Heralding in Women’s Day
Women when they come together can bring the house down, the restaurant was taken over with the excitement of eighteen ladies celebrating, taking photographs, calling out to each other and just running around greeting everyone.
Heralding in Women’s Day was not on the agenda but that’s what it morphed into—a deliciously vibrant lunch that celebrated one of my favorite women achievers, Dr. Rishma Pai. She has won her fourth lifetime achiever award even though she looks like a bubbly spring chicken with that signature effervescent smile, off shoulder ref dress and sporting nature. Definitely not a serious preachy veteran you’d expect with such accolades!
Zarine Khan presided upon the celebration where a long sit-down lunch with some mughlai courses was delightfully interrupted by multiple selfies and group pictures, making for a buzzing busy afternoon. The close knit circle included the eternally lovely actor Poonam Dhillon, the elegant Alka Chaturvedi, dynamic Abha Singh, warm Bina Aziz, ex-judge Rajyalakshmi Rao, exuberant Sangeeta Singh and of course Rishma herself among others who gave a tiny but tremendously inspiring talk about her journey that had us all spellbound.
It’s been a whirlwind week of celebrating women, and this will continue all of March—awards, panels, meets championing women in a still predominantly male chauvinistic society!
Celebrating friendship
My champagne sundowner for Milaaya Art Gallery’s Gayatri Khanna was simply overwhelming in it’s attendance, bonhomie and love that was the theme with friends who poured in and celebrated not only the cutting-edge art but our friendships that have strengthened and flourished through decades.
Bombay society mostly Sobo’s art lovers came and stayed to enjoy art, wine, scintillating conversations, classical italian music and haute cuisine including UK High Commissioner Harjinder Kang and his lovely wife Kam who lent an air of international diplomacy, much-loved Consul Generals Kobbi Shoshani, Don Donnawit, Kenko, and Shirani Ariyarathne making it quite the diplomatic soirée! Advertising doyen Sunil Alag, celebrated author Nandita Puri, philanthropist extraordinaire Piloo Tata, art impresario Gopika Dahanukar, celebrity chef Shipra whipping up conversations, corporate leader Anand Jain, visionary architect Anil Salian, luxury designer Aakif Habib with his discerning eye, dynamic young filmmaker Tanuj Garg, Finland school headmistress Anna Hart bringing educational gravitas, powerhouse activist lawyer Abha Singh, Amitabh Singh, Chief Post Master General Maharashtra Circle, and mentalist Deepak Rao who gave a tiny demo to some guests in a corner of the gallery.
About woman achiever Gayatri—she’s masterfully transitioned from a couturier to a boundary-breaking gallerist creating Milaaya Gallery displaying embroidered art from works by eminent artists in a first-of-its-kind presentation. The works are evocative, textured, and ornate- I simply couldn’t resist saying yes when asked to present it to the discerning art connoisseurs of Bombay.
The sundowner turned out to be an evening of Art, haute cuisine, stimulating conversations, bon homie and warmth being the bond that held guests enchanted until late into the evening. It was a celebration of art and love!
Needless to say the art was spectacular. In a first of it’s kind show of masterpieces of artists Nikhil Chopra, much coveted Ranbir Kaleka, Manjunath Kamath, Shaurya Kumar done in Embroidered works of art by Gayatri Khannas Atelier and presented at gallery Millaya , we spoke of our collaboration with Gaya as I fondly refer to her!
The evening continued until much later than expected- but my favorite part was how friends stayed and chatted zestfully! We had long stimulating conversation about art and I was delighted by the spirit of love and warmth of my friends who came from all parts of Mumbai and stayed and enjoyed the art, the talk and the conversations
This was an evening Mumbai won’t forget for a long long time
Destination wedding
Coming back from Jaipur and Delhi post two absolutely magical weddings, I realized destination weddings have a cruise-like charm that’s utterly irresistible. You’re traveling through days of different celebratory scenarios—meeting, greeting, and bonding with the same fascinating people and forming lifelong connections over champagne toasts and shared dance floors.
Of all the weddings I’ve flitted between this year—and you do know by now that they are many—luxury jewellers Raveena and Kaushal Aswani of Darshana Sanjana Jewellers distinguished themselves for their warmth and endearing hospitality that wrapped around every guest like the finest cashmere. They made me feel on top of the world really, and all the effort to eke out time away from pressing work and personal commitments was hands-down the best decision I could have made. Their attention to every glimmering detail was nothing short of spectacular!
There is a woman’s achiever angle here too—because the savvy couple has named their dazzling business after their two daughters and given them so much impetus to achieve their dreams, breaking that invisible glass ceiling that often holds our girls back. Kudos Raveena and Kaushal Aswani , I do hope more parents in the world give as much nurture, education and mentoring to their girl child as they do to their ladla betas. It’s about time, isn’t it?
Intimate and warm
Now in no way does Women’s Day week and month undermine men, nor am I a hardcore feminist waving angry banners. I believe in the harmonious yin and yang of life, and our dear friend and publishing baron Nikesh Sinha hosted an intimate and warm wedding for his son Shivaditya and the radiant Sanchi in Delhi’s Gurugram which had a host of head honcho IIM alumni dancing up a storm until the wee hours.
Amongst the Delhi glitterati that sparkled in attendance—for me it was special to meet Park Hotels’ Priya Paul again- after quite a hiatus—a woman I’ve long admired up close. As a wide-eyed kid I’ve watched her while visiting my childhood friend Priti Paul home at Aurangzeb Road and seen Priya effortlessly juggle her many roles with that signature quiet confidence.
Chairperson Apeejay Surendra Group, she is rightfully considered the First Lady of Boutique hotels in India and one only has to see the Park hotels—so artsy, so boldly innovative and creatively kaleidoscopic—to see her pioneering streak shining through every thoughtful design element! She has been awarded the Padma Shri for her extraordinary trajectory that continues to inspire countless women in business.
Women’s Day
In this first dazzling week of March I want to salute all the brave women who are the magnificent product of their trials, rapids, falls, triumphant climbs, wild imaginations, audacious dreams and unwavering perseverance.
Women who light up rooms with their presence and change worlds with their vision. May it be Women’s Day everyday, not just in our calendars but in our consciousness!
(Write to Nisha JamVwal at nishjamwal@gmail.com)
