The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Ashish Raje
Gower’s eyes then, Imran’s eyes now
Frances Edmonds with England spin bowler husband Phil in Jamaica during England’s 1986 tour of the West Indies. The red mark on Phil’s chest is a cricket ball-caused bruise. (inset) David Gower. Pics/Getty Images
The 14 international captains who wrote an open letter to the Pakistan government with a request that Imran Khan be treated well in jail are concerned over talk that the 1992 World Cup-winning captain’s eyesight has deteriorated in jail. Talking about eyesight, David Gower, the 1984-1986 England skipper among the 14, feared his eyesight was affected on the 1985-86 tour of the West Indies. Who told us? Frances Edmonds, the wife of left-arm spinner Phil, in Another Bloody Tour, the book she wrote after Gower’s Englishmen were destroyed 0-5 by West Indies way back then.
Frances said that her eye surgeon brother Brendan was then in Jamaica, doing research on Sickle Cell Anaemia. Gower thought he should consult Brendan after being on the receiving end of some genuine quick bowling in the February 13-16, 1986 tour game against Jamaica, who boasted of ace pacers Michael Holding and Courtney Walsh. “Even David’s most severe critics were obliged to admit that he had been attacked by a pretty unplayable barrage. He went to see my brother, escorted by the team ‘Minder Moose’, a 6 5” 18-stone West Indian detective. David, it happily transpired, has impeccable vision. He also impressed on my brother as he does on everyone he meets, as a disarmingly charming and intelligent young man,” wrote Frances. How we hope that Imran’s eyesight gets better.
When Indians puzzle it out
Mangesh Ghogre
Sunday calls for a riveting crossword. But for too long, Indians have struggled to find puzzles that quench the thirst for some desi pop-culture. Mangesh Ghogre is changing that. In 2023, he started a website mangeshghogre.com where one can solve India-specific mini-crosswords. “I’m a professional puzzle constructor,” he says, “I’ve constructed crosswords for Wall Street Journal, LA Times, New York Times.” Talk about a dream job! On February 15, Ghogre conducted a 24-hour virtual crossword marathon. “Around 150 people from around the world solved 24 mini-crosswords in 24 hours,” he says. Of the three winners, the runner up was one Raghunath Mahalingam, a Vashi resident. “As a prize, I requested NYT puzzle editor Will Shortz to write them a personalised email. Shortz is a kind of celebrity in our world,” says Ghogre.
To new beginnings
Meher Marfatia in conversation with filmmaker Vikas Desai for her online column. Pic/Danesh Mistry
Opening Sunday mid-day today, this diarist — and scores of loyal readers across Mumbai — will be sad to find one byline missing: Meher Marfatia. After a decade of regaling us with the city’s oral history and heritage, Marfatia’s biweekly column, Once Upon A City (OUAC), now has a new home: www.mehermarfatia.com/blog.
Marfatia’s association with this paper goes all the way back to 1990, when the journalist and author first began penning a cultural column for mid-day’s evening edition. When she became a mother, a new weekly column Kid-Day (a play on this paper’s name) helped mums rediscover Mumbai as a fertile city for play and exploration with their children. “I have had several columns in mid-day over the years: Kid-Day, Urban Legend, Bambai Dost, OUAC,” she recalls. Each covered different subjects, but one common thread tied them together — Marfatia’s gaze at Mumbai, its past, present, and its future.
And that’s still the driving force behind her decision to take her column online. “The most exciting thing about going digital is interacting with young people who are the future custodians of the city. They all read online, and it was important for me to meet them where they are,” she says. Another major advantage is the ability to add videos and photos. “The city is changing at a frighteningly frantic pace. Places I write about may disappear months later, taken over by construction projects. I have a young photographer and videographer, Danesh Mistry, who records these memories in stills and on tape, so even if it disappears, we can always go back and see how it used to be.”
You’ll always have our support and our subscription, Meher!
Pen an erotica on Sunday morning
Bhushan Koregaonkar
Read A Kitaab has organised a fantastic lit-fest at Title Waves, Bandra. Artists such as Shanta Gokhale, Ranjit Hoskote, RS Prasanna (director of Shubh Mangal Saavdhan), Sachin Kundalkar, Rochelle Potkar, and more will be doing various sessions over Saturday and Sunday.
As part of the festival, this Sunday morning, Bhushan Korgaonkar will be conducting his erotica writing workshop between 10.30 am to 11.25 am. If
this is something that intrigues you, but you’re not sure yet, this is the best opportunity to find out more. It’s free and just 55 minute-long.
Speaking to us, Korgoankar says, “I am very happy to repeat this session that I had taken for the first time last year. I also feel that festivals like these are important because they create the cultural and literary ethos of city. That’s a must for all Mumbaikars to engage with.”
Where the sparrow is a cherished member
Birds must be heard
The Mumbai Cricket Association Recreation Centre and Sharad Pawar Indoor Cricket Academy in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) is not just for bat and ball but for birds too. Passing through its green passage from the lobby/reception of this club to the maidan and restaurants etc. one sees a little sign near a green area/courtyard within. The signage said: “Save the Birds: It is not permitted to use mobile phones in this sparrow courtyard area as it disturbs the routine of the sparrows.” It is signed off with a “do not disturb” message. Heartening to know amidst cricket, coffee and conversations, this centre is thinking about the chirping of the sparrows, a sound that is lost in the megalopolis!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
