Mumbai Diary: Wednesday whispers

Sculpting dreams in clay
For well-known sculptor Jai Prakash Shrigaokar, his work is its own reward. Typically modest, the Andheri-based artist, who is 64, has made a miniature statue of late Shiv Sena leader Balasaheb Thackeray, as a tribute to his idol and hero.

Jai Prakash Shrigaokar in his workshop at Mahakali Caves Road. Pic/Rane Ashish

The clay statue (in picture) is all of 3 feet high, but Shrigaokar harbours bigger ambitions. He had been felicitated by Thackeray when he had made the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji which is installed at Sahar airport, and his dearest wish now is to have the chance to create a life-size sculpture of the late leader, wherever the Thackeray memorial is eventually located.

"I have always been a sculptor all my life, ever since childhood," Shrigaokar told us. "I simply worship Balasaheb and it would be nothing less than an honour to be allowed to make his statue."

CGSI goes to the North-East
Well, not literally but figuratively, as 24 students from Shillong, Meghalaya, who are studying for their Masters in Social Work, visited the Consumer Guidance Society of India office in the city last week.

Honorary secretary of the CGSI Dr MS Kamath and other CGSI functionaries told the students about the definition and rights of a consumer, how to tackle misleading advertisements, and how they can be proactive in checking weighing scales at retail outlets.

The youngsters learnt how CGSI functions, and when they left they were an enlightened lot. "We learnt how to educate and help the consumers. We are also determined to stand for the rights of the consumers since we are trained for that," said an enthusiastic student.

Plus Plus
As they say, boys will be boys whether young or old. A bunch of officegoing men on the train were spotted having a gala time cracking jokes at each other on their morning commute to Churchgate.

The conversation sounded just like what one would hear in a college canteen pulling each other's legs, high-fives over silly jokes. Just then the conversation swerved towards the cellphones that each group member carried. Many cheap brands were discussed, and several high-end smart ones also came up.

One of them claimed that he had the latest Plus+ smart phone. Another member, not willing to believe him and ridiculing him, stated that he would offer him Rs 2,000 cash for his Plus+, if he dared to sell it.

The former took on the dare and asked for the cash to be put upfront. Egged on by the others, the latter fished out two crisp Rs 1,000 notes and handed them over, waiting for his grand prize. The dealer by now had a beaming ear-to-ear grin on his face.

He pocketed the money and opened his bag. While all eyes were on his bag, the man pulled out the mother of all cons. He presented a packed, brand-new shaving blade with Plus+ written in gleaming text.

The entire group and many fellow passengers burst out in laughter and the ‘buyer' became the butt of the joke. The bantering continued till the train reached Churchgate, and having learnt his lesson the buyer emerged a ‘wiser' commuter.

It's AAP-le season
Arvind Kejriwal's win and some observations, because after all, politics is still a verrrrry funny game…

>> Whether the Kejriwal toast at Willingdon Club (Mahalaxmi), certainly not a club for the aam aadmi, will go up by a few rupees

>> Whether pehle AAP, pehle AAP gets a new meaning altogether?

>> Arvind Kejriwal is the AAP-le of the political eye

>> There is analysis after analysis about how Kejriwal upset the BJP AAP-lecart

>> Whether AAP supporters are singing, j(h)adoo teri nazar…

>> Could the comeback man be christened Ar-win Kejriwal?

>> Whether BJP has got the runs after a gut punch in the Delhi belly?

>> With original anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare to be invited for the oath-taking, would AAP supporters sing, Anna dekh, haan dekh, Kejri nahi bigda jaaye… as Anna had accused Kejri of being power-hungry.

>> Kejirwal's 49-day stint earlier may be forgotten but just in case, he is tempted to leave the chair again… Chipka le saiya Fevicol se...

>> For the BJP, this was an AAP-ocalypse.

>> The Common Man is wondering whether mangoes will be less expensive and go by the name of Aam Aadmi Peti.

>> The BJP has crashed into a (Kejri)Wal.

>> The AAP will now sing, dil bole broom, broom.

>> AK (hey, it's an age of acronyms) takes the oath on the first day of the cricket World Cup, on Saturday, February 14. Second innings as CM, in cricketing terms it is the ‘doosra'.

>> We are now wondering after the Modi bandhgala trending in Parliament, will it be Kejriwal's muffler?