Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Purple RainThe purple lights of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus cast a colourful reflection after a downpourFauja hi FaujaPunjab and the global running community is in mourning after news emerged that fleetfoot Fauja Singh the iconic 114yearold lsquoTurbaned Tornadorsquo who ran marathons and long distance in his 90s and even as a 100yearold tragically died in a road accident on July 14 2025 at his home village of Beas Pind near Jalandhar Reports stated he was struck by an unidentified vehicle while crossing the road at around 330 pm He later died at a private hospitalFauja Singh at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2016 PICSATEJ SHINDESingh was born in India on April 1 1911 and was an amateur runner in the Punjab before giving up the sport in 1947 at 36 After his wife died he moved to London in 1992 leaving his village near the JalandharPathankot Road to live with his youngest son and decided to don the trainers and pound the streets again Singh started running again at 89 having found his mojo in the gentle green rolling hills of the UK and he finally ldquoretiredrdquo from the full marathon distance of a gruelling 42km when he was 94 Since then he concentrated on shorter runs especially the 10 kmThis diarist recalls his visit to Mumbai in 2016 as a special guest for the Mumbai Marathon At that time he revealed that he was still careful about his diet ldquoThe day I wake up and do not feel comfortable as I put my foot on the floor I know I have eaten something that I should not have If I get up with a spring in my step then I know I have eaten rightrdquo he had said Singh attributed his success to ginger dal ldquocurriesrdquo he used to call them sending the English press into paroxysms of delightFauja is reported to have said ldquoMy diet is simple phulka dal green vegetables yoghurt and milk I do not touch parathas pakoras rice or any fried food I drink lots of water and tea with gingerrdquo May the gentle running Sikh be having lots of adrak chai and one day we hope to see him running across the skies Rest and Run in Peace indefatigable Fauja SinghBetter safe than sorryA mythbuster session in progress Pic courtesyWarr FoundationFollowing a recent tragic incident in Bhiwandi where a girl child passed away due to snake bite the Wild Animals and Reptile Rescue Foundation WARR a nongovernmental organisation conducted a lecture on snake identification and bite prevention to children in Gove Naka ldquoMost of the kids are from snake charmer families who despite being familiar with the reptile are often unaware of wildlife laws and their conservationrdquo says Roma Tripathi wildlife biologist and rescuer at WARR The foundation aims to debunk snake myths identify its patterns and behaviours and explain its importance in the ecosystem ldquoDo not attempt to kill or handle the snake observe and call a wildlife rescuer instead If itrsquos in an open area simply monitor it and let it leave peacefullyrdquo Tripathi advisedPoetic sundown in MoiraRekha Shorey left DJcummusic producer with Jeet Thayil centre and Devangana Mishra right at the event PIC COURTESYDevangana MishraIt is not every day that Mumbaikars take over a relaxed Goan evening Taking a break from her duties as founder of the NGO BrainBristle Devangana Mishra spent the last weekend in Mormugaorsquos Birdsong Moira at a poetry reading session Mishra is currently working on her third book of poems May I Mumbai about growing up in the city of Mumbai in the 1980s The book is set to be released in September Incidentally the session was attended by a former Mumbaikar and former midday writer poet Jeet Thayil ldquoJeet is a brilliant poet and writer many of us have been following his work since we were young His incidental presence helped give me validity and confidencerdquo shared Mishra A performer himself Thayil had some advice to share ldquoHe told me to slow down to let the audience absorb your words and voicerdquo she revealedThey didnrsquot forget gentle Doshi at LordrsquosThe recently concluded Lordrsquos cricket Test where India and England traded blows right till the end on Monday night witnessed a star turnout The greatest of cricketers walked through the hallowed gates to watch the action many of them MCC Marylebone Cricket Club membersThere were other wellknown names like Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones The 82yearold rock star caught up with Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara two of the finest contemporary batsmen and Farokh Engineer the former India wicketkeeperbatsmanSachin Tendulkar left Mick Jagger Farokh Engineer and Brian Lara at the Lordrsquos Cricket Ground recently a dated photograph of Dilip Doshi at Colaba PICSHADAB KHANEngineer told this diarist that Jagger and he spoke about Dilip Doshi who passed away recently at 77 Doshi who spent many English summers playing county cricket got to know the Stones well As reported in this newspaper not long ago he had even accompanied fellow cricketers to Rolling Stones concertsldquoWe did speak about him Doshi and raised a toast to him for being such a good human being The three of us watched the last England vs India Test at The Oval 2021 together and we went out for a meal afterwardsrdquo said Engineer We are not ruling out moist eyes or throat lumps as Engineer and Jagger remembered gentle Doshi