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Mumbai Mayor moves to new home – in Mumbai Zoo
By Quaid Najmi
Mumbai, Jan 21 (IANS) Mumbai’s first citizen, Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, on Monday shifted to an unusual neighbourhood – the Veermata Jijabai Bhosle Udyan and Zoo complex, paving the way for the long-planned memorial to Shiv Sena’s founder-patriarch Bal Thackeray at the official Arabian Sea-facing Mayor’s Bungalow at Shivaji Park.
A spokesperson for BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Vijay Khabale, said that the traditional puja ceremonies were performed by the Mayor and his family members before formally shifting into the new premises this afternoon.
“This will be a temporary official accommodation for the Mayor. The BMC is already constructing another official bungalow at Shivaji Park, close to the existing bungalow. It is expected to be ready within three years,” Khabale told IANS.
The oldest in Maharashtra and among the oldest in the country, the VJBU Zoo was opened in 1862 and now houses 385 varieties of wild birds, animals and reptiles, including the most exotic addition two years ago, a tiny colony of the Humboldt Penguins living in a special icy enclosure.
To ensure the Mayor is not disturbed by the sounds of the wild creatures in the immediate vicinity, the civic body has erected special sound barriers around the bungalow, besides giving extra parking facilities for the hordes of visitors who meet him daily.
Special security measures, including a separate gate, have been set up to ensure that the 4,000-plus daily visitors to the zoo don’t loiter into the 2,300 sq m Mayor Bungalow.
In November 2017, after the Maharashtra government and BMC decided to hand over the 2,400 sq m Shivaji Park Mayor’s Bungalow to the “Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial Public Trust”, Mahadeshwar agreed to shift to the existing bungalow inside the zoo, which was till then occupied by Additional Municipal Commissioner A.L. Jarhad.
With the Mayor’s exit from the Shivaji Park premises, the stage is now set for launching the grand memorial to the late Thackeray on Wednesday, marking his 93rd birth anniversary.
The firebrand orator, cartoonist and politician was revered as ‘Hindu Hridaysamrat’ till his demise on November 17, 2012 in Mumbai. Since then, there has been a huge clamour for a suitable grand memorial in his honour.
On Wednesday, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, his son and Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray and others will perform a special bhoomi pooja at the former Mayor residence.
A day after his death, the late Thackeray’s public funeral was performed at Shivaji Park near the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the legendary Maratha warrior king.
The 28-acre Shivaji Park is located opposite the former mayoral residence and close to the Veer Savarkar Memorial and the B. R. Ambedkar Memorial here.
Though the erstwhile Congress-NCP government declined permission for any construction activities on Shivaji Park, one of the handful of ‘lungs’ of Mumbai and the cradle of Indian cricket, in 2013, the Sena-controlled BMC built a 800 sq feet garden at the spot of the cremation.
This memorial garden has several trees and flowering plants even as hectic efforts continued to raise a Thackeray memorial in space-starved Mumbai.
Shivaji Park is also famed for other events, including the Shiv Sena’s annual Dassehra Rally started by the late Thackeray, parades and exhibitions, and political rallies.
(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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