In the Field + Salaam mumbai

Friday's speakers at SPARC were Gautam Chatterjee (CEO of MHADA and Officer on Special Duty for the DRP) and Jockin Arputham (President of NSDF). All of the people scheduled to talk with us at SPARC play interesting roles related to the DRP, but today was HUGE (that one isn't an acronym). Unfortunately it seems that the more information we acquire about the case and the more its complexities are understood, the more we realize our restricted room for maneuver. How does one suggest an appropriate solution both for the city of Mumbai and for the hundreds of thousands of Dharavi's residents? How can the diversity within Dharavi's nagars be appropriately nurtured, with their distinct identities intact, in any redevelopment plan?

As Mr. Jockin put it, we need to remove our professional biases, step aside from our position of authority, and see what we can learn from the urban poor. In the afternoon, we did just that in Chambra Bazaar. We spoke with a woman who lives with her husband and 5 children in a one-room flat. We listened to her stories of how the family earns money, where her kids go to school, and of her daughter's recent engagement. We were even treated to seeing a family photo album. Their incredible ability to adjust to their constraints was immediately apparent, as was the primacy of the intangibles of their lives: social networks, economic networks of production, history and identity.

I think it must be difficult for someone who has worked so hard to build these networks to imagine their transformation in a redevelopment proposal. Even in a very well-conceived and nuanced plan that intends to nurture livelihoods and sense of place and dignity, it requires a step into the unknown. It is an experiment. One that opens people up to vulnerabilities and uncertainties. After our first full afternoon in Dharavi, I can relate to the apprehension regarding the redevelopment plan. How does one compare the present with a hazy and undefined future?

- Andrew 08.05.09

Salaam Mumbai....

It was the end of our first week in Mumbai. The most hectic and happening one we could have ever imagined. We were adjusting our mind frame to the definition of ‘poverty’ while exploring the slum urbanism of Dharavi.
Being an Indian I never had the idea that I would be exploring this intricate issues of this city with a whole teams of budding development professionals from the different countries of south and north. Although the impoverish image of Mumbai constantly reminded me of Kolkata ,I felt Mumbai was lucky to be the happening city in development. I wished Kolkata had such an opportunity, a forum for having urban debate to solve its issue.
It was interesting to find how my near and dear friends adjusted with lots of patience, in their new environment. From the nonchalant cows in the street to hitting the disc floor in a retrofitted mill, they were confronting the city of contrast. At personal level I was a discovering, learning and redefining the city through the lens of people we were meeting every day. For me the city seemed to be very unpredictable. It reveals everyday with surprises which changes my impression on it. It’s adjusting, soft, and fluid.The liquid city..Salam Mumbai.

-Debeshi 10.05.09

Tuesday's (May 5) early rise brought with it eager anticipation and excitement as we set out for our first initiation round at SPARC's headquarters. Greeted warmly by all, we were introduced to Sundar Burra and Sheela Patel (founder) who gave a glimpse into the context of our visit and the history of SPARC and its role in the re-shaping of lives in Mumbai. The sureness of Sundar and charisma of Sheela is as immediately apparent as the sweat dripping from my brow and I for one feel priviledged to be in the company of such strongly convicted individuals who have weathered the complexities of Mumbai for so long. After their introduction we were joined by Sitaram Kunte, Secretary of the Housing Department who guided us faitfully and choicely through the Maharashtra State Housing Policy. Our questions that followed revealed and acknowleged the different viewpoints and agendas of a particular key actor along with the obvious bureaucratic process that stem from such complex issues. Interesting to see Mr. Kunte seeking Sundar and Sheela's assistance with certain responses, which for me illustrated a strange, but rather clear understanding of the interplay and influences certain characters can have. After lunch, the entire DPU group, along with our Indian "liasons", including Lopez and Lopez, hit the city to visit the Byculla district where the UDP slum-dwellers group would be conducting their fieldwork.

For all but a few, this was our first experience with these realities and despite the numerous video, photographs, and writings, a mind check rushed forth. Just a quick taste of the lives of the poorest of the poor and one gets the pessimistic feeling of 'what can we really do here that they haven't figured out for themselves.' But I still can't help but feel fortunate for the opportunity and optimistic in the fact that being here can only enrich our own conscious reality on a personal and professional level. And based on some of the people we were able to meet this first day and the pride in their smiles and stories of resiliance and transformation, I feel we may also, for at least the time we are here, give an added value, in the purest dual nature, to their lives as we greatly benefit from the time they share with us. - William 05.05.09

HOT CHILD IN THE CITY!... arrival at the airport and already someone was yelling "where's the water!". First ride into the city and it doesn't take long to understand the insanity of Mumbai city traffic. But whomever said that insanity was not entertaining, would do themselves a favor to embark on a journey in one of the thousand miniature black and yellow Fiats dotting the roadways. Once settled at the Hotel Sahil, the three DPU groups are given the rest of Monday to unwind from the 9-hour flight and for some take a first stroll out into the city. And what a city it is! As we acquaint ourselves with our new temporary home, we feel as though we are prepared for everything. Field Strategies and Webs of Institutions dance in our heads, but we can only imagine what comes next...

- William 04.05.09