Mumbai Musings

Alvida, Sher Khan

Pran saab's death, soon after getting the long overdue Dadasaheb Phalke award at his Mumbai residence, brought out old time friends including Amitabh Bachchan, Danny Dangzopa, Gulzar and Shatrugan Sinha, even though the younger lot was conspicuous by their absence except Karan Johar. But everyone remembered the scary baddie, who frightened damsels in distress with his dagger looks, as well as the most loyal and affectionate friend and father (on screen and off it) in the later stage of his career spanning six decades. My humble tribute to the legendary actor is to reminisce and watch Guddi once more for the lovely scene where the innocent Guddi (Jaya Bachchan) asks Dharmendra-- playing himself-- to throw away the watch gifted by Pran-- also playing himself. And Dharampaji says, “Come on, he is one of the most wonderful people.” So true. We will miss you, Pransaab.

Gone Too Soon

At least Pransaab lived a long and full life, but the week also saw a much younger Sharmila Rege, a social activist known for her seminal work on women’s rights and caste issues, succumbing to colon cancer in Pune. In her forties, she had written books such as Writing Caste, Writing Gender: Reading Dalit Women's Testimonios, and Against the Madness of Manu: B.R Ambedkar's Writings on Brahmanical Patriarchy. She was the head of Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Women's Studies Centre at the University of Pune and singlehandedly inspired many students to pursue women’s studies and kindled public debate over these issues.

Rain Ruins

This was not all. Nature's furies were at it too. Last week’s heavy rains claimed four lives in different parts of the city. All train services were hampered and many tree-falling cases reported. Portion of another dilapidated building collapsed in Nalasopara, on the outskirts of the city, killing one passerby. On Friday, it rained more than 100 mm in one day. The only piece of good news is two reservoirs supplying water to Mumbai are now full. Only if the buildings and trees could stop falling.

Cop Out

In a first of its kind judgment, 13 policemen and seven others were sentenced to a life in jail for in the infamous Lakhan bhaiya fake encounter case. However, encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, a senior to the rest of the cops, walked out free. The prosecutor, who asked for death penalty for the convicted cops, said that they would appeal against Sharma’s acquittal after studying the judgment. Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya, allegedly an aide of gangster Chhota Rajan, was reportedly picked up from Navi Mumbai and killed in cold blood near Versova, a western suburb.

Banning Black Magic

The Maharashtra Assembly's monsoon session started from Monday. Among several other bills one that catches our attention is the one that prohibits practice of black magic and other inhuman practices such as human sacrifices. While religious groups are confused whether the bill seeks to ban acts of faith or superstition, it may be passed with a few tweaks and twists. Bad time for babas begins, hopefully.

It’s Raining Notes

Last week, in Kolhapur, some children discovered a stash of -- soiled and torn -- notes in a playground, reports a local paper. Initially considered fake, the notes were genuine and the police think it may belong to some beggar. While the denominations ranged from Re 1 to Rs 1000,  the total amount was a measly Rs 3000. Kolhapur, known for its Mahalaxmi Temple, gets lakhs of devotees every year, so a beggar making a decent amount of money is quite plausible. One wonder if the incident would laed to more children choosing to play out in the open and not the latest versions of Angry Birds or Temple Runs on their phones? (Not that we don’t like these games!)

Women Only

Mumbai will house its first women-only Sharia court (under Muslim personal law board) in Kherwadi Bandra, which will start functioning this week. Women’s rights group Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, which has earlier protested the ban on entry of women in dargahs, plans to start these courts in Pune in Maharashtra, Ahmedabad in Gujarat and Dindigul in Tamilnadu. The group opposes oral talaq (divorce) among other practices that are against women’s rights. Of course not all member of the Muslim Personal Law Board are happy but then it may prove to be revolutionary for women who may have suffered because of misinterpretation of laws.

God Help Us

And before we could rejoice the impact of court order asking Ganesh Festival organisers to limit themselves to two hoardings per pandal, it has already been withdrawn by the civic body. While sponsors and politicians may now be relieved, will our sweet elephant god have to hide behind those ugly hoardings yet again?