Peter Davis' Status Update: Salon Bombay

One of the highlights of my recent trip to India was a salon hosted by Verve magazine (the style bible of India) and Verve editorial director Parmesh Shahani, who is plugged into everything happening in Bombay (check out his book: Gay Bombay: Globalization, Love and (Be)Longing in Contemporary India). Held at Olive restaurant, in the Mahalaxmi Racecourse overlooking the Amateur Rider's Club stable, the speaker was banker Meena Sanyal, who is running for election as an independent from South Mumbai constituency. It was a real eye opener to learn about Indian politics. Sanyal even spoke about the need for better hospitals to treat forest dwelling Indians who are frequently attacked by tigers and snakes! Verve hosts salons once a month. "The idea is to think of the magazine as a community that exists both online and also in physical space," Shahani tells me. "Verve serves as a catalyst for ideas across the arts, design, music and politics."