Piau Chow

Have you ever noticed the fountain just outside the southern boundary wall of St. Andrew’s Church, where B.J. Road ends and Hill Road begins? The marble plaque above the water spout says that it was presented to the Municipality of Bandra by Jafferbhai Ludha Chatu Esq., in 1894. Well, here’s some more history for you.

What is now a fountain, used to be an water trough, locally called ‘Piau’, which was used as a watering hole for animals and to water Hill Road, to minimise dust. But by the late nineties, the trough was just a small, dilapidated stone structure. As a part of the Celebrate Bandra festival in November, 2003, the structure was restored.

Some pieces of the original stone paving were found in a heap of debris nearby, and set in a semicircular pattern around the stone trough as in the original paving. A provision was also made for the commissioning of the water through a spout by a small pump at the back.

A re-circulating system through the hole in the wall between the front trough and the rear tank facilitates this system. The restoration was carried out by the author, an old resident of Bandstand, with valuable guidance from Conservation Architects Abha Narain Lambah and David Cardoz, both also residents of Bandra.

Arup Sarbadhikary is a structural engineer and a former member of the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee. He is one of the founder members and Trustee of the Bandra Bandstand Residents Trust.

– Arup Sarbadhikary

Oktober Fest Continues

The ten-day long beer festival at Mumbai Times Café, cleverly titled B.L.O.B (Basic Love of Beer), continues this week and has the famous DJ Tarun (popularly known as DJ Boombaba) playing techno and trance along with the the uber-talented VJ group ‘AndThen’ will be supplying the visuals for all Sundown Session events which will be games like beer pong, ring toss, 2 litre glass race and other fun games. Later on in the evening you have B.L.O.T (Basic Love of Things) the acclaimed audio-visual performers from Delhi and Jon Qui playing some progressive and percussionist music.

Where: The Mumbai Times Café, off Linking Road, When: August 29th, 4pm to 1:30am, Entry: Tickets are on sale to listen to the bands and join in the games, 300 cover charge (a pint of fosters costs Rs 50), Contact: 66711587/9422769843

– Rommel Albuquerque

Emergency Numbers

• If you see a water pipe broken or leaking, an open manhole or a pothole that just wont go away, call BMC on 1916 or Water Complaints: 26422311-14, Ext 444.
• If the drains in your area are clogged or road repairs unfinished, contact Asst. Drainage and Sewerage and Asst. Engg. roads and repairs officer on 26422311-14, Ext 307.
• If there’s a power outage you can contact Reliance Energy’s 24hr Power Help Line on 30303030.
• In case your car wont start and your mechanic is busy on another job you can contact Bandra Towing on 26439599.
• In case you need medicines urgently at 1am, you can contact 24 hr Chemists, Asian Chemist on 26407709/ 265503448 or Metro Medical on 26409699/26430460.
• If you see an injured person or an accident victim contact 102 or 1298 or Life Jet Cardiac Ambulance Service on 9821106489/9869102205.
• If you see someone beating a stray dog or anyone causing harm to an animal contact Welfare for Stray Dogs on 23737433/64222838 or PETA on 26281879/80.
• If you see a child in trouble or being forced into labour contact Child Help Line 1098/23881098 or Father Agnel Ashram on 26423841/42.
• Senior citizens, it’s always good to keep this number handy. Senior Citizens Help Line: 1090.
• In case of massive flooding or landslides in your area contact: Disaster Help Line on 108.
• If you see a fallen tree or wall about to fall down, contact: Fire Dept on 101 or 26435206.
• Stuck in traffic for over an hour? Contact the Mumbai Traffic Police Help Line on 30403040.

– Rommel Albuquerque

Stuff We Like

Pet shop KPS has this totally fun ‘Cat Tree’, perfect for your cat to play on.

Where:Shop No. 6, Rebello Rd, Contact: 65104444

Stuff We Like

Mobius Strip launches its new collection. Check out their range of vases, lamps, mugs and more.

Where: Pali Hill

Atmavishwas

Atmavishwas is a trust for mentally challenged people above the age of 18. Their aim is to make their students confident and independent.

Five years old now, this trust conducts vocational training along with recreation and functional academics. They teach their pupils basicskills like sticking and stitching, which is then put to use to make decorative greeting cards, colourful bookmarks and some stunning photo frames. They even make pendants and chains out of recycled paper.

Apart from all this they always make time to have some good old fun, be it by playing a game of housie, or a trip to the movie theatre. The students are always enthusiastic to do any activity – right from cutting a flower to stick on a card, to cooking up a good meal. Trustee Sybil da Gama says, “All they want is acceptance from society and to know that someone loves them and wants to spend time with them. They become very happy and excited when they meet someone and just a smile is enough to make their day.”

They even have their own band, and all play some instrument or the other and sing along. You can visit the students and watch how they do their work meticulously. You could also volunteer your time to teach them something new or just hang out with them and have fun. They also sell the items they make. Rumor has it that at least one item is sold whenever someone visits.

Where: Avalon, Flat no 2, ground floor, St Sebastien Rd, near Mehboob studio, When: Mon-Fri 9am to 2pm, Contact: 65013930, 9870017135, Cost of Items: Napkins and towels Rs 50-Rs 75, Bookmarks Rs 5, Greeting cards Rs 20 for 2.

– Rommel Albuquerque

Emergency Numbers

Here’s a list of numbers everyone should have handy. Add them to your cell phone contacts. We also recommend you post them in your living room, ideally near the land line.

DANGER TO LIFE: The big three of emergencies – heart attack, stoke, trauma.

HEART ATTACK: 105, MOBILE ICU (24HRS): 26422076

DANGER TO HEALTH: This type of emergency does not immediately threaten your survival, but may have serious implications for your continued health and well-being. AMBULANCE: 102, 1298 and 26422076

DANGER TO PROPERTY: Everything from warehouse fires to theft.
FIRE: 101 and 26435206, POLICE EMERGENCY: 100,103 and 1090,
WESTERN REGION POLICE CONTROL ROOM: 26407970, CALL ALERT CRIME BRANCH: 103

DANGER TO THE ENVIRONMENT: These numbers are handy to have around in the monsoon, just in case Mumbai sees a re-run of 26/7/05.

BMC BOARD LINE: 22620251, DISASTER HELP LINE: 108