Waiting for the ascent: a woman ponders outside her house
Mumbai is undergoing a sea change and no where else can this change can be felt more than in the big slums like Dharavi where the shanties are being razed by the day to make way for swank buildings & skyscrapers in various projects being undertaken by the SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority).
Millions of residents of the slums are awaiting with bated breaths and hopeful eyes to make the Ascent from the urban poor to the Great Indian Middle class.
hopeful eyes : one of the families in Dharavi in their prayer room cum bedroom cum living room
Dharavi due to its proximity to the swank Bandra Kurla complex and also the airport is inviting the attention of the super big corporates of the likes of the Ambanis and the Godrejs who are competing to corner the largest pie of the slum redevelopment schemes.
Electric dreams
The Rich or the Poor ,Who makes the biggest ascent in this game remains to be seen........... but many have already made the obvious assumption.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Waiting for the Ascent : Dharavi
Friday, November 2, 2007
An Indian Wedding at Dharavi
Bride Groom & Baratis at a wedding,Dharavi
Its November again and it is the beginning of the Wedding season in India which lasts upto March.The streets are abuzz with Bandwallas and Baratis dancing with such hysteria and trance that it will put any hard rocker to rethink his moves.Everyone from the neighbors (and their guests), the relatives (and their relatives),family members(and their friends),people on the street(and those on the few streets beyond) join in and play a part in realizing this great Indian Dream with such fanfare and aplomb that it rivals the best Samba parade in the world.
balloon seller at Girgaum Chowpatty
Saturday, October 13, 2007
' Do You want to buy my fish or not.........'
fisher women selling fish
' Do You want to buy my fish or not.........'
Its not a threat nor is it a request......, but its a statement hurled at you by a busy fisher woman of Mumbai in a distinct and definite authoritative tone if one tries to bargain too hard with her.The fisher women handle the selling of the fresh catch from the seas every morning .Typically, the fisher men go for fishing in the high seas and the job of selling the fish is left to the fisher women who go about their job like a true professional.She can be ruthless and requesting,friendly and aloof,calm and agressive all at the same time but one thing is for sure; she does manage to sell all the fish by the end of the day.
a fish market
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Ramzaan delicacies on Mohammed Ali Road
Open air Eateries on Mohammed Ali road
Minara Masjid on Mohammed Ali Road is the heart of Ramzaan festivities in Mumbai.
Days of fasting are punctuated with nights of feasting as families gather at the eateries on the open arterial streets
around the Masjid savouring mouth watering delicacies.
streetview Minara Masjid
Mumbai set to lose a part of its heritage
view of Crawford market against the backdrop of the Mumbai Harbour
With the talks of the redevelopment of CRAWFORD MARKET (now christened Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market) Mumbai is set to lose a part of its heritage. Some may feel an exagerration but to me this can be compared to the destruction of the Buddha Sculptures at Bamiyan in Afganistan by the Taliban, though the means and motives are different the results are the same: the loss of heritage.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Farewell To Ganesha
Bollywood
In Mumbai Bollywood makes its presence felt everywhere on the streets, the tea stalls,hoardings et all.
Here are some pictures of the Mumbai junta's bollywood madness.