Behind the scenes
A scooterist stretches himself by a parked vehicle behind a memorial at the Padma Bhushan Pran Chowk built in memory of the late film actor on Carter Road, Bandra.
Straight from Rajputana
Ragini Kamod. Sirohi, assigned Circa 1690. Pic Courtesy/Joachim Bautze
There is more to the state of Rajasthan than its forts and deserts as researcher Dr Joachim Bautze will put forth in his lecture at the Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery tomorrow. Organised by Todywalla and INTACH Mumbai Chapter, the lecture will see Bautze talk about the rise and influences of the genre in Indian art history. “Dr Bautze has been travelling through Rajasthan over the last 50 years. We reached out to invite him to Mumbai,” shared Malcolm Todywalla, owner. The Sirohi School of miniatures emerged with the spread of artists of the Mughal realm in royal ateliers outside the Mughal court. “They spread across the principalities of Rajasthan and travelled to Awadh. Each region developed a distinct style,” shared Todywalla. Katyayani Agarwal, convenor, INTACH, added, “The form places special emphasis on the Ragamala paintings that personify the emotions of the ragas.” The lecture is open to everyone in Mumbai.
Dr Joachim Bautze
Tracking Mumbai stories
(From left) Ratna Pathak Shah, Shrayana Bhattacharya and Rahul Bhattacharya
At the launch of his latest book in Bandra, Railsong (Bloomsbury), author Rahul Bhattacharya (below) joined Shrayana Bhattacharya and actor Ratna Pathak Shah in a discussion about women and sisterhood centred on Mumbai’s famed lifelines. Shah also performed a reading. “Mumbai, or Bombay as it was then, is where Charu Chitol shapes herself — as so many people have done and continue to. We see her young adventures, her struggles for accommodation, her striving at work in the Central Railway, a part of many such lives in Bombay and beyond,” Bhattacharya told us.
Community living in Aarey
An artiste performs on the traditional Tarpa; (right) a Didgerdoo performance
The Aarey Forest Festival, hosted by the collective, Seeds of Banyan, on December 20, is set to be the hub for communal connection. Starting as a collaboration with the #SaveAarey movement, its core mission is fostering togetherness. The line-up is rich with cultural performances. Attendees can look forward to Tarpa and Australian Didgeridoo performances by tribal artistes, alongside music featuring traditional instruments. The festival includes a dance show by the students of Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha school and workshops like origami and flow art. “Everything will be organised by Aarey residents. The philosophy is simple: to bring people together, encouraging connection with each other and at the grassroots level. Don’t miss this celebration of community spirit,” emphasised Elija Emmauel, volunteer at the community collective.
A Warli artwork by the residents. Pic Courtesy/Seeds of Banyan
All the way from Sweden
Professor David WC MacMillan; Professor James A Robinson
The Swedish Consul General, Sven Östberg, hosted an exclusive dinner at the Swedish Residence in Mumbai on November 5, to honour Nobel Laureates Professor James A Robinson and Professor David WC MacMillan, who were in the city for a Nobel Prize Dialogue event. The reception was graced by Jayakumar Jitendrasinh Rawal, Minister for Marketing and Protocol, Government of Maharashtra, among other dignitaries, to celebrate India–Sweden collaborations and the Nobel values of innovation and global cooperation. Reflecting on the evening, Östberg told the diarist, “It was a delightful experience to see Professors Robinson and MacMillan relishing the vibrant hospitality of Mumbai. The evening was a beautiful fusion of science, tradition, and meaningful connections.”
