<h2>A hard day&rsquo;s work</h2>
A man braves the morning sun to clear grass from the shallow waters of <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/amp/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-diary-wednesday-dossier-23626882" rel="nofollow">Powai Lake</a>
<h2>Inclusive all the way</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/apr/Child-school_e.jpg" alt="Students at a previous reading. PIC COURTESY/DEVANGANA MISHRA" width="1280" height="720" /> Students at a previous reading. PIC COURTESY/DEVANGANA MISHRA
Today, filmmaker Kunal Kohli (inset) will swap his time on film sets, and head to classrooms in BMC schools in Dadar and Khetwadi for an Earth Day-themed (April 22) reading session. Organised by Brain Bristles, a platform that promotes awareness of autism in educational institutions, the initiative aims to bring stories and smiles into inclusive classrooms by supporting children with autism and learning difficulties.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/apr/Vote-a_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
These sessions will be held at Vanita Vishram Primary School and Shindewadi Mumbai Public School. &ldquo;Inclusion must be a right, not a privilege. Every classroom should welcome, and empower children of all abilities,&rdquo; Devangana Mishra, founder, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/amp/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-diary-monday-dossier-23626558" rel="nofollow">Brain Bristles</a>, told this diarist.
<h2>A clean sweep</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/apr/Cleanup-Bandra_e.jpg" alt="A volunteer at work in Bandra. PIC COURTESY/ABDUL MUNAF" width="1280" height="720" /> A volunteer at work in Bandra. PIC COURTESY/ABDUL MUNAF
Volunteers across the city and its suburbs rose to the call of duty on Earth Day yesterday. While we lauded the clean-up efforts, our jaws dropped when we checked in on the numbers. The clean-up on Manori beach by Mission Green Mumbai bagged nearly 7800 kg of plastic, while a similar beach drive in Prabhadevi by Beach Warriors hit the tonne on the weighing scale with 1055 kg. &ldquo;We had set out with a target of 300 kg, but we surpassed it with ease,&rdquo; said Abdul Munaf of Gully Classes Foundation, who led a session at a public garden in Thane&rsquo;s Kisan Nagar, and Joggers Park in Bandra. Is it time for heavier fines on habitual litterers, perhaps?
<h2>Mera setar hai Irani</h2>
This week, we caught up with an Iranian musician who has struck a chord with Mumbai. Saleh Mirsaeedi will give Mumbaikars a glimpse of the Persian instrument setar in Girgaon today. &ldquo;After learning Persian classical music, I came to India for the first time in 2016, drawn by <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-diary-friday-dossier-beach-cricket-gorillaz-tour-and-paw-some-ipl-nights-23624989" rel="nofollow">Indian music</a>,&rdquo; he shared. Having trained under renowned Ustad Mohammed Reza Lotfi back home, Mirsaeedi was taken under the wing by another guru in India, Pandit Pushpraj Koshti.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/apr/Neela-Bhagwe_e.jpg" alt="Neela Bhagwat reads from a large printout. These magnified pages helped the veteran read lyrics onstage (right) Saleh Mirsaeedi. PICS COURTESY/@saleh.330" width="1280" height="720" /> Neela Bhagwat reads from a large printout. These magnified pages helped the veteran read lyrics onstage (right) Saleh Mirsaeedi. PICS COURTESY/@saleh.330
&ldquo;The setar is a centuries-old instrument that is said to originate in northeastern Iran, in the Khurasan province. The sitar and the setar share the same words for da (outward) and ra (inward) strokes,&rdquo; the musician revealed. Mirsaeedi remembers another maestro this week &mdash; Vidushi Neela Bhagwat, who passed away earlier this month. &ldquo;I met her in Dadar three years ago. Her presence and insights were inspiring. It&rsquo;s a big loss,&rdquo; he said. Mirsaeedi left us with a timely message of hope: &ldquo;I feel at home in India, and can&rsquo;t think of leaving this country ever. I hope peace will prevail in Iran too.&rdquo;
<h2>Rostam has crossed the Atlantic</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/apr/Rostam_e.jpg" alt="Rostam prepares for the long flight (Right) at his new home in Springfield" width="1280" height="720" /> Rostam prepares for the long flight (Right) at his new home in Springfield
Does the NRI tag apply to felines? We&rsquo;re asking for our four-legged friend, Rostam. The <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-diary-friday-dossier-a-curated-mix-of-art-travel-music-and-culinary-excellence-23621666" rel="nofollow">blind rescued</a> cat from Thane who shone in this section in mid-day&rsquo;s April 6 edition, has reached his new home in the USA. Vinita Kalgutkar, who sheltered Rostam before his big move, shared this happy bit of news with a glimpse of Rostam&rsquo;s airport look. &nbsp;After a smooth flight, the feline has finally touched down in Springfield, Virginia, and is already warming up to the new life. Looks like he&rsquo;s having the time of his life, all nine of them.&nbsp;

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