachiwadi, one has to go on

A room in the lovely home of designer James Ferreira

The bungalows that remain in Khotachiwadi are usually lovingly maintained and preserved, like this one.

Now shut, Anant Ashram was once a mecca for fish lovers. It was an eatery that was started in the 1950s by the Goan Khadape brothers, to cater to Goan migrants in the city. No preferential treatment was given to anyone; crorepatis and commoners alike had to stand in a queue and await their turn.

foot and walk through its narrow lanes. As you do so, you will see wooden houses, some of them beautifully preserved, with verandahs, staircases and, sometimes, beautiful courtyards. History has it that plots of land in this area were given to locals and the wadis, as they were called, were named after the crops that were cultivated on them (like Tulsiwadi) . Unlike them, however, Khotachwadi was named after the local plot supervisor, a Pathare Prabhu called Khot who also sold bits of the land under his administration to East Indian Christians. The wadis or hamlets were organised on the basis of religion or caste and distinguished by their unique cultural integrity. They still retain much of their traditional architecture and daily life patterns, which are fascinatingly out of sync with the rest of the city. But this heritage precinct is now in

grave danger of losing its charm. Residents are finding it hard to save their legacy from the twin troubles of government apathy and land sharks. The old bungalows are expensive to maintain and builders are persuading owners to move out in exchange for crores of rupees. Two-thirds of Khotachiwadi has already been demolished to make way for multi-storey towers. What remain now are just 26 bungalows out of the 65 that once made up the village. In spite of Khotachiwadi being given a heritage tag, the BMC and its heritage committee did nothing when old bungalows were bulldozed by developers. In fact, the BMC granted permission for an eight-storey building on a 10-foot road. It even had the audacity to suggest a road-widening project by cutting through the bungalows. James Ferreira, one of the city’s leading fashion designers and a resident of Khotachiwadi, says, “The government isn’t doing anything to increase tourism. It just wants to make money by selling all these wonderful houses to the builders. Even the church here is not doing anything to preserve its plots.” And in a parting shot, he sums up the city’s attitude to these slices of its heritage. “It’s disheartening to see a newspaper listing the Bandra- Worli sea link as a wonder of Mumbai, while Khotachiwadi doesn’t even find a mention!”

FEATURE

Love it or hate it? Viewers tell Subadh Kumar Nayak how they feel about the IPL

2013-13

she Twenty20 (T20) series is meant to be like a shot of adrenaline that sets off a surge of energy in the game of cricket. The Indian Premier League (IPL), with its fast-paced format and players from all parts of India and the world playing in one team, takes T20 a step ahead. It also helps discover new talent by offering opportunities to youngsters struggling to make it to the national team. The IPL may be considered a killer of Test cricket but it’s definitely filling up the pockets of the owners, managers and cricketers. Which other cricket tournament in the world can give a player millions of dollars for just six weeks of play? Look at Abhishek Nayar, who has still to prove himself on the international stage, ending up with a Rs 3.5 crore pay package, more than many of the established international players! Viewers, who took to this format so enthusiastically, are now beginning to complain. Says Felix James, a hard-core cricket fan from Mumbai, “I like the IPL and I enjoy watching it but I have one big complaint. Why are there strategic time-outs even in such a short format? After the first 10 overs of every innings, they take a mandatory break of

10 minutes. We have so often seen that the over after this break (the 11th) claims a victim, teams often falter at this point and the momentum is lost. All because the channel wants to run more advertisements and make as much money as it can.” Pooja Kamat, another cricket fan from Mumbai, who is a regular at the Wankhede stadium and is an avid supporter of the Mumbai Indians, is an IPL believer. “We welcome the IPL whole heartedly because, first of all, it helps us root for teams from our own state. Secondly, it is a thrilling, exciting show in which anything can happen at any time, right up to the last ball. So the suspense remains till the very end, for no one can say which side will win till the last ball has been bowled,” she says. “And then fortunes can change at the drop of a catch,” she adds. “Sometimes a team may be on the top of the list, but the loss of just one or two matches may bring them crashing to the bottom. Besides, the IPL gives excricketers a chance to prove their ability as well. While young state players can test themselves on the battle ground, recognize their strengths and weaknesses and prove their capabilities.” Some fans are happy that many

2013-13

FEATURE

well-known cricketers are playing, not for their own countries or India but for a team in which they often have to work with players who they may oppose in the international arena. “It is fun to see cricketers from different nations playing for different states of India. And then there are domestic players playing against members of their own state team, which adds to the excitement,” says Sameer Kerketta from Ranchi. And finally, there are the cheerleaders, one of the most popular but controversial aspects of the game. L. Fredy from Kanyakumari says he is annoyed by their presence, “The cheerleaders are being used in India just to add more spice. But now it has become a nuisance to see them on the field from the beginning of the match to its end. I think they should be banned because they are distracting both for spectators and players.” All these complaints and controversies notwithstanding, it’s safe to say the IPL is here to stay.

FEATURE

2013-13

‘We learn something new every second’ Prisilla Nadar talks to Sanjay Dina Patil (43), MP from the Mumbai north-east constituency, about his journey

Could you first tell us about your early years? My father, Dina Bama Patil, started his social work with the Shiv Sena. But some years down the line, he could not agree with the party’s ideology, so he joined the Congress and was elected municipal councillor in 1968. After that he became an MLA. He was also a trade union leader. When he was arrested, my mother, Manorama Dina Patil, was given a chance to fight the elections in 1972 and she was elected municipal councilor seven times. She handled that post successfully for 37 years! Since both your parents were busy politicians, how did you manage to get enough time with them as a child? They would give me time, but I would always feel a little disappointed. It was only after entering politics that I realized how important it is to serve the people. But I do try to give my family more time than my parents gave me. What was your childhood dream?

Unlike many others, I didn’t dream of becoming a doctor or an engineer. It was always politics. But once I entered politics, I wanted to rise. First, I was the General Secretary of the Mulund College of Commerce; then, I became president of the Nationalist Student Union of India (NSUI). I headed the student wing of the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) too. After becoming a municipal councillor, I wanted to become an MP and I finally did. I have to say that I’m here mainly because of the guidance of Sharad Pawar. Have you had any setbacks in your career? Yes, when Sharad Pawar asked me to contest the elections for the Vidhan Sabha. I was very young, I was not ready, not mature enough to contest an MLA election, and I lost. But I worked very hard for my constituency and because of that, I won the next elections in 2004. What about your daughters? We hear one is very interested in politics. Yes, my daughter is already in politics. She is a member of the NCP Yuvati wing and does a lot of womenoriented programs and other cultural activities for the party. I hope she achieves more than her parents! How do you plan to attract more youth into politics? We are trying to do youth-oriented programs in areas such as sports to bring us closer to young people. What has politics taught you? We learn something new every hour, every minute, every second. Here, you make good friends and bad ones, too. Above all, you learn to serve people.

FEATURE

The Queen’s Necklace foregrounded against the Arabian Sea and Marine Drive’s art deco buildings – what a way to dine, says Avril Ann Braganza

2013-13

here’s one bus in Mumbai that allows no standees. It’s called the Moving Cart and it was introduced to Mumbai in April. Hop aboard this restaurant on board a double-decker bus and you can enjoy a 90-minute ride along the city’s iconic Marine Drive aka the Queen’s Necklace while you have dinner. And you can choose to dine either in the air conditioned lower deck or the open-air upper deck. “The idea of is for people to have a unique experience and enjoy a meal with long-lasting memories,” says Hardik Shah, co-founder of The Moving Cart. The bus, which seats 40 people, begins its journey from the Hotel Marine Plaza, travels at an average speed of 2025 kmph, picks up diners at 1 pm, 8 pm and 10 pm and is fast becoming a favourite with Mumbaikars for special occasions, birthdays, anniversaries and kitty parties. Although there is no kitchen on board the bus, pre-cooked meals are

John Dias (left) and Hardik Shah, co-founders of The Moving Cart

heated in the pantry which is equipped with a microwave and a bain-marie which uses steam to heat the food. And let me warn you, cheap it is not! For this unique dining experience expect to cough up Rs 1,200 for a vegetarian meal, while a non-vegetarian one costs Rs 1,400. (Reservations must be made beforehand.) While Shah began his journey with The Moving Cart in Chennai, co-

founder John Dias hopped on board in Mumbai. “When a new restaurant or lounge opens up, it takes time for word to spread. But it’s different with The Moving Cart. The concept of enjoying a spectacular view while having a meal on board a moving bus has given us an edge over normal restaurants,” says Shah. The bus currently used is a custommade combination of a Tata, Mercedes and Volvo bus. In June, with the onset of the monsoon, a toughened glass roof on the upper deck will allow patrons to dine, safe and dry, with a view of the enchanting Mumbai monsoon sky. The Moving Cart, which was inaugurated on March 28, 2013 by Jagdish Patil, MD of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, was opened to the public on April 2. Come May, don’t be surprised if you see The Moving Cart making its way around the streets of Bandra. Have wheels, will travel!

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BOOKS

We’re actually reading! And the habit is changing our lives Avril Ann Braganza

Princess, the first book in a trilogy written by Jean Sasson on the life of Sultana, a princess from Saudi Arabia, is not just a story about one of the many women of the Saudi royal family closely related to the king but it is the story of every woman living in Saudi Arabia. The women in Saudi Arabia have no freedom and are faced with several restrictions and rules alien to many outside the country. Princess in not just a story; when reading the novel I learnt about the culture of another country and can appreciate the freedom women have in my own country. Although violence against women is increasing in our India, to learn that the women in Saudi Arabia have been dealing with such violence over the centuries and have no

Niharika Salvi The Old man And The Sea is one of Ernest Hemingway’s finest works. As the name suggests, it is the story of an old man who has seen failure for quite a while in his life, but refuses to give up trying. It is his courage that pays off in the end and makes him a winner. Patience, courage and hard work are all it takes to make you a winner. The novel has inspired me in many ways. It taught me that no matter what others think about you, in the long run what matters is what you think of yourself and if you have worked hard enough for something you want, you are sure to get it sooner or later. I learnt that the most important thing in life is self-victory and self-satisfaction. After completing it, not only did I start believing in myself but I also gained a lot of confidence over time. I began doing things which I never thought I was capable of doing. Altogether, the novel turned out to be a life-changing one for me. Although the book doesn’t hook you right in the beginning or it may seem boring in parts, I think it is worth reading once. In fact, it is a must-read once in your life!

reason to hope for improvement is disheartening. In life we learn of stories of courage and determination but Sultana’s story in a land where women are not believed even if they speak the truth gives you something to think about. I have learnt that everyone in the world is faced with problems and no matter how big our problems seem to be, there is always someone with a bigger difficulty. If these women whose births and deaths are not important enough to be recorded, who are not safe in their own homes, who receive no support from their own husbands, brothers and fathers and even other women, can still find hope and survive, then we too, who have the support of our families, can overcome our troubles.

BOOKS

I’ve loved reading from ever since I could remember. But very few books have actually changed the way I view things, let alone my life. One of these was a book I reviewed as part of my internship, called The Lost Fragrance. Little did I know this rather unassuming book would change so much about me. Despite having lost my father almost four years ago, I hadn’t really looked at death negatively, since I am one of those that believe that death is just a person’s journey to a better place. However, the daughter in me can’t help but miss her father, and questions about loss and separation often find their way into my rather positive beliefs.

2013-13 Claudelle Monis

It is while reading The Lost Fragrance that I found the answers to so many of my questions. The book is based on a little girl who loses her parents to her evil uncle, and must deal with her pain and loss before avenging their deaths. Finding a companion in this little girl, I couldn’t help but bury my nose in the book, often finishing over a hundred pages a day. At the end I understood that grieving and missing someone you love is okay, just as long as it does not take over your life. Finding strength in weakness is important as much as letting go is. I also learnt, that at 24, feeling like a 10-year-old in pain, is still okay.

Prisilla Nadar Arunima Sathe The book that changed my life is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It is one of the most important pieces of writing I’ve read in my life. It changed my way of looking at things and taught me to live my life well. Fear of failure was a stumbling block in my life and has always stopped me from exploring and experimenting. In this book, the writer says failure is not defeat, but a new way of looking at things. So I now believe, and want others like me to believe too, that failure is an important part of success. This book taught me to relish each and every second of my life as there is something to be learnt in everything, says Paulo Coelho. I learnt that your own experiences will teach you to enjoy every moment without worrying about the past or the future. This book answered many of my personal queries. It helped me follow my dreams. I learnt not to forget the things that really matter and to let go of things that are not within your control. It doesn’t matter if you don’t find what you’re looking for what matters is the lessons your experiences teach you. There is so much knowledge within the pages of this tiny book, but for me, the most important one is: it is not the destination, but the journey that counts.

When I was told to write about the book that changed my life I immediately thought writing about Wings of Fire, the autobiography by our former president Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam. The inspirational story of his life can bring lots of changes in any youngster’s mind, and mine was no exception. His journey from a poor little boy from Rameswaram to First Citizen of India taught me that I have a right to dream. But any dream can be achieved only through hard work and there is no short cut to success. “If you want to leave your footprints in the sands of time, do not drag your feet.” This line from the book was one of the most enduring lines for me.

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BOOKS

Anil Dias Subadh Kumar Nayak

When Fredrick Forsyth aka master story-teller, wrote The Day of the Jackal, he probably envisioned it to be one of the greatest political thrillers ever written. True as that may be, the book is also an excellent example of writing for budding writers and journalists. The book is about a professional assassin nicknamed The Jackal. He’s a tall, blond Englishman with opaque grey eyes, a killer at the top of his profession. The Jackal is unknown to any secret service in the world. He is contracted by the Secret Army Organization (OAS), a French paramilitary organisation, to kill the world’s most heavily guarded man— Charles de Gaulle, the then-President of France. As a journalist, what I like about the book is the amount of research put into it, Forsyth’s attention and accuracy to the minutest detail, and the way he wove those details together to bring you one of the best books of the century. As a human being, it teaches you that no matter what you do, how much you prepare, evil doings will always be punished and in the end, you will be caught.

It is true that in order to be successful, one must have an aim or goal in life. And having an aim alone is not enough; one must persevere in reaching that aim. Though I was very clear about my aim or goal, there were times that were difficult; I went through life uninspired and depressed. I never trusted myself and always had a very poor opinion of my strength and talents, and that kept me from reaching my goal. I thought everybody was negative and and everything was an obstruction in the path to a successful life. It is during this time of darkness in life, that I came across You Can Win, a book by Shiv Khera, that really made me confident and brought me the ray of hope I needed not only to become a successful individual but also to become a better person. Generating new ideas about me and my future, the book helped me to transform my negativity into positivity—the first step towards becoming successful in life. It helped me control things instead of being controlled by the things around me. I think everyone should read this book.

THE BACK PAGE

Carol Andrade Course Director

2013-13

n February this year, the New York Times reported a US student journal quoting Ron F. Smith, author of Ethics in Journalism, as saying, “The reputation of journalists was continually being questioned.” Late last month, the Times of India quoted another study on the hierarchy of careers, and found journalism second last from the bottom, just above garbage handlers. Smith himself, writing in his book published in 2003, said, “Nearly every public opinion poll shows that people have lost respect for journalists and lost faith in the news media.” The first had to do with public perception, the second with journalism as a choice of career. That’s it, I thought. Time to shut SPICE down practically as soon as we upped shutters. After all, look at the BMM colleges, where such a tiny percentage of the students opt for journalism. Everyone, it seems, wants to be the hip guy or gal, writing those smart one-liners that scream from hoardings, urging people to buy this, that and the other. Now, after a year at SPICE, trying our best to bring the classic traditions back into journalism suffering in the age of Facebook and Twitter, we think we know what’s going wrong. Too many of us are emphasising the hard-slog, tired-feet, emotional-burnout, dogged-pursuit school of journalism. Yes, it is all that, but it is so much more. Journalism is deeply satisfying, it is commitment, it is knowing you have power to effect change. It is uncovering the truth as you see it, protecting democracy, playing a role in governance. It is a force for good, an acknowledgement of a common future, a plea for unification in a globalised world. Best of all (and I am not sure this is not the best), choosing journalism means you are smart! So come on in, the water’s fine.

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