Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

Go little rockstarChildren train their speed strength and stamina with exercises at the Shree Samarth Vyayam Mandir at Shivaji Park in DadarLife lessons in blackoutDespite the ceasefire declared last Saturday blackouts and sirens mean memory time for a generation who have lived through previous wars One of those is Dr Shekhar Salkar who graduated from Tata Memorial Hospital Parel in 1988 The Goabased surgical oncologist started private practice from 1990 The 65 yearold chief of Department of Oncology Manipal Goa hospital recalled to this diarist recently ldquoI heard stories about how the Portuguese were thrown out of Goa as the Indian Army entered Goa from Dodamarg in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra just a few kilometres from our home in BicholimrdquoA view of the Mayem lake in Bicholim The home town of Dr Shekhar Salkar would often resound with sirens during the IndoPak War of 1971 Pic CourtesyWikimedia CommonsDr Salkar said ldquoThough I was just a fifth standard student at the time I also vividly remember the 1971 War especially the blackout that enveloped our small town of Bicholim Every evening houses in the neighbourhood including ours would plunge into darkness as people diligently switched off their lights and drew curtains to comply with blackout rules Occasional sounds of the siren and fighter jets making rounds were frightfulrdquo he recounted adding ldquoWe children would gather around kerosene lamps or candles sharing stories and playing indoor gamesShekhar SalkarThe blackout became a part of our daily routine we learned to find joy in simple things like storytelling and bonding with family and friends The blackout may have been a safety measure but it also taught me the value of resilience and adaptability during challenging timesrdquoYoung at artAn artwork by Pehel Birawat right Kimaya Singhaniarsquos workIf you think curating an art showcase in Mumbai is a walk in the park ask 17yearold Peddar Roadbased artist Kimaya Singhania inset who will present a threeday exhibition starting May 16 at the Cymroza Art Gallery With Sahayog Art Foundation the teenager has been sifting through artworks for a greater causeA part of the proceeds from the exhibition Singhania revealed will go towards Cuddles Foundation an NGO enabling the welfare of young cancer patients ldquoI gave the artists complete creative freedom because a greater purpose could have been achieved only if we all came as who we are Irsquove realised you donrsquot have to wait till yoursquore older to make a differencerdquo Singhania told usVoices for the changing worldHimali KothariWhile the concern about climate change keeps growing a few voices look to spread the awareness beyond the scientific spaces In August playwright Himali Kotharirsquos Friends for Life and fellow theatremaker Nikhil Katararsquos The Mermaid will find space among 50 plays to be performed in the lead up to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe which is scheduled for August 25 ldquoThe two plays are part of 40 works published last year by Chantal Bilodeau one of the founders of Climate Change Theatre Action CCTArdquo CCTA is a nonprofit initiative at the forefront of bringing climate change into conversations on the stage ldquoEvery year they commission plays on the subject and compile 50 plays to be shared online for readers all over the world to use and stage as part of their efforts to spread awarenessrdquo shared Kothari who will be travelling to EdinburghTeen confidenceA moment from the exercise enabling children to tell a story from their experience Pic CourtesyAng TarangLast Friday at the Nirmik Cultural Centre in Kandivli teens rediscovered their voices in a unique way This was hosted by Ang Tarang an initiative by Shruti Ganesh below left and Shruti Suvarna below right that trains children in movement and selfexpression Ganesh the cofounder and cofacilitator of the initiative shared ldquoWe understand the importance of dance and movements and have been positively impacted by it Since the participants were young adolescents from the marginalised sections the exercise was designed to help them regain presence confidence and a positive body imagerdquoShe added that the facilitators used melodrama as a tool to enable catharsis and selfexpression among the children ldquoWe are bringing them together as a group because when they step on stage or even otherwise they need to understand group dynamics They learned spontaneity through small activities where the children came up with their own story and presented it in dramatic fashionrdquo she told this diaristatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params