Interview of an author
2/24/2014
Focusing on the POSITIVES of Dharavi: Rashmi Bansal - Rediff.com
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Focusing on the POSITIVES of Dharavi: Rashmi Bansal
Last updated on: August 21, 2012 19:36 IST
In an interview with Rediff.com, bestselling author Rashmi Bansal talks about her new book, Poor Little Rich Slum (co-authored by
Deepak Gandhi) and just why Dharavi is such an important part of Mumbai.
You've probably heard of Dharavi; it's
impossible not to have. If you're living in Mumbai, you probably pass by it every day, holding your breath, turning up your nose and trying hard to ignore the filth around you.
The government has, from time to time, announced plans to redevelop the 175 hectares of goldmine into a commercial-cum-residential haven smack in the heart of the city.
Much has changed since the first plans were announced. For starters, the Lehman Brothers
(one of the bidders who wanted to redevelop the slum) fell on their faces and led the world into a recession. India stood strong during the crunch; the UPA government got elected twice, following which at least a dozen scams were unearthed, the Greek economy failed and is yet to find its feet and of course, Slumdog Millionaire became a runaway hit, putting Dharavi on the map for the rest of the world.
In the midst of all this, though, Dharavi continued to stand and its economy kept itself running.
Over a period of nine months last year, bestselling writer Rashmi Bansal, along with co-author Deepak Gandhi and photographer Dee Gandhi visited the slum, with the idea of writing a book that has now become an institution of sorts.
The result is a crisp little work with a bright blue and white cover called Poor Little Rich Slum: What We Saw In Dharavi and Why It Matters.
Featured in the book are heartening 'success' stories of individuals who have lived and worked out of Dharavi for a good part of their lives -- a garment maker who started out with almost nothing, a shoemaker to
Focusing on the POSITIVES of Dharavi: Rashmi Bansal - Rediff.com
Print this article
Focusing on the POSITIVES of Dharavi: Rashmi Bansal
Last updated on: August 21, 2012 19:36 IST
In an interview with Rediff.com, bestselling author Rashmi Bansal talks about her new book, Poor Little Rich Slum (co-authored by
Deepak Gandhi) and just why Dharavi is such an important part of Mumbai.
You've probably heard of Dharavi; it's
impossible not to have. If you're living in Mumbai, you probably pass by it every day, holding your breath, turning up your nose and trying hard to ignore the filth around you.
The government has, from time to time, announced plans to redevelop the 175 hectares of goldmine into a commercial-cum-residential haven smack in the heart of the city.
Much has changed since the first plans were announced. For starters, the Lehman Brothers
(one of the bidders who wanted to redevelop the slum) fell on their faces and led the world into a recession. India stood strong during the crunch; the UPA government got elected twice, following which at least a dozen scams were unearthed, the Greek economy failed and is yet to find its feet and of course, Slumdog Millionaire became a runaway hit, putting Dharavi on the map for the rest of the world.
In the midst of all this, though, Dharavi continued to stand and its economy kept itself running.
Over a period of nine months last year, bestselling writer Rashmi Bansal, along with co-author Deepak Gandhi and photographer Dee Gandhi visited the slum, with the idea of writing a book that has now become an institution of sorts.
The result is a crisp little work with a bright blue and white cover called Poor Little Rich Slum: What We Saw In Dharavi and Why It Matters.
Featured in the book are heartening 'success' stories of individuals who have lived and worked out of Dharavi for a good part of their lives -- a garment maker who started out with almost nothing, a shoemaker to