Mumbai Diary: Saturday Dossier

Hold your horseA horse takes its caretaker for a ride at Versova beachA new platform for theatreTheatre evolving dramatically in the past year has further underlined the need for the art form to be accessible by not just all kinds of audiences but also budding artistes To ensure the necessary education reaches individuals from tier2 3 and 4 cities as well the Drama School of Mumbai DSM is launching an elearning platform for theatre arts on March 25 Jehan Manekshaw cofounder and head Drama School Mumbai shared the idea is to cultivate theatre as a way of life contributing to nationbuilding ldquoBy learning drama we build skills of confidence collaboration and communication we gain empathy and compassion With this project we will give lakhs of Indians access to this transformative experience to be better human beings working together to build a better societyrdquoA tune for friendshipAnita and Gary Lawyer Pic CourtesyGettyIt isnrsquot everyday that you hear a jingle advertisement for a frame shop But now Princess Streetrsquos iconic Chemould Frames has got two and rather spontaneously may we add by none other than the man with the golden voice Gary Lawyer and his wife Anita Launched in the year 1947 the shop is run by Adil Gandhy who is good friends with the veteran musician and shared that the duo werenrsquot formally commissioned to do it ldquoHe composes and sings songs on the computer so last week I just casually told him lsquoWhy donrsquot you do a jingle for my shoprsquo He said sure and just came up with tunes and I selected twordquo Gandhy told this diarist While the jingles will be broadcast on radio Gandhy also plans on making visuals to go along with the lyrics so that they can be uploaded on social media platforms such as Instagram ldquoItrsquos quite a catchy tune and some of my customers came to the store singing it in jest All the kudos to Garyrdquo Gandhy said Sounds like a true friendLetrsquos walk on the wild sideForests are more than just a source of oxygen for those living in tandem with nature itrsquos literally a source of roti kapda makaan such as for the indigenous community living in and around Aarey ldquoIndigenous tribal knowledge holds the key to conservation as human beings will try to conserve forests as long as they know how useful they arerdquo shared photographer and environment enthusiast Sanjiv Valsan in pic ahead of a RewildingAarey forest trail that hersquos set to host this Sunday Through the walk mdash that will include foraging for wild foods like kon a giant tuber that can feed up to 18 to 20 people a cookout and a homely adivasi meal mdash Valsan and tribal farmer Vanita Thakre are set to highlight nuggets of tribal wisdom about forest foods how deforestation directly affects indigenous communitiesrsquo lives and their incentive to protect the ecosystem ldquoDue to COVID19 a lot of tribal farmers have lost income So we hope to help them earn by utilising their own traditional knowledgerdquo If yoursquod like to take a walk on the wild side call 9867403957A helping handMumbai couldnrsquot have possibly survived the pandemic had it not been for countless Good Samaritans Take for instance Shayne DSouza a Mahimbased sales executive who has been helping senior citizens After his job was paused due to the uncertain economic scenario DSouza started helping out the elderly in and around Mahim and Bandra for their vaccination trips to and from the BKC Jumbo COVID Centre in exchange for a nominal fee ldquoSlowly a lot of people started recommending my name and passing my number around and word spread I pick them up from home drop them to the centre guide them with bookings wait with them for two hours and take them back home My service is open to people across age groupsrdquo DSouza told this diarist Need help Reach him at 9820998524When comics make senseThere was a time before the digital revolution when comic books were a treasured item for children But many of them prefer to spend time on the Internet these days instead of poring through an actual book An upcoming magazine called Comixense hopes to reverse this trend to some extent Edited by illustrator Orijit Sen inset it will be published quarterly with each edition featuring a certain theme around which comics will be commissioned to different writers and artists he shared ldquoI was approached by Taxila an education foundation who were concerned that the idea of engaging with words on paper is slipping away from kids these days The stories in the magazine will involve social political historic and literary themes Although there is an educational bent to it we donrsquot want young people to see it as something that is part of their curriculum We want the magazine to spark their imagination insteadrdquo the illustrator told this diarist adding that the first issue will be out come April