Boxed in!
This indie dog at a Borivli market seems to be following the viral online saying, “If I fits, I sits”.
Being Zohran
The album; (right) Zohran Miranda
After nearly two decades carving his space in the music scene with countless sessions in Bollywood, four singles, and an EP under his belt, Zohran Miranda is finally ready to unveil the most personal project of his career with his first full-length album, How To Be, releasing on October 14.
In an era where music is often driven by the immediacy of singles and quick-hit trends, Miranda’s choice to craft a full album feels both deliberate and defiant. “An album, to me, shows the credibility of an artist,” he explains. “Today, the industry encourages musicians to only put out singles, but I wanted to explore what it means to be an artist in this time.”
How To Be is as much a sonic journey as it is a personal one. “Half the world is burning, and all I want to do is put my story out there,” says Miranda. “This album is my way of showing that I’m serious about my musical journey.”
With How To Be, Zohran Miranda steps beyond the familiar paths of session work and singles into the vulnerable territory of self-definition. The album resonates with the sound of an artist choosing authenticity over trend.
Greening with garba goes on
Don’t waste those pots!
In the best traditions of green garba, a Kandivli temple, Sri Hari Hareshwar Mahadev Mandir, and Mission Green Mumbai have tied up requesting citizens to donate their garba pots instead of immersing them in water bodies or discarding them on the ground. Citizens can drop off pots at the temple. Subhajit Mukherjee of Mission Green said, “In the next few days we call on people to come and take the garba pots home and use them for various nature conservation activities, like making a planter or feeder or a bird’s nest, decorative item… the garba is yours and you can unleash your creativity. He added, “We have collected 2000 + pots and they’re going as fast as garba dancers twirl!” Call 9323942388 for details.
The Maratha who made the British Raj possible
The authors (centre), Indrajeet Ghorpade and Reetu Gupta, flanked by veteran cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar and his wife Manali, at the book launch
For a man who changed the course of the nation’s history, very little is known about Murarirao Ghorpade. Generations after his lifetime, his descendant Indrajeet Ghorpade has joined hands with biographer Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta to tell the tale of the 18th-century Maratha warrior in the new book, Murarirao Ghorpade: The Accidental Catalyst Behind Robert Clive’s March Over India. Ghorpade was so inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s quest for Hindavi Swaraj, they write, that he went on to establish his own army to fight for the same ideal. Ironically, though, it was his prowess as a military general that inadvertently set the stage for British dominance in India. How, you may ask? It was the Maratha general who turned the tide at the Battle of Arcot in 1751, coming to the aid of Robert Clive and the British East India Company against the joint forces of the Nawab of the Carnatic, Chanda Sahib, and the French East India Company. This is the same Robert Clive who went down in history as the military might that won the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and firmly established the East India Company’s rule in India. As for why the Hindavi Swaraj crusader sided with the British? Why, it was simply the side mostly likely to win, say the authors. “I am proud to share my family’s story and have a biographer like Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta narrate it with context, connecting it to India’s larger history.”
Holding’s tears for WI cricket
Michael Holding. Pic/Getty Images
We saw a video on social media of Cayman Islands-based West Indies pace great Michael Holding getting emotional over the state of West Indies cricket. Holding said sponsors must be convinced that the millions of dollars shelled out as sponsorship money is going towards the right causes in the Caribbean.
The West Indies haven’t won a Test in India since 1994 and Saturday’s loss was their fifth in a row on Indian soil.
Holding happened to be in Clive Lloyd’s team when West Indies played and won their one and only Test Ahmedabad in 1983 before the one that concluded on Saturday.
Holding reportedly experienced pain in his left leg around the knee during that match. Their Australian-born trainer Dennis Waite did a good job on Holding and it ended up a memorable Test for the Jamaican — a vital 58 in West Indies’ second innings and six wickets in the game for which he was declared man of the match.
This is the kind of commitment West Indies cricket needs. We can see why Holding was so teary-eyed in that video.
A French stamp of approval
Sangita Jindal with French Ambassador Thierry Mathou
Sangita Jindal, chairperson of the JSW Foundation, has spent decades restoring crumbling heritage sites, supporting artists, and building creative bridges between India and the world. She has just added another feather to her very decorated cap: the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, one of France’s highest honours for cultural contribution.
Jindal has breathed new life into Mumbai landmarks like the Sassoon Library and Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, and revived the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi. “Heritage is a living resource that connects generations, and I remain dedicated to ensuring it continues to inspire the future,” says Jindal.
She’s also the force behind projects such as Art India magazine, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, and the Woven Narratives exhibition, which took place at the G20 Summit. Most recently, she’s been pushing for more cultural exchange with France, from artist residencies at Hampi to showcasing Indian work at Textile Matters in Paris later this year.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition,” she says. “It reaffirms my commitment to safeguarding India’s heritage while fostering meaningful cultural bridges between our nations.”
For someone who believes art shouldn’t stay trapped in galleries, this recognition feels like a natural next step. With names like Shah Rukh Khan, Bharti Kher, and Hariprasad Chaurasia among previous recipients, she’s in good company.
