Mumbai Diary: Friday Dossier

Rolling in the deepYoung skaters learn the ropes at All India BalkanJiBari in Santacruz WestAppt way to travel in timeThe Jaya He Museum is housed in the T2 terminal of CSMIAWith travel taking a backseat amid the pandemic the Jaya He Museum housed in the T2 terminal of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport CSMIA has launched an app for travellers around the globe to get a peek into the museum The app available on App Store and Play Store enables users to tune into interesting tales about the artefacts at the museum and how it was set up Rekha Nair head of airport services and museum director said that it is perfect for art aficionados who like to travel through the rich history and culture of India without giving up the comfort of their homes ldquoAt CSMIA it is always our endeavour to be an agent of change by creating meaningful experiences The app is designed to allow users to explore the fascinating stories of the country reinterpreted through six thematic compositionsrdquo she addedNew beginnings at CSMVSEven as the George Wittetdesigned IndoSaracenic landmark undergoes extensive restoration staff at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya CSMVS is working in fifth gear towards their centenary celebrations that are a year away ldquoThe first half will offer a virtual itinerary for obvious reasons wersquoll gradually introduce physical events based on how things pan outrdquo Sabyasachi Mukherjee director general CSMVS told this diaristDirector general Sabyasachi MukherjeeTherersquos a book on the museum in the offing too that he will pen with leading architect Rahul Mehrotra who had designed the Childrenrsquos Museum within its premises Like most institutions that depend on footfalls the cityrsquos museums and cultural centres continue to bear the brunt of the lockdown However we are happy to report that CSMVS has opened its doors to visitors in small numbers on a priorappointment basisThe crest on the facade reveals lsquoGrsquo and lsquoVrsquo representing King George V who was Prince of Wales before he became the king CSMVS was formerly named after the Prince of WalesldquoThe city is starved of large open spaces people have been cooped up in their homes for nearly 10 months now Stimulation of this kind is important for the mind and body Wersquove provided chairs on our lawns where visitors can relax with the canopies of green and historic building for company Wersquore hopeful that the museum can reopen fully by next monthrdquo Mukherjee revealed Send an email to csmvsmumbaigmailcom for a free guided walk inside the museumPeek into the lives of artistesFrom social exclusion and political threats to online trolling artistes in India have braved all kinds of adversities over the years Bandish 2020000 Hz is a play by theatre initiative Aadyam that seeks to depict these struggles or lsquobandishrsquoes which is Urdu for being bound or stopped and also refers to composition in Hindustani musicA previous staging of the playOn January 26 the play which features Anubha Fatehpuria Danish Husain Harsh Khurana Hitesh Bhojraj Ipshita Singh Chakraborty and Nivedita Bhargava will give us a peak into the lives of a nautanki singer and a baithak classical singer who meet in the green room before an Independence Day function exchanging anecdotes about their glory daysThe play also features melodies by Shubha Mudgal About the online showcase director Purva Naresh left said ldquoI am happy that the shows have been scheduled around Republic Day What better time to explore lsquobandishrsquo than in the context of freedom and Republic DayrdquoA class actSome of the kids from the class that will benefit from the fundraiserThe past year was incredibly tough for school students who had to adapt to virtual classes from home for the first time But while some had the financial wherewithal to buy the necessary equipment such as laptops and smartphones others were left in the lurch since they simply couldnrsquot afford such expensive gadgets Thirtyone such fifthgrade students of Jarsquofari English High School in Govandi faced this pinch and had to stall their education temporarily But they now have a helping hand from two of their teachers Bhagyashree Nambiar and Anisha Chamaria who have started a crowdfunding exercise to sponsor learning devices data charges fees and stationary for these pupils They are looking to raise Rs 2 lakh and shared ldquoChildren from the lowincome community have taken a huge hit and we strongly believe that education is the right of every childrdquo Log on to kettoorg to contribute to the causeMediterranean flavours come to ThaneMumbaikars seem to be really lapping up Middle Eastern cuisine Last week we had written about the opening of Diablo Mumbai and now this diarist hears that Sumac Haute Cuisine is the latest addition to the FampB scene and brings the flavours of Egypt Turkey Lebanon and Middle East to Thane Itrsquos helmed by chef Bhairav Panchal who has previously worked in the kitchen at Taj Landrsquos End apart from a plethora of restaurants abroad ldquoWe create an experience of warmth and comfort through the vibe and food highlighting diverse flavours from the rich Mediterranean cuisinerdquo the chef said adding that they also host live musical performances over the weekend