Purple Rain
The purple lights of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus cast a colourful reflection after a downpour.
Fauja hi Fauja
Punjab, and the global running community is in mourning after news emerged that fleetfoot Fauja Singh, the iconic 114‑year‑old ‘Turbaned Tornado’, who ran marathons and long distance in his 90s, and even as a 100-year-old, tragically died in a road accident on July 14, 2025, at his home village of Beas Pind near Jalandhar. Reports stated he was struck by an unidentified vehicle while crossing the road at around 3.30 pm. He later died at a private hospital.
Fauja Singh at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2016. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE
Singh was born in India on April 1, 1911, and was an amateur runner in the Punjab before giving up the sport in 1947 at 36. After his wife died, he moved to London in 1992, leaving his village near the Jalandhar-Pathankot Road, to live with his youngest son and decided to don the trainers and pound the streets again. Singh started running again at 89, having found his mojo in the gentle green rolling hills of the UK and he finally “retired” from the full marathon distance of a gruelling 42-km when he was 94! Since then, he concentrated on shorter runs, especially the 10 km.
This diarist recalls his visit to Mumbai in 2016 as a special guest for the Mumbai Marathon. At that time, he revealed that he was still careful about his diet. “The day I wake up and do not feel comfortable as I put my foot on the floor, I know I have eaten something that I should not have. If I get up with a spring in my step then I know I have eaten right,” he had said. Singh attributed his success to ginger dal, “curries” he used to call them, sending the English press into paroxysms of delight.
Fauja is reported to have said, “My diet is simple phulka, dal, green vegetables, yoghurt and milk. I do not touch parathas, pakoras, rice or any fried food. I drink lots of water and tea with ginger.” May the gentle, running Sikh be having lots of adrak chai and one day, we hope to see him running across the skies. Rest (and Run) in Peace, indefatigable Fauja Singh.
Better safe than sorry
A mythbuster session in progress. Pic courtesy/Warr Foundation
Following a recent tragic incident in Bhiwandi where a girl child passed away due to snake bite, the Wild Animals and Reptile Rescue Foundation (WARR), a non-governmental organisation, conducted a lecture on snake identification and bite prevention to children in Gove Naka. “Most of the kids are from snake charmer families, who despite being familiar with the reptile are often unaware of wildlife laws and their conservation.” says Roma Tripathi, wildlife biologist and rescuer at WARR. The foundation aims to debunk snake myths, identify its patterns and behaviours and explain its importance in the ecosystem. “Do not attempt to kill or handle the snake; observe and call a wildlife rescuer instead. If it’s in an open area, simply monitor it and let it leave peacefully.” Tripathi advised.
Poetic sundown in Moira
Rekha Shorey (left) DJ-cum-music producer with Jeet Thayil (centre) and Devangana Mishra (right) at the event. PIC COURTESY/Devangana Mishra
It is not every day that Mumbaikars take over a relaxed Goan evening. Taking a break from her duties as founder of the NGO, BrainBristle, Devangana Mishra spent the last weekend in Mormugao’s Birdsong Moira at a poetry reading session. Mishra is currently working on her third book of poems, May I Mumbai? about growing up in the city of Mumbai in the 1980s. The book is set to be released in September. Incidentally, the session was attended by a former Mumbaikar (and former mid-day writer), poet Jeet Thayil. “Jeet is a brilliant poet and writer; many of us have been following his work since we were young. His incidental presence helped give me validity and confidence,” shared Mishra. A performer himself, Thayil had some advice to share. “He told me to slow down; to let the audience absorb your words and voice,” she revealed.
They didn’t forget gentle Doshi at Lord’s
The recently concluded Lord’s cricket Test, where India and England traded blows right till the end on Monday night, witnessed a star turnout. The greatest of cricketers walked through the hallowed gates to watch the action; many of them MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) members.
There were other well-known names like Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones. The 82-year-old rock star caught up with Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, two of the finest contemporary batsmen and Farokh Engineer, the former India wicketkeeper-batsman.
Sachin Tendulkar (left), Mick Jagger, Farokh Engineer and Brian Lara at the Lord’s Cricket Ground recently ; a dated photograph of Dilip Doshi at Colaba. PIC/SHADAB KHAN
Engineer told this diarist that Jagger and he spoke about Dilip Doshi, who passed away recently at 77. Doshi, who spent many English summers playing county cricket, got to know the Stones well. As reported in this newspaper not long ago, he had even accompanied fellow cricketers to Rolling Stones concerts.
“We did speak about him [Doshi] and raised a toast to him for being such a good human being. The three of us watched the last England vs India Test at The Oval [2021] together and we went out for a meal afterwards,” said Engineer. We are not ruling out moist eyes or throat lumps as Engineer and Jagger remembered gentle Doshi.
