August 2016 by Bandra Buzz newspaper

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Development Plan or Disaster Proposal 7th August 2016 | Vol. 7 (I) Issue 8 |

Everyone is talking about DP 2014 - 2034 – the plan that will make (or break?) Mumbai ready for the next twenty years. But, how much do we really know about the pros and cons of this DP? There are several mega projects built in this plan – involving several thousands of crores of rupees. What is decided now, will dramatically aﬀect our lives and that of future generations. The DP can do good and bad – big time! Surely, most of those involved have hidden agendas. Can we detect them? Are tax-paying citizens not entitled to know the DP – in all its entirety, before it is ﬁnalised? To get an insight, Bandra Buzz got some inputs from heritage architect – David Cardoz, a social activist (AGNI Trustee) – Shyama Kulkarni and the Chairman Emeritus of the Forum of Environmental Journalists in India (FEJI) – Darryl D’Monte.

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We also asked Dy. Mayor of Mumbai, at her office in the BMC Headquarters, opposite CST – what she had to say about the DP. Smt. Alka Kerkar replied,“I’ve called two BMC officers here to answer DP queries from citizens. People got to know facts, instead of being misled – saying that FSI is more in the city compared to the suburbs. People residing in buildings going for re-development need to know the right regulations. These were clarified. Also, the issue of open spaces was clarified. I think this is a good DP – only when it functions will people be satisfied. We will be introducing a one-window system. Now, the AMC is also very citizen-friendly. The DP is for the people and they will benefit.”

Contd. on Page 04 >

L to R: Public, BMC Officials, Warren Fernandes & Dy. Mayor Alka Kerkar

02 AUGUST 2016

BANDRA BUZZ

IN FOCUS

A Vet for all Pets Interacting with a veterinarian who does not love animals is as obscure as discussing with a pilot about their acrophobia issue, which is a fear of height! So after accepting the inevitable, and to a certain degree the intrinsic aspect of a vet's love for animals, let's ﬁnd out what sets Dr. Amrita Deb's 'WildVets' apart. After globe-crawling along side reptiles, iguanas and chasing the skies with the likes of falcons and the spix's macaw (remember the blue bird from the movie Rio) to name a few, she has returned home. This Bandraite holds a Master's Degree in Surgery from the Bombay Veterinary College, following which she pursued her Master's in Avian Health from the UK. Thereafter she shifted base to Qatar and was closely associated with the rehabilitation of endangered wildlife. This job presented her with the unique opportunity to work with falcons, leopards, sand cats and monkeys, besides gaining immense handling and diagnostic know-how, she also worked with the core research team and her papers have been published in more than 35 international veterinary journals. On returning home in tow with her family from Qatar which includes a rescued

racer grey hound named 'Mafimushkil', she started working on a plan wherein she could exude all the learning & experience she had gained along the way. Her observations resulted in the birth of ‘WildVets’, she realized that there was no veterinary facility available locally for exotic pets like birds, rabbits & turtles, most of the professionals in the city offer services for conventional pet animals only. She decided to formulate a veterinary practice which cared & treated both domesticated pets as well as the wilder or rarer buddies. Secondly not many practices function on an ‘all services under one roof’ format, owing to which the patient & the companion have to undergo a lot of unnecessary to and fro. Her facility addresses all the needs of her patients under one roof, including veterinary surgery & diagnostic services, grooming & a pet store with food & accessories. She systematically shows us around the clinic which has four sections, the first being the surgical section which is also equipped with a gas anesthesia machine and a x-ray machine. Dr. Amrita explains the benefits of administrating anesthesia through gas “This method is much safer as we can monitor the levels and reduce or in-

crease the dosage if needed. The turnaround period after this procedure is quicker as well.” The next section is the tub table, all the pre surgery preparation is done here so that maximum sanitation is maintained while the surgery is underway. This tub table after a thorough wash down is used to give the pets, medicated or grooming related baths as well. The next section is where the monitoring equipment display the images of the scan, instant x-ray results expedites the course of treatment. The ﬁnal section is the consultation section. The reception area of the clinic has many happy looking accessories and treats for all kinds of pets. The clinic

also stores a range of pet food including brands which are not readily available for hamsters, rabbits, birds, dogs, cats and can source as per the requirement of your pet. They also arrange for cages and other super specialized tools for animal care. The mission of 'WildVets' is to support people who want to raise their own, if milder version of the jungle book in the city without having to worry about the medical support. Dr. Amrita's acquired experience and exposure renders her capable of handling and caring for all kinds of animals. She is raring to go and care for the pet, even if they are roaring!! Sidhant Nayangara

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AUGUST 2016 03

BANDRA BUZZ

JUST OPENED

Celebrity Hairstylist Vipul Chudasama’s flagship Hair Education and Studio at Jasmin House, Pali Naka

LET YOUR HAIR DO THE TALKING What do the famous celebrities Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, David Beckham, Rihanna, Pink & Cristiano Ronaldo have in common? You guessed it right! They all have perfect hairstyles. But gone are the days when all we could do was sit and admire their dazzling hairdos on the television, in magazines and on billboards around town. One of our country's most renowned hairdressers & creative directors for many brands across India, Vipul Chudasama has now set hair studio right here in the heart of Bandra. The celebrity hairstylist and an acclaimed consultant for many brands, Vipul has launched his much-awaited ﬂagship Hair Education & Studio, which boasts of a team of savvy hairstylists and artists who come from an extensive background to create new hair ideas without disregarding the classic. The studio services don't just include the usual haircut, hair colour, blow dry, treatment & hairstyling, but also includes the more exquisite bridal make-

up, besides offering a wide selection of quality hair products to help you sport that awesome look. Vipul, who has trained and inspired top hairstylists in India as well as on the international stage brings over 10 years of experience to the studio and prides himself on providing an uplifting experience for his clients & students. He has styled top models for India's talented fashion designers, bollywood celebrities & showcased his creation at Haute Coiffure Francaise in Paris, the fashion capital of the world. An ecstatic Vipul exclaims, “I am thrilled to open my Hair Education and Studio in Mumbai, it is indeed a dream come true. We don’t view our customers as a job; for us no two customers are alike when it comes to haircutting and hairdressing. The diversity of services we offer allows us to customise each individual’s characteristics to create the ultimate experience for our clients.”

While at the studio the hairstylists bring out the beauty in you, the Hair Education oﬀers foundation & advanced hairdressing courses that are designed to give professional hairdressers a greater understanding of their skills and craft. Designed to appeal to an upscale business and leisure clientele and professionals alike, this alternative hair education and studio is poised to redesign your hair to transform the look and education to develop skills of Indian Hairdressers. And, well, if you want to improve those selﬁes, you better rush to see your stylist aka Vipul Chudasama & his talented team. Jasmin House, 2 Upper Floor, 1 Pali Village, Pali Naka, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050. Call: +91(22)26494411/5511 or 9769900010 www.vipulchudasama.com Valerian D’costa

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RADDICONNECT: BUILDING AN INDUSTRY 10th July 2016 | Vol. 7 (I) Issue 7 |

A refreshing take on the e-commerce business model is embodied by the likes of startups such as RaddiConnect. The Bandra based online platform spearheaded by a team of youngsters, have their vision, heart and feet where they belong. With a vision propelling them forward, feet on the ground and hearts pounding with the urge to create a difference, RaddiConnect is all geared to touch the sky. Quiz the founders about what inspired them to foray into such an unconventional segment & they quickly retort with statistics about the unruly and dispersed market called ‘recycling

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and waste management’. The cofounders Gurashish Sahni aged 23, Rahul Nainani aged 24 & the youngest member Raunaq Singh Sahni who is 21 years old, have researched well and have promising numbers to back their business model, however what struck us was the fact that these youngsters want to uplift their vendors and associates as they progress ahead, their three fold mission includes establishing and formatting the market structure for disposing and recycling goods, alter the perception of the raddiwallas and to make a social change by supporting NGOs.

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So what is RaddiConnect, how did it take flight and what does it have in store? RaddiConnect aims to facilitate the activity of disposing ones waste by resolving the haphazard manner through which the customer and service provider conduct their transaction. RaddiConnect enables the customer to fix a time slot as per their convenience for the pick-up, the back end team from RaddiConnect thereafter confirms the scheduled pick up & provides the customer with the competitive market prices for paper, plastic, metal and glass. Contd. on Page 2 >

04 AUGUST 2016

BANDRA BUZZ

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Bandra West Residents Association Development Plan Objection The BWRA wishes to object very strongly to the newest alignment of the Coastal Road in Bandra West, which is shown in the Draft DP as having a connector at or around the amphitheatre on the public promenade on Carter Road - which the BWRA maintains on behalf of the BMC. Due to the overhead connectors, the amphitheatre can no longer be used for cultural activities, which are organised twice or more a month. Besides, during the 10day Celebrate Bandra annual festival, this amphitheatre is used every evening and occasionally at dawn, which will no longer be possible due to the construction of a clover-leaf junction at the site and the din of traffic overhead and alongside the access and exit points. Yoga and other exercises will similarly be disturbed. The promenade is used by thousands of people every day and the connector will interfere with their opportunities for exercise and healthy living. No assessment has been done of the increase in air pollutants from the 200,000 cars that will be plying along the Coast Road every day, and the local impact at the connector. Since there will be no tolls on the Coast Road, the volume of traffic may increase. This will also damage, perhaps permanently, the beach which lies just off the promenade at this spot and is also a popular spot for recreation. This alignment, as others previously, has not been planned by taking into account the impact of increased traffic on Carter Road, as well as connector roads like Perry / Turner Road and roads leading to Pali Hill. These will be permanently clogged with motorists attempting to access the Coastal Road every morning and exiting from it every evening. Since this will be the only connector in this part of the western suburbs, apart from the existing one at the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, motorists from Khar and Santa Cruz will also be using it, since the next connector will be in Juhu. Since no study has been conducted into the volumes of traffic that are likely to be generated at Carter Road, we find an infirmity in the Draft DP and would like this connector to be removed from the area. Failure to do this would violate the Constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment for this and succeeding generations. We would like to be given an opportunity to present our objections in person before the DP is finalized. Darryl D'Monte - President, Bandra West Residents Association

DP 2034: Development Plan or Disaster Proposal

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Sometime last year the BMC released a DP that had so many objections raised against it, that the Chief Minister was forced to withdraw it. The BMC has now apparently corrected the Plan and released a Revised Draft Development Plan – DP 2034, that will determine & control any ‘development’ of our city & in our neighbourhood for the next 20 years. But a closer look at the “corrected and revised” plan shows that it is still full of errors, particularly of plot numbers, that are crucial to identifying your property in the DP. Other clues such as iconic buildings / railway stations / road names & junctions, that help the common man in locating his / her property - are also missing. If you cannot correctly identify your property how does the BMC expect us to correctly send in our suggestions / objections to the Plan? And there’s more missing! Road Widening Setbacks which were one of the most controversial proposals earlier, have now disappeared. The same goes for the Heritage Sites. Does this mean

AUGUST 2016 05

BANDRA BUZZ

they are Not Applicable? Not at all! Setbacks in existence before this Plan and Heritage Lists will still apply, only they are not indicated in the Plan. And the list goes on… . Gaothans, Koliwadas and several religious structures, that have been around for years; have not been marked, even though the law requires that all of these be specifically shown in the Plan. Are these really ‘errors’ or is there some method in this madness? Is it possible that this time around, the BMC is leaving things out, just so we find it difficult to object and the Plan gets somehow ‘pushed’ through? This does seem to be the case as the BMC has already filed a Caveat in the High Court, against any legal challenge to the DP or the Coastal Road, presuming, obviously, that there will be serious objections! Now isn’t that defeating the very purpose of the procedure of Suggestions / Objections? Are we not supposed to voice our opinions about a Plan that will determine what we do for the next 20 years? So…what can we do? Well…the same as last time. Please do raise your voices, through submitting ‘Objections’ to what is being done and ‘Suggesting’ ways & means to improve the situation. You need not be

Proposed Coastal Road in front of Bandra Bandstand Promenade an expert to demand what is your right! But we do not have much time. 29th July 2016 is the last day for submitting the Suggestions / Objections. You need to write in to ‘The Municipal Commissioner at the Oﬃce of the Chief Engineer DP, 5th Floor,

BMC HO Annexe Building, CST, Mumbai and let your voice be heard, so we can turn around this Proposal for Disaster into a true Plan for Development.

Don’t Mess with My City St. Sebastian Homes

When the Devel- pointment is the way this DP is playing opment Plan with the environment. Aarey land which is (DP) was re- a unique forest, will have a Metro shed; by leased last year, cutting hundreds of trees, which can never M u m b a i k a r s be transplanted. Low income housing to were enraged. be built on salt pan land. A Coastal road Thousands of from Nariman Point to Kandivali, Malad. objections / sug- The original settlers of Mumbai, the Koli gestions were Community & the East Indians; will lose submitted to the BMC authorities. their livelihood. This coastal road Agitations & public protests will kill mangroves, ruin our were seen across the city promenades, Juhu Beach (mostly led by AGNI) - in (where they are planning Bandra on Pali Hill & at an underground tun“Most of our objections Carter Promenade. nel) - and another tunhave not been looked into. ReThere was extensive nel under Malabar media coverage and Hill, costing over ligious structures like Mt. Mary, our main demand for twelve thousand Siddhivinayak Temple & the “Scrap the DP” was crores. Imagine, my Mahim Darga where lakhs wor- taxes, and the entire accepted. Then, a new ship - are not even shown.” DP was announced in Mumbaikar’s taxes; April 2016. being used to cater to But is the new one any less than 2% of the popudifferent from the previous lation (car owners). one? No! A retired geology professor In fact, in many ways it is worse. Most from IIT, at a recent press conference; said of our objections have not been looked that if this is done (the Coastal Road, etc.), into. Religious structures like Mount Mary, you are messing with the unique environSiddhivinayak Temple & the Mahim Darga ment of Mumbai. These decisions will lead where lakhs worship - are not even shown. to floods in Mumbai - and end in a big Extra FSI near Railway stations where earthquake. there is no sufficient infrastructure like Let’s not mess with nature, just to help water, drainage & roads - are marked. the developer! However, my greatest anger or disapShyama Kulkarni

David Cardoz - Architect

in the forefront again!

When the earlier Draft Development Plan was released, St. Sebastian Homes was the ﬁrst Society in Bandra to hold a public meeting, jointly with H-West Federation and Khar Residents Asociation (K.R.A.), where a panel of prominent speakers housing activists, environmentalists, architects, advocates, developers and social activists shared their views. The society further appointed an architect, who pointed out that the plots were in the newly designated “Residential/Commercial Zone” and most of the roads were shown for road widening. Meetings were held with the ALMs, Municipal Councillors and the MLA. To achieve their goal of ensuring ‘Residential Zone’, a three-pronged strategy was used: 1. Voiced their concerns using Media – Times of India, Radio One and 94.3 FM 2. Submitted 494 individual objections 3. Wrote to MLA, Adv. Ashish Shelar The Hon. Secretary Warren Fernandes told us, “When we went to submit the objections, the BMC refused to acknowledge all 494 objections and was only willing to put

a stamp on the 1st objection letter. We had to go to the Municipal Commissioner’s Office and only after a dialogue, they stamped and acknowledged each of the 494 objections. We believe that through our united effort, we have achieved the ZONING – ‘RESIDENTIAL’ for the whole of Bandra". Now with the Revised Draft DP, the society again studied the impact by appointing an architect. A seminar was held by the society which was well attended and appreciated by the society members. Mr. Hussain Indorewala, Architect of CSA explained the aspects of new roads, reservations, designations of plots, FSI, etc. which would adversely affect the St. Sebastian Society. The society is encouraging its members to submit objections, some of which are: 1. Omission of road names of Dr. Peter Dias Road and St. Roque Road not mentioned in the DP 2. Objection to Mt. Carmel Church as a Religious Buildings not indicated. As we go for print, the St. Sebastian Homes have submitted 306 objections to the revised DP. Kailash Parab

06 AUGUST 2016

BANDRA BUZZ

FITNESS

Have you forgotten to cycle? Mumbai Riders aims to revive the culture of cycling in Mumbai When was the last time you rode a cycle? If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember it then surely itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a long time and you need to revive yourself a bit. Cycling indeed gives birth to an immense feeling of nostalgia for we all learn to cycle as kids. In fact for most of us, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cycling is the ďŹ rst sportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; we learn after running. Then, why not cycle again? You must be wondering where to cycle, how to cycle, who has a cycle, am I ďŹ t to cycle, do I have the strength to cycle, will I be able to cycle with my physique and what if I fall while cycling? A number of such thoughts might run through your mind but remember these thoughts just clutter your mind. You can cycle at any age and there is really nothing that can stop you from cycling. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mumbai Ridersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; solves all your dilemmas as they organise cycle rides on the streets of Mumbai on weekends. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now time for the tourist buses to move over and make way for the bicycle for a new way of exploring the city is rapidly gaining popularity. Mumbai Riders, the brainchild of three commerce students Rishi Shah, Falak Parikh and Saurabh Punamiya, has brought

the long lost cycling culture back to Mumbaikars in a fun ďŹ lled enthusiastic way. So, what do Mumbai Riders do? In short, they give you a cycle, make you ride a cycle and let you explore the city of Mumbai mainly during the night. So, when the fast paced Mumbai is fast asleep, you venture out with your cycle to experience the peace, serenity and silence of the ever noisy and busy metropolitan. The idea of Mumbai Riders emerged through an experience that the founder had last summer when he took a cycle ride across a French town. He always looked out for cycling tours in whichever city he visited and, thus wanted to get that culture to the city of Mumbai. Started in December 2015, Mumbai Riders have organised around 17 cycle ride events till date in the city of Mumbai with people of all age groups right from 12 to 50 years old attending the event. Anybody can cycle. There is no age bar and no discrimination of any sort. Walking on the streets of Mumbai in the night might be risky but cycling with a bunch of people turns out to be a healthy social networking event. Not only to you cycle and pump up

your body with some movement but also you get to meet new people, make friends and build relations as you share your desire for cycling and the mesmerising love for Mumbai city. The team is fully equipped with a technician throughout the ride who takes of any unforeseen mishaps moreover, medical aid is provided too. Refreshments are on them so one doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry about getting hungry on the way. Well, all the pillars of Mumbai Riders namely Rishi Shah, Falak Parikh and Saurabh Punamiya have a unique passion towards cycling. In fact, all of them are fresh graduates around 21 years old and the latter work as Chartered Accountants while Rishi is an analyst at KPMG. In short, all of them are young enthusiasts who work throughout the work & use their weekend in a constructive way by organising these cycling events. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have our own Facebook Page called Mumbai Riders where we mention

about our cycling event. Anyone can directly register there and attend our event. We want more people to know about it so that the culture spreads far and wide. Also, the authorities of Mumbai can be more supportive if large number of people attend our event for we wish to expand Mumbai Riders and organise many large scale events,â&#x20AC;? says Rishi Shah. The best part of cycling in a metropolitan like Mumbai is that it is pollution free. Cycling is completely eco-friendly and one with nature. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we travel to various cities out of India, we witness a lot of people who cycle; even we use a cycle as the basic mode of transport in order to curb pollution. We want to impart this to every citizen of Mumbai so that we help make a better place. After all, Mumbai is our city and we all love the spirit of Mumbai, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cycle to make it better in our own little way,â&#x20AC;? expresses Rishi. Ronald Rodrigues

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AUGUST 2016 07

BANDRA BUZZ

FITNESS

Track and Field Coach Daniel Vaz & his pacers ensure that every type of runner is looked out for during the run

RUN WITH US I’ve always envied people who can wake up early & attack the day with a vengeance. Unfortunately the most action I could muster up in the wee hours has been clinging to my pillow for as long as possible. A year ago if you had told me that I would be waking up at 5.30 am to go running & that I was a part of a run-club I would have definitely looked at you funny while incessantly liking all those Facebook posts that say smarter & more creative people tend to be late risers, much to contrary belief. Fitness goals vary from individual to individual & even though I am an ardent yoga enthusiast you would never see me wake up early to strike a pose. The fitness culture has been tailor made to suit our schedules & not the other way around & so it’s not uncommon to find footfall at a gym much more after office hours & the mud track at Joggers Park to be packed post 7pm much to everyone’s dismay. However, those morning hours are unlike the rest of the day where you are likely to be distracted by work calls, crying babies, obligations & such, so sacrificing those 2 hours of sleep every other morning can prove to be very fruitful. And you will never know until it happens to you & I’m so glad that NRC happened to me! This year Nike celebrated ‘International Woman’s day’ in Mumbai by organizing a run at 6am in Bandra by the seaside. Everything about that sounded good except the

6am part of it, but I decided to bite the bullet & set the (most hated word in my dictionary) alarm. And ever since then there has been no looking back. NRC, which stands for the ‘Nike Run Club’ has a presence in various cities across the globe; they organize weekly running sessions to inspire runners, from a beginner to a marathoner; to run their first, most fun, fastest & fittest mile with the support of Nike appointed coaches, trainers & pacers who accompany you on the run. In Mumbai NRC takes place twice a week at 6.22am (I suggest you get there by 6.05am as I’ve noticed they like to sometimes get a jump start on the session). On Wednesdays you can find them at Carter Road where they assemble for a warm up at the Amphitheatre opp. Café Coffee Day amidst all their branding paraphernalia, which I’ll admit adds to the professionalism of the sport & on Saturdays at Mumbai University Grounds on Marine Drive. The best part about it is that anyone can do it & be great at it, you don’t need to be an athlete, it doesn’t matter that you didn’t play any sports in school or college. All you need to do is put on a pair of shoes & let that brisk walk gradually turn into a slow jog & before you know it you’ll be running. The NRC Mumbai conducts various types of sessions which cater to all kinds of runners such as the ‘Ready Set Go Run’ for first timers, core sessions such as the

‘Speed Run’ & ‘Long Run’ for a more advanced run & even training sessions such as NTC (Nike Training Club) & HIIT & Run (high intensity interval training) to train your body for the run. NRC trains everyday athletes to take to their sport seriously & helps them realize their true potential while providing participants with overall conditioning, several training tips, expert advice, inspiring experiences & Nike product trialing that would help them achieve their personal best. NRC Mumbai is led by renowned track & field Coach Daniel Vaz, a veteran of 29 full marathons, who has been with NRC since its inception. Dan is accompanied by an able group of young pacers who cater to different levels of running & paces, which ensures that every type of runner is looked out for during the run. You will find this bunch of Nike pacers to be a fun-loving

group & you don’t need to take my word for it just check their Instagram accounts. They have proved to be the best company for an early morning run be it rain or sunshine through various humidity levels, constantly smiling & cheering you on while feeding you with ﬁtness tips along the way. If you would like to come run with us all you need to do is register online at www.nike.com/Mumbai (at no cost) to attend sessions and get further information on the upcoming runs and their locations. So come on, just do it! Francesca Mascarenhas is a travel enthusiast and a freelance writer. Her love for adventure & eclectic view on life encourages her to explore the world collecting countless stories to tell and memories to frame. For a little insight into her world log on to thechicaway.com

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RADDICONNECT: BUILDING AN INDUSTRY 10th July 2016 | Vol. 7 (I) Issue 7 |

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Tattoos - A form of expression or aggression?

08 AUGUST 2016

In the past, only sailors used to get tattoos all over their body but today, body art has become a popular form of self expression not just restricted to sailors. On one hand some may perceive people with tattoos to be aggressive, immature & rebellious while on the other it is considered as a popular form of art that expresses ones individuality & uniqueness. It is almost impossible to understand why do people choose to go through the pain to get inked without actually talking to an accomplished tattoo artist who has inked clients right from the age as young as 10 to 72 year olds. After all, why would someone endure the feeling of a cat continuously scratching them or a feeling of being repeatedly being poked/stabbed by a needle right? I recently interviewed Jeffry D'souza, an experienced tattoo artist located in Santacruz East. Tattooing has always fascinated Jeffrey. Whenever he would look at someone with a tattoo, he used to wonder how a tattoo can remain permanent as in life there is nothing permanent as such. It got him curious & that’s how he fell in love with tattoos. All of us used to make tattoos on our hands back in school days with markers & sketch pens, Jeffrey was no different. However, what makes him really different from you & I is the fact that he actually went

BANDRA BUZZ

Jeffry D'souza inking at his tattoo parlour ahead to make a career out of his passion to make tattoos. When this young tattoo artist showed me his several master pieces, I was left dumbstruck like a gapping frog. However I decided to write on 'The Timeless Watch' as it caught my fascination. This client travelled all the way from Kolkata with his story to get inked by Jeﬀry. There are no digits or numbers in the clock as this client doesn't believe

in the concept of time. You are never too old or too young to try something new. The roman number connotes the client & his better half's anniversary date. Having been born at 4am, the arms of the clock are frozen at that time moreover his client had been brought up in a Christian area, thus a cross has been drawn. The cross symbolises the impact the Christian traditions & religious customs that left on him as a kid.

NEWS

When I asked him about the connection between aggression & tattoos he said that the links between tattoos & aggression ‘are slowly being eroded’. 'Tattoos are not being used in the same way, they don’t symbolise aggression, you can’t go with that assumption any more. People are attempting to emphasise their uniqueness as an individual. Tattoos have become an accessory. Jeﬀry also strongly believes that it isn't necessary to get inked just because your friend has got a tattoo. According to him, one should get inked to express themselves or get tattoo with a memory which they would cherish throughout their life. Jeﬀry also advises Bandra Buzz readers to do a lot of research about the tattoo artist, his work & experience before going in to make a tattoo. He also warns readers to beware of artist who plagiarise other artist’s work & cheat people. He tells the readers to avoid inking names of their lovers because in future it can put them in a terrible situation after they decide to end their relationship. He also says that one must always go for good quality tattoos, even if it is on a slightly expensive side because it will remain with you for the rest of your life. Sidhhant Kapai

NEWS

AUGUST 2016 09

BANDRA BUZZ

Pokémon Go storms Bandra It’s just been two weeks since Pokémon Go released in 30 countries across the globe and it’s already taking the world by storm. However, it hasn’t been released in India yet. But that hasn’t stopped Android users from all over the country from downloading the APK and iPhone users’ from faking their location to acquire the game. So what the hell is Pokémon Go? It’s a virtual game that you play in the real world. But you have to get off the couch if you want play this game. Our world has begun to experience a phenomenon where augmented reality games encourage players to travel throughout the real world & enable them to interact with digital characters and objects programmed to appear as if they exist at a specific point in physical space. The gaming format of this game is what makes it so special. One usually steps out of their house with a destination in mind, but what Pokémon Go offers is different. It’s a Poké centric journey that makes you visit new places. The end goal, far easier

said than done, is to catch 151 Pokémon. According to Keenan Burroughs, a resident of St. Peter’s Colony, who found most of his Pokémon outside Jogger’s park, “Pokémon Go is a huge phenomenon. It’s the biggest scene right now and everyone wants to be a part of it. The biggest Poke Stop in Bandra is outside Jogger’s park. Every time you activate a lure module, hordes of people are attracted to it. When I activated mine near Manuel Gonsalves road, cars stopped by and fellow players got off their cars in search of more Pokémon and we began socialising. In fact, all my friends got together and organised a Pokémon walk in Bandra for our group.” For Keenan & other players, walking around Bandra in search of Pokémon has become a daily routine. Off lately, if you visit Bandstand or Carter road promenade, you’ll see groups of energetic youngsters with their faces glued to the phone walking around aimlessly. It may seem absurd at first but you’ll get used to it.

Players on their toes to capture their next Pokémon Another Bandraite hooked to the game is Rebello road resident Warren D’mello who said, “It’s a new form of socialisation, you make new friends. I made a couple of friends while in search of Pokémon at Supari Talao. Each time you ﬁnd a new Pokémon you scream and the rest follow.” Just out of curiosity the other day, I stood outside McDonald’s where a Pokémon trainer had set up a lure module. And I must say I was pretty dazzled. Within no time there were approximately 20 people gathered there despite heavy rains. If you thought Candy Crush was bad, Pokémon Go takes things to an entirely new level. In a few years or maybe a few months, we’ll see psychologists examine &

study the unprecedented level of gaming addiction in Pokémon players. One positive note though is that the game is hoping to become an exercise app that has a lot of people walking around. Though out of compulsion, but at least you ﬁnd the internet generation on their toes. However, it also raises safety issues. When a rare Pokémon was spotted at Central Park in New York, it created a rampage. Fortunately we haven’t witnessed such a sight in our suburb yet, but only time will tell. So basically, people are running around Bandra, with their smart phones out, trying to capture virtual pets. Not exactly my cup of tea, but whatever ﬂoats your boat. Sue-Ellen Fernandes

10 AUGUST 2016

BANDRA BUZZ

Every Bride's Cinderella Fantasy

Isn't it every girl's dream to see themselves draped in that perfect wedding gown seeming classically elegant. Whether it's the look or the feel of it, choosing a wedding dress is much more than simply falling in love with your gown it sets the tone for the day you say the words 'I do.' But if you thought shopping for a wedding dress was as effortless as falling head over heels for your man, the exotic world of wedding dress shopping can be er..confusing, although fascinating & much fun. Enter aliishadliima a bridal attire & occasio wear specialist who's given many a bride a magical wedding experience. Working her way here over the past five years, Alisha has handled the most intricately designed dresses you could dream of; be it sentimentally romantic, minimalistic, excitingly dramatic or plain decadent, she has seen it all. From wedding gowns to the traditional lehengas to the entire bridal entourage, the aliishadliima brand is focused on helping bridestobe gracefully put together ensembles for the entire bridal entourage & make their wedding dream something truly magical. The latest trends in bridal gowns call for layering & adding novel dimensions to them. From experimenting with three dimensional embellishment on sheer shirts & illusion bodices, to detachable overskirts to reveal the more party friendly gown beneath, more women are setting the trends with their bold yet elegant styles. The trend seems to be moving towards more traditional silhouettes, especially considering the comeback of the long lace sleeves with added sparkly sequins, intricate beading & embroidery adding to the visual interest. "At the same time, brides want to show off their

bodies, so they opt for the low back or illusion back necklines which adds a perfect modern twist to the modest front. The princess overlay too is a silhouette that is soon gaining popularity. You add an extra layer of tulle, lace or organza to give the dress a ball gown feel, but with the slimming effect of a sheath silhouette underneath it's the bridal version of having your cake & eating it too," says this wedding costume genius. The brand is soon launching its entire bridal makeover solution consisting of its classy hair & makeup assistance, bridal bouquet, flowers, bridal clutches, shoes, jewelry, hair accessories et al making it the onestopshop for all you need to make your dream wedding the ultimate fairytale wedding. The most personally rewarding moment for Alisha was when she did an entire makeover of a bridal gown right from scratch with less than a week for the wedding of a client, who had gotten her gown done elsewhere initially and wasn't satisfied. Finally, the end result being the most gorgeous wedding gown she had ever done. Trust Alisha D'Lima to take away your wedding dress dilemma as she tips off tobebrides, "Try not to get caught up in the trend of the moment, but instead focus on your personal style and what flatters you the most." After all it's the most distinctive bit of attire you'd ever wear and talk about for the rest of your life! Alisha D'Lima 702, Jagdamba Complex, off Link Road, Malad (W), Mumbai 400064 aliishadliima@gmail.com | +91 9819819027 www.facebook.com/aliishadliima Valerian D’Costa

NEWS

What’s the big deal about Breakfast?

Starting your day without breakfast is like trying to drive your car without fuel. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The last meal of the day being dinner when you eat the next morning you are literally breaking an 8-10 hour fast.

fast. Keeping your stomach empty for several hours & then eating a heavy meal at lunch all of a sudden can cause severe acidity, which can be minimized & completely controlled over a period of time by making sure you eat breakfast.

Here are some of the beneﬁts of eating breakfast everyday: Breakfast keeps you alert: The human brain needs glucose as a direct source of energy to perform its functions. Even while you are asleep at night your body performs various functions which take up energy that is stored in the body, so when you have a good breakfast in the morning it helps you refuel & provides the much needed energy to the brain keeping you alert through the day & helping you improve your concentration.

Breakfast helps you meet your nutrient requirements: A healthy choice of fruits, milk & cereal can help you meet at least part of your days requirement for ﬁbre, minerals & some protein. Most of us end up eating fruit & or milk only at this time of the day so skipping breakfast would mean skipping vital nutrients from the diet.

Breakfast helps you lose weight: Eating breakfast boosts your metabolic rate enabling your body to burn more calories even at rest. What’s more it helps you eat lesser servings at the next meal. Most people who avoid breakfast overeat at lunch & also tend to feel more hungry later in the evenings both of which in the long run cause you to gain weight. Breakfast helps you control your appetite: Eating a healthy breakfast helps to regulate your blood glucose levels, as a result of which you will not experience “energy lows” all of a sudden during the day which will make you reach out for a quick energy supply in the form of high calorie food like a chocolate bar. Breakfast prevents heartburn: Several people complain of acidity on waking up & these are the people who usually skip break-

So what is an ideal breakfast? A nutritionally balanced breakfast is one that contains food from at least 3 different food groups. An energy source from the cereal group, a protein food from pulses or a lean meat or milk or eggs and a fibre source from a fruit or a vegetable. Eating your breakfast within 1.5 hours of waking up is ideal. This helps to boost energy levels and also helps the breakfast to provide the nutrients needed by your body first thing in the morning! Samreedhi Goel Nutritionist & Fitness Expert She runs her exercise studio Size wise in Mumbai since 1999 & has helped thousands of people get in shape. She prescribes a Zig Zag diet, the basis of which is carb cycling which is a diet plan that has a mix of high carb & low carb days. She is the official nutritionist for Kellogg’s India.

NEWS Have you heard of a lounge bar dedicated to serving ladies only? A place where you could go to confide your deepest secrets and get the best over-the-counter advice, without having to consume all those unnecessary calories that you will regret with certainty the next morning and never having to worry about the walk of shame but rather you walk out glowing, literally. I always wondered what that might be like, until I was told a story. ‘A skin story.’ By a very charming young storyteller who has brought this new concept lounge bar to our very doorstep right here in Bandra. Nikeeta Vishak had a fabulous idea, to give women the kind of lounge bar that they had been longing for, whilst some didn’t even know that was what they needed. Her facial lounge or facial bar, a one-of-a-kind concept, first in Mumbai, is called ‘Skin Story’ and specializes in artisan facials that are designed and individually customized for women, whether they have troubled skin, sensitive or seasonally affected skin or even if they have flawless complexions and would like to ensure it remains that way. Nikeeta, holds a degree and diploma in esthetics CIDESCO/CIBTAC from New York & Mumbai, she believes that women spend far more attention on their hair while sidelining what should be of utmost importance, our faces. Every one of us who has had a zit or a pimple growing up or even in our adulthood know how disheartening it is as we make a beeline to a dermatologist or to find the right concealer to hide this harsh reality. At Skin Story, you will not only be guaranteed a facial treatment customized for your skin type but also a royal experience that will ensure you never want to take off that crown. (Now that’s something that will

AUGUST 2016 11

BANDRA BUZZ

Lounge Bar - Women only! surely make the men jealous.) With exquisitely designed & well-maintained interiors, they are easily located at the junction of Pali market and Ambedkar road, which is often referred to as ‘Pali Naka’ though ﬁnding parking around here may prove to be quite daunting. The products used by Skin Story are from the popular French Luxury brand Thalgo, which are completely marine based products. I’m sure you’ve read the research by now & are quite aware that ocean plants have anti-ageing and other nutritional beneﬁts and the varied importance of marine

based skin care products. The Thalgo range of products are available at many spas in and around the city but it’s likely to cost you an arm and a leg. Whereas this esthetician has decided to keep it aﬀordable, as it shouldn’t be treated as a once-in-a-blue-moon experience, she believes that our faces require constant care coupled with the correct skin care regimes, which she is quick to tailor make for you. Moreover the treatments here are 100 percent hygienic, with everything that is used being either sterilized or disposable assuring that you’re in the hands of skilled therapists while your eyes are closed.

I confess to being one of those women who prefers to let her dermatologist pinch and poke her face, as I believed that they know best. However, a little TLC, a light spray and a gentle scrub that give you the beneﬁts of the sea may have just transformed me. And since it’s easy on the pocket (treatments start from 1300 INR), which is almost hard to believe, you can easilyaccommodate these aﬀordable luxurious rituals into your regular skin and beauty regime. Quick tip: These treatments also make for great gifts! Francesca Mascarenhas

Energize your Friendships

Then you need to uplift and energize the following Bagua areas:

Let me show you how you Feng Shui can help you to create a best friend out of your home.

with Feng Shui Entrepreneur Maria Hussain

The North West - Helpful Friends and Blessings Area The Centre - Health and Unity South West - Love and Relationships South - Fame and Reputation

This year Friendship Day falls on the 7th August. I feel the desire to write about friends because I am truly blessed with the dearest ones. I’ve also made a sincere eﬀort to weed out the depleting people in my life. A truly painful but necessary exercise for each one of us to consider at some point of time in our lives. Just like objects in your environment, your friends either nourish or deplete you. Your uplifting friends have a positive impact on you - they elevate your spirits, contribute to your wellbeing, success and happiness. They motivate and believe in you. You feel energized, happy and conﬁdent after spending time with them. You can easily share your dreams and goals and they say, "Go for it!”. They are your rejuvenation vitamin pill and bring out the best in you. Unfortunately, your negative, depleting, energy-draining friends do not. They

constantly complain and do not ask you about yourself. If you share your ideas with them, they maybe be quietly jealous of your positive energy and enthusiasm. They may send out energy daggers causing you self-doubt, exhaustion or depression. Do you stay with such friends out of guilt? Why do you tolerate their antics? It's up to you to create a group of healthy friends around you. Energy is contagious. The happier and more positive your friends, the more their energy will rub oﬀ on you. If you ﬁnd that you are continually depleted, you may have to consider releasing these people from your daily life. Apply the concept of spring-cleaning to the people and situations that do not encourage you to live with enthusiasm. It is very essential that you must "cut the cord" from these "energy suckers" because they will suck the life out of you, even before you realize it. Do you wish • To strengthen or improve relations with existing friends • To focus on meeting & makin new friends • To revive those friendships that have gone stale

Call for an appointment +919967678652 or email us at bhcfengshui@gmail.com. For more info visit www.bhcfengshui.com

Here’s your chance to indulge in the most authentic Italian and American cuisines in town! Located in the vicinities of Bandra, Burrito Factory is a one stop destination for all much more. Now order online www.burritofactory.in & grab different offers. Ordering only through Burrito Factory website.

CALL: 022-26418141 7045532535

RENTING A SHOP IN BANDRA IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET YOU BUSINESS ADVERTISE IT IN BANDRA BUZZ CALL 9820783686 / 9920299787

12 AUGUST 2016

BANDRA BUZZ

CLASSIFIEDS

ALTERNATIVE HEALING THERAPY

EAST INDIAN ITEMS

REPAIRS & SERVICES

FREE FIRST TRIAL SESSION. For restore, rejuvenate and revive your any health problems with Alternative Healing Therapy without medicine. Stress, insomnia, weight control, negative thinking, anxiety, sinus, headache, laziness, backache, vertigo, slip disc, sprain, tonsils, infertility, stiﬀ neck, frozen shoulder, poor memory, knee/joint pain, detoxiﬁcation body, acidity/gas, menstrual disorder. At SMC Medical Centre behind KFC. Contact 9833624025 /8652244353

For all your requirements of East Indian Lugras and other accessories, please contact: GAOTHAN KALA, Mumbai Gaothan Panchayat Oﬃce, 3A Benny Jacinto House, Kolovery Village, Near CHRIS Chinese Corner, Next to St. Roque's Grotto, Santacruz (East), Mumbai400094 or call: 7045022631

Refrigerators / Air Conditioners / Splits / Frost Free Refrigerators / Indian / Imported. Guaranteed Repairs / Installations / AMC - FRIZARE, 30th Road, Bansari Apartments, opp. H2O, Pali Naka, Bandra (W) Mumbai 98201 97439 / 654 4903

ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS Theresa's Artiﬁcial Flowers, Absorbant Towels and Assorted Bags - available near Mount Marys Steps (everyday except Wednesday) & on Wednesdays at Mahim Church. Contact Theresa: 9820386916, Prakash: 9920300021 Ad Agent for The Examiner & all leading newspapers. East Indian Bottle Masala @ 900/- per kilo. Buses to Tabor on First Fridays. Contact Adlord: 9702085823, 26005536 Helen: 88798 75918 Arun: 94200 85849

BABY SITTING Are you and your husband oﬀ to work with no one trust worthy to look after your newborn baby. Call us on 9819427965 for baby sitting in Bandra & Khar

BAKING & COOKING CLASSES Learn cakes, designer cakes, cupcakes, desserts, cake pops, sugarcraft, christmas sweets, easter eggs, chocolate making & diﬀerent cuisines like mughlai, chinese, italian, mexican, ramzan special, biryani's, sandwiches, salads, lebanese, starters, pizzas, breeads & lots more. Call 9821310728 / 26422689 Facebook page: Chocolate Mania 9821310728

BEAUTY CARE Attraction Beauty Personalized Home Services Hair Step Haircuts, Hair Color Beauty Treatments - Eyebrows, Bleach, Facial, Waxing, Manicure and pedicure call for prior appointments - (Ladies only) Bandra (W) Natasha - 8879296806 natral2408@gmail.com CREATE A NEW YOU - Hair & Skin Treatment : Hair Styling, Ironing, Colouring, etc. All Types of Facials, Waxing (Egyptian, Herbal, Chocolate), Manicure, Pedicure, Threading, Body Polishing / Bleach, Nail Art / Extension, Bridal Package. Call Rekha’s Salon & Hair Spa: 9833562171

CARS RENTALS We oﬀer 8 seater Innova cars with triple AC for local and outstation for hire at minimum market rates. Contact Karamath 9820359884 e: keithssquare@yahoo.com

FOR LIMITED PERIOD 14% dividend paying Malaika Credit Society (managed by Catholics since last 15 years) is oﬀering 11% interest on Fixed Deposits to general public and half percent more to senior citizens. Interest is paid every month without deduction of TDS. For more details call Moses Cardoz on 8976537375.

24 hrs Home, Sales & Service (Bandra only) Gas Stoves, Hobs, Table Tops & Chimneys. Contact: Mahendra Sales Shiv Asthan, Shop no. 7, Plot No. 31, 16th road, near Shiv Sagar, Bandra (w). Call Amrut 9323431633

SALE

Students who have not studied French in school & wish to take it in college may contact Ms. E. DeSouza (26557915, 8879209904) For individual tuitions. Get a headstart by studying French before college opens.

Furniture (tables and chairs), Sofa-cum bed, Fridge (bar type), Pedestal Fans, Cutlery and Crockery, English Tea Set, English Dinner Set for 12, Ladies - clothes (new with labels); handbags; accessories, Mobile phones and accessories, Miscellaneous household items, Curtains / Drapes. 10 x 1 feet semi-furnished room; independent entrance with bath & toilet accommodation. Available for male or female. Contact: 993022 3057

INCOME TAX CONSULTANT

SHARES & MUTUAL FUNDS

FRENCH TUITIONS

Income tax Consultant available for e-ﬁling of income tax returns and also attending to notices issued to individuals by the income tax department. Total cost ITR 1 Rs 2,000, ITR 2 Rs 3,000. (Home Service) Mobile 09323244906 or e-mail: lionsunilkhosla@gmail.com 30th Road, Bandra West.

Transfer, Probate, Letter of Administration, Succession Certiﬁcate, Legal Heir, Will, Demat and Addition / Deletion of Name. Mobile: 9323244906 (Home Service) email: lionsunilkhosla@gmail.com (Advocate Co-ordinator Sunil Khosla, 30th Road, Bandra West

INVESTMENTS

Hispanic Horizons is an Institute for teaching Spanish language. We have weekday and weekend courses suitable for both college students & working professionals. We are an accredited examination center to conduct international Spanish exams like DELE, DIE and specialized spanish exams for Business, Tourism and Medicine. We have a placement cell as well through which we help our students to get Spanish related jobs. There is no age limit for the Spanish courses; a person of any age is welcome to do our courses. Hispanic Horizons, Vas Chambers Building, 1st Floor, Hill Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai 400 050, Telphone: +91-22-26409039, Mobile: +91-8082647938, Website: http://www.hispanic-horizons.org

For all your Investment/Insurance needs: Life, General, Mutual Funds, FDs, Retirement Planning, Mediclaim & Overseas Travel Insurance, Personalised Portfolio Management Investment Advisory (1 Cr has grown to 20 Cr in 13 years) - Contact Prudentz Investments - 'Your OneStop Financial Shop'. Call Merwyn D'Souza (a resident of Bandra) on 9821484282 or e-mail merwyndsouza@rediﬀmail.com

LOST PHYSICAL SHARES/DIVIDENDS Get doorstep personal service for your lost physical shares/dividends. Duplicate procedure & FIR & notary all in-house. We also oﬀer services in insurance of cars/buildings/mediclaim and other ﬁnancial consulting services. Contact 9821172450 or meet at B/34 Elco Arcade with prior appointment.

MATHS TUITIONS Do you have a phobia of Maths? Does your mind go blank when you see a Maths paper? Get all your concepts cleared & learn the right way to attack problems at all levels & classes with Ritu Sharma, alumnus of IIT KANPUR, ex-faculty The Scindia Sschool, Gwalior. Also over SKYPE. 08056143523.

COURIER SERVICES

NEEDLE WORK & CROCHET

MUMBAI EXPRESS - We deliver your feelings for personalised deliveries of your cakes, chocolates, ﬂowers, bouquets, personalised gifts, fragile gifts, etc. anywhere in Mumbai. Call 65502345 / 7208002345

LADIES Knitting, Crochet, Embroidery, Dressmaking courses. Rs 1500 each. Visit www.handson.makes.it. Call Mrs. D'silva 9820451695. Girls dresses stitched. Muﬄers & baby sets available Rs 320.

SPANISH CLASSES

TUITIONS Khanna Tutorials Professor Vijaya Khanna's (Head of Psychology Department) private tuition for L.D. case and for weak students S.S.C/ICSE/IGCSE/CBSE/NIOS boards at Bandra opp. Lilavati ground Call 9820559502 Professional Coaching tuitions in Maths and Science for VII, VIII, IX, X (S.S.C. and I.C.S.E.) Cavin Almeida on 9324259375 / 9769206294 / 7666738135 Save time & energy on travelling with 100% Success Tuitions. Group/Individual tuitions for Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, English & French for ICSE, CBSE, IGCSE, IB & SSC at your place (Bandra, Khar & Santacruz). Crash course for boarding students and creative writing in Hindi and English. 40 years of teaching experience & M.A. in Hindi & Sanskrit. Contact Usha on 9892063221

DANCE - JIVE/ ROCK & ROLL

PASSPORT CONSULTANT

YOGA CLASSES

Learn social dancing in 8 easy & fun sessions. Timings: Mon & Wed 7-8 pm (Jive/Waltz/Foxtrot) & 8-9 pm (Salsa/Chacha). Venue: St. Peters KG School, Bhaba Nagar, Oﬀ Hill Road, Bandra (W). Cost: 1800 per head for 8 hours. Contact Marlon 9820344010.

Passport Consultant available for online ﬁling of passport in Mumbai and also taking appointment for Lower Parel/Andheri/Malad oﬃce. Total Cost Rs 3,500 (Home Service). Mobile: 09323244906. 30th Road Bandra West. email: lionsunilkhosla@gmail.com

Combo package of Yoga, Power Yoga, Aerobics, Zumba, Kickboxing, Weight training, legs & abs shaping & toning. (All in one session). Loose weight & inches faster. Guaranteed 100% results. (Group Classes & Personal Training). Call Raajaani on 93224 36447 / 92205 71395

Letters to the Editor

EDITORIAL

DEVELOPMENT PLAN BMC Development Plan 2034 is not structured to meet urgent needs. Priority given to Salt Pans, National Park and Coastal Road. Makes no sense to ordinary people struggling with congestion, hopeless living conditions and noise pollution. Slum clearance other than Dharavi is totally ignored. Why? Because Project Dharavi is funded by World Bank. So do people living in other slums have to wait for next 30 yrs? Absolutely ridiculous idea. CRZ regulation is often used as excuse to reject redevelopment. BMC prefers skyscrapers. Redevelopment of Goathan has been non-starter from begining. Another excuse for no redevelopment because posh people don't live in Goathan. Religious places marked heritage sites are blank. Any motive for omission? Or simply ignorance? No mention of road widening even when city is clogged at every junction with honking motorists and bikers. Coastal Road is no solution for traﬃc congestion. CM Fadnavis should seek approval of PM Modi before ﬁnalization of draft plan. Let's all hit the Bulls Eye. Amar Singh

Winds of Change

BANDRA BUZZ

VANDRE MUSEUM I am shocked to know that MLA / MC funds are being used for asphalting / paving the internal roads / pathways of religious institutions. These funds should be used for public places and not private / religious institutions. Does the Municipal Commissioner know that these funds are being used in private / religious places? Christopher Rodrigues

KHAR CHAWL DEMOLITION Kindly correct the statement made by me, which was published in Bandra Buzz dated 14th July, regarding the payments of lawyers fees. It should read as ‘All lawyers fees were paid by the society only - and not by Darissa Builders. The society has been reimbursed these amounts by the Developer - Darissa Builders.’ Please excuse my error. Thomas D’Silva

Email your letters to news.bandrabuzz@gmail.com

Dear Reader,

It is already August and some of our lakes are full – thanks to downpours in the catchment areas. Closer home, gusty winds and stormy weather with lashing rain are all part of the scenes at the Bandra Reclamation, Bandstand & Carter Promenades – and the inner roads of our suburbs. Mercifully, there are intervals of dry spells. Uneven road surfaces are much more prominent now – even as pedestrians play ‘hopscotch’ to avoid the puddles & pools; with fallen trees or branches which add to the hurdle race. Yet, we take all this in our stride. Bandra and her surrounding suburbs are very good at adapting. Even as we adapt to changing environment, with every diﬀerent season; we are superb at adapting to other changes. The DP 2034 is all set to be ﬁnalised. In spite of thousands of protests regarding several issues, the authorities seem to be in a mighty hurry to get it passed and implemented. With major projects incorporated in the DP – the next twenty years is slated to see a lot of change. Change can be good or bad. The point here is that will this change be good

AUGUST 2016 13

– after spending tons of tax-payer’s money? So, citizens of our city will be witnessing the winds of change – something that may be irreversible, if wrong decisions are taken now. Our hope is that those in power, avoid any hidden agendas – and think only of the common good. This local newspaper that you are reading now – is your platform to express your views on topics you feel strongly about. Do use Bandra Buzz to disseminate newsworthy information to your neighbourhood – who are our well wishers & readers. We are evolving into a force to reckon with – and with your valuable inputs, Bandra, Khar & Santacruz will surely be a better place. Let’s be the Winds of Change. Till next time, take care.

Regards, Merck N. D’Silva Editor-in-Chief

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DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this paper, are of the authors - and do not reﬂect the opinion of the publishers and editors, unless otherwise stated. Readers should act on the information provided, only after consulting with their own independent advisors.

Jyoti Dhawale Surve - An Unsung Hero 14 AUGUST 2016

"I am divorcing you, I can’t live with you anymore”, said my husband, (ex) whom I married in 2004 (when I was negative and got the virus through Medical Negligence), who finally divorced me in 2008, and even took the custody of my only child. “You are HIV Positive?!”, exclaimed the HR of the company “But I thought that only prostitutes and drug users get it.” “She is HIV positive, don’t even go near her. If you talk to her or even be friends with her, the whole society will outcast you. Even your friends will abandon you…What will people say? We have a reputation to protect”, said a mother of my friend when he spoke of what good work I am doing for the community and disclosed my status to her. “What did you say? She is HIV Positive? Don’t even bring her inside the house. Get her out from here right now, right this moment”, said a mother of another friend, and she dusted the sofa where I once sat, took the glass of water where I had sipped and threw it in the dustbin. “My doctor tells me that saliva transmit the virus thus no kissing”, said my boyfriend, “and Jo, he is a well–qualified doctor, who holds several degrees” ..and the lump formed on my throat knowing that nothing I will do or say will convince him that it is NOT true. But still I educated him that the virus in saliva is not transmissible and virus from blood don’t thrive outside the body and die within few seconds after coming in contact with air. At least he listened. - Jyoti Surve In our society, HIV is perceived as a disease of “others” – of people living on the margins of society, whose lifestyles are considered “perverted” and “sinful.” People suffering from it face denial, stigmatization & discrimination in every walk of their life. In order to break this preconceived notion of HIV being a “disease”, I interviewed Ms. Jyoti Surve, who is suffering from HIV. She is not only a member of the Community Advisory for the Well Project USA. According to the website of the organisation, it is “a global hub for resources that help women & girls overcome the inequalities, barriers, & stigma that contribute to the epidemic among women”, but is also the Indian ambassador at the Stigma Project - “An organization that aims to lower the HIV infection rate & neutralize the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS through education & awareness via social media. It seeks to create an HIV neutral world, free of judgement & fear by working with both positive & negative individuals from all walks of life, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, race, or background,” as per the Stigma Project website. In March 2015,

BANDRA BUZZ

Jyoti who is known mononymously as Jo, won the prestigious Karamveer Chakra award in New Delhi. This award is instituted in the partnership with the UN for Global empowerment & citizen justice. Coming from defence background, Jyoti’s hobbies are vast. From gardening, painting, stamp/coin collections, arts & crafts, adventure outings, she has lived it all. She is passionate about music, dancing & travelling acts as a great stress-buster. Jo contracted HIV due to medical negligence but definitely NOT from blood transfusion – because as far as she remembers, she never had a blood transfusion during any of those forceful attempts for abortions that I had undergone. “Forceful” yes, as it wasn’t her idea or wish to abort. Her ex wasn’t ready to start a family & every time she get pregnant (she got pregnant thrice!), she was taken to do MTP. Before one could think why she hadn’t tried any contraceptive measures, the answer is that she did. “Oral pills had adverse affect on my body & hence I couldn’t take it. Vaginal contraceptive has its own time frame (10-15 minutes of waiting period) & the failure rate is high. Top of all, when a man is forcing himself upon you (which I term as “marital rape”) then one is very helpless in this condition.” She did not realize it back then but can clearly assert now that she has been a victim of marital rape. “Rape is rape, whether in marriage or outside it. Anything that is ‘forced upon’ the body without consent is rape. If a man does not like to wear a condom, then, a woman, even if she happens to be his wife, has the right to refuse & say NO. Why have I gone through this thrice & ended up being HIV positive? Why am I living with stigma & discrimination – I blame the govt. first & the society next! The govt – which does not recognize marital rape as a crime; & this society – which blames the woman for everything.” She reiterates. She was entranced by her ex husbands gentlemanly behaviour. Things went fine until she missed her period for the first time in her life. “When I missed my period, I remember rushing to the store to buy a home pregnancy test kit. Oh! The joy of being a mother; of having a child of my own!” That joy lasted till she informed her husband of the news. “He told me to go in for an abortion,” she recalls. “I was dealing with the shock of having learnt that I was HIV positive & postpartum depression simultaneously. Amidst this my ex-husband informed me that he had been having an extramarital affair & would be leaving me for her. So I needed to become financially independent, & began searching for a job. I was not yet ready to give up on my marriage. But when my maid informed me that my husband had been bringing his girlfriend to our home behind my back, I knew it was over. Whatever that was written in the divorce agreement was not mutual. As per the court, it was the

duty of a judge to call the husband & the wife & hear both sides of the story – which in my case has never happened. I was never produced in court, never produced before any judge. A forceful signature means nothing.” says Surve as she fumes. Jo has no regrets about her failed marriage as she believes life is a learning experience life being the greatest teacher & people being an experience. She believes that whatever she went through only made her & moulded her into a better person mentally, emotionally & spiritually. Jo met her current husband - Vivek Surve an HIV negative partner, in an online chatroom. “He was a chat friend. He sent me a request not once, not twice, but five or six times. I kept rejecting him until I decided to scan his profile. What fascinated me (not 'attracted', she clarifies) were the biker jacket & Honda Fireblade next to him! That got me to finally accept his request. At that time I was working for an IT firm, doing the graveyard shift. This 'Hi how are you doing, I am fine, I hope you are fine, take care, bye' saga continued for 6 months. Then came a day I could never imagine." Her father passed away on 28th June, 2011. She wanted to pay her last respects but her stepmother would not allow her near him. “He was all I had,” she says. “Anger & hatred for my stepmother, & grief over my father’s death was eating me up. My best friend was in Dubai. However, Vivek, my new friend, drove down all the way to be with me, emotionally & physically.” They planned to meet the next weekend. "My husband says it was love at second sight for him," Jyoti says. “Vivek’s parents were naturally apprehensive about their son marrying an HIV positive partner. But when they saw how happy she made him, their objections dwindled. Their fears were dictated by ignorance. Once they came to know that HIV is nothing more than a illness & that it can be controlled by medication, they accepted me whole heartedly.” says Jyoti with a slight blush on her face. According to Jo, the biggest misconception people have about living with HIV & AIDS is that they think That HIV is a “dangerous” disease. No it is not. It can be controlled & managed with proper care & medication. People also tend to think that HIV & AIDS are the same which isn’t true. Though HIV & AIDS are from the same virus, it is a different medical condition. HIV is an ILLNESS whereas AIDS is a disease. Not necessary all people who suffer from HIV die from AIDS. With better medication coming into the market, one can live a happy healthy positive life despite being HIV Positive. Another misconception among people is that one cannot marry & has to abstain from sexual intercourse with an HIV positive person which isn’t true. One can live a happy healthy married life & even plan to have a baby provided that you follow up on the treatment with strict dis-

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cipline & never ever miss the dose (of ART medication). “Now when anyone tells me “You are HIV positive? But I thought that only prostitutes & drug users get it” I reply back with a pitiful smile (pitiful yes, because of their ignorance) “Have you ever tested yourself? You too may never know. I didn’t know I was carrying the virus until my blood got tested when I was undergoing abortion” And I could hear the gasp, I could see their stunned face with wide eyes, open mouth & dropping jaw, & believe me, I absolutely love the reactions I get!” As for “She is positive, don’t even go near her. If you talk to her or even be friends with her, the whole society will outcast you. Even your friends will abandon you…What will people say? We have a reputation to protect”, I had replied to that lady straight on her face, “Aunty, there are thousands of people who admire our courage to speak up & they are those people who back us up. Your son is one of them who had participated in Awareness Program & who encouraged others to join in.” And she was glaring at her son as if wanting to know what I had just said was right & her son was facing her proudly & boldly saying “She will always be my friend”. And oh yes….coming to the point of a hysterical mother of my friend “What did you say? She is HIV Positive? Don’t even bring her inside the house. Get her out from here right now, right this moment,”, said a mother of another friend, & she dusted the sofa where I once sat, took the glass of water where I had sipped & threw it in the dustbin. Before leaving the house I had told her that HIV Virus is not transmittable by air/water/sharing. I reminded her that I had come to this house many times & she had served me many tea/water in crockery that has also been used & reused for other guests. She wasn’t aware of my status then & now that she is, just throwing off one glass in the dustbin won’t suffice, she should throw off all the crockery in the kitchen if & only if she find one of the guest having contracted the same. My ex boyfriend is now my husband. We got married on 2013. He still kisses me, heck, more than that, the husband-wife do. Twice a month he tests himself which is always "negative". Last but not least, as for the divorce from my ex husband, I am blessed that it had happened because now I realized the “purpose” of my life. This is where I belong and this is where my heart is: HIV Activism….To reach out…To give love to many people who need it and to spread the love to those seeking it. My suffering is not mine alone, it is also their suffering as they are also the part of my journey, walking through the same winding thorny path, having many long way to go, many difficulties and hurdles to cross to finally find the path laden with bed of roses. Sidhhant Kapai

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BANDRA BUZZ

Valencia Misquitta Irani inducted Director of MEICOCAI – Global

Valencia at the investiture ceremony with President Brian Pereira of MEICOCAI At an investiture ceremony held lately to induct Valencia Misquitta Irani of Avion Hotels & Hospitality, Mumbai, Maharashtra - as a Director on the MEICOCAI Board; Rtn. Calwyn D'Abreo, Founder & Initiator of the Chamber of Commerce for the Mumbai East Indian Community said,

"MEICOCAI’s Mission is to strengthen the Mumbai East Indian community, by having their presence in all geographies of the world in the business of Trade & Industry - while simultaneously promoting & fostering bilateral trade, commerce & economic relations between India &

wherever a Mumbai East Indian is within the progress & deployment of his / her business activities." The MEICOCAI President, Brian G Pereira informed all present that with Valencia Misquitta (I), an opportunity to showcase the value & strength that a business woman can bring to the table; was evident in the successful enterprise that Valencia runs in collaboration with her family members.Avion Hotels & Hospitality is a force to reckon with in the Mumbai network of convenient airport hotels & is a fully managed three-star hotel owned & run by East Indians. The other properties that the ‘Avion Group’ owns are three other star holiday hotels in Khandala & Lonavala besides the very famous Samara Gardens on the outskirts of Mumbai cityMadh Island. MEICOCAI thanks Valencia Misquitta (I) for coming on Board. The Chairman of MEICOCAI, Neil Creado - who is abroad at this time, has sent his congratulations to Valencia and wishes her the best for her tenure with MEICOCAI.

AUGUST 2016 15

All Bandra Parish Zonals Talent Contest kicks off on 4th August It's the busiest time of the year in Bandra as the All Bandra Parish Zonals Talent Contest kicks off next Sunday, 14th of August 2016 & once again Bandra will be looking forward to an exciting month of Music, Dance and Drama where Bandra's finest talents will come together to compete and perform on one stage for the ultimate crown. This is where you'll get to see and hear some finger snapping popular tunes been sung and played, grooving dance moves and some stellar acting performances. And of course, not to mention the fooood, the delicious homemade snacks which gets served at the zonal practices. So we hope you have blocked your dates to either take part or come watch and support your respective zones because this is going to be one exciting year of the All Bandra Zonals Talent Contest you wouldn't want to miss. Dujon Fernandes