Exhibition softball match and special outdoor screening of ‘The Only Real Game’ took place at BKC on Saturday, October 26.
by The US Consulate General, Mumbai
The US Consulate General Mumbai and Namaste America co-hosted an exhibition softball match and a special outdoor screening of the American documentary The Only Real Game on Saturday, October 26, 2013. The event was held in association with the American School of Bombay and the Mumbai City Baseball Association.
This year, The Only Real Game made its Asian debut at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). Previously, the film was named the best Documentary Film at the New York Indian Film Festival. In honour of the film, Consul General Peter Haas, President of Namaste America Atul Nisar, actor Prateik Babbar, filmmaker Kailash Surendranath, and other guests took to the field for an exhibition softball match. Dave Thoudam, a young filmmaker and musician from Manipur opened the exhibition match by singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ in English and Manipuri.
After the match, the Consulate hosted an outdoor screening of The Only Real Game. Among others in attendance were the film’s Director Mirra Bank, Producer Muriel Peter, and Indian columnist Anil Dharker.
The Only Real Game documents the work of a group of baseball-loving New Yorkers and two Major League Baseball Envoy coaches who team up with Manipuri men, women and children to share their love of the sport.
Cricketer Shaun Tait inaugurates a cricket development centre at Powai-based school, offers tips and tricks about the game to students.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in
KOOH Sports organised a press conference today, October 24, to announce the launch of their first Sports Cricket Development Centre in Mumbai, at Hiranandani Foundation School.
Australian cricketer and Rajasthan Royals player Shaun Tait, and key officials from Hiranandani and KOOH Sports were a part of the conference. Post the do, Shaun Tait spent two hours with the children on the ground and shared best practices and tips about the game.
Dedicated to imparting sports education in India through a multitude of programmes that will cut across grass root level initiation and identify and nurture talent, KOOH Sports is setting up more KOOH Sports Cricket Development Centres to target students from the 6-17 years age group across the country. In partnership with Rajasthan Royals, the academy claims that it will leverage the experience of seasoned sportspeople to nurture talent at the school and community level by providing them a specialised learning environment to coach them in cricket.
Noted journalist and author Sir Mark Tully puts today’s journalism in perspective, and talks of the challenges of establishing credibility.
by Salil Jayakar
At 78, he’s far more energetic and enthusiastic than most people of any age are. His mind and memory are still as sharp as ever. No wonder then he continues to be an authority on India several years after he left the BBC. And unlike most of his ilk, he doesn’t hesitate to give credit where it’s due. “Let me clarify again, it is always erroneously mentioned that I first broke the news of Indira Gandhi’s assassination. I did not. In fact, it was my BBC colleague Satish Jacob,” he stated.
Meet Sir Mark Tully. Almost priest, journalist, author and Indophile, whose love affair with India continues…
In Mumbai over the weekend of October 17-18, Sir Mark spoke at Com Fest 2013 organised by the Association of Business Communicators of India (ABCI) at the Taj Mahal Palace & Hotel, Colaba. Like most British people, his self-depreciating humour was there for all to see. For me, as an ex-journalist and media professional, it was a bit of a fan boy moment as I had the opportunity to interact with him.
Sir Mark, without a doubt, has inspired young journalists in India and abroad with his no-nonsense style of reporting, which is why we need to sit up and take notice when he declares: “There is a crisis of credibility in journalism today” with reference to the UK phone hacking scandal and the kind of live news journalism we see in India. According to him, the dangers of instant communication to journalism are real – as seen during the Varanasi bomb blasts and the Mumbai terror attack.
“Journalists today speak instead of writing or telling a story. They are talking, instead of crafting a story. At a time when mobile and television can communicate a message in an instant, there is a real danger of miscommunication,” he said. How do journalists then maintain their presence? “Journalists need to be trusted. More so now in times of the Internet; they need to carry the torch of reliability and trustworthiness.”
Citing the BBC, Sir Mark had harsh words for his former employer and says the credibility of the BBC Trust has been severely undermined by the hacking scandal and the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal. He stressed the importance of a media regulator that has both politicians and journalists on its Board. Dismissive of the Indian Broadcast Editor’s Association, he says they are not doing a good job. According to him, a public service broadcaster (PSB) is necessary and should be independent of the government to be able to do a good job.
Sir Mark lamented the fight between management and editorial, the realities of running a paper or TV channel and the need to make money or profit. He believes that management has to realise that journalists are creative people and need to have the last word on a story. “The editor needs to be in control at all times. Irrespective of commercialisation, news needs to be credible and trustworthy. There has to be a balance between credibility and commercialisation,” he stated.
In his sartorial style, Sir Mark summed up the state of journalism and journalists today when he said, “Journalists need to keep in mind – this is not my story, it’s the story of the person.”
50 former arthritis and hip, knee replacement patients played garba at a special event organised by Sai Snehdeep Hospital, Koparkhairane.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in
Normally, one expects a person who has undergone a hip or knee replacement surgery to lie low. The last thing you would expect such a person to do is to break into a dance.
But a group of senior citizens, all between 65 and 80 years of age and all members of the Bone and Joint Support Group of the Sai Snehdeep Hospital, Koparkhairane, proved this idea wrong. On Friday, World Arthritis Day, about 50 men and women from the group came together for a garba night organised by the hospital.
The hospital feels that such initiatives help patients bond together to share and learn from each other so as to lead a normal life even after undergoing complex bone and joint surgeries. Said Dr Ruchika Sood, “The objectives of the support group is to provide a bonding platform to all our rehabilitated patients. It also offers proper support and guidance to pre-operative and post-operative patients with knee and spine problems. Some of the major initiatives of these groups include physiotherapy session, special consultation, investigations and health check-ups, and regular sessions on knee and spine and related physiotherapy by experts.”
The participation of the members was spontaneous and a great time was had by all. Said former patientRaksha Shah (82), “My knee arthritis was so bad that in spite of all conservative measures, my activity levels were restricted. I never considered surgery as an option in view of my age. Also, my relatives used to tell me that knee replacement may not be for me. But I attended a meeting where orthopedic surgeons lectured us on specialised knee replacement techniques. Today, a few years after the operation, I have a full and active life.”
A patient of knee replacement, Menka Singh, said, “We are not a group that will sit idle even if we are post the age of 60. After my surgery, I feel motivated and fit enough to compete with teenagers in today’s garba evening.”
This initiative is aimed at creating awareness for getting back to healthy and active life post joint surgery, with appropriate cure and rehabilitative care. Orthopedic surgeons Dr Rajesh Badiyani, Dr Sachin Kale, Dr Kuldeep Tamboli, Dr Amol Wagmere, Dr Atul Kharat and Dr Virendra Pal Singh are involved in this initiative.
Actor Ayushmann Khurana flags off event that sees participation from about 150 CP-afflicted children and 500 adults at Bandra today.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in
A lifelong disability that affects movement and intellectual capability, cerebral palsy (CP) is a complex motor disorder that affects 17 million people across the world. There are 17 million people across the world living with CP. Another 350 million people are closely connected to a child or adult with CP, which is the most common physical disability in childhood. Its impact can range from a weakness in one hand, to almost a complete lack of voluntary movement.
While there is no permanent cure for the disorder, some efforts can be made to improve the quality of life of people suffering from it. For example, in people with debilitating upper limb spasticity, incessant muscle contractions can be controlled by injecting onabotulinumtoxin, popularly known as ‘Botox’ into the affected muscles, in addition to physical therapy and other rehabilitation measures.
Hundreds of people came together in Mumbai today as part of an initiative to offer support and ideas to differently-abled people and make this world a better place for them. Lending a voice to the initiative was Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurana, who participated in the programmes organised by the Indian Academy of Cerebral Palsy to mark the World Cerebral Palsy Day today.
As part of the day-long initiative, over 500 adults and 150 children came together to participate and lend support to the differently-abled people through words and ideas. The day began with a carnival walk by children, starting from Bandstand and culminating at St Joseph School, Bandra, where the rest of the activities for the day included a trade fair and fun fair. To celebrate academic and vocational success of differently-abled people, awards were also given out in different categories.
“Cerebral Palsy is a very common motor disorder that makes life extremely difficult for those living with it. We need to make the world more sensitive to their needs and conditions and encourage them. Sensitivity comes with awareness and the latter is something which needs to be generated. World Cerebral Palsy day is an initiative to make people living with the disorder feel normal yet special as also it is an effort to make other people aware of their conditions,” said Dr Taral Nagda, Director of Cerebral Palsy clinic at Jupiter and Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai.
(For information on how cord blood can help in the prevention and treatment of cerebral palsy, click onhttp://www.viacord.com/why-bank)
A sneak peek into the biggest-ever auction of royal Indian jewellery and other valuables to be auctioned at Taj tomorrow.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in
The biggest-ever auction of royal princely jewellery and other valuables of historical interest in the country will happen in Mumbai tomorrow, on Sunday, September 29, 2013. On auction will be paintings, sculptures, gems, jewellery, and coins, which the auctioneers, Rajgor’s, have sourced from collectors in Mumbai.
Speaking to The Metrognome, Dr Dilip Rajgor (in pic on left), CEO, Rajgor’s explained, “It took about six months to put the entire collection together, after we had purchased it from collectors in the city. There are several wealthy collectors who have precious historical objects in their collections. Most of them are not interested in selling, but we convince them.”
Interestingly, a lot of people who have these historical treasures in their private collections are neither aware of the objects’ value nor are interested in getting a valuation done. “They sell off the pieces when they need money, but they may not get the items valued through the proper channels. An ordinary goldsmith will value a historical gold coin on par with today’s market rates for gold. But the true value is a 100 times more, owing to their rarity and historical significance.”
Mumbai boasts several private collectors, he says, as do other cities in the country. “Most of the collections comprise objects that are purchased from other collectors, while some were purchased directly from Kings. Collectors sell when they get old, if they are not handing the collection down to the next generation,” Dr Dilip explains.
The auction
There will be four categories at the auction – coins, antiques, paintings and royal jewellery (this last is divided into 13 sub-categories). “We had an auction for the other items even last year, but the really interesting element this time is the jewellery,” Dr Dilip says. “There are so many beautiful surviving examples of historical jewellery, which give us a glimpse into making styles and design elements of the time. For example, when we speak of the Mughal period in history, we merely think of that era in terms of paintings. But there are so many beautiful items of kundan jewellery to be found in that period.”
The auction includes items right from the time of Alexander the Great to contemporary times. “We have tried to give continuity – there are all ranges, all eras. There are several collectors from outside who have already expressed an interest in buying tomorrow,” he says.
View some of the objects that will go under the hammer tomorrow:
The ultimate rarity in the coinage of the Great Marathas is a gold coin called Hoan (Hun) by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj himself.
This is a non-hallmarked Silver Cigarette Case, probably of a King of the Princely State of Bhavnagar in Gujarat.
The highly carved silver pot depicts scenes of Hindu gods and goddess in four panels in the four cardinal directions.
This Kalima type Gold Mohur of Akbar was issued from the mint at Agra in the year AH 974 (AD 1567).
The miniature cup and saucer are engraved and decorated with the Ayats of the Holy Quran.
The monogrammed Calling card of a British Officer has a high relief country-side scenes on both the sides.
If you want to be present at the Heritage of India Auction 10, register in person at 6th floor, Majestic Shopping Centre, Near Central Plaza, 144 JSS Road, Opera House, Mumbai 400004. Call 022 23820647 for details.
This year, The Only Real Game made its Asian debut at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). Previously, the film was named the best Documentary Film at the New York Indian Film Festival. In honour of the film, Consul General Peter Haas, President of Namaste America Atul Nisar, actor Prateik Babbar, filmmaker Kailash Surendranath, and other guests took to the field for an exhibition softball match. Dave Thoudam, a young filmmaker and musician from Manipur opened the exhibition match by singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ in English and Manipuri.
