Mumbai Weekly

Mumbai Weekly

RUN BY THE PHOTOJOURNALISM STUDENTS OF UDAAN SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Culture

Feature

Metro

Pg 5

Pg 2

VOL. 02 ISSUE 03 | FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY, 2013

Pg 7

Building collapses in South Mumbai, kills three

Sports Pg 8

Family members of Kamal Siddique Shaikh react as his corpse is moved into the ambulance after being pulled out of the debris of Khatija Manzil in south Mumbai in the early hours of 16 February 2013. The building had collapsed at around 4.45pm the previous day, with rescue operations continuing till the 16th morning. The incident is reported to have claimed three casualties including Shaikh while one other is reported to have been injured. Kunal Khullar / Mumbai Weekly

Licensing woes loom over Autorickshaw drivers

BMC studying ways to tax slums

Police constables sit around an autorickshaw in suburban Mumbai on 14 February 2013. Ashish Vaishnav / Mumbai Weekly

Agitated with the Maharashtra state government for turning a deaf ear to their demands, over 5,000 rickshaw drivers in Mumbai participated in a procession to the Mumbai Re-

gional Transport Authority (RTA) in suburban Mumbai on February 14. The strike was called by the Mumbai Autorickshawmens’ Union (MAU) to call to the government’s atten-

handed out to the public included implementing social security schemes like pension, gratuity, provident fund and health insurance poliOther demands high- cies for autorickshaw lighted in the leaflets owners. They also detion their demand to issue 1,00,000 new auto permits and to renew 18,000 expired permits with immediate effect.

manded to be given the status of ‘public servants’ and asked for low cost housing and separate parking stands for their vehicles.

(Contd. on Pg 3)

A woman cooks food in a slum in suburban Mumbai on 21 February 2013. According to the media, the government is planning on studying slums before determining a tax regime for them. Biplov Bhuyan / Mumbai Weekly

2 PEOPLE FRIDAY, 22 FEBRUARY, 2013

The fairer side of the Mumbai local

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Travelling in the ladies compartment of the Mumbai local trains is a unique experience.

Women engage in a variety of activities to pass their time on their long commutes, from shopping for vegetables and trinkets to knitting and sharing stories. Regular travellers come to befriend their fellow passengers and are often seen celebrating festivals and birthdays together in the one common space they share, the local train. Mumbai Weekly photographer Anushree Fadnavis spent a day travelling on the Mumbai locals to capture the moods and moments these journeys have to offer.

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hile Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love, this year women across the world marked the occasion with music and dance in a bid to reclaim public spaces and draw attention to violence against women.

One Billion rise on Valentine’s day

by American feminist and Vagina Monologues author Eve Ensler, aimed to call an end to violence against women and encouraged members of the public to speak up and challenge different forms of abuse.

city where activists, volunteers and members of the audience danced together on stage, recited poetry and performed songs for the cause. Speakers such as Sneha Jawale, an acid-burn survivor, shared her inspiring anecdotes to encourage men One Billion Rising, a Events were held in and women to concampaign launched various parts of the front violence.

Actors perform an excerpt from Vagina Monologues, a play by Eve Ensler, at the One Billion Rising event at central Mumbai on 14 February 2013. Kunal Khullar / Mumbai Weekly

Actor and Director, Farhan Akhtar, performs at the One Billion Rising Performers dance as a part of the One Billion Rising event at Carter Amphitheater in suburban Mumbai on 14 February event at Bandra Amphitheatre in Mumbai on 14 February 2013. Mithila 2013. Jayshree Kewalramani / Mumbai Weekly Joshi / Mumbai Weekly

3 METRO

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Autorickshaw drivers demand new license permits

FRIDAY, 22 FEBRUARY, 2013

(Contd.from Pg 1) The strike was called for after the government directed the RTA to stop issuing new transport permits to avoid more congestion in the steadily deteriorating traffic situation in the city.

However, according to media reports, Sharad Rao, the head of the MAU argued that commuters were in fact facing a shortage of rickshaws in the suburbs and issuing new auto permits would resolve this problem Left: An autorickshaw driver walks past parked auto-rickshaws in suburban Mumbai on 14 February 2013. Ashish Vaishnav / Mumbai Weekly

City remembers Madhubala on her birthday

Early heat wave sweeps across the city

An artist paints a portrait of the famous Bollywood actress Madhubala, in suburban Mumbai on 17 February 2013.

Francis Mascarenhas / Mumbai Weekly

A woman feeds a child kulfi (an Indian frozen dairy dessert) at a beach in Mumbai on 16 February 2013. According to news reports, Mumbai recorded a temperature of 34 degrees celsius on 14 February which was 4 degrees above normal temperature.

However, a cold wave is expected to hit the city in the coming week. Debadatta Mallick / Mumbai Weekly

Monorail test runs in progress, to be operational from August The country’s first ever monorail is expected to open its doors to the public in the coming six months in Mumbai. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has claimed that the services will be operational by August.

The Mumbai monorail project will be the world's second longest monorail and has an estimated budget of Rs. 2,700 crores (half a billion US dollars). According to media reports, phase I of the monorail will span the length of 8.8 kilometres and, according to test runs, will take about 15 minutes

to cover. The entire project will connect Jacob circle in town to suburban Chembur, a distance of over 20 kms.The trains will have four coaches with a total carrying capacity of 560 passengers and there will also be special provisions for women travellers with respect to safety and comfort.

MMRDA Commissioner Rahul Asthana said that the procedure to get the monorail certified is already being undertaken and the State plans to appoint a Safety Certification Engineer soon.

Left: A train from the Mumbai Monorail project travels across the new Chembur line during a test run in suburban Mumbai on 16 January 2013. Debadatta Mallick / Mumbai Weekly

4 EDITORIAL FRIDAY, 22 FEBRUARY, 2013

OPINION: The great balancing act

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World country? The questions are endless.

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Mithila Joshi

hen asked to measure the development of a country, economists and analysts will promptly huddle over trade records and other dry figures on paper like GDP and GNP. They’ll even calculate the gold reserves in the country to tell you how the nation is prospering, or point to all the multi-millionaires that are seemingly driving the nation forward. All this when all one really needs to do is take a walk down the road. Look at the children living in your neighbourhood, your town, your city. Do they go to school? Do they play? Are they truly enjoying the fruits of the development that’s becoming the nation’s claim to be identified as a First

According to the most recent statistics available from the United Nations, about 12% of Indian children have been forced to leave behind their childhood and grow up before their time. They are breadwinners for their families and their tender shoulders bear the responsibility of looking after their needs. In other words, 12% of the nation’s young ones are child labourers. By law that means that none of them are above 14 years of age. It doesn’t stop there.

According to data collected by several nongovernmental organizations working to fight child labour, two out of every three working children are physically abused while every second child is emotionally abused. A shocking 53.22% child labourers have reported to have been sexually abused. How can a country take pride in its progressing economy when a significant number of the workers contributing

A girl walks along a tight rope at the Erangal festival that celebrates the feast of St. Bonaventure in suburban Mumbai on 13 January 2013.

Ashish Vaishnav / Mumbai Weekly to it are its own chil- order. Like so many dren? other things that are wrong with this counEvery child has the try, attention needs to right to an education be called time and a nd a childhood. again to the issue of Pushing them out into child labour. Violence the ‘big, bad world’ to against women befend for not only came a burning issue themselves but also in the country in retheir families is an cent times only after atrocity of the highest the Delhi gang rape

incident. Must we wait for similar horrifying events to occur to make the world sit up and call for action?

Why does an issue have to become breaking news to get some attention in this country? Legislation has been in place for years outlawing the

practice of child labour. However, it hardly serves its purpose. There is a need to explore and address the roots of the issue.

For a child labourer of 10, life is a great balancing act. He walks on the tightrope of his poverty, on the brink

of survival, trying to balance his childish hopes and dreams on one hand and the cruel realities of his job on the other. It is important not to let the wealth and excesses of the privileged class in the country gloss over a larger truth: there is

an ever widening gap between the haves and the have-nots that is having a direct impact on our children, the future generations, the India of tomorrow.

The above views are personal views expressed by the author.

POINT OF VIEW: Is censorship befitting of a democracy?

movie was released in the country due to a missing scene of an execution in Shanghai and some altered dialogue referring to prostitution and politics related to China.

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A pedestrian walks past a poster of the recent contreversial movie Vishwaroop on 1 February 2013. Debadatta Mallick / Mumbai Weekly

Kunal Khullar

ith a number of controversies lurking around Bollywood movies, it seems that the Indian film industry loves to be in the limelight especially when it comes down to censorship. In very simple terms, censorship is the control of the infor-

mation and ideas circulated within a society. It came into being through various forms of comm u n i c a t i o n including books, films, television, and news with the sole purpose of changing or suppressing ideas that sound offensive or

unacceptable in a representation of society. communities, etc. have led to protests There have been and disorientation various issues in the among the viewers past regarding censorship of movies Recently, Kamal with either the pub- Hassan was seen lic not being happy under a tiff as his with the censor latest movie Vishboard. Scenes with waroop did not vulgar language, please a certain secprovocation, mis- tion of the audience.

However it was released after he agreed that seven scenes of the movie will be edited and not be included in the film. Other movies in the past like My Name is Khan, Dirty Picture and Fire, were all frowned upon at the time of their re-

lease. Censorship issues are not just limited to our country, as the latest James Bond movie, Skyfall, stirred controversy over China's movie censorship system. Chinese movie fans were unhappy as a slightly different version of the

In my opinion a certain level of censorship is acceptable, while the censor board gives a proper rating to the movies, I do not see why there has to be agitation and hatred among the viewers.

Of course, the public has freedom of speech and is free to choose what they want, and what they don’t. But this does not give them the right to impose their beliefs on to others.

From what I’ve heard, many countries in Europe do not have a censorship board for movies and cinema, which I think is good as this portrays a free mind, brings in a sense of confidence among young and new film makers .

The above views are personal views expressed by the author.

5 FEATURE

FriDAY, 22 FEBRUARY, 2013

Coveting the crown

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Participants get ready at the auditions of the Ponds Femina Miss India Competition held in Mumbai on 11 February 2013.This year, Ponds Femina Miss India is celebrating 50 Years. Anushree Fadnavis / Mumbai Weekly

Vijaya Sharma, a participant of the Ponds Femina Miss India Competition waits for her round in Mumbai on 11 February 2013.

Anushree Fadnavis / Mumbai Weekly

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he morning of 11 February saw the halls of Westin Garden City, a hotel in suburban Mumbai, fill with clicking stilettos and pretty, powdered noses. Pond’s Femina Miss India was holding its final round of auditions there, for its 50th annual beauty pageant to be held in March this year. After choosing from 13 auditions held in cities across India with, over 150

aspiring beauties were given the opportunity to secure their place in the finals through the penultimate round of the Mumbai auditions.

Marc Robinson the Director of Operations of the Times Group, and Managing Director Vineet Jain judged the event which entailed a bikini round and a cocktail dress round, followed by a question and answer round.

Contestants were eliminated in each round with only a select few emerging triumphant in the end.

Femina Miss India is known to have produced many a celebrity from its list of ladies who have been awarded the title, Bollywood actresses Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra being the better known ex- Participants pose during the auditions of the Ponds Femina Miss India Competition held in Mumbai on 11 February amples.

2013. Anushree Fadnavis / Mumbai Weekly

Above: Rosy, a participant from Haryana, waits with her parents at the auditions of the Ponds Femina Miss India Competition held in Mumbai on 11 February 2013. Anushree Fadnavis / Mumbai Weekly Right: A woman looks at the participants at the auditions of the Ponds Femina Miss India Competition held in Mumbai on 11 February 2013. Anushree Fadnavis / Mumbai Weekly

6 ECONOMY FRIDAY, 22 FEBRUARY, 2013

Exports rise after eight month fall

MW After an eight month long downward spiral, the winds have finally changed for Indian trade, with exports showing a marginal growth of 0.82% to $25.58 billion in January. Media reports estimate the exports have risen on account of sectors like engineering goods, textiles, gems and jewellery performing better. The trade deficit of the country, however, continues to stand at a staggering $20 billion, the highest in three months.

The exports for India are reported to have risen despite the

However, since the imports are also reported to have risen by 6.12% to $45.6 billion in January, the trade deficit is expected to get wider.

Right: A worker carries loading equipment at a container freight station in Navi Mumbai on 16 February 2013. Ashish Vaishnav / Mumbai Weekly

Developers from small towns look towards Mumbai real estate market

A large number of developers from Kolkata, Pune and Bangalore are venturing into Mumbai real-estate business. Analysts say that this recent trend of developers from smaller cities coming into Mumbai indicates a stagnant market in their hometowns and also the need to expand across the country.

International Monetary Fund cutting down growth estimates for two of India’s largest trade partners, the Euro Zone and the United States. “I hope with exports growing marginally in January, it should help us narrow the trade gap at the close of the fiscal,” commerce minister Anand Sharma said in an interview to the media.

last year, developers are quite keen on earning fruitful profits from Mumbai’s expanding property market.

Chairman and Managing Director of Salarpuria Sattva Group, Bijay Agarwal in an interview with the media said, “Mumbai is a new city for us and we don’t want to buy land now.

We are looking to do redevelopment With new changes coming in the de- projects with suitable partners in the velopment control regulations (DCR) beginning.

Right: A view of the high-rise building in south Mumbai on 16 February 2013. News reports indicate that a large number of developers from various parts of the country are eyeing the real estate business in Mumbai. Jayshree Kewalramani / Mumbai Weekly

Airtel profits plummet in Q3

Hotel industry sees healthy profits

A woman walk pass an Airtel banner in south Mumbai on 17 February 2013. Airtel saw a huge drop in their quarterly profits compared to the results from last year. Jayshree Kewalramani / Mumbai Weekly News reports indicate that mobile network operator Airtel, recorded a fall in their result for the third quarter of the financial year that ended on 31 December 2012.

Net profits fell to Rs. 284 crore (52.5 million USD) from Rs. 1,011 crore (188 million USD) last year. This is the 12th straight quarter where Airtel has seen its

the decline in profits was due to higher depreciation cost, amortisation cost, net interest costs, forex fluctuation According to Thomson The company officials losses, and tax proviReuters, analysts had said to the media that sions. profits declining. The revenue for the company, however, increased by 9.5 per cent

expected that the company will have a net profit of Rs. 845 crore (156 million USD)..

A man talks on the phone at hotel in suburban Mumbai on 18 february 2013.According to news reports, Indian hotels had net profit increase by 1.6 per cent, net consolidated sales during the third quarter grew by 5 per cent. Francis Mascarenhas / Mumbai Weekly

7 CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, 22 FEBRUARY, 2013

City beats the blues

Tipriti Kharbangar, guitarist and vocalist for the Indian Blues band Soulmate performs at the Mahindra Blues Festival in suburban Mumbai on 16 February 2013. Francis Mascarenhas / Mumbai Weekly

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umbai got a taste of the ‘Deep American South’ over the last weekend, with the Mahindra Blues Festival bringing in internationally acclaimed blues musicians to play in the city on 16 and 17 February. The Blues festival is an annual event sponsored by the Mahindra Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate, to create awareness about the genre and to promote new acts, according to media reports.

The line-up for this year’s festival included artistes like Walter Trout and the Radicals, pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph with his outfit called Robert Randolph and The Family Band,

Vocalist and guitarist Walter Trout performs at the Mahindra Blues Festival in suburban Mumbai on 16 February 2013. Mithila Joshi / Mumbai Weekly

Jimmy Thackeray and The Drivers and some Indian talent too, like renowned band Soulmate and upcoming outfit Big Bang Blues. “The beauty of this festival lies in the diversity it presents even within the genre of blues. We have artistes who perform different styles such as Chicago blues, New Orleans blues and Delta blues,” said V G Jairam, partner, Oranjuice Entertainments, which is organizing the festival, in an interview to a national daily.

The two-day event pulled in a significant number of people, with the demographic of those attending inclined towards the slightly older folk.

Jimmy Thackery and The Drivers perform at the Mahindra Blues Festival in suburban Mumbai on 16 February 2013. Mithila Joshi / Mumbai Weekly

When South meets East

Sujata Mahopatra performs an Odissi dance at the Nehru Centre in south Mumbai on 13 February 2013. Francis Mascarenhas / Mumbai Weekly

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he classical dance forms of Bharatnatyam, which originated in Tamil Nadu in South India and Odissi, which originated in Orissa in East India have long been a part of India’s culture. On 13 February, two masters of these forms came together on stage at the Nehru Centre auditorium in Mumbai as part of the

23rd Pt. Durgalal Festival. Sujata Mohapatra, who has been training in Odissi dancing since her early childhood and Rama Vidyanathan, one of India’s foremost Bharatnatyam dancers, regaled the audience with their solo performances, which were Sujata Mahopatra (Left) and Rama Vaidyanathan (Right) perform a fusion of Bharatanatyam and and Odissi dance at the Nehru followed by a fusion of the two Centre in south Mumbai on 13 February 2013. Francis Mascarenhas / Mumbai Weekly dance forms.

8 SPORTS

FRiDAY, 22 FEBRUARY, 2013

Swimmathon completes another lap

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Participants of the Square Off Mumbai Swimmathon jump into the Arabian Sea in Mumbai on 10 February 2013. Debadatta Mallick / Mumbai Weekly articipants of the Square Off Mumbai Swimmathon 2013 battled the tides at the Arabian sea as they swam a 5km stretch from Sunk Rock to the Gateway of India on 10 January. The race claims to hold the distinction of being India’s oldest and most popular ocean swim competition. Two participants from Kolhapur, a city in the south western part of Maharashtra, namely Saurabh Malwankar and Nikita Prabhu were declared the fastest swimmers in the male and female cate-

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gories respectively.

Sqaure Off, the organizer of the event, is a sports management, consulting and trading company, which “hopes to create a paradigm shift and act as agents that encourage youth to take up sports in a big way”, according to a press release. Participation for the event was open in several categories including one for physically challenged individuals. Actor Varun Dhawan and renowned fashion designer Shaina N.C. added a certain glamour quotient to the event.

In the 17 to 30 years age category for the race, Aman Gomat from Pune emerged victorious with a total time of 54.41 sec.

“This is the first time I’ve participated in the Square Off Mumbai Swimmathon. I faced a few difficulties during the race as there was a low tide, but I was determined to win. Prior to this I have achieved success at International platforms like One Malaysia and One Kenya but nothing compares to swimming in Indian seas!” said Aman in a press release.

Left: Participants of the Square Off Mumbai Swimmathon swim across the Arabian Sea in Mumbai on 10 February 2013. Debadatta Mallick / Mumbai Weekly

Hockey divisional tournament kicks off in the city

Above: Rashtriya Chemical Fertilizer's Upendra dribbles past Central Railway's Rajendra Yadav (left) at the Mahindra hockey stadium in south Mumbai on 15 February 2013. Francis Mascarenhas / Mumbai Weekly

Left: Team members of RCF (Rashtriya Chemical Fertilizer) celebrate a goal against the Central Railway at the Mahindra hockey stadium in south Mumbai on 15 February 2013. Francis Mascarenhas / Mumbai Weekly

Published by: Udaan School of Photography | Editor-in-Chief: Mithila Joshi Photo Editor: Kunal Khullar| Chief Photographer: Anushree Fadnavis | http://www.facebook.com/Mumbai.Weekly | Email: editor.mumbaiweekly@gmail.com