Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

Pic/Anurag Ahire

With time on his hands

A clock seller fixes a watch at Abdul Rahman Street near Crawford Market.

In the deep end

As the furore over deepfakes and AI-influenced art takes over the Internet, students of HR College in Churchgate are setting out on a mission. Five students will assist vice principal Navin Punjabi on a minor research project to raise awareness about the dangers and growing issues related to the use of deepfakes on the Internet, shared principal Pooja Ramchandani. "They will be involved in collection of data, analysis and creating reports on systematic data point observation. They will also be travelling with Punjabi to over 11 districts across the state to study and observe the effects of this phenomenon," she noted. The submissions of the report are expected to arrive by the end of March. It certainly will make for an interesting read.

Walk for a change

Mhatre (left) with Malhotra and Roy (second and third from right) at the walk

A community walk by the Walking Project took its steps of change to Chembur last week. Joining them to assess the walkability across the suburb this time were Paromita Roy, who worked with the Delhi government in 2010 on the urban design guidelines; Anuj Malhotra, general manager of Srinagar Smart City and Anil Singh, a senior journalist. "Rishi Aggarwal [founder of the Walking Project] met Paromita and Anuj on his recent trip to Srinagar and they became friends," said Vedant Mhatre, programme manager. Discussions included lack of accessibility across Mumbai's railway stations for the visually impaired, how despite more footfall in stations here than in Delhi, funds are not being used keeping in mind aesthetics, utilitarianism or circulation, and sweet anecdotes from Srinagar.

A work of calm art

Aditi Surana with her works at the gallery

Not all artists are driven by the chaos of creative energy. Some find it accidentally. City-based creator Aditi Surana's first exhibition at the Nehru Centre last weekend started out as a practice to reduce anxiety during the lockdown. "I had started a social initiative during the lockdown where we reached out to people struggling with social and mental anxiety. With over 40,000 people responding, it was a bit overwhelming for me as a mental health coach. That's when I turned to art as a means to centre myself," Surana explained. While it was her first time working with the canvas, the medium is not a new one for the city-based coach. "My father was an art director, so I have grown up around art, watching him work, during visits to galleries," she told this diarist. Yet, the experience left a mark on her. Post-lockdown, Surana also signed on with artist Arzan Khambatta for training sessions. "Most of my work is reflective and meditative. They were large, but created with very thin pens that were 0.55 mm or less in breadth. This required a lot of intense involvement. It also explains why visitors often felt drawn into the canvas," she said. While the exhibition proved to be a novel experience, Surana added that it is just the start. "I suppose it has become more than just a hobby for me. I have been invited to host an exhibition in a city gallery in March, and I am also part of another upcoming group exhibition. It is a good start," Surana told this diarist.

Say it with words

A participant at a previous event

If you are tired of the chaotic rollercoaster that is the modern relationship, the literary alternative for Valentine's Day at Crossword bookstores across the city might be a more suitable option. The bookstore will throw its doors open for bibliophiles looking for a blind book date. "The idea is to encourage readers to embrace the unknown. They will be presented with a tantalising, yet vague description of the book, as a mysterious clue. It will eliminate preconceived notions and build excitement and anticipation for the date with the book," said Nidhi Gupta, executive director. Now, that is a good way to find a special companion.

Golden girls meet

The batch in their old classroom

It was quite the raucous celebration when the girls of the 1973 batch dropped by the Holy Cross Convent School in Thane on Saturday. The event marked the 50th anniversary of their passing out of school, said alumna Chandra Wilson. "The reunion was attended by 50 of the 90 students in the batch. Some of us live in the US, UK and Canada, and were unable to visit in 2023.

The specially-designed cake

So, the group decided to postpone the reunion to last weekend," she added. In addition to visiting their old classroom, the former students also cut a cake designed in the school colours. "The borders were in the colours of our old school uniform with the badge at the centre. We also got fridge magnets in the same style as mementos," she shared with this diarist.