Mumbai Diary: Sunday Dossier

Pic/Anurag Ahire

Eye of the tiger

It's Children's Day today, and they will play if they want to - be it with a gulel or by hanging on bars.

Yes, we mind all those gaps

Australia skipper Mark Taylor (left) and coach Geoff Marsh arrive in Karachi for their tour of Pakistan on September 23, 1998. Pic/Getty Images

A Tu Tu Main Main emerged on Twitter earlier this week between an Indian and Australian journalist over Rameez Raja, the Pakistan Cricket Board chief, saying that his establishment was planning to organise an IPL-style tournament for women cricketers. The Aussie journo responded to the news by saying that the BCCI ought to feel embarrassed because they have yet to host one. His Indian counterpart, no fan of the BCCI notwithstanding, reckoned the Indian board will do it when the time is right. The conversation shifted with the Indian stressing how the Australian board should be embarrassed for not touring Pakistan for over two decades. A response to that, pointing to India not touring their neighbour (for 15 years) was expected and it did arrive. Our political situation as a reason didn't hold water and to be fair, there was no winner in the argument. But the facts on Australia-related gaps need to be highlighted. India's first Test visit to Australia was in 1947-48. Guess when the Indians were welcomed next? 1967-68. And the next? Ten years later, followed by 1980-81 and 1985-86. Then came the long Australian summer for Mohammed Azharuddin's 1991-92 tourists. It took eight years for the next visit before both countries enjoyed regular exchange of tours. Considering all this, plus the 24-year one to Pakistan, should Australia be talking about gaps? You tell us.

Ever heard of an EP of poems?

Megha Rao is a surrealist artist and a spoken word poet and is dangerously honest in her writing. After her podcast titled Poems to Calm Down To, Rao has come up with a spoken word debut EP called Teething. Tracks include The Woman, Raja Ravi Varma, The Art Of Metaphors and Vulnerable. Speaking to this diarist, she said, "Poems from my upcoming book, Teething, are also releasing with HarperCollins this December. Teething explores themes of growing up, healing from wounds and reconnecting with lost innocence. The EP, meanwhile, focuses more on the second chapter of the book - which is adolescent heartbreak, and introduces listeners to the magical world of emotions. Rage, grief, even overwhelming joy and wonder flit in and out of Teething like intimate midnight voice notes."

Kashelkar's art can now be worn

Goa-based artist Richa Kashelkar, whose paintings of vernacular and heritage architecture, verdant landscape and local flora and fauna, has earned her a huge following on social media, now has another feather to her cap. Kashelkar's paintings were recently brought to life in a clothing line by Colombian fashion designer Olga Piedrahita. "I was contacted by Danielle, Olga's daughter. They often do collections based on works of artists. So, they asked to acquire the rights to a few of my paintings they liked. They designed fabrics with them, and then turned the fabrics into garments."

Why men rape, once again

Author Tara Kaushal is back. This time, with the sequel to her critically acclaimed 2020 book, Why Men Rape, which will be out in 2022. When we spoke to her, she said that the main difference in this book and its predecessor is that it focuses on gender-based violence. "It's a more personal book, centering on the experiences of survivors. My agenda is, as always, that I want it to stop!" she told us from Australia, where she currently resides. "Here I have been deeply immersed with my interviewees and their stories."

How green is your shoe?

Kolkata-based organisation ThinkArts, in collaboration with the National Theatre of Scotland, is presenting a virtual shoe shop, doubling as an interactive digital project called Millipede. The project, created by UK artists Shona Reppe and Andy Manley in partnership with Indian artists, scientists and climate change organisations, is generating ideas and shaping artistic responses to our carbon footprint. The project has been commissioned by British Council as a part of The Climate Connection, its creative commissions programme for COP26. Participants have created exhibits in all shapes and forms. There is Dinesh Kumar's sculpture Local Beauty, with shoes made of a green bottle gourd (right pic). "Instead of a ‘carbon footprint' I wanted to make a ‘green footprint' with my shoes," says Kumar who used local vegetables and fruits. There is also participant Lynne Cunningham's Step Up Now! which is a stiletto made of weed webbing, peat-free compost, and cacti. "We have reduced waste by not
buying anything new," says this cobbler.
https://www.millpede.shop/