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MumbaiWeekly Volume 01 Issue 18
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Monday, 6 August 2012
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Motormen bring city to a halt A section of Western Railway’s motormen went on a flash strike on Friday bringing the city to a grinding halt and plunging it into total chaos. Around 450 motormen reported sick from 1530hrs onwards a few hours before the peak traffic that travels on these trains. Steadily crowds began to build up at Churchgate sta-
tion as no trains moved from there. trains travelling towards Churchgate either halted mid-way or crawled slowly; commuters spilt out on tracks and walked kilometres to their destination; buses got packed to the hilt; and auto and taxi drivers charged double the fare. The union spearheading the agitation,
Western Railway Motormen Association (WRMA), said its action on Friday was aimed at highlighting several issues, including the "appointment of two rebel motormen". It called off the strike around 8pm after holding talks with WR authorities. But by that time, 50 services had been cancelled and
lakhs of commuters had suffered. The union’s time according to sources was timed perfectly to hold maximum commuters to ransom ensuring that the management gives in to their demands and to get the attention of senior railway officials who arrived in Mumbai in wake of an unrelated train collision .
Left: A man reacts to an announcement stating all suburban trains have been cancelled due to a flash motorman strike in Mumbai. Krishanu Nagar / Mumbai Weekly Above: People wait on a Suburban train platform in Mumbai after trains were cancelled due to a flash motorman strike. Krishanu Nagar / Mumbai Weekly
India’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna passes away Rajesh Khanna, known to be as the first Indian screen idol passed away on Wednesday 18 July 2012 in Mumbai. Khanna age 69, was unwell for sometime now and was in and out of hospital over the last month. The actor was known for his boyish charm, shy smile and flamboyant looks. Khanna was often referred as Bollywood’s real super star who had a fanatical fan following especially among women. The
actor played lead roles in many romantic films during his career. Such was the love craze for this super star that at the peak of his career women symbolically married posters of the actor revealed people who worked with him. The Bollywood community came together to mourn the death of the actor. ―Rajesh Khanna taught us how to smile. He added dignity to our concept of romance‖ actor Anupam Kher
wrote on Twitter. Tributes to Khanna came in from all quarters including from the Prime Minister . Television channels ran special features showcasing the many films of the actor joining in the tributes were radio channels and networking sites that paid its respects to the actor. Khanna’s role in ’Aradhana’ where he played a pilot in ’Ananad’ where he played a terminally ill patient will remain
some of his most memorable works along with his many dialogues which have become iconic with an entire generation. Khanna’ acting career was laced with a stint of politics during the 1990’s. His last television appearance was in an advertisement for a ceiling fan company which aired a few weeks before his death. The actor is survived by his estranged wife and his two daughters .
Right: People carry an image of Indian film actor Rajesh Khanna before his funeral in Mumbai. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly