Mumbai Weekly

Mumbai Weekly

BY THE PHOTOJOURNALISM STUDENTS OF UDAAN SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Economy

People

Metro

VOL 3. ISSUE 5 | MONDAY 14 JULY, 2014

Entertainment

High tide hits Mumbai

Two boys play in the waves during high tide at Worli in Mumbai on 15 June, 2014. Souradeep Roy/ Mumbai Weekly

A man sits with his back against the sea, as waves from a high tide lash over the land at Marine Drive in Mumbai on 15 June, 2014. The high tide was enjoyed by many but it also led to a few accidents. Shweta Agrawal/ Mumbai Weekly

Preity Zinta records her statement at Wankhede stadium

Preity Zinta walks towards Wankhede Stadium with her lawyer and police officers to record her statement in an alleged molestation case against her exboyfriend Ness Wadia in Mumbai on 24 June, 2014. Akshay Vaidya/ Mumbai Weekly

Bollywood actor Preity Zinta filed an FIR alleging that she was molested inside Wankhede stadium by her exboyfriend Ness Wadia, a prominent industrialist on 30th May 2014, during the IPL 7 playoffs between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings.

rage her modesty), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), according to media reports.

Soon after the complaint was lodged, the actor flew to Los Angeles and on her return she took a trip to the Wankhede Stadium along with her lawyer and investigating officials for demonstrating the flow of incidents and filing a supplementary statement.

Preity lodged a written complaint on 12th June 2014, according to which Ness Wadia was charged under IPC sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to out-

Inspite of Ness Wadia issuing a counter statement denying all the allegations, his exgirlfriend, Preity, has brought out past incidents of similar abuses and incidents of being threatened.

According to media reports, along with her statement, Preity has also provided names of around 15 eyewitnesses in the case, two of whom confirmed that an altercation had occurred between the two.

Massive tidal waves reaching a height of 5 metres hit the shores of Mumbai forcing the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to issue a public warning to the city residents.

Despite the warnings issued, there were several casual-

ties. Two boys, reportedly ignored the warning and were swept away into the ocean. One of them was rescued but the other one lost his life before he could be rescued. The tidal waves also caused massive traffic snarls at Marine Drive and Worli.

Dark days at Campa Cola compound Much to the dismay of the residents of the Campa Cola compound in Worli, Mumbai, the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed its decision to evict 35 floors in 7 buildings in the compound that had been deemed illegal. The residents of the compound who have resisted evictions over the last one-and-a-half years protested the Supreme Court decision for over two and-a-half weeks.

They barricaded the gates of the compound and denied the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) access to the facility thus preventing them from cutting off essential utilities. Finally on 23rd June 2014, after the BMC threatened to file a contempt of court order and possible use of force against the residents they gave in and let the BMC into the premises to cut off

The Daga Family dines in candle light after the BMC disconnected power, water and gas lines of over 90 homes in the Campa Cola compound in Mumbai on 24 June, 2014. Shweta Agrawal/ Mumbai Weekly

electricity, gas and water. Residents however vouched to not give up their keys to the BMC and a few of them continue to reside in their homes without electricity.

On 22nd June 2014, the residents along with MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar met with the Chief Minister, Prithviraj Chavan who assured them there will be no irreversible damage done to their flats by the BMC. Media reports indicate that the administration is

now looking into legal measures to regularize all permissible area under the FSI (Floor Space Index). The residents claim that about 90% of the area that has currently been deemed illegal would qualify under the permissible FSI limit.

This would translate to the demolition of only 1744 square meters of constructed space that falls outside the FSI. Media reports indicate that the Supreme Court on 2nd

July 2014 expressed its openness to a hearing on regularization if introduced by the BMC or the state. The ordeal of the residents in

fighting the state, police, and Supreme Court has taken its toll in the days of protest during which 4 senior citizens lost their lives.

A BMC technician unscrews an electric meter in the Campa Cola compound in Worli, Mumbai, on 23 June, 2014. Akshay Vaidya/ Mumbai Weekly

2 PEOPLE

MW

MONDAY, 14 31 JULY, MARCH, 2014 2014

On the road to legitimacy

The prefix ‘trans’ stems from Latin meaning “across” “beyond” “through” or “changing thoroughly”. Recently India’s Supreme Court outdid itself when it recognized transgender people as the third gender, a bold legal decision that shatters popular

gender biases. After years of marginalization, transgender people in India can finally claim a legitimate public identity that is accurate and brings with it the promise of rights.

Mumbai Weekly photographer Vignesh Krish-

namoorthy spent time with members of the transgender community in Mumbai to capture intimate glimpses of tender human moments in their lives, some of which may seem unique and different and others are very familiar and shared by us all.

3 METRO

MW

MONDAY, 14 JULY, 2014

Heat takes a toll on candidates during police recruitment drive

A woman collapses and is taken to the medical center during the 5km run in Mumbai on 27 June, 2014.

Souradeep Roy/ Mumbai Weekly

Women candidates run 5 kilometres as a policeman looks on at a Mumbai police recruitment drive in Mumbai on 27 June, 2014. Souradeep Roy/ Mumbai Weekly

The police recruitment drive was shifted to summer from winter this year. One person died and many were admitted to the hos-

pital as people tried to run the stretch without prior training and were reported to be dehydrated. The deceased, Ambadas

Sonawane, 23, was an auto rickshaw driver from Malegaon, Mumbai. He collapsed just 100 metres short of the finishing line and

Salman goes to court

was immediately rushed to the hospital where he died on the way. According to Mumbai police authorities, they received around 1.2

lakh applications from all over the state for recruitment as constables.

Out of the 1.2 lakh applicants only

2500 people will be recruited with starting salaries of Rs.10,000. The run was held on three service roads along the Eastern Express

Highway in Vikhroli. According to authorities around 3000 to 6000 people take the test every day throughout the recruitment drive which includes a run of 5 Kilometres. The candidates

reach early in the morning, but many have to wait till afternoon for their turn to come. The race is carried out 20 participants at a time. The 5-km run is to be completed in 25 minutes.

Monsoon clouds finally arrive in Mumbai

Bollywood Actor Salman Khan arrives at the Session Court for a hearing in his hit and run case in Mumbai on 23 June, 2014. Shweta Agrawal / Mumbai Weekly

Bollywood actor Salman Khan appeared in the Sessions court for a hearing related to the hit and run case on 23rd June 2014.

This came a day after a prosecution witness in the case turned hostile and told the court he did not see the accident at all. So far 11

prosecution witnesses have been examined in the case. While witness Mannu Khan, said that the actor was so drunk that he fell down out of the car, prosecution witness, Francis Fernandes said he saw Salman after the accident, and he did not smell of alcohol.

An under construction skyscraper is covered in monsoon clouds in Mumbai on 9 July, 2014. Monsoons which usually arrive by the second week of July was almost four weeks late this year causing massive disruptions in traffic and railways. Akshay Vaidya/ Mumbai Weekly

While Mumbaikars eagerly awaited the monsoons for a much deserved

break from the scorching summer heat, the rains came late and their pat-

Muslims mourn terrorism

A man holds a fellow protester at an event organised to mourn terrorism and other atrocities in Iraq in Mumbai on 21 June, 2014. Akshay Vaidya/ Mumbai Weekly

tern been June and

this year has a little erratic. saw high tides pre-monsoon

clouds briefly. A couple of intense showers hit low lying areas, which

witnessed flash floods. This in tern caused massive traffic disruptions. The

local railways came to a halt for almost an hour and the new Metro saw leaks.

Art installation of cricket ‘God’ Artist Jaideep Mehrotra is the mastermind behind the metal installation of Carbon fibre and Aluminium alloy of Sachin Tendulkar’s face at Worli, in Mumbai. The 6 feet tall sculpture is made of strips of metal with empty spaces between the strips and has been installed in Sasmira traffic junction with its share of pedestrians and vehicles.

The installation is part of the RPG Art Corridor to make art public and easily accessible to all.

In paying tribute to the cricket master the RPG Arts Foundation has also installed a written quote by Sachin Tendulkar himself that reads, “When people throw stones at you, you turn them into milestones.”

A man looks at the art installation of Sachin Tendulkar at Worli Sashmira in Mumbai on 29 June, 2014.

Souradeep Roy/ Mumbai Weekly

4 EDITORIAL

MW

MONDAY, 14 JULY, 2014

OPINION: Cracking the old boy’s club

Lakshmi Anantnarayan Photojournalism specifically news photography in India I was told in June 2013 is a “man’s world”. Being an international women’s rights activist for 15 years my work has involved safeguarding women’s rights through laws and policies so that women are able to participate equally in public and professionally and they realize their full potential. When I joined Udaan it was therefore with a resounding “bring it on” attitude and I was pretty curious to see how hard could this really be?

It came as a surprise to me then that being a women’s rights activist and

fighting the good fight for/ with others is very different from fighting your own battle all alone for yourself in a “man’s world” one assignment at a time. The women’s movement has a strong group identity and fosters a sense of belonging and team spirit.

Photojournalism on the other hand, is a very lonely road.

The nature of the work itself is hypercompetitive, and your strength lies in your uniqueness and ability to think and act quicker than the rest and be different. Most of all I believe it requires of us a certain fearlessness, curiosity about the world, and the instinct to explore.

The abysmal numbers of women photojournalists in India and globally is usually attributed to the physicality of the profession. I believe carrying heavy gear and being on your feet all day, or climbing walls,

Photojournalists compete in a tight space to get pictures of protestors at the Campa Cola compound in Mumbai on 21 June 2014. Shweta Agrawal/ Mumbai Weekly

mo u n t a i n s and whatever else that stands between you and your story is difficult but not the main deterrent to women’s participation. It is the fact that we, especially Indian girls and women, are not encouraged to explore on our own. We are taught from a very young age to be afraid of the world and everything that is unknown. Photojournalism unfortunately is all about

discovering the unknown.

If we are to see more women news photographers in India we need to shed our fundamental need to shelter women from harms way. When keeping a woman “safe” results in her being denied an opportunity to participate in an assignment which could get her an exclusive or lead to a promotion, then that very same pro-

tective tendency becomes a form of discrimination.

Why in the first place do we feel the need to protect women more? Is it related to our need to safeguard women’s sexuality more? Doesn’t that stem from an archaic patriarchal need to control fertility? As Lynsey Addario put it very well, “Yes, what happened to Lara (Logan) was horri-

ble, by all accounts.

There’s no question.

And when I was in Libya, I was groped by a dozen men.

But why is that more horrible than what happened to Tyler or Steve or Anthony — being smashed on the back of the head with a rifle butt?

Why isn’t anyone saying men shouldn’t cover war?”

Equipping young women to be physically strong and

able to defend themselves in times of danger is crucial.

Along with this comes the coaching to navigate the world. Women must learn to prioritize pursuing their passion regardless of their relationship status or maternal roles.

Last but not the least photojournalism in India is still an old boy’s club, and it would help some if veterans

and seasoned male photojournalists foster and make space for women to break in. I believe an equal number of women in photojournalism could even change (to a degree) the competitive and isolating culture that currently exists in this profession.

The above opinion is that of the author and do not represent Mumbai Weekly

EDITORIAL: Archaic ruins of modern times

Souradeep Roy If you thought Brazil was having a bad day in the 2014 World Cup semifinals you should at least once visit and see what the people's lives are like in Lallubhai Compound in Mankhurd, Mumbai. It is no less than that of the Brazilians. Lallubhai Compound, like several other such complexes, is a rehabilitation project that the government had undertaken for the ‘betterment’ of the living conditions of the slum dwellers,

apparently.

Ask anyone living there and they will tell you, they were much better off in the slums.

Why you ask? This is what activists are asking as well. After their recent survey of the R&R colony at Lallubhai Compound, Mankhurd it was found that the DC regulations and architectural norms for designing human habitations were ignored massively.

The neighborhood comprises of 65 buildings. Though constructed only in 2003, they are in a dilapidated state.

The area reminds one of the post war Soviet buildings.

Lack of sanitation, and poor public health services is a part of their life

now.

Large stretches of garbage lie in between buildings ignored by the authorities and accepted by the community. Every time anyone visits with a camera they think help is coming. No less than a concentration camp, the people have accepted their fate.

Chronic disease and a stench from the canal passing right beside the compound are a part and parcel of their daily lives. The people living there are nice and friendly, but the authorities, it seems, have taken that to their advantage.

What is more, there hangs a constant threat of fire hazards. The narrow lanes and by-lanes are too small for fire engines to pass.

A boy walks with his cycle in Lallubhai Compound, Mankhurd, Mumbai. Lallubhai Compound is a residential colony built as a slum rehabilitation project in 2003. Souradeep Roy/ Mumbai Weekly

The most striking violation is that 39 bui ld in gs w ith gro u nd- pl us -f ive storey had no lifts as is required.

These were built by a reputed construction company. How could the authorities turn their heads on the poor people?

Was this another vote-getting-stunt?

You don’t need to be a geuius to fig-

ure that out.

night.

The authorities may have given them the “Makaan” but the living conditions have made enjoying the basic necessities like “Roti and Kapra” a nightmare.

To top it all off, there is an active drinking water problem, where water is provided for 15 minutes every

Come to think of it, if I did not have my Wifi for fifteen minutes a day I would be very angry. Wouldn’t we all? Shouldn’t we self reflect?

If this is what ‘rehabilitation’ is then I do not think any sane person would want to be

rehabilitated. The authorities need to look at the problems of these people, and not turn their backs on them.

The people, helpless as they are, are stuck there maybe for life. The ten year old ‘archaic’ buildings and it’s people remind me of a line from the f amous Ea gles

song, ‘Hotel California’ that goes: "We are programmed to receive. You can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave!"

The above opinion is that of the author and do not represent Mumbai Weekly

5 FEATURE

MW

MONDAY, 14 31 JULY, MARCH, 2014 2014

Battle for the battleship

Children play as waves crash on the shore near Darukhana, where the INS Vikrant is anchored in Mumbai on 14 June, 2014. Lakshmi Anantnarayan/ Mumbai Weekly

A man hangs from the chain used to anchor the INS Vikrant in Mumbai on 29 June, 2014. Shweta Agrawal/ Mumbai Weekly

A man sits on a towing machine used to pull the INS Vikrant on shore in Mumbai on 29 June 2014. Shweta Agrawal/ Mumbai Weekly

The INS Vikrant, India’s first aircraft carrier, lingers in the shallow waters off Mumbai’s Darukhana awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court, which would deter-

mine if this piece of India’s war history should be demolished or preserved for posterity.

Decommissioned in 1997, the Vikrant was bought by the

Indian Navy in 1957 from the British. Reports indicate that the Navy sold the ship in an E -auction to Abdul Karim Jaka (aka Munna Bhai) of IB Consultants Ltd, a

ship breaking enterprise in January 2014 for Rs. 63.02 crores and Jaka anticipates a profit of 20 crores from the ship.

The Navy reported

that the hull was very weak and parts of the ship were rusted and it would require significant resources to maintain it which is why they decided to sell the war relic off.

A man looks for scrap metal at a shipwrecking yard where the INS Vikrant is anchored in Mumbai on 29 June, 2014.

Souradeep Roy/ Mumbai Weekly

A part of INS Vikrant visible from Darukhana in Mumbai on 29 June, 2014.

Shweta Agrawal/ Mumbai Weekly

A boy takes a closer look at the hull of the ship in Mumbai on 29 June, 2014. Akshay Vaidya/ Mumbai Weekly

6 ECONOMY MONDAY, 14 31 JULY, MARCH, 2014 2014

India safeguards interest of domestic steel market

MW

A man works on steel pipes in a workshop that sells wholesale steel in Mumbai on 14 June, 2014. Lakshmi Anantnarayan/ Mumbai Weekly. In a step towards protecting the interests of the domestic steel market, the Indian government declared a hike in import duties on steel from 5 to 7.5% in order to arrest the severe under-utilization of the steel industry’s capacity and cut the influx of steel imports from countries like China.

AI joins Star Alliance

Budget 2014 gives impetus to small and medium enterprise

A car approaches an Air India aircraft at the Chatrapati Shivaji Airport in Mumbai on 14 June, 2014. Souradeep Roy/ Mumbai Weekly

The national carrier, Air India, has formally joined the Star Alliance, the largest partnership of airlines, on 11 July 2014. It is the first Indian airline

to get a membership of a global alliance network.

Being the 27th member of the Star Alliance, which includes carriers like

Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines etc., Air India is looking forward to a rise in the PLF(Passenger Load Factor) .

A worker welds metal at a small-scale scrap metal factory in Mumbai on 14 June, 2014. Lakshmi Ananthnarayan/ Mumbai Weekly. Recognizing the crucial role played by small and medium enterprises, the government in the 2014 budget has provided for infrastructural support like land and power for this sector.

India upholds stringent labour laws

A worker looks on as a ship is broken down in a shipyard in Mumbai on 29 June, 2014. Souradeep Roy/ Mumbai Weekly

While the stringent labour laws in India are meant to enhance the welfare of workers, it has successfully kept the corporates away from growing aggressively and creating permanent job positions as they prefer to hire contract workers to sidestep the legal restrictions. The services sector in India constitutes 56 percent of the nation’s GDP whereas the manufacturing sector hardly contributes 15 percent.

According to experts the major hindrance in growth of manufacturing sectors consists of the stringent labour laws.

To revive the flagging economy, increase job opportunities and boost manufacturing, importance should be given to amend The Industrial Disputes Act of 1947, The Factories Act of 1948 and the The Contract Labour Act of 1970 to suit the current scenario.

7 CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

MW

MONDAY, 14 JULY, 2014

Shah Rukh Khan celebrates Father’s day

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan greets a crowd at an event in a mall where he arrived to celebrate Fathers’ Day with children in Mumbai on 15 June, 2014. Niket Kotecha/ Mumbai Weekly

Deepika Padukone FHM India’s sexiest woman in the world 2014 Deepika Padukone, model and eminent Bollywood actor has been deemed “India’s sexiest woman in the world” by FHM India’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2014.

Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone smiles for the camera at an award ceremony hosted by FHM magazine in Mumbai on 2 July, 2014.

Akshay Vaidya/ Mumbai Weekly

Contenders for this title included Priya n k a Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Nargis Fakri among others.

Padukone replaced 5-time winner Katrina Kaif, who dropped to third

place while Priyanka Chopra came in second. Padukone was seen in the latest issue of FHM sporting a sheer black dress over a body suit.

In the past year Padukone has gone on to make a name for herself in Bollywood with 4 major hits like ‘Race 2', 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 'Chennai Express' and 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ramleela'. Aside from

her renown in Bollywood the star has also evolved into a fashionista with her own line of garments and taking center stage on the ramp several times.

Deepika had been close to winning the title before but Katrina Kaif stole the show in the past.

According to reports Padukone thought the polls had nothing to do with her looks but with her performance as an actor.

Fun on the sets of Jhalak Dikhla Ja

Choreographer Remo Fernandes, Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit and director Karan Johar share a light moment on stage of “Jhalak Dikhla Ja”, a reality dance show in Mumbai on 1 July, 2014. Shweta Agrawal/ Mumbai Weekly

Vidya Balan and Kiku Sharda pose for the camera in Jhalak Dikhla Ja in Mumbai on 1 July 2014. Shweta Agrawal/ Mumbai Weekly

8 SPORTS

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MONDAY, 14 JULY, 2014

Youngsters battle it out in table tennis tournament nent name for themselves as Mumbai’s top under-15 male table tennis players.

Tanmay Rane strikes the ball during the JVPG 4 star combined Mumbai district table tennis tournament in Mumbai on 27 June, 2014. Akshay Vaidya/ Mumbai Weekly

The JVPG 4 Star Combined Mumbai District Ranking Table Tennis Tour-

nament was hosted at the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana at the end of June. The

popular names in the contest included Shubham Ambre, Ravindra Kotiyan,

Noel Pinto and Nishad Shah all youngsters who have made a promi-

Shubham Ambre made it to the finals for both the Men’s singles and Boys’ singles categories.

Ambre, beat Ravindra Kotiyan in the Junior Boys finals but he unfortunately lost to Noel Pinto in the Men’s singles finals. In the Youth Boys semi-finals, Ravindra Kotiyan beat Nishad Shah in the finals.

Divya Deshpande beat Charvi Kawale in the Women’s singles finals. The Jun-

ior Girls’ semi-final match between Manasi Chiplunkar and Payal Bohra was very evenly m a t c h e d .

Chiplunkar narrowly beat Bohra in a seven game match to qualify for the finals where she lost to Srushti Haleangadi in a 4-3 match.

The Junior Girls’ finals saw Charvi Kawale defeat Dyuti Patki.

11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11 -6, 8-11, 11-9.

Junior Girls: Srushti Haleangadi beat Manasi Chiplunkar ina close game 1210, 7-11, 5-11, 11-

4, 13-15, 11-4, 11-7 Men’s Singles: Noel Pinto beat Shubham Ambre in strait sets 11-8, 117, 11-6, 11-8.

According to media reports the scores of the final games were as follows: Junior Boys: Shubham Ambre beat Ravindra Kotiyan

Shubham Ambre plays a shot in Mumbai on 27 June 2014. Akshay Vaiday/ Mumbai Weekly

BWFA league soccer matches in the rain

A player of the Bandra West Football Association falls in a puddle as he tries to tackle the ball during a practice session in Mumbai on 9 June, 2014. Shweta Agrawal/ Mumbai Weekly

Two players from the Bandra West Football Association practice football in Mumbai on 9 June, 2014. Shweta Agrawal/ Mumbai Weekly

Volleyball evenings at Shivaji Park

Young men of the Shivaji Park Youth Club enjoy playing volleyball in the evening sun at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on 27 June, 2014. Lakshmi Ananthnarayan/ Mumbai Weekly Published by : Udaan School of Photography | Editor-in-chief : Shweta Agrawal | Photo Editor : Souradeep Roy | Chief Photographer : Akshay Vaidya | http:// www.facebook.com/mumbaiweekly | Email : editor.mumbaiweekly@gmail.com