The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
PIC/SATEJ SHINDE
The memory of a Mumbai guardian
Paul Murphy (at podium) addresses the gathered guests at the session. Pic Courtesy/The Asiatic Society of Mumbai
On July 16, the Asiatic Society of Mumbai was the venue for a gathering of friends, scholars, and raconteurs remembering a fellow researcher, Jim Masselos (right). The Australian historian and researcher who passed away on June 24 in Sydney, was considered an authority on contemporary social history in India, especially Mumbai. The evening saw the Society along with Australian Consul-General Paul Murphy host a tribute to Masselos, alongside friends and peers.
“We had invited people whom Jim [Masselos] was associated with, who knew him to share their memories of what he meant to them,” shared Shehernaz Nalwalla, vice-president and chairperson, Mumbai Research Centre. Alongside Dr Manjiri Kamat and Dr Ramdas Bhatkal, composer Aneesh Pradhan also shared his thoughts. “He shared how Jim contributed with suggestions about books to read during his PhD years,” Nalwalla added.
mid-day features in Wisden 2025
The cover of the Wisden Cricketer’s Almanack 2025 (right) Atul Kamble and Ashish Raje
This year’s edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack is in our hands and we are delighted that the bible of cricket has selected images shot by two of our staff photographers — Atul Kamble and Ashish Raje, for their photo section.
Kids playing in the rain at Shivaji Park. Pic/Atul Kamble
Kamble, a Wisden-MCC Cricket Photograph of the Year 2013 winner, has captured kids playing cricket in the rain while Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) excellence in photography award winner, Raje has a top-shot image of three games of cricket being played on separate terraces in Lalbaug, Mumbai.
The Lalbaug terraces with three games of cricket. Pic/Ashish Raje
Elsewhere in the fabled yellow book, mid-day gets mentioned in Chronicles of 2024 for their story about Afzal Shaikh and Hamza Khan guiding Anjuman-I-Islam Allana English School to a massive 652-4 in just 37 overs in the Harris Shield competition before their opponents (Oxford International School) were bowled out for five.
Mumbai to Bengaluru
It will be a Mumbai August in Bengaluru this year. The Bengaluru Poetry Festival that will commence on August 2 and August 3 will have a heavy city contingent leading it. Actors Sandhya Mridul, Danish Husain (below), filmmakers Devashish Makhija and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, will be among them. “I would also consider Jeet Thayil as much Bengaluru as Mumbai,” said Aparajita Sankar, festival manager. The Mumbai-heavy curation was only incidental, she added. “This is our ninth edition of the festival, and the focus has always been to celebrate the best of poetry. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend the festival,” Shankar revealed. For Husain, the visit to Bengaluru will be spread across two sessions. “I will be performing one solo that I have titled Alfaaz Mujhse Juda Rahe, for now. My second session will be a joint one where I will share the stage with poets Saraswati Nagpal, Amy Singh and Anwar Ali,” he shared.
Pedal on
Vinod Rawat with his bike. Pic Courtesy/Vinod Rawat
Last week, this diarist announced that the Sir JJ School of Art, Architecture and Design is conducting a special cyclothon titled Tour de JJ on July 13. Among the riders on the circuit was Vinod Rawat, an amputee. The sight of Rawat cycling alongside experienced riders sparked conversations and earned admiration from the community. For the Chembur-based Rawat, it is a moment of satisfaction. “I lost my leg in an accident as a child. I did not get access to prosthetics till 2017, when I was 25. Throughout my childhood, I felt like the dream of cycling was beyond me. Now, I do not miss a chance to enjoy it,” shared the cyclist, who has also biked to Khardung La Pass in 2017.
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