The Lighthouse Project started in 2018 by the Rotary Club of Bombay at the Machimar Nagar slum in Cuffe Parade, had its Annual Sports Day this morning. It was great seeing the tiny tots who are taught spoken English in a fun way, performing with confidence. We started with 40 kids. Now there are 140. And parents now come for life skills classes. It was started to give the kids confidence to go and hold their own at the fine schools they got admission into thanks to the Right to Education Act. We got a shack at Machimar Nagar from 4pm to 6pm five days a week. We air-conditioned it and added computers. The teaching of spoken English is done with imported teaching aids. We teach kids till the 4th standard. It has evolved with other activities and talks and offsite visits etc. My gratitude to Ekta Shah Rajesh Shah, Charu, Meher, Manisha Shroff Ahuja and others who have consistently helping out and to Bhavna Daftary for supporting this program all these years. And it was so nice seeing alumni from Bhavishya Yaan, our other flagship project turning up and volunteering at this project. Good has a way of going around. The future looks bright.

RT @HNarwekar: I had the privilege of attending a truly heartwarming event at the Y.B. Chavan Auditorium, organised by the Rotary Club of B…

Missys'Musings... I'm eleven years old today. And part of a brave young breed that doesn't mind flaunting my age. I'm told I was found at Grant Rd. Station Mumbai with a maggot infested wound on my head. A kind Tangella Madhavi took me home and fostered me. I healed, and soon young Ishan Narayan saw my picture on facebook and approached his parents saying he wanted to adopt me. Mom-to-be Devi happily approved but apparently the old man argued about who would walk another dog (they had one dog, Peppy, found in Chennai). Anyway my brother had his way, as usual, and I came home. Very quickly I established myself as the alpha female and began hogging all the attention. Peppy passed on, I rule at home. I've starred in a film to promote adoption of Indie dogs, been featured in the media, gone on holidays with the family, tolerated the adopted building cats, made a lot of lovely friends on FB and I think I can say life is good. And yes the old man absolutely adores me and loves being taken on walks by me. I even let him off the leash at times. Give me a birthday bow wow girls and guys. I love you all. I'm thinking of publishing a book on my Musings. What say folks?

Looks like a close fight. Missy's Musings.

I think he likes that snack. #RNPics

Missys'Musings... The Union Budget was presented yesterday. The old man is very confused. But then he never was good at figures. He was wondering why the opposition parties were so unhappy with the Budget. I reassured him that actually the opposition is delighted. They have another good opportunity to mouth off against the Government. The opposition can also scream in Parliament, stall the proceedings, tear up the budget papers and strike a bold blow against majoritarism. The old man was more confused. Winning an election with a good majority was never a bad word before, and every corporate leader and banker has hailed the budget as good and progressive he wailed. Who cares for those fat cats I explained. They probably run away to Alibaug or Lonavala on election Day. So they don't matter anyway. So what's the solution he asked me? Simple I said. Take a truck load of money and dole it out to the poor in the old way, not by a direct transfer into their accounts. That way they get 12 percent, the politicians share the rest and everyone is happy. But they will always remain poor he whined. Do you seriously think anyone cares about that? I ended triumphantly. And don't you dare say the country is going to the dogs. It would be a loving place if it did. Give me a bow wow.

@BabiBaruah and Prof. Sunil Gupta of @HarvardHBS begin the first @IAA__India Conversations series in Mumbai.

@divakarssathya @skswamy Very nice to read this. Let's stay in touch.

Mornings in Black and White. #RNPics

Please note this.

RT @MumbaiPolice: @rameshnarayan We have informed the Cuffe Parade Police Station.

Very loud singing on GDSomani Rd Cuffe Parade. Apparently they have police permission. Please stop this. immediately.@CPMumbaiPolice @CPRA_Mumbai. @richapintoi @fpjindia . Why are these permissions granted?

Members of the Ananda Yaan Elder Day Care program of the @RCB1929 got a standing ovation at the marvellous show organised by the @musiconacademy today. Kudos to @ShankaMahadevan for the great work his academy is doing with underprivileged and differently abled people.

Nothing like a Sunday snooze. Missy's Musings.

Reflective mornings. Cuffe Parade. #RNPics

RT @Tara_Deshpande: The California fires are an unprecedented disaster. Destroying homes lives and tens of thousands of acres of forest. @R…

Mornings in Black and White. #RNPics.

RT @asharmeet02: @rameshnarayan @Manekagandhibjp Dog has been rescued by Helping India Feeding India NGO, Bhagalpur. Details here - https:/…