Eid Qawwali concert

Who would've thought that a Westernized urban girl like me would come to love Hindustani classical music and Urdu poetry. I am glad to learn this about myself. It makes me realize I have struck my roots and respect my heritage.

I really enjoyed the Eid concert that the Times organized the day before the Lead India campaign at the same venue, Bandra Fort. The first group was from Pakistan (Munawwar Masoom) and I loved the Qawwali style of poetry mixed in with music, that goes back centuries.

Lead India campaign

I have to thank the Times for conceiving of this campaign to get better leaders for India. And I am glad Rahul Bose is running so I can vote for him. He seems like a sensitive, articulate, and progressive Bombayite, besides being a talented actor.

I watched a debate at the beautiful venue of Bandra Fort yesterday, which, prior to this past weekend, didn't know existed. The stage is at the waterfront with the sea framing the background with palm trees. And at the top of Bandra Fort, you get a great view of Bandra Reclamation.

After the debate, Shubha Mudgal performed some great patriotic songs. The one I liked the best was written by a 'kothawali' (a singer who performs for men, considered by 'decent' people to have loose morals) who responded to Gandhi's call at a Kothawali convention in Benaras to sing protest songs. It went something like: "India is like a garden. You can strip her of flowers but not of her pride. We will be free soon, the age has come."

The nicest old man in Bandra

This is a house right next to Shahrukh Khans on Bandstand. It's owned by Keku Gandhi, a wonderfully kind man. They sure don't make them like they used to.

He gave me a tour of his house that is full of history, that of Parsee culture and art. I was also lucky enough to get a lesson about some of Bandra's history. He himself is an art restorer and owner of the Chemould art gallery in town.

He also took me to the Parsee sanatorium next door which has a facade like the Buckingham Palace! Who knew? I got a sneak peek at the beautiful gardens and library inside as well.

Not ready for public vending machines in Bombay train stations

I was thrilled to see that someone installed two automatic ticket vending machines at Dadar station in Bombay. They had touch screen displays of Bombay's rail lines with different zone areas. People stood around looking at them with curiosity and hope. I could see them thinking maybe someday soon we wouldn't have to wait in long queues to buy commuter tickets twice a day.

So I ask the constable at his desk next to the machines, what was up with them? He says they've been there for weeks but don't work and aren't likely to work since he heard the private company that installed them is out of business!!

Typical...

Screening an anti-domestic violence film is anti-Hindu?

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/VHP-supporters-stop-screening-film-on-social-issues-in-college/216686/

When will the mainstream media, government and political parties stop allowing mafia like bahavior from fundamentalist Hindus?

Does the VHP really think that beating up their wives is part of Hindu philosophy so much so that they don't want anti-domestic violence education in Gujarat?

Ghati brigade

For some reason, Ganpati season brings out some rage in me.

Maybe it's because the festival seems ridiculous in that idols are dumped into the sea causing more damage and pollution to a coastline I care about.

Maybe it's the disturbing levels of noise, bombs and repetitive music that is forced on Bombay residents like myself until late at night! When I asked a policeman how it was that there was a 10 pm ban on outdoor music rule but this was allowed, he answered the high court had given them permission.

Maybe it's the fact that Ganpati now has communal undertones with the Shiv Sena embracing the festival as a beacon of Maharashtrian culture.

I think people need to realize the festival for what it really is. It's not about religion any more. It's a drunken noisy parade of the poor, who use it as their opportunity of annual recreational release. These unfortunate people have no other sanctioned time to take over Bombay streets and let their voices get heard!

Sadly, the fish and the quiet-loving other residents have to take the blow, because of Bombay's rotten infrastructure.

Paid to shop!

Probably the highlight of my year would have to be an impromptu trip to Bangkok to assist a stylist friend shopping for a high profile Bollywood movie.

This store was one of my favorites started by an Indian Thai guy called Jaspal.