Eternal Gandhi Exhibition

At a time when Gandhiji's ideas seem to have become relegated to tomes of history textbooks, the Eternal Gandhi multimedia exhibition helps to bring his ideas back into focus in a medium that makes it easy for todays kids to relate to & understand.

The exhibits explore Gandhiji's philosophies, the books that moulded him, his ashram stays and other thoughts through computer generated designs and interactive installations. It is an attempt to explore and convey how Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi became the "Mahatma".


Conceptualised and directed by Ranjit Makkuni and his team at Sacred World Research Laboratory, the exhibition first displayed in Delhi, moved to Bombay a couple of months ago. For awhile it was exhibited at the Cowasji Jehangir Hall

But since the last month it has been displayed at the CSMVS. You still can catch it until the end of this month.

The Birla Trust has helped undertake part of the fiscal responsibility.

What you can expect to see :

Raghupati Xylophone : The notes are pre-arranged to play Gandhiji's favourite bhajan. You don't need to be a musician to play it.



Laser India Harp - allows the visitor to trigger music by touching the laser beams.

Pillar of Castelessness - Embodies "United we stand & Divided we fall" by lighting up when all around the pillar hold hands and turning dark when they let go.


Stambha - 11 rotating discs. Each triggers a visual clip of Gandhiji's principles of Satyagraha.

A wooden replica of Sabarmati Ashram

Each Pillar when touched starts an audio visual presentation of Ashram Life.

A Mural of Raja Harischandra's Story


A fibre optic Jail Cell to mimic the one Gandhi was imprisoned at, which has his Jail journal beamed across the cell floor.

The Charaka is everywhere.
As a motif, as a theme, as a background, as an exhibit....

And an extremely life-like wax figure of Gandhiji which could have you thinking its a real person sitting there. (The webbed toes gave it away)

....among other exhibits.

The exhibition is best summed up by a kid I overheard at the exhibition "Mommy, mommy ! This is so much fun !!!"

To be relevant and speak to today's generation of kids, you need to involve them in the discovery process by stimulating not just their minds but by appealing to their visual and auditory senses too. Since the experience also combines a tactile dimension, it succeeds on all counts. The exhibition is equally appealing to adults too, it shows that we CAN make Indian Museums a better leisure experience.

Little known Facts about Mumbai

Mumbai originally was a cluster of 7 islands - Colaba, Mazagaon, Old Woman's Island, Wadala, Mahim, Parel & Matunga-Sion. It took 60 years to merge the 7 islands of Bombay into one landmass between 1784 & 1845.
The reclamations from the sea continue even today and India's most prosperous business district - Nariman Point - was reclaimed from the sea as recently as 1971.

Statistically :
Mumbai's per capita income is almost 3 times the National Average.
Mumbaikars have a literacy rate which is nearly 20% higher than India's overall literacy rate.
Mumbai's suburban rail systems carry a total of 2.2 billion passengers every year or roughly one third of the world's entire population.

Initially the city was named Bom Bahia or the "Good Bay" in appreciation of the excelent & deep harbor that it possessed on the East side. The English developed Bom Bahia into Bombay.
The Maharashtrians in Mumbai have demanded and achieved the renaming of Bombay as Mumbai. They claim that this was the originaly name of the city before the advent of the English who they allege distorted the name to Bombay. The name Mumbai on the contrary, is derived from the temple of Mumbadevi, the Goddess of Mumba.

Printed in Simplifly, March 2005.

Thank God It's Blog Meet (again)

Attention all Mumbai Bloggers!! - A very important announcement

Saakshi Juneja and Amit Verma have decided to get together for another blog meet on 20th May, 2006 at 'Thank God Its Friday (TGIF)', Andheri West from 3.00 pm onwards.

Blog newbies, non-Mumbai bloggers and (only) blog readers - all are welcome.

However this time round no 'Special guest blogger' will be making a presence, but what the heck...good time can surely be expected.

Here is the full address:

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY (TGIF)
INFINITY MALL,
2ND FLOOR,
OSHIWARA NEW LINK ROAD,
ANDHERI WEST, MUMBAI

So put a note in your appointment dairy or PDA and make sure to get your butt down there.

For more info visit http://desicritics.org/2006/05/17/100534.php

Saakshi O. Juneja is an active blogger...slightly feminist and overboard dog lover. Currently working as a Business Development Manager for a sportwear manufacturing company in Mumbai, India. Did graduation in Marketing & Advertiseing from Sydney, Australia. As far as blogging is concerned...is a complete Blog-a-holic.

Photo Feature on Ratnagiri (Maharashtra)

Who hasn't heard of Ratnagiri ?

Famed for its Alphonso/Hapus Mangoes....


The drive from Mumbai (Bombay) was 8 hours long with a couple of breaks along the way, but the scenery more than made up for the long journey. I hear the train journey has some beautiful views too.


We stayed at the wonderful "Kokanes Kohinoor Samudra Resort"
Located on the Ratnagiri - Pawas Coastal Highway, its away from the city, situated on a cliff, sprawling over 2 kilometres from end-to-end, it has the most brilliant view from every room in the multiple buildings.




The town of Ratnagiri is pretty small & so easy to navigate after driving around in Mumbai.
We first headed towards the Thibaw Palace - which was built for the exiled King & Queen of Burma (now Myanmar) in 1910-11. They lived here until they died. This would be a familiar name for those who have read "Amitav Ghosh's - The Glass Palace"



It has also been partly converted into a museum. The museum is rather pitiful as it has only 4 rooms. One on the ground floor which has some old sculptures salvaged from the Ratnadurg Fort. The 3 rooms on the first floor have some old, badly damaged copper vessels, old photographs and the last room is an attempt to recreate the grandeur of the palace. The sad part of it is that, although the furniture is still solid (being made of Burma Teak) the furnishings are terrible. Synthetic bright curtains drag your attention away from the intricate light fixtures.


These 4 rooms and 2 used for offices are currently the only usable rooms in the palace. there are plans to renovate & strengthen the remaining buildings. Hopefully it will be sensibly done.

Check out my entire photoblog entry

Interview with Usha Prabhakaran ~ author of Ushas Pickle digest.

Usha Prabhakaran is an amazing woman. She has just written a recipe book of Pickles. Since she could not find a publisher for her effort, she has self published. To learn more about her & some "quick n easy" recipes that she doles out in her interview.

Visit CelebratingWomenintheKitchen

The lady who has interviewed Usha is Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal. Time Out Mumbai readers would be familiar with her work.

I'm desicritic of the day

Hey all loyal readers. I'm desicritics "Desicritic Of The Day" today.

Read all my articles on Desicritics.org

Hijacking of Parking Space

Sakshi Juneja writes on the hassles of parking & traffic in Mumbai.

Firstly, it takes me nearly 45 minutes to an hour to get from Juhu to M.I.D.C, Andheri East. The less said about the traffic scene in Andheri East the better it is. Come here any time of the day, at times even late evenings, you will, in all probability, be stuck in a jam. Most of the roads around the M.I.D.C are dug up - but then I can't recall a single day in all the three years that I have been coming here when the roads have not been dug up - this is the pathetic state of one of the most popular industrial areas in Mumbai city, 365 days of the year.

Read the Entire Article & Add your comments here.

Naturals Ice Cream

Naturals Ice Cream
All over Bombay & Pune.
Original Outlet at Juhu

13th North South Road
Opp Lotus Eye Hospital
Juhu Scheme
Mumbai 400049
2620 6053, 2670 7558, 3097 7272

At 25 bucks a scoop (26/- in Pune) this ice cream is a real steal & can't classify as an indulgence on the price factor, although it is on the taste factor.

Creamy ice creams which combine Indian kulfi with natural flavours with fruit pieces in them are absolutely amazing. On a scale of 10, Natural ice cream rates 15.

Some ice creams are available around the year. Like the chocolate almond, choco cream, french vanilla, mango, coffee walnut, badam, kesar pista, anjeer.... Some like the chickoo, seetaphal, papaya - pineapple, tender coconut & water melon are seasonal. But they all are priced at the same amount. In season, you can even opt for fresh mango or strawberry pieces served with malai ice cream for 65/- At the Juhu outlet, they will even convert your ice cream to a milkshake for 65/-

If you can't make up your mind in this range of flavors, go for a double scoop.

They offer free home delivery & you can even opt for the 1/2 kg tubs at 135/- each. If you give them a day's notice they even organise a thermocol box to carry your ice cream on a long journey or picnic.

Naturals ice cream actually spoils you for taste, that no other ice cream can match up. Baskin Robbins seems too sweet & most local brands seem too watery.

Some outlets offer a waffle cone for 3-5 bucks extra. With over 15 outlets across the city & a price point of Rs.25/- only, you have no excuse not to try Naturals Ice Cream.

Brio, The Cafe Bistro

Brio, The Cafe Bistro
Behind Shoppers Stop
Dynamix Mall
Near Chandan Cinema
Juhu

Brio opened its doors about 2 weeks ago. It looks really fancy from the outside & you could be easily mistaken into thinking that this was an expensive joint and walking away.

For me, the craving for a coffee before visiting my favourite haunt (Crossword) was too strong to give it the go by & hence I entered and was pleasantly suprised by everything.

Read the Entire Review here.