Run by the students of Udaan
MumbaiWeekly Volume 01 Issue 18
people
Monday, 6 August 2012
metro
arts
sports
Motormen bring city to a halt A section of Western Railway’s motormen went on a flash strike on Friday bringing the city to a grinding halt and plunging it into total chaos. Around 450 motormen reported sick from 1530hrs onwards a few hours before the peak traffic that travels on these trains. Steadily crowds began to build up at Churchgate sta-
tion as no trains moved from there. trains travelling towards Churchgate either halted mid-way or crawled slowly; commuters spilt out on tracks and walked kilometres to their destination; buses got packed to the hilt; and auto and taxi drivers charged double the fare. The union spearheading the agitation,
Western Railway Motormen Association (WRMA), said its action on Friday was aimed at highlighting several issues, including the "appointment of two rebel motormen". It called off the strike around 8pm after holding talks with WR authorities. But by that time, 50 services had been cancelled and
lakhs of commuters had suffered. The union’s time according to sources was timed perfectly to hold maximum commuters to ransom ensuring that the management gives in to their demands and to get the attention of senior railway officials who arrived in Mumbai in wake of an unrelated train collision .
Left: A man reacts to an announcement stating all suburban trains have been cancelled due to a flash motorman strike in Mumbai. Krishanu Nagar / Mumbai Weekly Above: People wait on a Suburban train platform in Mumbai after trains were cancelled due to a flash motorman strike. Krishanu Nagar / Mumbai Weekly
India’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna passes away Rajesh Khanna, known to be as the first Indian screen idol passed away on Wednesday 18 July 2012 in Mumbai. Khanna age 69, was unwell for sometime now and was in and out of hospital over the last month. The actor was known for his boyish charm, shy smile and flamboyant looks. Khanna was often referred as Bollywood’s real super star who had a fanatical fan following especially among women. The
actor played lead roles in many romantic films during his career. Such was the love craze for this super star that at the peak of his career women symbolically married posters of the actor revealed people who worked with him. The Bollywood community came together to mourn the death of the actor. ―Rajesh Khanna taught us how to smile. He added dignity to our concept of romance‖ actor Anupam Kher
wrote on Twitter. Tributes to Khanna came in from all quarters including from the Prime Minister . Television channels ran special features showcasing the many films of the actor joining in the tributes were radio channels and networking sites that paid its respects to the actor. Khanna’s role in ’Aradhana’ where he played a pilot in ’Ananad’ where he played a terminally ill patient will remain
some of his most memorable works along with his many dialogues which have become iconic with an entire generation. Khanna’ acting career was laced with a stint of politics during the 1990’s. His last television appearance was in an advertisement for a ceiling fan company which aired a few weeks before his death. The actor is survived by his estranged wife and his two daughters .
Right: People carry an image of Indian film actor Rajesh Khanna before his funeral in Mumbai. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
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PEOPLE
MONDAY, 6 August 2012
Mumbai Weekly
A boy runs on a road in Mumbai during a heavy downpour. Saarthak Aurora / Mumbai Weekly
Missing Monsoon Monsoon worries loom at the back of every persons head in Mumbai as the amount of rainfall has decreased drastically this year over the last. The government too has started working towards various drought management measures if these worst fear were to come true. Inspite of the delayed rains Mumbai did receive its initial showers on time and with it the magic associated with this season.
The monsoons bring out the best and the worst of the city in the form of the rains wash the muck and filth giving the city a clean glow. At the same time the monsoons can over load the century old city infrastructure bringing it to a grinding halt. Mumbai Weekly photographers captured some of these magical moments during the brief monsoon spell the city enjoyed. A woman protects herself from the rain in Mumbai. Shankar Narayan/Mumbai Weekly
A taxi driver sleeps during a downpour in Mumbai. Shankar Narayan / Mumbai Weekly
Left: A group of girls play in the splash of a wave from the sea in Mumbai Saarthak Aurora / Mumbai Weekly Above: A woman protects her child from the rain in Mumbai. Shankar Narayan / Mumbai Weekly
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MONDAY, 6 August 2012
metro
Mumbai Weekly
Motorman flash strike halts city
People walk on railway tracks in Mumbai after Suburban train services were halted in Mumbai due to a flash strike by motormen. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
Left and Above : People react after trains stop in Mumbai. Pratham Gokhale/ Mumbai Weekly
STOP female infanticide
Around 250 dancers perform on a beach in downtown Mumbai at a flash mob dance sequence bringing awareness against female infanticide. Shankar Narayan / Mumbai Weekly
World Hepatitis Day The theme of this year's World Hepatitis Day on July 28 was 'It's closer than you think.' With about one million people worldwide dying due to hepatitis - and millions suffering immediate sickness or developing chronic illness - the theme reflects the lurking dangers of the disease. According to the WHO, worldwide around two billion people are infected with the Hepatitis Bvirus and 6,00,000 die each year due to its consequences. In India, approximately 80 million people harbour the
hepatitis B virus, which results in around 2,40,000 deaths annually due to complications from the disease. A blood-borne disease, HEP B is hundred times more infectious than HIV, mainly transmitted by exposure to an infected individual's blood, semen, saliva, vaginal discharge or breast milk. Besides these, unsafe injection practices pose the greatest threat in India, particularly from reuse of infected needles. According to WHO statistics, around 12 to 16 billion injections are ad-
ministered each year globally. In developing nations, including India, almost 50% of such injections may be unsafe because of improper sterilization, repeat usage of single-use needles and syringes, inappropriate administration techniques and hazardous means of disposal. Such risky practices expose patients, physicians and the public to the dangers of contracting the deadly Hepatitis virus. It is important to note that HEP B is not transmitted via food, water or casual contact such as touching.
A transgender receives a vaccination during an awareness drive at a city hospital in Mumbai on Hepatitis B. Sathya Keerti / Mumbai Weekly
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EDITORIAL
MONDAY, 6 August 2012
Mumbai Weekly
POINT OF VIEW: India, my India!!
Chirag Suttar
Protesters demanding the Jan Lokpal Bill hold a poster with a sarcastic message against growing corruption and inefficiency in the Indian government in Mumbai on 17 August 2011. Monsoons have already begun, but there have been little or no rain – it could have been a worrisome problem if it was some other country, but not in India. With 36 crore deities to rescue, we have little to fear. It was good to read that rather than announcing a contingency plan, we decided to spend 17 crores to appease the Gods. Meanwhile, our Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar spent the entire week negotiating more power to his party and himself.
Yes, power is important. The people of India, so far, have given power to various Governments since independence all of them did a great job of not completing any job. Former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee finally became India’s 13th President. He got the royal salute, and signed the papers saying he will protect the Constitution of India. As he signed, somewhere in the hall room, one could see a glimpse of former Sports minister Suresh Kalmadi, accused of the multi-crore Common Wealth scam smiling – last heard, he has been allowed to go to the London Olympics as an individual. He surely deserves a Gold for his sportsmanship, and all the previous Presidents and Prime Ministers a Gold each for protecting the constitution of India. Meanwhile, India’s Asian games medallist
People hold a banner that reads, My India is Great IN CORRUPTION at Mumbai. Chirag Suttar / Mumbai Weekly
Santhi Soundarajan was reported to be reduced to penury, and was found working in a brick kiln as a daily wage earner. Soundarajan roughly made Rs 200300 a day – well, that’s not even quarter of the expense of a ministers pet dog. But it could be equivalent to the cost of chewing gum that MS Dhoni or Sachin Tendulkar pop in their mouth
during break time. But now let’s leave India’s sporting achievements aside for a moment. Indian women who were earlier considered as divine, are going through an image makeover. A teenage girl is openly molested in full public view in Assam, and it later turns out that a media person was allegedly involved
in inciting the incident for the sake of camera (Looks like Indian media is done with their stories on baba’s and bhoot-pret). In another case, an orphan young women travelling in a long distance train in South India was unabashedly offered money for sex by goons, and when she refused, she was thrown out of a running train. Meanwhile, oth-
er good Samaritans stood in inaction (effect of watching too many mindless reality shows, I suppose).
2 lakh people homeless. But well, I’ll stop here for my own safety. I do not want my chest to rise so much in pride that it’ll The list can be endless – burst. Choking, but still even read a premature baby saying, Mera Bharat Mapulled out of ventilator for han. his parents couldn’t manage to pay Rs 200, and the Bodos and Muslim conflict in The above views are the North East that has ended personal views expressed up killing 40, and rendering by the author.
OPINION : When law makers become law breakers
A man interacts with a Mumbai Police official in Mumbai. Shailesh Andrade / Mumbai Weekly The police the world over have been appointed to upkeep the law, maintain law and order and keep anti social elements out of society. Mumbai, like every city has it’s own police force. The Mumbai PoShailesh Andrade lice ( मुंबई पोलिस) (also
known as Brihanmumbai Police) is the police force of the city. It has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Mumbai. The department's motto is
nigrahaṇāya" (Sanskrit: tional places like disco’s employees for working
and pubs, arrested people सद्रऺणाय खिनिग्रहणाय, for dancing, introduced "To protect the good and and effectively applied an outdated law that calls to punish the evil"). Is for a permit for drinking. the Mumbai Police deTarnished women having partment living up to its a good time in an all girl motto?? Let us see, in group by arresting them the last couple of months "Sadrakṣaṇāya Khala- they have raided recrea- for being alleged prostitutes, arrested female
in restaurants, again mostly under the same charge. Beaten up a helpless, homeless old man, this incident was visually recorded by a daily newspaper and worse, last week beat up a young female lawyer who argued with them
while driving home after a party with her brother and friends. The list can continue from harassment of small street vendors, to bearded men being detained at Nakabandhi’s (street side Police checks) and many more undocumented and unknown incidents that will never be known. To protect the good and punish the evil, maybe it is subjective that women drinking, dancing, having a good time is evil,. Living on the street, running a business past deadlines and driving without proper documents are breaking the law and the police do have the right to correct these incidents but the question here is what good are they protecting? While the police have done their share of noticeable work, a lot of glaring social issues go unnoticed for example, the thriving sex trade industry in the city where young girls are forced into the trade, children sold and traded for labor in small scale industries, drugs and other illegal substances easily available all over the city, crimes against women both domestic and on the street, political parties flouting all rules in rally’s and of course slum lord’s occupying illegal prime land all
over the city. Why is the police so helpless in matters that matter? According to a source who requested to be kept anonymous, there exists a nexus between the police and politicians. A sad fact which might never be proved but in reality the political muscle does control the police force. Could this be the reason why officials trained to upkeep the law remove their frustrations on the common man? It has been documented in the past that upright and honest officers have been transferred to remote area’s and even handed redundant portfolio’s for standing up to the system. With multiple rules, a slow judiciary system and the power to charge any person under any section, the Mumbai Police has become a power every citizen fears. Maybe it is time for Mumbai as a globally growing city to stand up against this tyranny, demand a change in out dated laws and an entirely new system of functioning by its Police force.
The above views are the personal views expressed by the author.
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FEATURE
MONDAY, 6 August 2012
Mumbai Weekly
13/7 blasts: A year after 2011
2012
2011: The Busy diamond market was closed
2012: Trade continues undisturbed on the streets a year later
2011: The street was deserted mar police officials
2012: People wait for their bus in the restored bus stop
Mumbai silently mourned the victims of the triple blast that rocked the city last year on 13 july 2011, that left 27 people dead and injured over a 100. There was no show of anger, large cutouts and public gatherings which have become synonymous with post terror memorable services in the city. Mumbai Weekly photographer Pratham Gokhale had visited the sites a day after the blasts last year and did the same this year. His images of normalcy at the three locations are an indication of a resilient city that will not bow down to terror acts.
2011: A man peers through glass panes shattered by the blast
2012: Everything back to normal
2011: Forensic official look through the wreckage for clues
2012: Business continues as normal
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MONDAY, 6 August 2012
Arts and entertainment
Star’s bid adieu to super star
Shahrukh Khan
Amitabh Bachaan
Shabana Azmi Abhishek. As the day progressed, actors Dharmendra, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kaswelled outside Ashirwad, the sea facing poor and Shabana Azmi, directors Yash bungalow of late actor Rajesh Khanna Chopra and J P Dutta as well as santoor ever since son-in-law and actor Akshay maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma arKumar announced the actor passed away. rived to pay their last respects. WriterAs the body of the actor was brought director Gulzar and music composer home film personalities, fellow actors and Khayyam were also spotted. Shah Rukh friends began pouring in to pay their last Khan, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif respects. Actor Prem Chopra was the first came in the evening to pay their last reto arrive, veteran actor Raj Babbar folspects. lowed soon after and spent a considerable amount of time with the grieving family. Mumbai Weekly photographer Pratham Amitabh Bachchan — who acted with Khanna in Anand and Namak Haram — Gokhale captured the galaxy of stars arrived around 4 pm accompanied by son that came to condole with the family.
The number of fans and media persons
Shammi Kapoor
Salman Khan
Lyricist Gulzar
Mumbai Weekly
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SPORTS FEATURE
MONDAY, 6 August 2012
Mumbai Weekly
Sarang Lakhanee plays a shot during the Maharashtra State Selection tournament in Mumbai. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
Chopda De and Aditi Mutatkar win Maharashtra state selection Badminton Tournament The second Maharashtra state selection Badminton tournament hosted by khar gymkhana started on 25th July 2012 and ended on 29th July 2012. The tournament had maximum number of entries and it had the record winning men's singles draw of 256. Finals were
held on 29th July. Gauri Ghate and Nupur Sahasrabudhe won the final of women's doubles verses Manasi Gadgil and Saee Purandare in a sensational match. Whereas Bisal Das and Shubhankar De defeated Abhishek Kulkarni and Prashant Bahatre in Men's
doubles. In the men's singles final match between Shubhankar De and Sagar Chopda, De won due to Chopda got injured during the first game of the match. In women's singles, Aditi Mutatkar defeated Riya Pillai to stay on top.
Above: Prashant Bahatre
plays a shot during the Maharashtra State Selection tournament in Mumbai. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly Left: Varad Govande reacts
during a match in the Maharashtra State Selection tournament in Mumbai. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly Below: Bisal Das, Tourna-
ment doubles winner plays a shot during his match. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
Sonal More at the Maharashtra State Selection tournament in Mumbai. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
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MONDAY, 6 August 2012
Sports
United India All India Snooker Open from Mumbai
Players play their frames during the United Phosphorus All India Open and Invitational Snooker Tournament in Mumbai. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly gymkhana will then play with 16 big and Invitational Snooker Tournament players like two times Asian Champiis going on at Khar gymkhana, Mum- on Yasin Merchant, former world bai. This is the fifth year of the tourna- number three Kamal Chawla, Senior ment and has 180 entries from around snooker player of Hong Kong Andy 12 states of India. Qualifying round of Lee, current six red snooker National Champion Shivam Arora and many the tournament will be held between more. The main event will be held 25 July 2012 to 4 August 2012. Top between 5 August to 10 August 2012. four qualified players from all India and top four qualified players of Khar
United Phosphorus All India Open
Ramesh Kasare (left), Kartikeye Sharma (right) and Vajir Sheikh (below) play during the United Phosphorus All India Open and Invitational Snooker Tournament in Mumbai. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
Division III football kicks off in Mumbai
Above & Right: Players participate in a Division III football match in Mumbai. Shankar Narayan / Mumbai Weekly. The Third Division matches of the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) League is being played at the St. Xavier’s ground, Parel. The above match was played by Atlanta FC vs Companeros B. In a thrilling contest Companeros B beat Atlanta FC 3-2. Published by: Udaan School of Photography. Editor: Shailesh Andrade Chief Photographer: Abhinav Reddy Email: editor.mumbaiweekly@gmail.com
Mumbai Weekly