The Save Aarey initiative’s battle continues. It seems that the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) will go ahead with its plan to construct the car depot for the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro Line Three at Aarey Milk Colony, an eco sensitive zone in Goregaon. At the MMRC board meeting on Saturday, a new plan that involves building the depot on 24 hectares of AMC land was discussed. Sources from the MMRDA said, “The construction of the car depot was discussed at the meeting. Since the decision regarding the construction of the depot in Kanjurmarg has not yet been taken, considering the said land is under litigation, MMRDA doesn’t want the project to suffer. So, a new plan will be prepared for construction at AMC.”This, despite an expert committee appointed by CM Devendra Fadnavis, advising that the depot come up at Kanjurmarg to avoid the environmental damage to Aarey. It was earlier discussed that a double-deck car depot be constructed on a 20.80 hectare land in AMC since this would require fewer trees to be felled. But since this posed technical challenges, a new plan involving the building of the depot on 24 hactares of land has been prepared. This will require close to 1,000 trees to be cut.
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*Mumbai crime: Ten-year-old raped in Dadar school toilet*
The accused, Peermohammad Vakil Abbasi is a resident of Ambedkar Nagar. Sources say he claimed to be lonely after his wife left him two months ago, and would often visit brothels.
On Thursday morning, on his way to the common toilet in the chawl, Abbasi spotted the girl outside her home. He lured her into the toilet and molested her. Before fleeing, he threatened to harm her if she spoke out. Scared, the girl went straight to school. In the evening, she narrated the incident to her family. On Friday, the family registered an FIR at the Worli police station. DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni (crime) said, “Investigations revealed Abbasi is the prime suspect. We went to his home to arrest him but he had gone missing.”
*Mumbai Crime: Seven-year-old boy sodomised in public toilet*
Unit 3 in-charge Sunil Mane said, “We arrested him on Saturday morning after receiving a tip-off that he was to meet one of his friends in Jijamata Nagar, Worli Naka.”
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06-JJ-OPD_s.jpg*JJ OPD takes in 7,500 patients a day. Unavailability of senior doctors affects the clinical quality of treatment *
The response to an RTI application, filed in June last year by a JJ alumni, shows that across the state, 26 teaching posts at state-run hospitals have been lying in limbo for 23 years due to absenteeism by doctors on ‘leave’. These vacancies are largely of posts such as senior professors, assistant professors and associate professors. In a hospital, professors perform the dual role of conducting critical surgeries and guiding resident doctors in how to handle cases. This takes the work load off the head of the department.
At JJ Hospital, there have been vacant posts in critical departments such as paediatrics (two), neurosurgery (two), gyneacology and obstetrics (one), orthopedics (one) and preventive and social medicine (one).
When sunday mid-day contacted, Dr Tatyarao P Lahane, Dean of the Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital, he said that since November, the health department has been working towards conducting Departmental Enquiries (DE) against the missing doctors. “There were as many as 26 doctors in the state and we are in a process of sending them suspension letters. Many of them have already received the same,” he said.
Lahane added that the process of re-hiring can only begin once the suspension procedure is completed. “The report will be sent to the ministry. They will take up hiring accordingly,” added Lahane. These are not loose ends that are expected to be tied very soon.
The applicant, who didn’t wish to be named, said, “There is a high probability that the doctors didn’t want to join JJ and thus chose to go on leave.” The RTI response also mentions two other doctors who were transferred from JJ to other hospitals, who have been on leave since. Dr R S Haridas, professor at psychiatry and Dr Tirupama Patil, professor, radiology. Dr Haridas was transferred to Government Medical College, Aurangabad, and Patil to Swami Ramanand Teerth Rural Medical College, Ambajogai. While Haridas was transferred from the hospital on July 2, 2011, Patil was asked to join the medical college of Ambejogai on May 4, 2009.
While the monthly salary for the posts mentioned starts at Rs 35000 and could extend to Rs 75,000, this amount is much smaller compared to what private facilities pay. However, the doctors who went on leave have not been receiving salaries all these years. Within the state medical circles, a suspension is as good as being fired. The doctor will not be allowed to work in public hospitals, however their medical license is not cancelled and they remain free for private practice.
On why it’s taken the state this long to move for suspension, a senior professor from JJ Hospital said that the procedure is an extensively long process, which is why the seats have remained vacant at JJ. “When a doctor who has a designation of professor, assistant professor or associate professor, terminating them from office isn’t an easy task. They are sent repeated reminders. It’s after several reminders go unheeded that a DE finalises their suspension,” said the doctor.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06-cycle_s.jpg*The city — sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce*
While there is no guarantee that Arora won’t be pestered, his Facebook notice notwithstanding, Daily Dossier remembers how a cricket official up north used to get himself admitted to a hospital just before a one-day international in his city to avoid requests for complimentary passes. Another cricket administrator from southern India used to check into a dingy hotel for the better part of the day to avoid ticket requests.
Even sports editors of newspapers are not spared when it comes to passes so one of them printed a sheet and pinned it on his soft board of his cubicle: “I don’t have tickets/passes.”
*Jaya Jaitley helps the lion go desi*
BEFORE India took over Silicon Valley, its artisans and craftsmen had already made the world swoon with their intricately woven shawls and miniature paintings. And, this is something that Jaya Jaitley, former Samata Party president and founder of Dastakaari Haat Samiti, is hoping to impress upon the various ministries behind the PM’s favourite campaign “Make in India” with her own version “Handmade in India”.*A Make in India lion designed by Rajasthani artist Vijendra Bharti (below)*
Speaking to this diarist after attending an event in Lucknow, Jaitley says she has asked some of her craftsmen to rethink the Make-in-India logo, the lion, in their own version. While she has six now, she plans to get many more. Even 3D papier-mâché versions, “just for fun”. She hopes to appeal to the PM, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Commerce and Industry. “Well, more than an appeal it’s just a way of saying ‘hey! We are there too, don’t forget us’.” Tough to.
*A 6 lakh cycle ride*
The perception that the bicycle is a poor man’s savari can go take a hike. Because taking a hike is one of the things Worli resident Rajiv Bhatt plans to do with his brand new Madone 9.5. The 40-year-old has made it to newsprint for purchasing the costliest bike to be sold in India at R6 lakh from Firefox and Trek, Imperial Cycle Centre, Kurla. The businessman, who already owns a BMW trek bike and one by Fuji, says, “It’s the most advanced road bike today. I booked it two months ago and they had ordered it from the States.” Interestingly, the patent for the 600 series carbon, which this bike is made of, lies only with above firm and NASA. Pic/Atul Kamble
*Music talk: Get heard, get noticed*
MOVE over music festivals, it’s now the season of music conferences. The Exchange x AVA is going to be held at the Khar Social this Wednesday, and will bring together the best of Ireland’s music biz with Indian musicians. There are sessions on how to get your music into the right hands, which is usually the hardest part. Speakers include Paul Hamill, CEO of Inflyte App, which works with record labels like Diplo’s Mad Decent and Diynamic. There is also Sarah McBriar, who handles the AVA (Audio Visual Arts) Festival & Conference in Belfast, and will talk about what it means to build a festival from the ground-up. “This is a platform to discuss new ideas and to build relationships that will help not just individuals but also the scene,” said Hermit Sethi, director at Submerge, one of the key partners behind the conference. All sessions are free, but don’t forget to register. Change of career, anyone?
*Alka Yagnik’s daughter makes restaurant debut*
AFTER stints with Zomato in Dubai and JSM (Shiro and California Pizza Kitchen) in Mumbai, Syesha Kapoor, who is playback star Alka Yagnik’s daughter, joins hands with childhood buddies, Abhishek Goyal and Yash Sonthalia, owners of Boveda.*Syesha Kapoor*
When we ask her whether she sings, she says, “Not at all. I have not trained a single day. My mum never forced me. She said, if you try to do what you don’t love, it won’t last. Besides, I breathe restaurants!” The trio is all set to revamp the Andheri lounge, give it a new dining avatar and call it Boveda Bistro. “We want it to be a neighbourhood gourmet food destination,” says the 25-year-old, who has a bachelors degree in business marketing from the London School of Business. The managing director on this venture, adds, “The lane where Boveda is has tons of bars, but none are great with food. The potential sits immense and we want to strike.” We hear the menu will be created by Michelin star chef Gracian D’souza.
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*Sunday driver*
*Listen to duets*8.30 PM: Relive the romance of Valentine's Day with a musical evening that will bring some of the best duets from Bollywood. Right from the Golden Era to the 90s, this concert will surely make you hold hands and hum along. Singers Priyanka Mitra, Kavita Tiwari, Sarvesh Mishra and Alok Katdare, among others, will be performing.
*Where: Yashwant Natya Mandir, near Star City, Matunga Road West*
*EntryY: R150 – R1,000*
*Call: 24333225*
*Build a Lego tower*
11 Am - 6 PM: Nimble fingers and speedyminds need to work away at a marathon session at the LEGO Ninjago Building Event. No age restrictions here, so toy with 30,000 bricks and build a seven-feet- tall Ninjago.
*Where: Metro Junction Mall, Shil Road, Kalyan*
*Call: 9619814587*
*Try a herb-infused spread*12 PM – 12 AM: The United Sports Bar and Grill has launched a new menu, and we recommend their herb-n-spice cocktails, such as the thyme julep and chatpati chuski. The traditional chakna also gets a spice twist. But, the staples, like bacon-wrapped sausages and orange-infused chili chicken are there for the loyalists.
*Where: The United Sports Bar and Grill outlets in Ghatkopar and Thane*
*Prices: Rs 150 onwards*
*Call: 61701331*
*LOL with the 'average guy'*6.30 PM: Meet boy-next-door and funnyman Kautuk Srivastava, who will tickle your funny bones with an hour-long where he shares his ultimate quest: be crowned the Hot Guy or the Cool Guy once in his life. The show is full of astute observations and personal stories, delivered with his inherent goofiness.
*Where: Brewbot, Morya Landmark 1, New Link Road, Andheri West*
*Entry: Rs 200*
*Call: 40034448*
*Try Whatever Works*7.30 PM: Woody Allen had his run with a comedy play by Neil Simon, based on Chekov's stories, which now comes to stage under the direction of Pushpraj Singh Rawat. 'Seduction' and 'A Good Doctor', Chekov's works, have been woven together in Whatever Works, to tell a tale of what is and what should be. Watch out for Chekov's trademark endings in each story.
*Where: Jeff Goldberg Studio, Gazebo House, 133 Hill Road, Bandra West*
*Entry: Rs 200*
*Call: 7506906927*
*Get your dose of swag*2 PM onwards: It's yet another weekend of the ongoing Ballard Estate Festival, and there is tons to do this side of town. There are buskers set to soothe your soul, art installations, food and beverage stalls. But, what you want to hang around for is rapper Raftaar, the musician behind the record-breaking number Swag Mera Desi. We suggest you get your bling on for this evening.
*Where: JN Heredia Road, Ballard Estate*
*Entry: R150*
*Log on: www.bookmyshow.com*
*Let the kids play*2 PM: A little bit of education, and a whole lot of entertainment. Let your kids sing and dance along with the Chikaraks, a highly energetic group of musicians and performers. The unique musical storytelling format is packed with loads of dancing, props, costumes and singing, to help the little ones with DIY fun with mentors Chin2 Bhosle, Pratichee Mohapatra, Fiona D'Souza and Manav Dhanda.
*Where: Canvas Laugh Club, Palladium, Lower Parel*
*Entry: Rs 750 onwards*
*Call: 61701331*
*Watch a folksy Mahabharata*6 PM: Draupadi Kuravanchi tells the tale of Draupadi's dark quest to subvert the plans of the hundred Kauravas to eliminate their cousins, the Pandavas. Draupadi takes the form of a Kuratti in order to prevent them from carrying out funeral rites for her five husbands. The Kuratti is a member of the Kuravar clan famous for its fortune telling, knowledge of indigenous medicine and traditional tattoos. The six young actors and dancers include two girls, a historic innovation in a traditionally male-only form of theatre.
*Where: Museum Lawns, CSMVS, Kala Ghoda*
*Call: 22844484*
*Write your own comic scene*Three things can happen with comedy: it's so bad that you boo; it's tolerable and you laugh along; or, it's such a riot that you wonder how you can become a stand-up. Enter Anuvab Pal, stand-up comedian, and playwright. In a two-day comedy writing workshop, he will take you through the basics of writing a comic scene, the tools required to build a comedy and developing your characters.
*Where: The Barking Deer, Lower Parel*
*When: March 19-20, 10 AM*
*Entry: Rs 3,500*
*Log on to: www.bookmyshow.com*
*Sing like nobody's watching*MARCH 9, 8.30 PM ONWARD: Was the bathroom the only place where you thought you could be a rockstar? Time to come out and showcase your singing talent to the world. Hard Rock Café is hosting a karaoke night every Wednesday to give upcoming artists, bathroom singers and aspiring singers a platform to sing aloud. What's up for grabs? Two best singers get dinner coupons (R1,500) on their next visit to
Hard Rock.
*Where: Hard Rock Café, Bombay Dyeing Mill Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli*
*Call: 66511209*
*Dance your way to fitness*MARCH 12, 10 am – 8 pm: Imagine practicing Yoga, Zumba, Crossfit, Vogueing (Jazz in heels), belly dancing, Hip hop and Bhangra all in a day. Baffled? Don't be. You'll have professionals taking you through all of it in a fun session that will include 8-10 performing art and fitness forms. Interestingly, all the art forms have a fitness value attached and are known to strengthens our inner core. P.S This is just
for the ladies.
*Where: Beat n Bounce studio, 901 Crescent Royale, 9th floor, behind China one, off Link Road, Andheri (W)*
*Entry: R500*
*Call: 9930403026*
*Speak like a Spaniard*MARCH 12, 3 PM – 6.30 PM: Hola! For many of us, our knowledge of Spanish starts and ends there. But if you want to learn more, sign up for a Spanish learning class. The 12 new Spanish courses will be held every Saturday and taught by native Spanish teachers. Registrations are on.
Where: The Spanish School, 202, Venkatesh Chambers, Prescot Road, Fort
*Entry: Rs 18,000*
*Log on to: www.spanishschool.in*
*Call: 40020997*
*Watch a romantic Hindi play*MARCH 12, 7 PM: In NSD alumnus Aniruddha Khutwad's Hindi adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic, Romeo and Juliet, it is Juliet who takes centrestage. It is a Hindi translation of the original by Sangeet Natak Academy awardee Amitabh Srivastava. The play is from Juliet's point of view, where she still carries the burden of sacrifice that archetypal womanhood has long shouldered.
*Where: Marathi Sahitya Sangh Mandir, Dr Bhalerao Marg, Near St Theresa High School, Girgaon*
*Entry: Rs 200*
*Call: 23856303*
*The hills are calling*There might not be a better to time to visit Kasauli than this month end. The much-awaited music festival, Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival will be held on March 25-27, and will see live performances by eight of India's popular bands and artistes in the magical hills of Himachal. Gear up for performances by Shilpa Rao, Lesle Lewis, Mihir Joshi Band, Ustaad Fazal Qureshi and Ravi Iyer, Army Pipers and Army Jazz band and more. The proceeds of the festival will be used to support the treatment of children suffering from critical illnesses.
*Log on to : www.genesis-foundation.net/donor-card-message*
*Go, play football*MARCH 8, 7.30 AM – 12 PM: Ladies, it's time to take over the turf. To celebrate Women's Day, Kick has set aside all the slots free for girls and women to play football. So you can choose between three turfs spread across Powai and Malabar Hill and make the most of it. There's no age restriction. Time to kick some butt, eh?
*Where: Priyadarshini Futsal Kick, Priyadarshini Park, Opp. Kotak Mahindra*
*Bank, Napean Sea Road*
*Free*
*Call: 23636366*
*Glug a drink after work*3 PM – 1.30 AM: Drinking at the start of the week isn't always a bad idea. Certainly not when there's an offer on the cocktails. MeSoHappi at Khar has rolled out a special offer for the ladies, as part of a Women's Day celebration. Get a one-plus-one for R250. For R999, you get 4+4 cocktails and a veg or non-veg starter of your choice. The offer is valid till March 8.
*Where: Ground floor, B-Wing, Pinnacle Corporate Park, Bandra Kurla Complex*
*Call: 30150831*
*Treat your inner goddess*11 Am – 10 PM: UK-based luxury salon brand, Truefitt & Hill, that has been making men look like gentlemen, will finally open doors to women, but just for a day. As part of a Women's Day celebration, the ladies will have access to the restricted 'Men's Only' zone for a session of indulgence that includes therapeutic massages, manicures and pedicures.
*Where: Truefitt & Hill, (Palladium, Khar, Colaba, Peddar Road and Lokhandwala)*
*Entry: Charges apply*
*Call: 9833732877*
*Indulge your soul*6.30 PM: Since its debut in 1960, Alvin Ailey's Revelations has moved audiences around the world through its powerful storytelling and soul-stirring music. After touring 71 countries across six continents, it finally comes to Mumbai. The performance draws on African-American spirituals, song-sermons, gospels and holy blues.
*Where: Dance Theatre Godrej, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point*
*Entry: Rs 500*
*Call: 66223723*
*Watch gravity-defying acts*7 PM: The thrill of watching death-defying stunts and jaw dropping acrobatics is unmatched. If you haven't been to the circus in a while, we suggest you catch the acts at Rambo Circus. These feats will be performed by traditional Indian artistes as well as stalwarts from countries such as South America, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Colombia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine.
*Where: Rambo Circus, JP Road, Model Town, Versova Metro Station*
*Entry: R400 – R800*
*Log on to: bookmyshow.com*
*Have a good laugh*9 PM: Listen to the Bharatiya Chinta Party, a product of comedy group,The Unglis, who talk about Bharat in a way you've never seen before. The Unglis are a fresh, young comedy collective that perform stand-up, sketch and musical comedy. Their YouTube channel had a sensational beginning, with their first three videos going viral, touching 1,50,000 views in the first four months.
Where: Whistling Woods, Andheri Base Sharyans, Hard Rock Café Building, Andheri (W)
*Entry: Rs 300*
*CALL: 30916003*
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06-Fire_s.jpg* The fire broke out at a chemical plant in MIDC*
It took four hours, 18 fire tankers and 6 private tankers to douse the fire that broke out at Ultra Pure Chemical Company. Therefore also spread to an adjacent gas agency godown.
Loud explosions in the plant near Sandap village, Manpada Road created havoc among company workers and the nearby residents. Luckily, no casualties nor injuries were reported.
Suresh Shinde, the fire officers from Dombivli MIDC unit of Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, said, “We received a call at 9.30 am. Around 125 officials were sent to the spot. After the
fire was doused, the cooling process went on till 5.15 pm,” added Shinde.
The spread across to an adjacent firm Jagruti Chemicals, which increased the strength of the fire. “Within half an hour, our firemen removed around 156 cylinders.
A chemical reaction in the boilers could have caused sparks that may have led to the fire,” added Shinde.
The Municipal Commissioner, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation E Ravinderam along with other officers reached the spot and surveyed the place.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/6Tailorbird-s.jpg*Vinod Goel*
Until January 2016, Delhi-based Goel, 60, served as a customs and excise service officer, and it was the luxury of time that retirement offered him, and a trip to Kanha National Park in 2004 that made him pick up the camera seriously. When we meet him, he is just back from a flamingo watching tour of Sewri Jetty, organised by his daughter and wildlife enthusiast, Nitya Goel. In a couple of hours, he will take a train to Delhi, but he "most certainly will squeeze in a couple of minutes to observe the gulls at Marine Drive". And so, he suggests we shift the venue of our interview to the promenade.
Braving the overhead sun, we walk the stretch and find a handful of gulls perched on the tetrapods. "You won't find too many at this hour," he says. "They are active from 8 am until 10 am. That's when visitors feed them chips and chivda." He admits that he is yet to figure their roosting hideout for the rest of the day.
In the last three weeks that Goel has been in Mumbai, he has divided his time between Hanging Garden (Malabar Hill), Sagar Upvan Park (Colaba), the Haji Ali promenade, the Byculla Zoo Marine Drive and Sewri jetty. He didn't set out with the intention of combing south Mumbai to observe birding activity. But luck introduced me to several avian varieties that I was surprised to find in the southern most tip of the megalopolis," he says.
It was an online article discussing the Purple-Rumped Sunbird that drew his attention to Mumbai. Here, he learnt that it could be spotted across various parks in the city. "It was a bird I hadn't seen in the 12 years I had been a photographer. I had to make a trip here."
Armed with a Canon 600 MM lens, Goel would start his day at 5 am and spend the latter part observing their behaviour. "You need patience when it comes to capturing birds. Before going on field, I usually spend time watching them, picking up behaviour cues, figuring how exactly I am going to get close enough to get a decent shot," he says.
In Delhi, Goel has spent three years capturing the life of the grey hornbill, right from courtship of adult pairs to the birth of young ones. For now, though, South Mumbai is his laboratory. He is already planning his next trip in the summer months to track the species that flood the city around that time.
*Tailorbird*
*Found in:* Deciduous forests, mangroves, open woodlands and gardens throughout India, except the desert
*This frame shot at:* Hanging Garden
It's measures 10-14 cm in length and has a long tail that it often holds upright. The upper plumage is green or grey while the underparts are shiny yellow white or grey. Normally built of cotton wool and grass stems, the nest of a tailor bird is not easy to spot. Tailorbirds are active when foraging for insects. Always hyper and restless, they are usually seen in pairs. The breeding season lasts from May to September.
*Brown-Headed Gull*
*Found in:* This is a small migratory Asian gull that breeds in the high plateaux of central Asia from Turkmenistan to Mongolia
*This frame shot at:* Marine Drive
They remain in Mumbai to breed until March, and later vacate the area for the high lakes of Ladakh. In the city, you are likely to spot them at Marine Drive in the mornings. They have a very wide ranging diet and feed on fish, shrimp, insects, slugs, worms and rodents. They also eat offal and are often seen at sewage farms. Sometimes, even plant material such as shoots and potatoes entice them.
*Indian Silverbill*
*Found in:* Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Iran and India. The Indian Silverbill inhabits dry, open, cultivated as well as sparse scrub-and-bush country. It avoids humid forests
*This frame shot at:* Hanging Garden
They feed on insects and have been known to visit nectar-bearing flowers. They are distinguished by their brown plumage, brownish-buff flanks and white rump. Like the sunbird, they roam in pairs and continue to raise their brood together year after year.
*Purple- Rumped Sunbird*
*Found in:* Sri Lanka, Bangladesh Meghalaya and Assam
*This frame shot at:* Sagar Upvan Garden, Colaba
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06-Alhambra-bungalow_s.jpg*Alhambra bungalow. PIC/ SURESH KK *
The advocates of the new owners have issued a public notice investigating the title of the property, asking that anybody who has a claim to the property should inform them within 14 days. Post that, the new owner will go ahead with the transaction. The deal is said to be brokered by an international brokerage firm.
The two-storied structure was constructed in the 1950s. Since then, it has housed former chief executives of HUL, Manvinder Banga, Nitin Paranjpe and Doug Baille.
Alhambra consists of a residential building of ground plus two floors, measuring, 1747 square meters (nearly 18,000 sq ft) and stands on a parcel of government leasehold land, measuring 1387.96 square meters (nearly 15,000 sq ft).
According to Gopal Maheshwari, a leading real estate broker from South Mumbai, the plot’s ideal cost should be anywhere starting Rs 145 crore. Carmichael Road is a heritage precinct of South Mumbai and houses the RBI Governor Bungalow, the Port Trust chairman's bungalow and even the Municipal Commissioner’s residence.
An email sent to HUL response received the following response: We have no comments to offer.
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It’s easy to walk right past Roy and Company, and we nearly do. The unassuming exterior gives no inkling of the 127 years that have passed since its inception. What gives it away is the musty smell of old books, the high ceiling, rows of teakwood cabinets, an old typewriter and walls dotted with sepia-tinted photographs. Welcome to the state’s oldest homeopathic pharmacy at Shamaldas Gandhi Marg, Princess Street.*A photograph taken in the 1920s shows the second generation of the Kulkarnis — Manohar Kulkarni (left) with a staff member — at Roy and Company Homeopaths*
As a slick pack of Roy and Co. hairdye jostles for space next to a brown translucent bottle of Arnica on the counter, it’s almost symbolic of the fine line between tradition and modernity that the pharmacy now toes. “This place is a labour of love of my great grandfather, Vishweshwar Kulkarni, who established it in 1889,” says Dr Tejaswini Kulkarni, a fourth generation member of the Kulkarni family that owns and runs the pharmacy. “So, we have tried to retain its old world charm in terms of decor. And, while we continue to to dispense authentic homeopathic drugs ranging from dilutions, mother tincture, Biochemic tissue salts and Bach flower remedies, we have branched out into more commercial products like toothpastes and shampoos to keep up with times. We also sell books on homeopathy,” she adds.*The pharmacy, started by Vishweshwar Kulkarni after he moved from Karnataka to Bombay, moved from Khetwadi to its present address in 1916. Pics/Bipin Kokate*
The pharmacy was originally located at Khetwadi, near Edward Cinema, and moved to its current address in 1916. At about 50-100 metres distance from Roy and Company, there are another six homeopathic pharmacies including the Zoroastrian pharmacy and Parsi homoeopathic pharmacy.*Dr Tejaswini Kulkarni (extreme right ) and her brother Jitendra (centre), the fourth generation of the family, manage the pharmacy *
In the early 1900s, the area around Kalbadevi was a thriving business hub. There was the cotton exchange, bullion and jewellery market in Zaveri Bazar, electrical goods market at Lohar Chawl and fabrics were sold at Mangaldas Jethabhai market. “So, being in an area like this, gave us access to more people,” says Jitendra, who manages the counter along with a loyal staff that’s been here for 40 years, including Dattanand and Anand Balwalli along with Bahadur Singh.
While we sit inside the clinic on sturdy wooden chairs that are at least half a century old, Tejaswini gets reams of A4-sized sheets out of her bag. “This is our family tree. And out of this clan, 28 members happen to be homeopathic doctors. So, when I say the love for homeopathy runs in our blood, it’s no exaggeration,” she laughs. Incidentally, other famous homeopathic pharmacies, Ray Brothers’ at Nana Chowk and Orient at Lamington Road belong to Tejaswini’s uncles, Dr Ashok and Dr Praful Ray Lakshman Kulkarni and Dr Ashok and his son Dr Deepak Kulkarni
respectively.
So, if the Kulkarnis are the owners, we are curious to know where the store gets its evidently Bengali name, Roy and Company from. “At that time, my great grandfather was given the title of Rai. The British officers pronounced it as Roy. Soon, people began addressing him as Roy, and he decided to retain it,” she says.
But, interestingly, its founder Vishweshwar Kulkarni was not a doctor by profession. “He had a job in the Post and Telegraph department in Vengurla, Karnataka. But, he would assist Dr Fellowitz, a German Jesuit priest and a homeopathic practitioner. When his compounder fell ill, my great grandfather was asked to fill in. That’s how he was initiated into the field,” reveals Tejaswini. Sharp and proactive, Kulkarni soon learnt the ropes by reading books on medicine and gaining hands-on experience. Fortunes changed when Kulkarni cured the ailing wife of a British officer. “In return, my great grandfather asked for a posting in Bombay, so that he could spread awareness about the field. Homeopathy was gaining ground in Calcutta, and its impact was being felt even in the city. So, he felt the time was ripe,” says the Bandra resident.
The challenge for Kulkarni was to prove the efficacy of homeopathy to people. “The basic premise of homeopathy: ‘like cures like’ — the same substance that could cause a reaction in a healthy person could also be a remedy for someone suffering from similar symptoms — was hard to buy. But in 1902, there was an epidemic of the pneumonic plague and many homeopathic practitioners treated most of the people successfully, which helped instill faith [in the therapy].”
By the 1920s, the second generation comprising Vishweshwar Kulkarni’s four sons were initiated into the business. Roy and Company soon became the chief importers of Mesers B & T (Boericke and Tafel) of America and Schwabe of Germany. Dr Cyrus Maxvell Boger’s treatise on homepathy called Boenninghausen Repertory was first published by Roy and Company in India. “He was the first to start manufacturing homoeopathic drugs in Maharashtra. He was also instrumental in starting the first Homeopathic medical college in the city, now known as CNPH (Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Homeopathic Medical college) in Vile Parle. Even Mahatma Gandhi took treatment from him when he fell ill during a protest rally at Azad Maidan,” she says.
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At 8.30 am on Sunday, a crowd gathers at Chandru's for its dal pakwan. The Sindhi treat comprises a maida flatbread, fried in pure ghee. This is served with chana dal.*Chandru Samtani with daughter Rakhi. Pics/Ashish Rane*
"The royals of Sindh relished it. Today, Sindhis eat it at least once a week. It is a celebratory dish sent to loved ones on happy occasions," 60-year-old Chandru Narayandas Samtani tells us. From Sri Devi and Akshay Kumar to Manisha Koirala, Chandru's clientele is a loyal one. Samtani took over the shop after his father, who launched it in 1988. "At that time, there was nothing on Yari Road."
We break the crispy bread and take a bite. Samtani reminds us to dunk it in the dal. The dal cuts the monotony of the pakwan. The turmeric and masala are not overpowering. The pure taste of the pulse stands out. "If you get a bitter aftertaste, it means the makers have used a poor quality oil or ghee," he adds. Dressed in a pink tee and tracks, 50-year-old Gita Thakkar places a parcel order for dal pakwans. "No cooking today," she tells us. Thakkar drives up from Juhu every fortnight. "I have a fixed order, and it is heavy enough to serve as brunch."
A corner table is heavy with plastic bags. These are for those who don't like to wake up in the morning. "They leave an order the previous night. By 11, we are sold out. The late latifs come by 12 to pick up their parcels," says Samtani.
*Swati Snacks for jalebis and fafda*
*248, Karai Estate, opposite Bhatia*
*Hospital, Tardeo*
*Call: 65808406*
*Be there by: 7.30 am*
When we arrive at Swati Snacks on a Sunday morning at 8 am, groggy-eyed, there are about 15-odd customers already in queue at the takeaway window. It is the pull of the fresh, hot jalebi, fafdas and fafdis served between 7.30 am and 9.30 am that has lured them. What started out as a tiny hole-in-the-wall nearly 40 years ago, is today a swish restaurant serving regional food. Madan Singh Chauhan, from Rajasthan, has been has been preparing jalebis at the restaurant for 35 years.*Pics/Bipin Kokate*
"Back then, the jalebis were priced at Rs 70 a kilo. Today, it is R560. But the quality remains consistent," says the 70-year-old. Major Bhagwan Singh, who has been a loyal patron for the past decade, agrees.
"It's the fresh, juicy taste of the jalebis peppered with aromatic saffron strands that makes it so delicious," says the 86-year-old who has just returned from his morning walk. The panki, a rice pancake steamed in a thin banana leaf, is another hot-selling item.
*Olympia Coffee House for mutton masala*
*Rahim Mansion, No 1, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Colaba*
*Call: 22021043*
*Be there by: 12 noon*
The mutton masala is so famous at this no-frills Colaba landmark, if you ask for kheema pao, they suggest you try the former. Which is what happened with Sujit Nadkarni, a first-time patron. And, he is quite happy with the dish.*Pic/Atul Kamble*
Long mirrors adorn the walls and the fossilised, marble-topped tables lend the place a quaint charm. "Not much has changed here in terms of food and décor since 1965," says its manager, Aamir Chowdhary. Jose Luis Jiménez Sánchez (in pic), a patron from Spain, agrees. Sanchez had visited the restaurant 20 years ago, while on a holiday.
"I remember loving the brain masala (bheja masala) and mutton curry. It's spicy, but delicious enough to make me return a second time," smiles the computer programmer, as he waits for his order.
*Aai Tulja Bhawani Prasann for poha*
*Next to Guru Nanak Hospital, Bandra East*
*Call: 9987320066*
*Be there by: 9.30 am*
A lanky, stooping old man mans the stall, Aai Tulja Bhawani Prasann, next to Guru Nank Hospital in Bandra East. We have got here at 11 am and are just in time to claim the last plate. "I start serving poha at 8.30 am and am usually done by noon. However, there are times when I am sold out in two hours. Then, I rush home, and ask my wife, Prabha, to make another batch," Ramchandra Kamble tells us.
The 58-year-old has been selling poha here for the last four years. "Before that, I was working as a salesman for a clothing company at Elco Market. The 12-hour shift was killing me. I quit and started this [stall]. Noon onwards, I sell veg biryani, which is over by 2.30 pm. Then I have the day to myself," says Kamble, coaxing us to try his chaas, spiced with green chillies and chaat masala.
"My wife trained with the Taj," says Kamble, showing us a laminated copy of her certificate. "I can't cook as well as her," he says, with pride.
*Fresco Bakery for kadak pav*
*29, Juhu Church Road*
*CALL: 26247295*
*Be there by: 5.30 pm*
At 5.15 pm on a sweaty Monday, we step into Juhu's most popular bakery, Fresco, and are welcomed by both —the aroma of freshly baked pav and owner (in pic) Sheila Fernandes' brilliant smile.
Laadis of kadak pav, each containing 12 conjoined pieces that are double baked for an hour in the oven, have come fresh out of the oven. Fernandes has been running the bakery, which her father-in-law set up in 1971, for 26 years. "My sons, Glen and Gavin, help me out," she says, as a customer comes forward to pay. She informs Fernandes about how her child fared in his exam, Sheila asks about her health — she'd caught the flu last week.
"People buy groceries once a week, but people come here for bread every other day. I know most of my clients by face. When I am not there, they ask after me," she says. By 6 pm, the quantity of kadak pav has dropped to half. "Sometimes, people buy an entire laadi, so it flies off the shelf. Those who come late complain we don't
make enough."
Jacinta Pereira is one such customer. "I have been buying the kadak pav from Fresco for 23 years. We eat it with butter, dip it in chai and even with Indian curries. I love its crunchy texture."
Another customer, Ayesha Hussain, comes all the way from Versova. "I used to live in Juhu for 10 years, so we don't like any other pav. We are also attached to the owner, Sheila, who greets us with love. It's like visiting a family member."
*Sangeeta Sweets and Farsan for samosas*
*Manoj Villa, DJ Road, Vile Parle Station West*
*CALL: 26102524*
*Be there by: 10 am*
Bhavesh Shah, 35, walks into Sangeeta Sweets and Farsan on the corner of DJ Road at Vile Parle, and asks for his usual — kachori and samosa. "Samosa cche ne? (Samosas are available?)" he asks Ramesh Thakkar (in pic) over the counter. "I live just around the corner and my office is also close by. Sometimes, I come here for two samosas when I don't want to go home for lunch," says Shah.*Pic/Sameer Sayyed Abedi*
The 40-year-old shop sells confectionary, Indian sweets like mango barfi, malai pedas and kaju katri, and savoury items like samosas, cutlets, and kachhoris. "Our samosas fly off the shelf. We start selling at around 10 am. By noon, they are over. We get a lot of corporate orders, so there are days you won't get a samosa at all.
Because of the popularity, we also started an evening sale from 5 pm to 7 pm," says Thakkar, who started the shop at the age of 16. His children, 22-year-old Kartik and 25-year-old Hemakshi are helping him expand. "We want to renovate, and add a seating area. We'll add cupcakes and cakes too, but samosas are our focus,"
Kartik says.
Stuffed with peas, mashed potatoes, cashewnuts, raisins and garam masala, they are fried in refined oil. "I have been coming here with my father since I was 10, and the taste has never changed," says Shah.
*Paris Bakery for kharis*
*278, Dr Cawasji Hormusji Street, Marine Lines*
*Call: 22086619*
*Be there by: 10 am*
It's easy to miss Paris in a narrow bylane of Marine Lines. But for those who have tasted the flaky khari biscuits brushed with butter, there's no forgetting this route. "I don't have customers from the neighbourhood. Most come from Walkeshwar, Carmichael Road, Tardeo and other areas of South Mumbai," says owner Danesh Irani when we meet him on a Tuesday afternoon.*Pics/Atul Kamble*
Irani is candid enough to admit that his steep prices make his snack accessible only to a privileged few. "The prices are high because quality is top notch." But Irani won't reveal the prices. "I tell customers too, don't ask me the price. First taste and then buy," he says. Along with the khari biscuits, the kharis twists, cheese batasas and garlic sticks are high-selling items.
The place has been serving patrons since 1963, and continues to exude an old-world charm, right from a quaint signboards that reads, 'Quality is never an accident' and 'We have no branches anywhere else'.
Kali Peshoton (83) is a loyal customer, even if it means he must face parking problems when he gets here. "I have to park at quite a distance and then walk it up, but it's worth it because you don't get soft, light kharis anywhere else." says Peshoton.
*Candies' for chutney sandwiches*
*5AA Pali Hill, next to Learners Academy School, St Andrews Road, Bandra West; ONGC Complex, Bandra Reclamation*
*Call: 26422324/26423513*
There's never an easy walk to the counter as hungry stomachs queue up to place their order at the Pali Hill and Reclamation outlets in Bandra. From the favourites — paneer makhani roll, to chicken patties, to burgers, pizzas and mini meals — the humble chutney sandwich is one of the fastest selling items at the café and bakery.*Pic/Suresh KK*
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After 'Shamitabh', I got umpteen calls and messages from Amitji and Jayaji, saying you better not wait another four years to make a movie. Start now!” laughs writer-director R Balakrishnan, 50, better known in the film fraternity as R Balki. It’s been a year since 'Shamitabh' released, and his next film, 'Ki and Ka', will be out next month. “I told them I was tired, I wanted to take a break. But they said, no way! Make a movie now. So, I sat right here…” he says, throwing a look around the Khar office he operates from, “and thought of an idea — a love story.”*R Balki. Pic/Suresh KK*
Starring Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor, 'Ki and Ka' follows what happens when established gender roles are reversed. Kareena plays an aggressive professional, while Arjun is a docile house husband, who chooses to “be this way, when he could have been whatever he wanted”.
With 'Ki & Ka', Balki is seeking to challenge the slots we have created in our minds and society. “I wanted to show a different side to love. I like starting my movies at a point different from anything seen before. How does a man express his love for a woman when he is doing what a woman does?” Before he casted for the film, he came across a picture of Kareena and Arjun in a magazine, and realised they would fit the bill. “I wanted a hunk of a man, as masculine as can be. And a girl who is the epitome of femininity. When someone who is out-there manly performs a feminine role, the audience could feel disconcerted, but eventually, they’ll relate to the characters. It turned out to be a fun, light movie.”
Balki, who is known for telling thought-provoking, but simple stories — 'Cheeni Kum' and 'Paa' — wants the audience to walk out of the cinemas feeling, “Maybe, we could live like this too”.
And yet, he admits, he doesn’t know what works for the audience. With decades of advertising experience (he is behind the hugely popular ‘daag ache hain’ campaign), and as Chairman and Creative Director of Lowe Lintas, you’d expect him to know what the audience ‘will buy’.
“I actually don’t. Nobody does. Some movies work, some don’t. God knows why 'Paa' worked and 'Shamitabh' didn’t. It’s a matter of what the movie-goer wants at that moment.” He says it’s the same for advertising.
“For instance, we made a Pepsodent ad in 2001. A musician played the ghattam, which is a matka played like a drum. A kid played the same kind of music by drumming his fingers on his teeth. This idea didn’t gel with the audience; they thought it was a Colgate ad, because Pepsodent had never associated itself with the image of a strong teeth, germ fighting toothpaste. I thought it was a brilliant ad, but it didn’t work.”
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06coconut-oil-s.jpg*Accused Ajay Sonawane*
According to police sources, the trio had cheated scores of unassuming people and had made good money. The two arrested agents have been identified as Suresh Lokhande, 38, and Bhujang Dasorjogi, 33, both residents of Shrirampur district, Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra.
The police got on its case when a complaint was registered by Goregaon-based couple Yusuf Kanchwala, 78, and wife Phatima, 55. The two claimed they had been cheated of R2.40 lakh by Sonawane, who ran an Ayurveda clinic named Sanjivini Ayurveda Distributer, at Mitesh Apartments on SV Road, Malad (West).
According to police sources, Suresh Lokhande met Yusuf Kaanchwal last year at a mall in Goregaon. After Kaanchwala told him that he and his wife were suffering from joint pain, the accused claimed that Sonawane could heal them. Sonawane took R2.40 lakh and in turn offered the medicine. He wasn’t to be seen after that at the clinic.
Kanchwala lodged a complaint against the duo on February 18 at Malad Police station. According to police officer Hasan Mulani, “Lokhande and Dasorjogi used to strike a conversation with people, and if anyone mentioned an illness, they would refer them to Sonawane. In December, they vacated the clinic and disappeared. Kanchwala tried contacting them. Ever since, more people have registered complaints against the fake centre.”
The police has registered a case against Sonawne and the agents under Section 420 and 34 of IPC, and the Maharashtra Ayurveda Adhiniyam Act 1961.*Others cheated*
>> Pandurang Patkar from Andheri. His 22-year-old daughter had trouble speaking. He paid Rs 84,000 to Sonawane.
>> Jitesh Mehta from Kandivali. He had an eye ailment. He was charged Rs 80,000.
>> Haji Usman Sidtar from Malad. He paid R80,000 for a skin treatment.
Reported by Mid-Day 1 week ago.