Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

Pic/Anurag Ahire

Paws and relax

A woman stretches as her dog rests on the pavement at Marine Drive.

Peace on our minds

Nimo Patel, Tanvi Jindal Shete and Safdar Rahman

You heard it here first. Ahead of International Day of Happiness on March 20, over 500 children from schools and NGOs are expected to gather for a Peace Carnival on March 9 at Museum of Solutions (MuSo), Lower Parel. The one-day-fest by the children's museum aims to put out a collective co-created by children to spread peace and love. "We expect to express hope for the safety of kids all over the world, and respect for the courage and resilience they continue to show in global conflict zones," said Tanvi Jindal Shete, founder, MuSo. The museum is collaborating with hip-hop musician Nimo Patel, filmmaker Safdar Rahman and artist Ruchi Bakshi to co-create a peace anthem, a short film and fraternity flag. "Children from different backgrounds will engage with the songwriting process. At the end of the day, we wil have one song, collectively and collaboratively written and performed," said Patel. "Sometimes, we need to just look children in the eye and tell them that it's rough, but we're with them," Rahman, who will co-create the short film, shared. Post its production, Teach For India's Kids Education Revolution Initiative will help distribute the collective to children in global conflict zones. Interested children can sign up on museumofsolutions.in.

Empowering tales

Women of Sakhi Circle share stories at a previous edition of the showcase

Kshirsagar Apte Foundation's second season of Ladies Local Showcase is an annual grant where grassroots movements will share stories of women empowerment. Of the six grantees selected is art lab Nazaria's Sakhi Circle. The circle is a feminist solidarity group for women from the low-income neighbourhood of Shankarwadi in Jogeshwari. "Through photography and zine-making, the women will talk about their dreams, freedom, gender roles and sukoon found in female friendships and sisterhood," shared Nazaria member and project facilitator Paridhi Mundra.

Science is fun

Professor M N Vahia delivers a lecture on Indian physicist CV Raman

On National Science Day yesterday, the Nehru Science Centre concluded a five-day long celebration with a houseful lecture on Indian physicist late CV Raman. "The venue had 250 seats but we got 400 registrations," said director Umesh Kumar Rustagi. Among the many activities, two popular ones were the rapid response challenge and hydro thrust rocket demonstration. He added, "Our aim is to get more children to take up science as a career. It requires a lot of patience, but the fun lies in the fact that many claims made by scientists previously can be falsified!"

An expert demonstrates a hydro thrust rocket to children

As old as time

An award-winning artwork by Mumbai-based artist Vaibhav More

The Bombay Art Society inaugurated its 132nd All India Annual Art Exhibition on Tuesday in the presence of Governor of Maharashtra Ramesh Bais, and Padma Shri-awardee and actor Manoj Joshi. Giving us a brief history on why the society was founded in 1888, current president Rajendra Patil said, "Back then, India had no platform for artists, and so the exhibition was founded. Another challenge was that there was no art gallery, either." The Town Hall became one of the many venues that hosted the exhibition until Jehangir Art Gallery was founded in 1952. He added, "We receive entries from every part of India. This year, we received 3,000 entries, of which 225 are currently on display at Jehangir Art Gallery till this Sunday, and 47 received awards, while three received scholarships.