The importance of urban wildlife

From a distance, they look like a whole lot of black plastic garbage bags blown into the trees by a strong gust of wind. As darkness falls, one can see their arms unfold and they take off, flying between the multi-storied buildings in our Lokhandwala Township. As you have probably gathered, I’ve spent quite a few hours over the last few years watching these bats, amazed at their human-like mannerisms. Or maybe it’s the other way, where human vampires mimic bats.

Like black plastic garbage bags on the trees (Pic taken in Feb 2013)

My Grandpa and the Gulmohar

The Deccan Herald dated 10th June, 2010 carried a middle The Gulmohar tree, written by Navaratna Laxman. It is a short story about how “When the tree developed a huge crack, the whole locality was concerned”.

It’s a story I saved because my Grandpa, Nagesh Rao Manay (whom I never did know personally because he passed away when I was just one) finds mention in it (though his name is not spelt correctly).