My City Links: February 2024 Issue

Book excerpt: The incidence of cancer has seen a surge in recent years as more and more people come under its vice-like grip, particularly in the urban areas. Never has there been a greater need for concerted action to combat this deadly disease than now. With February 4 being observed as World Cancer Day, our Cover Story for this edition highlights some critical facets of the fight against the disease that is one of the leading causes of deaths globally. We speak with senior medical professionals with domain knowledge and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer as well as the care of patients to bring you the big picture. The current month will also see the celebration of a technology and a medium that was identified as an important means of information and entertainment much before television and the internet changed the landscape completely. Yes, we are talking about the humble yet ubiquitous radio. On World Radio Day (February 13), we explore the relevance as well as the utility of radio in today’s digital era. He has seen action from close quarters in his days as a doctor with the Indian Army and would have doubtless saved many lives during his career. Recently, however, it was the turn of a Good Samaritan to come to the rescue of this Army veteran when he met with an accident while returning from Puri to Bhubaneswar during a cycling expedition. Read all about it in City Tales. This edition also brings to you the moving story of a dancer who is keeping the memory of her late husband alive. Maya Das, wife of renowned actor Ajit Das, who has continued the theatre festival started by her husband, talks to us about how she is taking a rich legacy forward. In Screen Shots, we feature an Odia film that has tried to look at the issue of gender equality through a different lens in order to provoke a discussion on what men go through. In a free-wheeling chat, director Jiit Chakraborty talks to us about what inspired him to make ‘Dear Purusha’. We also speak to some other experts and activists for their take on the subject. In CityFlix, a new section dedicated to reviewing global cinema, brings you a preview of an interesting Tamil film that deals with a problem that has become part and parcel of urban living – parking.