Meher Marfatia, author of the book, Once Upon a City, shares some of the stories she had collected while writing her column for Mid-Day.
RIP Gerson: Keep Bombay blessed For a metro that has mourned several remarkable fathers – including Charles Correa, Alyque Padamsee, Anil Dharker – our recent loss leaves us especially bereft. Yet, the best tribute to…
Xmas lunch with the Desert Fox Everyone has favourite Christmas stories… This bittersweet one took me by surprise. I was a rookie reporter with The Illustrated Weekly of India in 1985. Researching a feature to…
The mascot who taught Bombay laughter With the recent national airline acquisition evoking much cheer, it’s time to retrace how its chubby mascot was cleverly conceived. The 1946 inspiration of Bobby Kooka, Air India’s commercial…
One hundred years of gratitude Fifteen years ago, 12 of them graced this city – the last Spanish priests, in St Stanislaus (Bandra), St Mary’s (Mazagaon) and St Xavier’s (Fort). Lucky to have met some…
Tale of a tangy treat An especially wet week, at the end of the season suited to snacking on hot bhajias and vadas with chutney, is the right time to recap a spicy story. I…
Olympians and Bandraites It’s a heady feeling we’re left with, fresh from the power and glory tasted by some of the 56 women athletes – the country’s largest ever female contingent – at the recent…
United We Stood Fitting to start this anniversary month of Independence with mention of a unifying communication tool, rooted in the power of peace. A fast-fading ideal today. Founded in 1942 by Gandhiji, the Hindustani…
When Yusuf Saab came calling With the world no longer graced by Dilip Kumar, I recollect some interviewees sharing encounters with the thespian. In La Kozy Mansion, the 1891-designed Chowpatty seafront gem with a sparkling…
Camera, lights, action! Some precious nuggets can hit a writer casually. As I left the Chowpatty flat of Shailesh Sheth in Stone Building, with delicate balcony grilles and Italian marble interiors, he said, “My maternal…