27 December,2025 09:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Ashish Raje
A girl tries to make her way past the dog on a pipeline near the sea at Prabhadevi
Students engrossed in a practical workshop. Pics courtesy/Nehru Science Centre
Nehru Science Centre, in collaboration with Tata Consulting Engineers, is conducting hands-on STEM workshops for underprivileged students from classes sixth to ninth, of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation schools.
Umesh Kumar Rustagi (above), director of Nehru Science Centre, shared, "These workshops aim to build practical knowledge and strengthen basic mathematical skills. The syllabus-based experiments focus on concepts such as gravity, Archimedes' principle and fundamental scientific ideas that give the children a lab-based experience."
A Barn Owl flies away after being rescued, fed and treated with assistance from RAWW Mumbai and Save Wildlife Organisation at Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivli successfully. Pics courtesy/RAWW Mumbai
Christmas night in Mulund East brought along a miracle for a young barn owl when nature lover and local artist, Ashvini Menon (below), stopped by on her festive night walk. "I spotted a man smothering an owl near the Mulund railway station, and the sight was disturbing. When asked about the owl, the man kept calling it a pet. Something seemed off to me, and the man kept convincing me that the owl was in fact his pet," said Menon.
An illustration of a Barn Owl by Ashvini Menon. Pics courtesy/Ashvini Menon
Knowing that barn owls are protected under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Act, Menon decided to act. With the help of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), Save Wildlife Organisation, a non-governmental organisation, and the Mumbai Police, a swift response followed. Menon emphasised, "The incident highlighted the power of collective action.
Compassionate police officers and expert guidance made the difference between its captivity and freedom." This Christmas episode comes as a reminder that wildlife is not for ownership, but deserves dignity and protection to live freely.
A nature walk and workshop organised by Ritu Desai at Malabar Hill
After their ventures in nature, scribbling, and teaching, educator and writer Ritu Desai and Sefi George, founder of Summer Scribbles, will now lead nature walks for children and adults at Zen Garden in Dahisar.
Common Castor butterfly
Scheduled for December 31, January 3, and January 10, the sessions encourage observing overlooked natural elements. Desai and George explained, "Nature is something we'd like everyone to fall in love with.
Ritu Desai (left); Sefi George. Pics courtesy/Ritu Desai
A whisper of awe has more power than the clamour of doom, and we often only protect what we love." The duo was inspired by the power of awe to foster environmental protection. For further details, visit @summerscribbles.in.
Comedian Daisy Maan at a previous show. Pic courtesy/@daizymaan
An all-women stand-up comedy group, Brown Women Comedy, featuring Indian and Australian comedians, will perform in Mumbai on January 11 and 16. Performers Daizy Maan, Kru Harale, Sejal Bhat, and Amruta Bendre draw humour from their own backgrounds and identities on stage. "The South Asian community [is growing fast], yet our arts scene does not reflect the diversity. We're here to change that narrative," stated Maan, who is also founder of the Australian South Asian Centre, and producer of Brown Women Comedy, alongside performing.
