<h2>Together, we pray</h2>
<p>Two young devotees offer namaz outside Sunni Jama Masjid in Bandra on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Young minds, bold voices</h2>
<p><img title="Zidaan Castellino plants trees in Malad with BMC officials in 2023; (right) Zidaan Castellino" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2024/jun/dos-eighteen-june-b_e.jpg" alt="Zidaan Castellino plants trees in Malad with BMC officials in 2023; (right) Zidaan Castellino" width="1280" height="720" /><strong><em>Zidaan Castellino plants trees in Malad with BMC officials in 2023; (right) Zidaan Castellino</em></strong></p>
<p>The Western suburbs have found a promising green crusader in teenager Zidaan Castellino. When the 15-year-old noticed that the felling of trees near St Anthony&rsquo;s Church in Malwani to widen roads was making his visits to the church a tad hotter last weekend, he decided to write a concise letter to the BMC. The letter not only voiced his complaints but also suggested a practical solution. &ldquo;The trees were a vital part of the church-going experience for the residents. While I am not against widening roads, the balance can be maintained by replanting trees between drains along the road,&rdquo; he told us over a call. Castellino&rsquo;s interest in conservation isn&rsquo;t recent. After a similar plea last year that drew attention to cutting of trees in the Jankalyan area of Malad, the BMC replanted trees with the teenager&rsquo;s assistance. &ldquo;Being a young face in the field is a double-edged sword. Some days people ignore and dismiss your concerns, and on better days you&rsquo;re applauded for having a fresh perspective,&rdquo; the young civil services aspirant revealed. &ldquo;I see kids my age around me growing more mindful of plastic usage, upcycling and conservation. It gives us hope that together we can not only wish for a greener Mumbai, but go out and work towards it,&rdquo; Castellino reassured us.</p>
<h2>Rap rhymes for a reason&nbsp;</h2>
<p><img title="Shubham Tiwari, Vedant Chorge, Sourav Bagal, Chinu Shrivastav and Shafi Al Shaikh in a moment from the music video " src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2024/jun/dos-eighteen-june-c_e.jpg" alt="Shubham Tiwari, Vedant Chorge, Sourav Bagal, Chinu Shrivastav and Shafi Al Shaikh in a moment from the music video " width="1280" height="720" /><strong><em>Shubham Tiwari, Vedant Chorge, Sourav Bagal, Chinu Shrivastav and Shafi Al Shaikh in a moment from the music video&nbsp;</em></strong></p>
<p>Five city-based rappers are showing us how hip-hop can go beyond diss tracks. Social Issues Cypher Vol 1, a new single, has brought together rappers Shubham Tiwari, Vedant Chorge, Sourav Bagal, Chinu Shrivastav and Shafi Al Shaikh to shed light on social issues prevalent in the city. &ldquo;My verse speaks of the rising vandalism and organised crime in my area,&rdquo; revealed Shaikh, a Kurla resident. For Aarey-based rapper and law student Chorge, it was an opportunity to talk about corruption in the ecologically sensitive area. &ldquo;I hope it reaches the people in power, and opens their eyes to our reality,&rdquo; he shared.</p>
<h2>Game on for Mumbaikars</h2>
<p><img title="An in-game still from the  Mumbai map in the game; (right) Omkar Patil " src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2024/jun/dos-eighteen-june-d_e.jpg" alt="An in-game still from the  Mumbai map in the game; (right) Omkar Patil " width="1280" height="720" /><strong><em>An in-game still from the &nbsp;Mumbai map in the game; (right) Omkar Patil&nbsp;</em></strong></p>
<p>Fuelled by the frustration of not finding familiar streets in popular video games like PUBG and Fortnite, Panvel-based game developer Omkar Patil of Adhyos Studios has set out to build Udaa. The new first-person shooter (FPS) video game is based in Mumbai among other locations like Goa and Rajasthan. &ldquo;We have incorporated elements like Mumbai&rsquo;s iconic skyline and kaali-peelis into the gameplay. While the map isn&rsquo;t based on a particular neighbourhood, it encapsulated the spirit of the city. The game is close to completion and we will release a beta version as soon as next month,&rdquo; Patil told us.</p>
<h2>Driving a change in Bhandup</h2>
<p><img title="Jennifer Isaac; The female drivers; the first vehicle being handed over " src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2024/jun/dos-eighteen-june-e_e.jpg" alt="Jennifer Isaac; The female drivers; the first vehicle being handed over " width="1280" height="720" /><strong><em>Jennifer Isaac; The female drivers; the first vehicle being handed over&nbsp;</em></strong></p>
<p>The Pink Auto Project launched by Rotary Club of Bhandup is on a mission to turn the streets of the neighbourhood more inclusive by empowering female auto drivers. &ldquo;We noticed how some pockets of Bhandup West that live under the poverty line had a recurring problem of women having no independence or sense agency of their own. This is our first step towards changing that,&rdquo; shared Jennifer Isaac, club president. The pilot phase of the project saw five women from the area receive bright orange auto rickshaws at a subsidised price. &ldquo;We would&rsquo;ve loved pink, but regulations call for female-driven auto rickshaws to be this shade of orange,&rdquo; she laughed, adding that the club made accessing these vehicles easier by arranging for subsidies and easier loans. &ldquo;This gives the drivers a sense of ownership and hence, independence,&rdquo; Isaac shared. &nbsp;This diarist is happy to report that the club will soon take more than 80 women under its wing following the pilot phase.</p>
<h2>Taking the gallery online</h2>
<p><img title="Red Mumbai by Satish Patil will be one of the works to go online; (right)  Sanjana Shah" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2024/jun/dos-eighteen-june-f_e.jpg" alt="Red Mumbai by Satish Patil will be one of the works to go online; (right)  Sanjana Shah" width="1280" height="720" /><strong><em>Red Mumbai by Satish Patil will be one of the works to go online; (right) Sanjana Shah</em></strong></p>
<p>With an eye to having a global footprint, Worli&rsquo;s Tao Art Gallery launched a new online space this week to reach out to its patrons. &ldquo;The focus of the online gallery will be separate from the physical gallery,&rdquo; explained Sanjana Shah (below), creative director, Tao Art Gallery. While the artists associated with the gallery will interchange their exhibits between the online and physical spaces, Shah noted, &ldquo;The online gallery will have special and separate curated monthly or bi-monthly exhibitions. The idea was to expand further and have more access to audiences globally.&rdquo;</p><p>
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Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier

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