05 August,2026 07:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Ashish Raje
A worker makes the national flag at the Flag Source workshop in Laxmi Woollen Mill, Mahalaxmi
Every step counts when it comes to fitness, and Dombivli-based Guinness World Record-holder Vishak Krishnaswamy is putting that belief into action. With the launch of the 15,612 Run, Krishnaswamy hopes to encourage more people to embrace fitness while championing women's participation in sport.
Vishak Krishnaswamy at the Stadium Run in Uttarakhand. Pic courtesy/Vishak Krishnaswamy
Every run will begin in Dombivli, with a different woman joining him each day, while the campaign also aims to spread awareness in schools about the benefits of running and leading an active lifestyle. "I want people to realise that fitness is not about competition but participation. If this journey inspires even one person to start running, we'll have achieved something meaningful," said Krishnaswamy. Register at @athletevishak.
Saguna the cow
As uncomfortable as it may sound, caste-based discrimination continues to persist, and Gen Z is keen to turn resistance into a rallying cry. Channelling that spirit, Yalgaar Sanskritik Manch and Nalanda Arts Studio will present Kavan: An Ambedkarite Opera, a satirical political drama by Sudesh Jadhav and Abhishek Majumdar on August 8 at Yellow Door Studio in Kandivli.
A scene from the musical Kavan: An Ambedkarite Opera. Pics courtesy/Yalgaar Sankritik Manch
The musical follows the emotional journey of Bejun, a Dalit youth from Pune, and his cow, Saguna, as they navigate a society where the animal is revered as sacred but ownership is reserved for those belonging to the upper castes. Through music, theatre and poetry, the production examines caste hierarchies and the realities of social exclusion.
Dhammrakshit Randive
Speaking to this diarist, Dhammrakshit Randive, member and co-founder of Yalgaar Sanskrutik Manch, said, "This is our way of spreading awareness about the deeply rooted caste divide, especially in today's politically charged climate." As Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar famously said, "Educate, Agitate, Organise." For more details about the show, check @yalgaar14.
Manav Kaul
The writer of Theek Tumhare Peeche and Prem Kabootar (Hind Yugm), playwright, author and actor Manav Kaul has released another book, A Mountain, A Lake and A Song (Penguin Random House).
Pic courtesy/Penguin Book House
Translated into English by Vaibhav Sharma from the original Hindi title, Bahar Door, Kitna Door, the book explores themes of memory, solitude and longing through a blend of fiction, memoir and some poetry. Originally written in Hindi, it marks the latest addition to Kaul's growing body of literary work.
The centenary stamp. Pic courtesy/Raseel Gujral Art legacy
To mark artist Satish Gujral's birth centenary this year, the Department of Posts, Government of India with the Raseel Gujral Art Legacy (RGAL) released a commemorative stamp based on the artist's self-portrait - one of only four self-portraits by Gujral.
Raseel Gujral Ansal
"A self-portrait is perhaps the most intimate work an artist can create. That it has been chosen for his birth centenary commemorative stamp feels deeply meaningful," shared daughter, Raseel Gujral Ansal. With the commemorative postage available at philately bureaus across India, collectors have a chance to take home a piece of art history.
