KALARIPAYATTU

MAGIC OF KALARIPAYATTU: Special performance by the army at Maharashtra, Gujarat & Goa Area Trophy event at RWITC, Mumbai Race Course

Unique Headgear

The dark, sharp business suit and the celebratory saffron pheta, the traditional turban, might belong to two distinctly different sartorial worlds. On a winter evening this past week, though, pinstripes were accessorized with saffron to make a rather curious ensemble. What added to the curiosity was the fact that it was sported by several foreigners. The event was a cultural programme and dinner hosted by the state government for participants of a global aviation summit. While Indian classical and folk music and dance forms did generate some interest, what garnered the most attention was the traditional Maharashtrian welcome accorded to the dignitaries, who had flown in from around 80 countries. They were offered phetas to wear and many were sporting enough to take up the offer. The two experts the host had brought in to tie the phetas had their hands full throughout the evening. At one point, the CEOs, business chiefs and engineering heads of the global aviation world—both men and women—queued up to get decked in the headgear. By the time the evening wound up, a number of Americans, Europeans and South-East Asians were walking around with their colourful phetas.


Thackeray & Pu La

This month marks the release of two Marathi biopics chronicling the life and times of Balasaheb Thackeray and celebrated litterateur P L or Pu La, as he was known to his countless admirers. Both Deshpande and Thackeray dealt with humour. Thackeray, the cartoonist, lampooned politicians with his deft sabre brush strokes before he became one. On the other hand, Deshpande endeared himself to the fast-rising Maharashtrian middle-class by pouring ridicule on its foibles and fads while offering them solace in his dew-fresh humour and plays. Deshpande was the first recipient of the state government’s prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan award way back in 1997. In his acceptance speech, Deshpande took the Sena-BJP government to task. A miffed Thackeray slammed Deshpande for being ungrateful to the government. Soon, the Sena patriarch found himself in the eye of a storm as Deshpande’s countless admirers stood firmly by him and penned angry letters to newspapers. Thackeray rushed to Deshpande’s Pune residence to offer his regrets. Incidentally, both Deshpande and his wife Sunita were Thackeray’s teachers at the Oriental High School in Mahim. Needless to add, the teachers forgave their pupil.

Felicitating Grit

A philanthropist has reached out to young citizens who have overcome adversities to emerge victorious and felicitated them. One is Roshanara Shaikh, a double amputee from a train accident who has now completed her MBBS and is currently studying for her post-graduation in medicine. The other is cyclist Mayur Dhumasia who flagged off his journey for Mumbai from India Gate on January 11. Dhumasia, who lost his right arm in an accident, will peddle 100km daily to cover the Delhi-Mumbai distance of 1,600km and will get a rousing reception at Marine Drive on January 26. “On his way to Mumbai, Dhumasia will spread social messages at meetings organized by our volunteers,” said Aneel Murarka, the philanthropist. Among the messages Dhumasia is expected to spread is cleanliness. When he visits schools, colleges and community halls, he will request students to wash their hands frequently to keep diseases at bay.