Factory of Dreams: Discover The Undiscovered

Dharavi Ariel View
Source: filmapia.com 

“Mother of cities to me,

For I was born in her gate,

Between the palms and the sea,

Where the world-end steamers wait.”

                                -Rudyard Kipling

Dharavi, a city, within a city. Perhaps let’s start with some mere facts about this place, an area of 557 acres which is a home to more than one million souls. Approximately 18,000 people stay in a single acre which is 0.4 hectares, says National Geographic Report, May 2011. 

Small Scale Industrial Unit
Unit Name	Number
·         Textiles	1039
·         Porters	930
·         Leather	539
·         Embroidery	498
·         Recycle	722
·         Restaurants	111
·         Boutiques & Shops	Over thousand
(Source: Be the local tours and travels)

There is a lot more to the life of Dharavi except poverty, depression and need. One might find here a sense of friendliness and always a ray of hope for the better and for the best.  Nothing can match the 24/7 decibel level of Dharavi, where work never stops and dreams never ends. While Dharavi has a reputation for having shacks of every size and shape piled on top of one another, the area is also a thriving place of business.

                        

“This is a parallel economy, in most developed countries, there is only one economy. But in India, there are two,” says Mahender Tripathi, a BMC official of G ward.

A study by the Center for Environmental Planning & Technology found that Dharavi has close to 5,000 informal businesses (For details refer the table). Dharavi could be called a self-created special economic zone for the poor. People here work on a triangle of land barely two-thirds the size of Central Park in Manhattan, says a report by Deccan Herald, October 2012.

Dyeing Unit
Source: mid-day.com

“Welcome to Dharavi,” said Rajeev Shah, a textile unit owner, with a glorious smile, that could easily brighten up your day.  “If you think you are indulging in some sought of poverty voyeurism, I would advice you to think again. It’s important for people to see how Dharavi functions, we might not be very wealthy but we are not depressed. We are those people who add up quite a handsome amount to Mumbai’s economy.” According to CNN report of June 2010, Dharavi industrial units adds about around US $500 million to US $1 billion to Mumbai’s economy.

“While some people might consider this place as an embarrassing eyesore to India’s financial capital. We tend to call it our home, our heaven,” says Salman Ali, a resident of Dharavi.

Strolling through those narrow lanes or walking down those tiny arterial ways, one find scenes of robust businesses and small enterprises. The leather industry here is a sector that each and every resident of Dharavi feels a pride to talk about. The leather products that are manufactured here are exported worldwide. Now a day many boutiques have started participating in famous festivals held at various cities to promote their products.

 “The name of Dharavi reached an epitome level, due to the leather market. From about 500 units many of them work in collaboration with each other. We work with 8 major units here and our work is quite in demand, especially the products that are made up of crocodile skin, we are one of the major exporter here. Our goods are exported all over Europe, United States, and many other places,” says Danish Khan, owner of Danish leather. Who is the fourth generation of his family working in this business and is expanding their work around the globe.

Pottery Unit
Source: urbanphoto.net

People here are ingenious, industrious, promethean and each have their own success story which can be an inspiration for tons of people out there. This muti-faceted city demands you to dig below its surface and discover the undiscovered. It’s about discovering those stories that gave Dharavi an identity.

Jameel Shah’s saga is what you can call a genuine Dharavi 'success story'. Unlike many of the resident living here, it wasn't his forefathers who settled here when it was marshland. Jameel came to Dharavi at the age of 12 from a small village of Darbhanga district in Bihar, in the year 1992. Like any other young boy, he became a kaarigar at a workshop for mere salary of Rs 1800 a month.

Today almost 20 years later, he is running his own workshop. And to be precise it’s not just any workshop. Jameel Shah designs shoes' for the most exquisite feet in the country. His clients are famous bollywood stars like Kajol, Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek Bachan,Hrithik Roshan etc.

Everyone has a story, so Dharavi have millions of stories. Every story holds the power to leave its imprint on one’s mind forever.

Recycle Unit
Source: planetizen.com

Sandeep Singh (36), owner of Singh Recycling talks about his life journey. A worker who now owns 5 recycle units. “I came to Mumbai at the age of 17 and since then I have been working. I started with cleaning government offices, that ofcourse wasn’t my dream, it was just the start. I started living in Dharavi along with 9 other roommates. Soon I joined a recycle unit, my job was to separate the things, eventually things started falling in place. Today I own 5 units and will soon expand it to 7 units.”

 Garbage from all over the world is brought here and is sorted by us. We recycle every product from laptops to toothpaste caps. Some recycling units invent unbelievable unique products and sell them, while other manufacture plastic pellets and then it is shipped to China for manufacturing. Did you know we make around 60,000 recycled products from them? We are innovative people, explain Singh. 

Sandeep Singh is said to be an inspiration for many youngsters around 90 feet Dharavi, named for its alleged width (the denarcation of the area is based on its wideness, even if 60 Feet Road, the slum's other main drag is considerably wider). "I want to be like him and everyone likes and respects him. Everyone here tells us to be like him," says Nishi, a 10 year old.  

Smile that can brighten your day.
Source: journals.worldnomads.com

There are many other who are inspiring, the youth of Dharavi. In one area, called Kumbharwada, you will always hear stories about “Sakshi Pottery” unit. A unit started by a teenage woman, Saundarya Kumari, a B.A. graduate from Sathey College. “I started this unit for my mother Sakshi, it was her dream,  we started with 2 people, me and my mom and today 47 women works with us.”

 You will witness dozens of women sitting together on the ground beating a slab of clay with her hands and then rolling it into a large ovular sphere. Barefoot men walking around them, humming their traditional songs, carrying clay pots from inside their homes and placing them to dry outside in the sun.

Moving on to the educational sector of this area, one might be surprised to find that kids here are quite fluent in their English speaking language.  Around 80% of children here attend school. There are around 60 municipality schools, 6 secondary schools and 15 private schools in Dharavi, states Kush Kumar, an intern from NGO Akhansha. It’s fascinating to see these kids wanting to learn new languages and explore the world, to make their home a better place.

Wire Unit
Source: .thepolisblog.org

“Maybe to anyone who has not seen Dharavi, Dharavi is a slum, a huge slum,” said Gautam Chatterjee, the principal secretary overseeing the housing ministry in Maharashtra state. “But I have looked at Dharavi as a city within a city, an informal city.”

What is particularly remarkable about Dharavi is that its residents have managed to build themselves homes and find or create jobs that support them and their families with virtually no support from the state.

The Media Says

Who tells us what to think?

Do we really think for ourselves?

Are our opinions, beliefs & attitudes formed by us, or there is someone else who moulds & shapes it for us?

It could be possible that we all are hooked into a real life version of "the matrix" that is constantly defining our reality for us. Sadly, the truth is that we are willingly hooked into a colossal media system. It tells us what to think about. The media has immense power over us. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that we are dominated by media in one way or the other. 

The more time we spend "living" in the media world, the more likely we believe social reality portrayed on television. This leaves people with a misconception of what is true in our world. Media affects us to a point where many people can no longer discern between reality and media-projected images. We often tend to believe, that whatever is shown to us by the media is relevant and true.

The media is said to have power to set an agenda for us, which describes the ability of the news media to influence the salience of topics on the public agenda. The importance of the event basically depends upon the prominent space and coverage given to it by the media.

The theory of agenda-setting can be traced in Walter Lippmann’s 1922 classic, Public Opinion. Lippmann argues that the mass media has the principle connection between the events in the world and the picture in our head. The media may not be successful much of the time in telling people what to think, but it is stunningly successful in telling its readers/viewers what to think about.

Charlie Brooker, a journalist, satirist, and broadcaster, has presented numerous shows on the effects of television and media in society. In 2011 his show ‘How TV ruined your life,’ explored the various ramifications television has on certain aspects of our lives. He stated, “Tuning into the news is like looking into the face of terror. And you can’t really turn yourself away because you are biologically programmed to react to any threat.” He also cited the experiment conducted by George Gerbner (Dean of communication at the University of Pennsylvania) in the 1970’s, stating that “television had come to enjoy a degree of influence in modern society that was comparable to the power religion held over mankind for centuries.”

The press and the media do not reflect reality, they filter and shape it. Media is the decision maker to decide which issue is more important than other issues. The more frequently and prominently the news media cover an issue, the more it becomes accessible in audience's memories. When we are asked what the most important issue is going in our country, the answer will be about the news that is most accessible in memory, which is typically the issue the news media focus on the most. Media plays a dominant role over the public. We make interpretations and frame our beliefs and opinion, based on what is shown to us.  

Opposition for field trail of GM crops in Maharashtra

Can genetically modified (GM) crops kept out of India? Many eminent personalities from different walks of life have come together, to raise their voice in union against the decision to grant field trail of GM crops by Veerappa Moily. Genetically modified crops, often called as GM crops or biotech crops are plants used in agricultural field, the DNA of which has been modified. The modification takes place using techniques of genetic engineering. The aim of this is to introduce a new trait to the plant which doesn’t occur naturally in the species.

Shailesh Gandhi, former Central Information Commissioner and well-known RTI activist released a letter to Maharashtra’s Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister written by leading NGOs and eminent citizens, at a press conference on 13^th March, 2014, Thursday at the Press Club, Mumbai. The letter questioned the need of GM trail in our nation and why should this be promoted in India?

The letter states, “We are deeply concerned that 28 applications for open air field trials of transgenic (GM) crops have been approved in the state of Maharashtra”. The letters have been sent by leading organisations such as the Bombay Natural History Society, Council for Fair Business Practices, AGNI, Avaaz, V Citizens Action Network, ASHA, ITRHD,etc and individuals like Justice Sujata Manohar (former Judges of the Supreme Court namely), Justice S.N. Variava, Prof. Armaity Desai Padma Bhushan Julio Ribeiro and Shailesh Gandhi (former Central Information Commissioner) etc.

The conference’s propaganda was to highlight the cons of GM practice and what affliction it can bring to agriculture in India. The letter says how majority of ‘modern’ countries – including Europe, Japan, Russia , Korea etc. have rejected the regulation of GM crops. Only 5 countries in the world including USA, Brazil, Argentina, India and Canada - account for 90 per cent of area under GM. Even the world largest populated country China plants less GM area than India.

The speaker talked about how this particular practice can decline the diversity of crop and it can be a serious major issue for the future generation. The promotions of these crops through various advertisements have leaded the farmers to take higher debts on the promise that GM seeds will be a bonanza and then lose everything when the harvest fails. The opting of GM crops has not reduced suicides in Maharashtra. In 2012 two third of the suicides were in cotton growing states. Maharashtra has 90% cotton area under BT cotton, and the highest suicides, with 13% increase in 2012 was witnessed in the state. There are over 400 scientific studies which talks about the adverse impacts of Transgenic Crops/ Foods. There is no crisis that demands any hasty decision for taking such a major step as India being an agricultural country has sufficient food grain stocks.

The press conference concluded with message that that the first step clearing GM trail should have been a transparent and open debate on needs for it. They pointed out the fact how every citizen of this country and farmer must have the right to be free of GM, if they wish.

It’s important to see why many states have not given permission for this trail. One shouldn't opt for this technology unless quite a lot research and studies support it. It’s important to promote organic food for betterment of the people. And lastly the demand was to cancel the GM trails in Maharashtra.

Media & Politics

"Official Poster Of  Peepli Live"

What do you do, when you are a debt-ridden farmer about to lose your land? Enter into a small village name Peepli, where Natha (Omkar Das Manipuri) & Budhia (Raghuvir Yadav) who are struggling to keep their land. It’s when, Natha’s good - for - nothing brother encourages him to commit suicide, so that his family will be benefited from a government scheme. The movie is a satire comedy that touches the hot-button topic of farmer’s suicide.

Soon the story breaks to the media, government, bureaucrats, politicians, only to raise a question will Natha die or not? Soon the news organizations from all over the country swoop into the village to capture his death. It’s an excellent opportunity for news agencies to boost their TRP’s. The film explores the clinical & incongruous response of the Indian society showing how everyone has an agenda. Politicians take this opportunity to fill in their vote banks. One political party wants him to live, while another wants him to die and become a martyr for the society. "Natha marega, Natha jaroor marega," becomes the famous one liner in the media and politics. The movie talks about how the life of an individual doesn't hold any value, in the eyes of these people. 

"A Still From The Movie"

Director-writer Anusha Rizvi’s movie is simple yet makes a very powerful impact on the movie. She tries to show how the politicians and media work in contemporary India. The media is trying its level best to sensationalize the issue for their benefit in one way or the other. The politicians are busy playing the blame game. Different schemes from Lal Bahadur to Indira Yojana to Jawahar Yojana are being used by the rural politicians in power, to deal with the issue of Natha’s suicide. A dalit leadercalled Pappu Lal gifts Natha a huge television set, while an eager-beaver babu hands out a ‘Lal Bahadur (a hand pump) to the farmer. It’s amazing to see  how he has no use of either.

Natha becomes a celebrity and is surrounded by media 24/7. The poor man isn’t left alone even for one second. The whole village has become a political and media circus. The films theme number, 'Des Mera Rangrez Yeh Babu' asserts, surprises, and quriks lurk at every corner. The popular songs of the moive, 'Mehngayi Daiyan' sets a luminous aura in the movie.

In the final scene of the movie, we see Natha in a new world, covered in grime in a metro city;s construction site, having lost the battle of self- respect and dignity. The film ends by giving information to the audience that, "8 million farmers quit agriculture in India between 1991 and 2001." The movie focuses on a despair and doom. Even though the movie doesn't have a big star cast, yet keeps hold of the viewers. Many might find the content of the movie complex, yet it's a must watch. It will surely touch ones heart and make you wonder, weather to laugh or feel sad about the same.

Why do we think, the way we do?

Why do we think, the way we do? I have been pondering over this question, since last few days. I believe each and every person ruminates about this from time to time.

Taking quite a moment, what all do we think about? How far we have come, how far we still have to reach to achieve our goal? The best that might happen, the worst that is still to come. Our optimistic and negative thinking, our strengths and our weaknesses. The person’s individual life experiences makeup the way, we view the world around us. Each and every aspect of our life is related to our way of thinking.  What we think, what we do makes us who we are today. The people we are surrounded with, somewhere have a strong influence in our life.

I remember how I was always attracted to the field of media, since my childhood. What to say, when you are all surrounded with media maniacs. I have been born and brought up in family, where each and every person has a strong bond with this world. Having a family where my dad is into producing and documentary making, my grandpa is in distribution business,  my uncle is all into editing and designing for media firms, while my sister is into advertisement making. I can go on and on about how generation after generation my family is linked to this field. This is how I decided to be a part of media industry.

Hosting programs in school, taking parts in elocutions, writing for my school magazines, giving speeches, that was the start. I remember telling my mom, “One day you will see me on that television screen and read amazing articles written by me.” I had no idea in what role she will be seeing me. I had no clear idea, what I will be writing about. It feels like penning down all your thoughts, and reliving those moments again, just to find out, what brought me where I stand presently. As a kid, our ambition keeps on changing. For once I wanted to be lawyer, if not in media.

Media is a vast field, incredible to describe. To be honest, I almost had no idea where I wanted to see myself. How can you decide when there are so many options present just in one field? While pursuing my junior college in arts, I developed an interest in writing. I proceeded with my graduation in Bachelor of Mass Media. There comes a moment in your life when you actually need someone to direct your path. It was indeed confusing when I had to choose my specialization. I did consult with my coordinator and counsellor, but still I was so confused.

I remember my dad saying, “If there’s a piece of advice that I can give you, it would be this, when there’s something you really want, you need to figure it out yourself. No one can help you with it. It your decision, you can opt either for advertising or journalism, it’s all about what you want.  Just don’t give up, go for what you want.  You will figure it out yourself, just take a while and think about it. Best things in your life don’t come for free.”

It’s about feeling content about whatever you do. I picked journalism, I love writing, have an intense interest in everything that surrounds me. There’s something magical about all this. There is passion and adventure to witness the reality and to talk and write about it. Ultimately I want to write for lifestyle, food, fashion, tour and trend columns.  

The job to be a journalist isn’t easy, one really needs to work hard day and night. Sometimes it’s all about being happy and content with all what you are doing. We don’t get unlimited changes to get what we want, it’s like an opportunity that I have to prove myself.  There’s still a lot to discover, but at least I am sure, and prepared to work as a journalist. After all, the best things in your life don’t come for free!

MUMBAI: Problem Crisis

We are living in a concrete jungle of Mumbai city. A mega city, the home of Bollywood, the economic powerhouse of India – this is a city that will charm and frustrate you in equal measure. Around 20 million people are connected to each other in different forms, especially when we talk about problems faced by the Mumbaikars. But the question is what common problem in particular? Last week going through the newspapers, I came across a survey undertaken by DNA to find out about problem faced by the people living in Mumbai. The survey included issues like high cost living, water shortage, infrastructure and education.

High cost living & water shortage are considered to be the biggest problem in this city.  The statistic said that around 78% and 67% are concerned about these problems respectively. The water supply problems have deteriorated recently. Although, thankfully, there isn’t a water shortage where I m living. But certainly I have heard from many people about them only getting water for few hours, two times a day. 

Housing prices, which are on par with those of New York City, are also shocking. No matter how much you are earning, you find it less when it comes to owning your own place in Mumbai. Overall, 34% of people said they couldn’t consider buying a home at current prices, and 47% said they could but only on the outskirts of the city. It’s not that you don’t have place to live here. Apartments are available in every part of the city, but money is the issue for the people. So if you dream to own your place in a nice posh area here, it’s important that your bank accounts are filled with crores of rupees. I guess some of us are lucky enough to have our foot in the market. 

Other important issues that Mumbai is facing are infrastructure and education. New developments are being carried out in a haphazard manner, for example the sky walks — many of which are barely being utilized. Where education is concerned, 38% thought that the quality of education has improved. While 62% of people complained education quality has decreased due to the new laws that have been passed by Education Board of Maharashtra. Recently I remember my complaining about donations & expensive school fees. So though it is said that education in Maharashtra is quite cheap, I guess people who want their kids to study in a well known school, they better start saving a good amount from this very moment.

But, surely Mumbai must have plenty in its favor for so many people to keep living there. The most frequently cited factors why people are proud of Mumbai is because of Bollywood, entrepreneurship, and cosmopolitanism. Taking into account all aspects of life in Mumbai, 41% of people rated the quality of life as good and 17% thought it was excellent. Only 12% found it to be poor. And given an option, 48% of people said they’d want to stay in Mumbai. Only 14% wanted to relocate to a different city. The remainder weren’t sure. I’m one of those who are happy to stay! I love this city no matter how it is.

 

Horn Please, Ok

The sound of horn is like a soothing music to the ears of we Indians. We have become so much used to listening to it regularly, that it has become a part of our daily routine. And interestingly we have become so much immune to its sound or use that it has become an integral part of our daily drive or driving skills respectively. In no other country you will hear horn blaring in constant cacophony. I wonder sometimes are the Indian driver competing with each other to discover India’s loudest road user. This happens even when the cars are standing at red light. 

Outside India, honking signals an emergency situation. No one would ever honk in normal circumstance, in some countries horns are used as a sign of protest. But in India, they are used to express your frustration, anger, relief, joy, exuberance & sometimes just because it is there...!!! Obviously for India, the horn is a category in itself. Cities like Mumbai & Delhi tends to follow ‘the tradition of honking.’

What does Mumbai honk at? Why does Mumbai honk? There are the usual reasons — the chaotic traffic. Here the horn is your friend. You want to overtake? You want to change lanes, you need that car in front of you to either speed up or get out of the way? You honk your horn. In a city that doesn’t really follow lane driving, doesn’t move at a consistent pace and doesn’t really care, you need your car to shout a bit. 

Sitting inside your cars, stuck in the traffic jam and you are getting late for the meeting, there are two options — You roll down your window and start shouting; or you use the horn as an extended voice box. In fact most drivers see ‘horn’ as an instrument of fun; they use one hand to steer the vehicle, while other needs something to do so why not make noise. 

'Even a dog doesn't bark without a reason' but 'Honking is like an itch'. The person honking initially feels irritated about the situation but gradually & unknowingly, he starts enjoying the act of honking.

The noise pollution on the road is reaching a dizzying level. The signs telling you that there is a school or a hospital ahead are as good as invisible.  Schools, hospitals and residential areas mandated as no-honking zones in India but ironically, that is where maximum honking happens.

The city feels restless, noisy, and frenzied. You don’t have long peaceful drives anymore. You just get from point A to point C while honking all the way through point B.

Talking about traffic rules, there are none that are being followed. Driving in India is like a play station game, with flashing lights, screeching brakes, cars out of control, horns being used for sound effects. And everything else is left to karma & the insurance company. “This happens only in India.”