At the close of another year of covering the city and the new normal, we revisit 15 of our narrative features that are as timeless as they were timely. For your reading pleasure, here they are
Mid-day file pic.
While loss and despondency mingled with healing and hopefulness over the last 12 months, the Mid-day Online features desk kept a finger on the pulse of Mumbai. Our culture coverage examined the shifts in sentiment, the change of seasons, the schisms in polity, and the human urge to understand and create through it all.
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Spanning communities, representation, and lifestyle, these were 15 of the best stories we told in 2021:
Revival looms for the ‘lugra’: How two Mumbaikars are saving an East Indian sari from obscurity
City-based tour guide Mogan Rodrigues and textile heritage expert Savita Suri have teamed up to recreate a vintage East Indian sari called the ‘lugra’, which has been disappearing from wardrobes and memories in the last 50 years. Their effort could sow the seeds for wider textile revival in Maharashtra
Eco Anxiety: Not just the young, climate change is making everyone restless
There is no escaping climate change and its catastrophes. Mumbaikars have been navigating, coping, and fighting in the face of eco anxiety, annually flooding houses, existential dread and alarmist headlines. These are their hopes and concerns
Seasonal Seafood: How Mumbai’s Kolis relish dried fish on rainy days
The city’s fisherfolk adapt their cuisine when the monsoon makes seas too rough to navigate. The community’s seasonal delicacies mainly feature fish that were sun-dried and stored in the summer, and some of the tiny catch available closer to shore
UAPA has become an instrument to jail dissenters for years without any trial: Fr Stan’s lawyer
The custodial death of Father Stan Swamy brought attention to the problems of delays in trial and poor prison conditions in India. Mihir Desai, Swamy’s advocate and a human rights lawyer, says questioning the establishment is now viewed as sedition and criticism as waging war against the country
Cogs in Mumbai’s Machine: A new book spotlights the resourceful yet invisible workers who prop up the city
‘Bombay Brokers’ comprises 36 colourful and vibrant profiles of Mumbaikars who help run the city, though their work is not formally recognised. Its editor and two contributing writers talk about the idea behind the book and what they mean by ‘brokers’
Dilip Sahab’s Bombay: Retracing the legendary actor’s footprints in the city
Dilip Kumar arrived in Mumbai in the 1930s, going on to make a career and life in the bustling metropolis. Here are snapshots of the city that shaped him and was shaped by him
Why khadi, Gandhi's ‘fabric of freedom’, could do with more independence
The Indian fabric popularised by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle is sold through various channels today, but all that is marketed as khadi is not necessarily authentic. Ahead of Independence Day, experts explain why the true essence of the cloth has diminished and suggest ways to bring it back
Marching to the ghumat's beat: Why this fading folk drum deserves more love
The sound of the ghumat, played mainly by East Indians in Mumbai, isn’t as popular as it once was. As its sales dwindle, one member from the community has been attempting to revive the percussion instrument through a band, while another has been gifting it to people as a mark of his culture
Int’l Girl Child Day: Why it is urgent to bring girls at risk of dropping out back to the classroom
Marriage, domestic work, digital gaps and disrupted income regularly push Indian girls away from formal learning. On the occasion of International Girl Child Day, and as schools and colleges reopen across the country, we look at ongoing efforts to bring girls back in touch with education
Taking charge: How young people are encouraging sexual health conversations among peers
Barely 1% of Indian youth have had a parent discuss reproductive processes with them. While stigma, lack of information and socio-economic barriers often discourage conversations about sexual needs and reproductive health, young people from advocacy programmes are gradually helping adolescents open up about sex, pleasure and contraception
Why it is urgent to address caste-based discrimination in Indian medical institutions
The rise in the number of suicides of NEET aspirants and medical students from marginalised communities has brought into focus the unaddressed issue of caste in the Indian medical system. On World Science Day, public health expert Dr Sylvia Karpagam shares nuanced insights on how caste privileges lead to systemic exclusion of SC, ST students
Repeating one’s truth: Why coming out is a never ending process, not a one-time event
As the US observes National Coming Out Day on October 11, Mid-Day.com spoke to LGBTQIA+ individuals in India to understand their diverse experiences and delve into the psychological burden of having to come out over and over again
Rewriting the dress code: Why school uniforms need to be gender-neutral
A government school in Kerala recently made headlines for introducing gender neutral uniforms. Mid-Day.com delves into the significance and impact of the move as educators, parents, children, and a mental health expert share their views
Rave on: How techno music evolved during the pandemic
The outdoorsy, dance-driven genre of electronic music suffered a blow when the pandemic halted in-person gigs. Mid-Day.com spoke to techno artists, enthusiasts, and industry folk to understand what changed and how they kept the show going
Luxury in nature’s lap: How ‘glamping’ is gradually overtaking traditional camping
From staycations to camping and glamping in the city’s outskirts, Mumbaikars are exploring all possible options for a quick breather in December. As travel season reaches its peak, we look at why glamping, which promises both safety and comfort, is becoming popular among vacationers
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