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If you’re a qualified physician (working or retired), experienced health professional, or final year med student who would like to get some added experience, the Udaan Foundation could really do with your help. This noteworthy Powai-based NGO, which helps educate less privileged children, is planning on running a basic general health/screening clinic for their students during program hours.

It is envisaged that the clinic would operate daily, for around two weeks, from 3-6 p.m. starting Monday, September 13.

The clinic idea is being driven by Nikki Gambhir, a young UK based doctor who is currently visiting family in Powai and wants to devote her time here to contributing to the community. Since she only has one year of experience post completing her medical training, she’s really hoping that some more senior medical practitioners will be willing to come forward and lend a hand.

The help of everyone, including nurses and experienced health professionals, will also be greatly appreciated as there are nearly 400 children to be screened. This will require as much manpower as possible.

Volunteers can come as often or as little as they wish (e.g. for a few hours, few days, or the whole duration of the clinic).

If you’re interested, Nikki can be contacted on 9930935080 or at the following email address: nikki.gambhir @ gmail.com

More information about the wonderful work of the Udaan Foundation is available on their website.

Items: Handwoven cotton Kurtas, tops, stoles, Assam silk stoles, creative desktop items, Home furnishings, hand bags, bamboo jewelry. Apart from these, there are also thread jewelry from Karnataka, tribal paintings, some embroidery items from Kutch and few other collectives from few other states. The main focus is however the handicrafts from North East.

This exhibition will be held on Sept 3, 4, 5 2010.

Date: 24th – 27th June, 2010

Timings: 10:30hrs – 20:30hrs

Venue: ABC Art Gallery , Daffodils Soc. Eden Market,

Hiranandani Gardens, Powai,

Mumbai.

www.craftvogue.com

CraftVogue helps promote rural groups by organizing exhibitions in metro cities and helps these organizations to get more exposure and thus better financials. CraftVogue is associated with Aagor Daagra Afad, an organisation that emerged out of a successful project started by the ant (the action northeast trust www.theant.org) in 2002 which aimed not just at promoting livelihoods amongst women weavers of the Bodo tribe, but also attempted  to present the resplendent culture that they represented, quite contrary to the image some of their bomb-blasting brothers had created while seeking control over their traditional homelands and resources.

Stacey is a from Shillong, who has lived in England. She is also a musician and plays drums, guitars.

Her favorite quote is “When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep — not screaming, like the passengers in his car”– Stacey Hieriem.

Micheal is British, working in Thane, loves powai, but prefers there were forums for expats where they could meet regularly and exchange ideas.

Check out their audio interview here Listen to this episode

Thank You both of you for your time!

Download this episode (right click and save)

Recently Powai.info received an email from a reader who’s concerned about the real estate situation in Powai, particularly the unavailability of property despite all the construction going on. He wonders whether there’s a need for an informational website to facilitate transparent real estate transactions. What are people’s opinions and experiences regarding real estate dealings in Powai?

He writes:

What’s with real estate in and around Powai?

I see a lot of construction activity in and around Powai, but whenever I ask Estate Agents it elicits the response that there is nothing available. I therefore think that we need a good site where all end users/sellers can post their availability/requirements and undertake quick transactions. This will bring the same transparency in real estate dealings as in stocks. Just wanted to check with a broader audience whether this is a good idea?

Rushina is gastronomy columnist, writer, consultant and author with her own consultancy company. She has written innumerable articles in magazines such as mE magazine from DNA and Times of India, Crest. Also a prolific blogger she talks about her life in Powai, here is an exclusive interview with her.

1. How long have you been living in Powai? And why did you decide to make Powai as you home?

I have been living in Powai for 8 years now. At first I refused to look at Powai as an option, because I grew up in South Mumbai and I considered Powai the back of beyond! But then my husband brought me to look at Raheja Vihar and I changed my mind instantly. It was such a lovely peaceful, secure place. Perfect to bring up children in. I have never wanted to move away, I cannot imagine living anywhere else!

2. Can you share some of your experiences of living in Powai, right from the day you selected the property, till today? How has Powai changed in your opinion?

Initially, I was happy to live in an area where that was relatively quiet, Raheja Vihar being cut off from a heavy traffic infested main road. And then I found an amazing amazing sense of community. I would take my son to down to play and made friends with lots of other young moms, and there would be a host of grandmas ready to coo over my child. I think that assuaged the guilt that he did not have his own grandparents near to give him the kind of attention only grandparents can. It also helped me get lots of foodie inspiration, learning about the regional cuisines of India from the multicultural population of our area. And celebrating every festival from Holi to Idd. Children play safely downstairs even on their own, the watchmen have an eye on them as do other moms. And though the area has gotten more congested with new buildings coming up, it has also brought new amenities like a More store and a bank and lots of new restaurants.

3. What kind of extra amenities would you like, which are at present lacking in Powai?

It would be great if the approach road to Raheja Vihar could be sorted out somehow, there is a bottle neck that causes traffic snarls daily. It would also be very good if the areas green patches could be conserved, one of the biggest advantages that our kids have is these open spaces. It would also be nice to have a movie theatre and somewhere to have literary meets and cultural gatherings.

4. What do you think is the biggest advantage of living in Powai ? And what to do you think is the single most disadvantage of living here in Powai?

5. Can you tell us something about yourself?

I am a gastronomy columnist, writer, consultant and author with my own consultancy company. I have written innumerable articles in magazines such as mE magazine from DNA and Times of India, Crest. I am also prolific blogger and blog on food at a-perfect-bite.blogspot.com and am currently working on a book on food in Mumbai. I also spearhead my own consultancy firm called ‘A Perfect Bite’ and have worked with work with companies such as Soam restaurant, Beacon Holidays, Nature’s Basket, Amore Gelato and Casamia restaurant Mumbai

My kitchen is the meeting point of culinary cultures, while I am Gujarati I am married to a Garhwali and my search for A Perfect Bite has taken her all over the world. Luckily I have found the perfect cover for my obsession with all things food and brazenly use it to legitimise my foodie idiosyncrasies; such as shamelessly discussing food with anyone, anywhere, going to any lengths to get my hands on new recipes and ingredients. My obsession with food carries into other aspects of my life, I read a lot of food books and LOVE to cook. I also love to read. My Website: http://aperfectbite.in/

6. What do you think about this initiative of www.powai.info ? Do you think you can contribute to this website and help get Powai connected?

I think it is a great initiative. The website is smart, the content is well put together and very inclusive which helps people feel like they are involved and belong. It is also good to be able to be informed of things happening in the are with the click of a mouse. I have already been talking about the website and will continue to do so.

7. What would you like to see in www.powai.info  - in terms of Content (what kind of articles, photographs, news stories, important info) and in terms of Design (Looks, colours, interactivity-ease of use)

Considering my food journalist bent of mind, I do think that the food section could be improved. Add a listings section so we know of food festivals and offers in the area or new restaurants and the like. Also with the rest reviews, they need to be more objective. And I suggest you go beyond dining out with a section on home cooking, recipes and the like. Perhaps a similar interview to this in which one gets a peek into the home kitchens of Powai residents and their recipes as well.

A-75Express:

This route is operated between Colaba Depot, and Hiranandani (Powai). Thisroute is scheduled to halt at Colaba Depot, Museum, Hutatma Chowk,V.B.Phadke Chowk, Marine Lines, Pt. Paluskar Chowk, Nana Chowk, VasantraoNaik Chowk, Air Conditioned Market, Haji Ali, Nehru Planetarium, PoonamChambers, Narayan Pujari Nagar, Worli Dairy, Worli Sea Face (S), Bandra-WorliSea Link Toll Naka, Kherwadi Junction, New Agripada, Gundavali, Ismail YusufCollege, Ramwadi, Majas Depot / Shyam Nagar, Fantasy Land, SEEPZ Village,Shipping Corp. Powai Vihar Sankul, Shetty Vidyalaya, and Hiranandani Gardens.



AS-422·

This route is operated between Mulund Bus Station (West), and Agarkar Chowk (Andheri – East). This route is scheduled to stop at Mulund BusStation (West), Mulund Railway Station (West), Maharshi Arvind Chowk,Mulund Depot, Ralli Wolf, Nirmal Life Style, Dr.K.B.Hedgewar Chowk,Shangrila Company, Bhandup Police Station, Bhandup Station Road(West), Mangatram Petrol Pump, Dockyard Colony, Gandhi Nagar, I.I.T.Market, I.I.T. Main gate, Punch Kutir, Hiranandani, Shipping Corporation,Dr.Ambedkar Udyan (Powai), SEEPZ Village, SEEPZ Bus Station, OrkayMills, E.S.I.S Hospital, Marol Depot, NELCO, Chakala, and AgarkarChowk.

AS-461:·

This route is operated between Mulund Bus Station (West), and BorivaliBus Station (West). This route is scheduled to stop at Mulund Bus Station(West), Mulund Railway Station (West), Maharshi Arvind Chowk, MulundDepot, Ralli Wolf, Nirmal Life Style, Dr.K.B.Hedgewar Chowk, ShangrilaCompany, Bhandup Police Station, Bhandup Station Road (West),Mangatram Petrol Pump, Dockyard Colony, Gandhi Nagar, I.I.T. Market,I.I.T. Main gate, Punch Kutir, Hiranandani, Shipping Corporation,Dr.Ambedkar Udyan (Powai), SEEPZ Village, Green Fields, Fantasy Land,Majas Depot, S.R.P.Camp (Jay Coach), Vanrai (MHADA Colony), KurarVillage, Pushpa Park, Bandongri, Mahindra Gate / BHAD Colony, DattaniPark, Magathane Telephone Exchange, Magathane Depot, RajendraNagar, Borivali Station (West), Borivali Bus Station (West).

AS-524:·

This route is operated between Borivali Station (East), and APMC VashiSector-19. The buses on this route are scheduled to halt at BorivaliStation (East), Omkareshwar Mandir, Magathane Depot, MagathaneTelephone Exchange, Dattani Park, BHAD Colony, Ban Dongri, PushpaPark, Kurar Village, Vanrai, Jay Coach, Majas Depot, Fantasy Land, GreenFields, SEEPZ Village, Dr. Ambedkar Udyan Powai, Shipping Corporation,Hiranandani, Punch Kutir, IIT Main Gate, IIT Market, Tagor NagarJunction, Vikhroli Police Station, Kannamwar Nagar (Pravin Hotel),Vikhroli Station Road (East), Godrej Soaps, Ghatkopar Bus Station,Ramabai Nagar, Old RTO Office, Jijamata Bhonsle Marg Junction, ShivajiNagar Junction, Maharashtra Nagar (Up), Vashi Village, Apana Bazar,Vashi Bus Station, S.S.C. Board Office, APMC Complex, Mathadi Bhavan,Saurashtra Bank, Dana Bazar, Vashi Sector – 26, and Vashi Sector – 19.

Dimple Virginker Wagle a Goan, a teacher, a theater professional now on a sabbatical to nurture her two kids, who made Powai her home for last 9 years, agreed to let us interview her on her life in Powai. Check out this tongue in cheek interview to know what she thinks about Powai and the promises it holds.

1. How long have you been living in Powai? And why did you decide to make Powai as you home?

Nine years to be precise.My husband works in BKC,so an agent from Andheri brought us here to show us some MHADA flats and that rainy July day as we passed thru HG,I wished I could afford to rent a place here.And lo behold ,one fell into our lap the very next week.Then I got greedy and wished I could own a flat in HG ,and lo behold again,within a year we found one(Ofcourse my husband who has to work out and work for the finances wont give the same version)

2. Can you share some of your experiences of living in Powai, right from the day you selected the property, till today? How has Powai changed in your opinion?

When we first shifted here I would take my baby in a pram all over the place and we would be greeted by enthusiastic senior citizens on their walk and glanced at by jogging dudes.Six years later when the other baby came we tried hard manoeuvering the pram amidst honking cars,bikes on the wrong side of the road and irritable pedestrians,till me and my daughter decided we were better off on the lawns of the various parks.Earlier it wasn`t congested so,the commercial blocks were much less .But now the race seems to make it the fanciest concrete jungle at the cost of community welfare

3. What kind of extra amenities would you like, which are at present lacking in Powai?

I wish there was a community hall or auditorium where we could have major plays,dance performances,a place which was seeped in creativity,where one could expect workshops in various fields for kids and adults,a place where like minded people could work together to add colour to life ,to chill and nothing like it if a well-equipped library too was thrown in.Inshallah…

4. What do you think is the biggest advantage of living in Powai ? And what to do you think is the single most disadvantage of living here in Powai?

Powai lies between the Central and Western routes,is well connected by public transport,and is self-sufficient with hospitals,malls and schools(vying with each other to make us bankrupt without good reason).There is still some greenery around with a lake to give that added natural environ touch.And ofcourse one can hope the winds blowing from the IIT campus will suitably effect one`s offspring:P
The disadvantage is the terrible roads ,which are not an exception in Mumbai and the ever worsening traffic scene.Sometimes the distance from places like Prithvi,happening Bandra,town etc can be a dampener.

5. Can you tell us something about yourself?

Iam a proud Goan,who has now settled in Mumbai via NewDelhi.I had been teaching in Delhi and Mumbai before I took a sabbatical to be a full time mum.I used to do theatre and also conduct workshops for youngsters.I dig good books,movies,plays and conversations with friends over coffee,besides a tumble and play with my kids.Before the younger one came i did volunteer my services at a couple of NGO`s.But at herat I like to work with kids or sit and listen to people unburden their woes

6. What do you think about this initiative of www.powai.info ? Do you think you can contribute to this website and help get Powai connected?

The name itself is a puller,since one can immediately connect to anything related to one`s dwelling place.The amount of info is exhaustive and so are the aesthetics.I could contribute maybe if the paycheck is laden with enough zeroes in the right places;).But on a more serious note probably yes.

7. What would you like to see in www.powai.info – in terms of Content (what kind of articles, photographs, news stories, important info) and in terms of Design (Looks, colours, interactivity-ease of use)

Well you guys are already doing a good job.But maybe a little daily column which at the end of a tired day one looks forward to,some hope inspiring,some touching pieces to feel alive and good.Well its just a suggestion and maybe something for that worked up un-noticed mother and her kids.Oops

Akshardham Powai Swaminarayan Mandir also know as International Spiritual Research Cente at Powai  is a beautiful expanse of land that was first sanctified by Yogi Bapa by the performance of a yagna. In 1978, Chandrabhan Sharmaji and family donated it to Kakaji for satsanga developmental activities.

By the efforts of the Tardev aspirant brothers, on February 3, 2003 (Kakaji’s Sakshatkardin), the International Spiritual Research Center was inaugurated. It serves as a memorial place for Guru Kakaji and a “research center” for mankind to develop the universal science of spirituality. The Swaminarayan Akshar-Purushottam mandira houses the moortis of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Anaadi Mool Akshar Moorti Gunatitanand Swami, Anaadi Maha Mukta Gopalanand Swami, and the gunaateeta lineage.

Kantikaka’s memorial shrine was established in 1986. Today, it remains on the back side of the temple, symbolizing the unique friendship between Kakaji and Kantikaka. Kantikaka, Shantibhai Seth, Nagardasbhai Kothari, Sampatdada Wagh, and others had toiled greatly for a center that echoes Kakaji’s divine life. Also in the back side is the Saadhaka-santa residence, innagurated on February 13, 2005 (Vasant Panchami).

ISRC ACTIVITIES

Mandira Darshana
7.00 am to 12.15 pm and 4.00 pm to 9.15 pm

Aaratee
Daily 7.00 am and 7.00 pm

Mahaapoojaa Daily 9.30 am to 10.30 am

Yoga Classes – two sessions
Monday to Friday 6.00 am to 7.00 am / 7.30 am to 8.30 am

Dhoona
Saturday and Sunday 8.00 am to 9.00 am

Satsanga Sabhaa
Sunday 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm

Children’s Sabhaa – ages 5 to 12
Saturday 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm

Women’s Sabhaa
Tuesday 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm

Bhajana Sandhyaa
Every 7th of the month – 7.00 pm to 9.15 pm

Website: http://www.kakaji.org/isrc.html

Address

Akshardham Powai Swaminarayan Mandir
Near Hiranandani Hospital, Swaminarayan Chowk
Powai, Mumbai 400076
(022) 2578-2151
isrc@kakaji.org

Anju kohli and her extended family shifted to Powai from Sion about 7 years back,  Besides raising her kids and managing her house, she is actively involved in powai, doing her bit for the good of the community. A resident of Powai Vihar, she agreed to speak to powai.info, as a part of  “People Talk”. Check out her video interview to know more on what Anju thinks is missing in Powai.

After successfully bringing a paradigm shift in Early Childhood Education in Pune, VIVERO International Pre-school now arrives in Powai – Mumbai in association with EtonHouse, a leading Singapore-based education provider.

Housed in a newly renovated 5,500 square feet premise, VIVERO offers a unique program for children aged 18 months to 4 years in an international pre-school environment along with Day Care facility and Mother-Toddler Program. Inspired by globally accepted best teaching practices such as the Reggio Emilia approach of Northern Italy and UK Early Learning Goals, VIVERO International Pre-school follows an inquiry-based teaching methodology.

The state-of-the-art facilities with child friendly interiors and exteriors at Vivero are definitely unique and have left parents spell bound. Children from across eight nationalities are already enrolled and the Vivero is creating a buzz amongst the pre-school fraternity and educated parents in town.

The greatest strength of Vivero is the exceptionally high quality of teaching staff, exposed to the best global practices in early childhood development. The teachers are trained by Anne Van Dam, a highly acclaimed educator from South East Asia and the Pre-school Director of EtonHouse- Orchard, Singapore. She is an educator, trainer and writer on the best practices of pre-school learning for educators and has worked closely with children and teachers alike for over 17 years.

Anne was in Mumbai earlier this week to hold a workshop for the Vivero teachers where she said “Pre-school is moulding time and we need to make the most of it. In Vivero International pre-school, the curriculum supports the child’s curiosity and skills of observation. It emphasizes on developing skills of exploration and discovery, investigation and research, collaboration and team spirit.”

Vivero International Pre-schools is an initiative of Edvance Pre-Schools, in partnership with EtonHouse. Together they are poised to set up quality pre-school learning centres in India. “We aim at providing a broad and balanced international curriculum, which supports individual needs and allows students to achieve their full potential and to enable students to acquire the necessary life skills. At Vivero, we foster the future leaders of India into global citizens of tomorrow in a multi-cultural environment” says group CEO Anshul Arora. Edvance has also launched their pre-school franchise network – SERRA International and is seeking franchise partners who share the commitment and are motivated to create a social impact through a financial venture.

Vivero International Pre-school is now all set to unveil an early childhood education movement in Powai – Mumbai. Address:- El–Tara, Off Orchard Avenue, Opposite Odyssey II, Behind Vodafone Gallery, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai – 400 076. Phone No:-9930708484