Run by the students of Udaan
MumbaiWeekly Volume 01 Issue 08
FRIDAY, 17 February 2012
people
feature
metro
sports
Charge of the Saffron „Sena‟
People cheer the results of the Mumbai civic polls announced on 17 February 2012. The Shiv Sena alliance retained power in the body. Saarthak Aurora / Mumbai weekly The Shiv Sena – BJP – RPI alliance defied election pundits and came out with the highest number of seats in the Mumbai Civic Election results announced on 17 February 2012. The alliance fell short of a clear majority in the civic body but is
expected to retain power with the support of independent candidates. In the final tally the Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata PartyRepublican Party of India combine bagged a total of 107 seats. It was followed by the Congress-Nationalist Con-
gress Party coalition at a distant second position with 65 seats. The MNS grabbed 29 seats, and Independents and others 26 of the total 227 seats. The Shiv Sena alliance also won majority of the seats in neighbouring Thane but fell short of a
clear majority even there. The Congress, suffered the most, failing in yet another attempt to capture the Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The Sena-BJP combine, which has kept control of India's biggest and richest civic
body, now looks set to extend its rule by another five years. Conceding defeat Congress party's Mumbai city president Kripashankar Singh told the media "We accept the verdict given by the citizens of Mumbai. The Congress-NCP
alliance expected to win these elections but people have given a verdict which is different. We will work in BMC as a constructive opposition party" After a fortnight of campaigning candidates could only attract a low voter turnout of
Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
Cont’d on page2
Drug use in city
Two men smoke on a street in downtown Mumbai 15 February 2012. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), substance abuse is persistent or sporadic drug use inconsistent with or unrelated to acceptable medical practice. The problem of substance abuse in the youth has gained an alarming status in Mumbai, like the rest of India. Narrowing cultural values, increasing stress and decreasing bonds are turning a casual initiation into substance use. Cannabis, heroin, and Indian pharmaceutical drugs are the most frequently abused ones. Drug abuse is also due to the nature of the drug, the personality, circumstances and the immediate environment of the individual. Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
Consumer Price Index (CPI) to be introduced for retail sector
A girl sits on a window next to a hoarding in Mumbai. From 21 February 2012 the government will release the nation-wide Consumer Price Index (CPI) on a monthly basis for better reflection of retail price movement and to help the Reserve Bank take effective monetary policy steps to deal with inflation. The new CPI,according to experts,will eventually replace the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for policy actions to deal with the price situation. The monthly CPI will be in addition to the three retail price indices -- for agricultural labourers,rural labourers and industrial workers -- prepared by the Ministry of Labour. Shailesh Andrade / Mumbai weekly
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people
FRIDAY 17 February 2012
Mumbai Weekly
A woman waves as the election news breaks out 17 February 2012. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
A group of men celebrate the election results. Gitartha Goswami / Mumbai Weekly
A woman shouts during an election procession. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
People line up outside a poll booth in Mumbai. Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
Charge of the saffron brigade
A man prepares for an election victory rally in Mumbai. Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
Cont’d from page1 45percent in Mumbai the richest Civic body in the country pegged at 2200crores. We are very happy to see that Mumbaikars have once again put their faith in us. This has given us strength and we will not let the people down. This also shows that the Congress and NCP are losing their base in Maharashtra and similar
results will be seen in the Maharashtra assembly elections of 2014," Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray told media persons. All eyes are now on the 2014 state assembly elections where the Sena-BJP will have an edge in fundraising and infrastructure that might prove influential then.
A man walks past the Congress Mumbai party office. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
A man looks for his name in the poll list in Mumbai 16 February 2012 Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
A woman greets her supporters after the election results were announced in Mumbai. Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
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FRIDAY 17 February 2012
metro
Mumbai Weekly
PETA‟s „valentine angel‟ descends on earth The city of Mumbai was visited by an „angel‟ in the form of a PETA ( People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) activist dressed in a red gown distributing red roses urging people to go vegetarian in Suburban Mumbai 13 February 2012. The „valentine angel‟ encouraged people to show compassion to animals by sticking to vegan meals. Valentine‟s Day is the perfect time to show love to all living beings by choosing vegan meals said PETA activist Benazir Suraiya. Not only will you help countless animals, you‟ll also do your health and environment a favor she continued. A PETA activist hands out roses to people on 13 February 2012 in Mumbai. The „valentine angel‟ encouraged people to show compassion to animals by sticking to vegan meals. Shailesh Andrade / Mumbai Weekly.
Mumbai‟s „Begging Professor‟
Sandeep Desai, a professor from Mumbai, asks for donations in a local train 16 February 2012. Saarthak Aurora / Mumbai Weekly
Sandeep Desai is a man on a mission. Professionally, a marine engineer (DMET), and an MBA, he was a professor at the S P Jain Institute of Management & Research and a visiting faculty at several B-Schools all over India . In 2001, Desai founded the Shloka Missionaries, a non-charitable trust, along with two other trustees in order to spread literacy among the poorest of poor in India. When shortage of funds started hampering his efforts, he decided to collect money directly from the common man. He began travelling to and fro in the Mumbai local trains for upto six hours a day, asking people for donations. In a span of five months, he has collected over Rs. 4 lakh. He enters the train and speaks to the passengers in English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati. He explains to them that donations made towards food for the poor only solve their problems for a day, whereas donations made towards education change their lives in the long run. Desai accepts donations from 50 paise to Rs 1,000 with equal humility. He has already started four schools in Maharashtra and the construction of the fifth school will soon begin in rural Rajasthan. Besides collecting funds, he actively looks for teaching volunteers as well.
Large population of elderly in India is depressed: Report
Above: A man sits by the sea front in Mumbai 13 February 2012. Above Right: A woman sits on the stairs in Mumbai. A recent report showed a large number of elderly people are depressed in India. Shankar Narayan / Mumbai Weekly
According to a media report, one in every four among India's elderly population is depressed, one in three suffers from arthritis, while one in five cannot hear. One in three suffers from hypertension in rural India and one in two in urban areas, almost half have poor vision. Around one in 10 experiences a fall that results in fracture,
while two in five are anemic. A Union Health Ministry note released stated that India will soon become home to the second largest number of older people in the world. 80% of the elderly population are in the rural areas, 30% of them are below poverty line, and 51% of them would be women by 2016.
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FRIDAY 17 February 2012
EDITORIAL
Mumbai Weekly
POINT OF VIEW “ INCREDIBLE INDIA” Incredible India- as it is known. For outsiders it is a rich conglomeration of different cultures, but for insiders it is a constant struggle to cope with this diversity. It may seem simple, that Indian culture is the backdrop for life in this vibrant country. But thanks to the colonial rule, culture in India is a melting pot of many things. It is not, for instance, uncommon to see people celebrate Valentines Day in modern cities like Mumbai. Young couples holding hands and walking by the seaside, will not have enraged onlookers. It is common place to see expensive shops to street-hawkers sell their merchandise to these couples, besides the several other promos and discounts that are on offer to make the day special. But in the same country, also making headlines are honour killings where young people are killed, merely for falling love or wanting to
A woman walks past a billboard in Mumbai 14 February 2012. Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
get married to someone who may not share their caste or religion. Again in cities like Mumbai, young women are empowered to work late and are safe to travel even in the wee hours of the morning. But there are cities, where women have been attacked, when seen in pubs, for instance. The mix of cultures is sending out mixed-signals, empowering young people at one level, and restricting them at another. And in this vast „diversity‟ where do we stand? Are we actually being liberal, truly behaving like responsible educated citizens or is that just on the surface? In the name of values are we in fact becoming more rigid? True culture, traditional or handed across from the British, should in fact bridge the distances between people, and help people live in greater understanding of each other‟s difference. And that is the peace one seeks in this diversity.
OPINION :CHILDHOOD LOST AND NEVER FOUND
The art of losing isn‟t hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. ...One Art by Elizabeth Bishop The art of losing has been best mastered by the human race caught in the abyss of modernity. Lose a key, a watch, a pen – the replaceable. But then we lose time, Clockwise above: 1) A group of boys sit on a pile of mud in Mumbai. Gitartha Goswami / Mumbai Weekly 2) A girl plays in Mumbai. Abhinav Reddy / Mumbai Weekly
way of life, memory, self- expendables- in mastering the art of running. Life is not child's play! Life doesn‟t have time for child's play. In fact it seems, life doesn‟t have time for childhood. Red and blue balloons don‟t crowd the sky anymore. Kites have returned to their homes. Cricket bats lie somewhere full of dust, unnoticed. Hide
-n-Seek has turned into just a biscuit brand. Streets too are packed with busy suits, skirts and there is no place left for the soft summer cheerful frocks. Pebbles die a lonely death. Vehicle-horns subdue chirpy squeals. The city is running. We are running…leaving childhood behind. Childhood, confined within four walls of mechanical innova-
tion, seems to fade out. Gone are the good old days when children were born children, and enjoyed childhood pleasures like riding a bicycle or floating a paper boat in a water-body. Laptops and video games are the toys of new age children. The world they live in is of competition, both in study and in games. Childhood has lost its becoming now.
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feature
FRIDAY 17 February 2012
Mumbai Weekly
People eat at a street side stall in Mumbai 14 February 2012. Street food forms a major part of the local cuisine in the city dishing up food with influence from all over India. Saarthak Aurora / Mumbai Weekly
Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
Street food of Mumbai Upscale restaurants can be found in every part of the world, but it's the street food which adds that extra flavour to a city – for India‟s economic capital Mumbai, street food makes an inseparable part of life. To a great extent, it
Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
is Mumbai‟s fast pace that has lead to invention of these recipes that are tasty, quick, and extremely affordable. No wonder, one can find the city streets sprinkled with small eating joints on every corner some more popu-
Twisha / Mumbai Weekly
lar than the other but a savior nonetheless. From the humble Vada Pav (burger bun with a patato patty) to the family favourite „Chaat‟ Mumbai's street food has everyone from a laborer, to a CEO gorging in company.
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FRIDAY 17 February 2012
economy
Mumbai Weekly
Bumper potato crop forces farmer‟s to dump stock
The potato growing belt in north India had a bumper crop this year. However this was no reason to celebrate for farmers as prices dropped to an all time low of inr 3/kg ($.06/kg) forcing farmers to sell their produce at a loss. The second harvest of the crop has seen farmers abandoning their produce in cold storages forcing cold storage owners to dump the stock on roads. The annual rent of the bags kept in cold storage (Rs 65 per bag) and the freight charges (Re 1 per bag) which are higher than the market value of the potatoes. Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
Apple to quadruple outsourcing in India
Apple‟s
chief information officer (CIO) Niall O‟Connor visited India. He had a meeting with two of the country‟s biggest consultancy firms – Infosys and Wipro. Apple already contributes millions of dollars to both companies, but is reportedly ready to quadruple its investment in India thanks to its industrious workforces and lower outsourcing cost. Apple‟s current India spend totals around $100 million, accounting for nearly a fifth of its global outsourcing spending. The company already shares about $50 million in annual business with Infosys, and Wipro has become Apple‟s go-to source for application and software testing. A man looks at products at an Apple reseller store in Mumbai 14 February 2012. Apple a popular computer and music player brand in India announced it will quadruple its outsourcing investment to India. Arkadripta Chakraborty / Mumbai Weekly
Maize exports on decline Maize exports have been increased by 7 percent to 3 million tonnes in the ongoing 2011-2012 marketing year. 2.8 million tonnes of maize have already been exported in 2011 marketing year (OctoberSeptember). There is more demand of Indian maize in southeastern and middle east countries. Production of maize in Indian might touch 21 million tonnes in the 2012 marketing year. Currently the wholesale price of maize is at Rs. 1,250 (25.37 $) per quintal. A street vendor grills corn cob in Mumbai 17 February 2012. Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
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FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2012
Arts and entertainment
Mumbai Weekly
Bollywood churns out money spinner
Man looks from his window near a theatre in south Mumbai on 15 February 2012. Agneepath, a Bollywood movie crossed Rs.100 crores ($ 20million) in a fortnight of release at the Indian Box Office, after setting the record for highest nett collections on the opening day Indian film industry, of Rs.21.72 crores ($4million). Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly
Small scale pottery industry threatened with development
Newly produced clay pots are left in the open as part of their manufacturing procedure. Shankar Narayan Mumbai / Weekly
Dharavi a central district in Mumbai is home to thousands of micro enterprises manufacturing an recycling various goods, one of them being earthen pots. From five decades now potters for the northern state of Gujrat have made this their home shaping pots from clay. They manufacture flower pots, to disposal tea cups to artistic vases which even find their way into galleries. Most of these businesses are family run enterprises Shankar Narayan / Mumbai Weekly
with every one in the house chipping in a bit. The pots are hand made with soil mixed in water, shaped on a potters wheel and either air or furnace dried later. The existence of there artisans are now under threat as the government has announced an urban development plan for the area which most probably will make them shift from this area. The lively hood of these artisans is now under threat and they have no representation to fight their cause. A man hand makes an earthen pot in Mumbai. Shankar Narayan / Mumbai Weekly
Kabir Festival celebrated in Mumbai Kabiir Festival, a literary festival in Mumbai started on 17th february. The performance called „Akatha Kahani‟ (Untellable Story) is a song, story and dance presentation featuring three sisters; Jaya Madhavan who is the author of the book „Kabir the Weaver Poet', Bindhumalini who is a trained Carnatic and Hindustani vocalist and Archana who is a Bharatnatyam dancer, will individually narrate how Kabir has affected their lives and jointly sing the songs of
the saint-poet made popular by Hindustani classical singing legend Kumar Gandharva. Kabir festival intends to introduce the message of fifteenth-century magestic Indian poet Satguru Kabir (14401518),The festival is a voluntary effort by people from different walks of life, drawn together by their passion for the poetry of Kabir,The universal relevance of Kabir Vani is due to the fact that human nature, which he understood so well,continues to remain the same,the main focus
of the festival is to foster an awareness and understanding of the message of Kabir to the audiences of Mumbai. SatGuru Kabir's teachings are being taught in the schools and universities of India. Many people, even those not belonging to the Kabir Panth, are able to quote him freely. Many of his sakhis are quoted as popular wisdom in all parts of India and abroad. He had a piercing wit and a clarity of thought which others could not challenge.
A dancer performs at the „Kabir Festival‟ in Mumbai 17 February 2012 in Mumbai. The festival is an enactment of the poems by the fifteenth century poet Satguru Kabir. Varsha Lahrani / Mumbai Weekly
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Sports
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2012
Mumbai Weekly
Punching the stress out of life Mumbai is running out of open space and Gym memberships have become really expensive. Beating both these realities are martial art classes. Mumbai Weekly photographer
Shankar
Narayan with a punching bag
visited one such facility run in the basement parking of a building to find young working executives sweating it out with friendly bouts of kick boxing, sparing
and strength training. Not only does this work out keep us physically fit but is also a great stress buster said a participant.
Football gains popularity
Boys practice football at a coaching camp in Mumbai. Pratham Ghokale / Mumbai Weekly
Maybe it is not a religion, but football in India does have a tremendous cult following. And this following is not something which is just new age. Indian football team qualified to play in the Football World Cup Finals in 1950. International teams and World Cup players have been coming to India year after year. The major hindrance in the development of this sport in the country has been lack of infrastructure, exposure and funding. But for the past few years, Indian football has seen an exponential growth. With the introduction of the I League, funded by ONGC and aired by Zee, both, players and viewers have started taking more interest in the world‟s most played sport. More and more home grown professional footballers are coming up from training facilities like Tata Football Academy. The national team has tied deals with multinationals like Nike and Panasonic. British clubs are taking interest in the scenario, with Manchester United FC starting a training facility in Mumbai and Liverpool FC planning to start one in the National Capital
Region. Indian firm Venky‟s are the recent owners of British first division club Blackburn Rovers FC. Not only are training facilities being developed, but the sport is becoming more glamourus with football cafes swarming all the major cities. If the proposed Premier League Soccer starts in the state of West Bengal, we could be seeing former World Cup players playing in Indian clubs. The respect towards Indian football was seen during the tribute match for India‟s most well known footballer Bhaichung Bhutia, when Bayern Munich first team players played a friendly in India. We cannot expect Indian football to be at par with the European leagues because of the very reason that European professional football clubs have been existing in large numbers since the mid 1800s. But the pace of development is constant. And if the sport grows like this, soon a conversation between two Indians about football will not have a reference to other popular sports of the country.
Published by:Udaan School of Photography. Editor: Shailesh Andrade Photo editor: Gitartha Goswami Chief Photographer: Krishanu Nagar / Pratham Gokhale Email: editor.mumbaiweekly@gmail.com