Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Pic/Shadab Khan

Get, set, stretch

A student of Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir in Dadar practices mallakhamb, an ancient form of Indian gymnastics, at Shivaji Park.

Celebrating pleasure, one story at a time

Leeza Mangaldas; Rhiana Mills and Ipsita Divedi

There's a culture of silence that tends to engulf discussions on sex and sexual pleasure. To break this silence and bring about sex-positive conversations, three women have started 100 Stories of Pleasure. The digital project, led by India-based Ipsita Divedi and Leeza Mangaldas, along with UK-based Rhiana Mills, aims to collect and curate an anthology of 100 pleasure-positive stories from around the world. "The three of us are fellows of The Pleasure Fellowship, by The Pleasure Project, an education and advocacy organisation. We always listen to stories about sex that are triggering or negative. So, we decided to start a conversation that celebrates pleasure instead," explained Divedi, adding that the idea is to shatter the myths around sex and pleasure. To share your story, head to @100storiesofpleasure on Instagram.

Vikas Khanna's green mantras

Chef Vikas Khanna. Pic courtesy/Facebook

With the world waking up to the goodness of plant-based diets, chef Vikas Khanna recently unveiled his new book, Back To Our Roots: Recipes From The Holistic Kitchen, at the India Pavilion of Dubai Expo 2020. Inspired by a conversation between the chef and author Flavel Monteiro, the book comprises plant-based recipes that showcase India's rich culinary heritage, with a focus on boosting health. "This book is about the ancient wisdom of cooking plant-based meals using the best ingredients. I hope readers will enjoy cooking from the book," he said.

Be a pal to street animals

For the past five years, Thane-based non-profit Pet Owners and Animal Lovers (PAL) Foundation, through its ambulance, has been tending to emergency cases of animals hurt, abandoned or in need of care. However, the foundation has now been compelled to stop the ambulance service owing to lack of funds. Chairperson Aditi Nair shared that the average monthly cost of running the ambulance is around R1,20,000. "We had crowdfunded and started the ambulance because there was a need for on-site treatment of animals, which we specialise in. People do donate for food and medicines of animals, but often, we can't raise enough money for the overheads, without which we can't run the ambulance. We were forced to choose between taking care of the special needs animals who are already with us, or running the ambulance," she explained. The non-profit plans to start a fundraiser to raise R15 lakh - the annual cost of running the service. "It's quite a setback for us; we know there are animals who will suffer. We hope for the best," Nair said. Keen to lend them a hand? Follow them on @mypalclub on Instagram.

Affair to remember

Singh in a still from the play

A year ago, Madh Island-based actor-writer Neha Singh had performed in a virtual theatre production, Long Distance Affair, for which she collaborated with New York-based Dipti Bramhandkar, also from Mumbai, and Tai Thompson. Produced by Juggerknot Theatre Company and PopUp Theatrics, the show was designed like a virtual flight to five cities. Singh's performance and the show have now been nominated for the 2022 NoPro Audience Award - an international award that felicitates the best of immersive arts. "It was interesting but challenging working on the piece. My act was complicated because I was playing a medium - a person who connects people with their departed loved ones - and also because it was constantly interactive," she told us.

Spreading smiles

On World Hijab Day yesterday, hijabi blogger and modest wear designer Anah Shaikh celebrated by donating her premium-wear hijabs to girls who love wearing them, but can't afford one. Starting with a school in her hometown Thane, she is now aiming to send it to grade 10 students of local schools across India so that they can wear it to college with pride. "The response has been amazing; these girl students were super happy, and their reaction left me emotional. Through this campaign and also my brand's vision, ‘spreading modesty all around', I'm trying my best to create awareness and spread positivity for hijabs so that people don't get judged for their choices and their right to dress the way they want," Shaikh told this diarist.