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People friendly cities.
Walking around in Mumbai is one of the most difficult things to do. Sidewalks are a contested space; hawkers, pedestrians and animals always vie for a firm footing. 
Since independence, the development of our country has consistently been on the path of aping the west. So, if large scale industry, high rises and increased highways and roads were seen say in the US, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that India would follow suit.
The common citizen is very rarely given a second thought in this whole ambit of ‘infrastructural development’. In our city, the only people able to afford private transport are the upper strata of the city’s population. Owning a private vehicle is very much an aspiration of the burgeoning middle class and still out of reach even with increased car purchasing options. Two wheelers are still the preferred choice although even those are relatively unaffordable. Considering this, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that the majority of Mumbai’s citizens rely on its efficient but yet insufficient public transport.
At PUKAR today, Faizan Jawed, a recent graduate in architecture, screened his work on the role of public transport in sustainable humane habitats. The last four months has taken him to cities across the world, cities that have shown considerable progress in people oriented transport. He showcased cities that have taken to the bicycle culture like fish to water, prioritizing quality of life. His film talked about cycling and walking as two major methods of commuting that have helped ‘green’ up cities and improve the quality of air.
Interestingly enough, the efforts towards minimizing vehicular traffic and maximizing people friendly roads, came from a strong public will which gave way to a political will.
However, public will is difficult to generate when historically, money and politics have had (and continue to have) a powerful hold on infrastructural development. Like with all issues, where there is money there is power, and money turns the wheels of politics. So industrial tycoons will always work hand in glove with politicians, lobbying for capitalistic policies that favour exclusive development over inclusive development.
Constructing highways and expanding roads to accommodate growing vehicular traffic serves a section of the population able to afford private transport. It doesn’t mean that public road transport will increase with wider or better roads. Enhancing public transport and creating citizen friendly commuting policies will do much more for the city and its people, rather than symptomatically injecting a cure for its explosive traffic problems.
Of beaches and more…
About a month ago, the PUKAR team decided that we needed some time away from the office and away from work. So Alibaug was the chosen place and on the 19th of Feb we set out on a picnic.
After much planning and built up excitement, it turned out to be brilliant!
True to the reputation of being an Indian who follows IST, our bus driver showed up an hour late for a journey that would last 2 hours and 45 mins. Out of which, our team spent 2 hours singing to that good old game… Antakshari. I have to say, that if ever PUKAR was in a competition, our guys would ace at Antakshari.
On reaching Aavaas, that is the village we went to, all we could hear were noises of rustling leaves, the wind blowing and us folks chattering away.
It didn’t take us long to get changed and plunge into what can only be described as a most welcoming beach… clean, pristine and simply inviting.
I think having lived for too long in a city; I have been starved of open spaces and fresh air. I relished the day, splashing about in the water like a little kid and lazing on the sand, with everyone else. Some of the gang even tried convincing a local resident to allow us to ride his bullock cart!
The day, simply put was fantabulous. The beach… a haven!
Alex and his new friend below…
An issue of space.
My daily route to work takes me on some of Bombay’s innermost roads, where people, cows, vehicles (big and small) and carts are all vying for a space to exist. To the people who live there these roads will at some point of the day become their market place, their social clubs and even their public toilet.
I have been traveling the Khar- Bandra route now for the last 7 months, the same one daily. Over the last month or so, the BMC decided that these roads needed a facelift (which I presume is because its election time).
I travel around 10 in the morning, by which time the women have finished or just about finishing their laundry. The roads are wet not only with the laundry water but also water used by the small children who dot the side of the road, going about their morning business. The utter lack of toilets in this city is glaring as one passes by this street.
More towards Bandra, the road turns and crosses a BMC school which happens to sit by a residential community, also probably lacking in toilets. The road is not more than a few meters wide and is open to traffic both ways. Before the redoing of the pavements and roads, the open gutters were used as a toilet space for small children. Even now with newly done pavements and closed gutters, the children continue to use them as toilets. Without any other option, why would they desist?
Anyway, with the new designed roads, the actual vehicular space has decreased. The pavements will not be used as pavements because they are speckled with poop. So the few feet of road space has at least two, if not more contenders: vehicles and people. At any given point, there maybe other forms of movement, including bullock carts and huge trucks supplying grain to the local shops. Traffic jams, people jams and the din of children playing, all add to the ruckus on this road.
In September 2008, Karen Anand, Associate Professor from the Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai, spoke at PUKAR’s 5th Annual Public lecture on how Chennai faces the issue of contending road space. However, the issue of road space was the contention of pedestrian rights, hawkers’ rights and the domination of vehicular traffic.
The picture below is of the newly done pavements on my daily route.
Something Relevant… An upcoming jazz/rock band
I got a chance to catch their performance at the Kala Ghoda Music Festival 2009. A brilliant and interesting mix of instruments give the band a unique sound and a vibrant blend. If you get a chance, do check them out.
Something Relevant…the band, minus their lead singer, he happens to follow IST 🙂
Fabulous entertainment, for free… Only at Kala Ghoda!
This picture was taken at the Kala Ghoda Music Festival when Taufiq Qureshi was playing on the 15th of Feb. Fabulous performance, fantastic audience and a simply beautiful evening, dotted with the light projection on the Asiatic Library Building.
Shock to the system.
This post has been written by Ashley Fialho, along with the photograph as well.
If you need any visual proof of the pressure on living space in the city, take a look at this picture. It shows a 4- storey slum in Behrampada. We all know that slums represent the highest density of people per square foot. What shocks the system (my system!!), is that we are now looking at vertical growth of slums. Imagine the pressure on drainage system in the area. Imagine the structural stability (or instability) of the loosely held pot pourie of asbestos, brick and plastic sheet. And most importantly, imagine the psychological impact of having so many people crammed together. Seriously…what is our city coming to?
Nonsensical Morality
Is it my words, is it the way I carry myself?
Is it what I believe?
Or is it my choices that insult you?
Is my language incorrect if I do not speak the one you speak?
Do I cause offense for having learned something else?
Or am I simply wrong for being who I am?
Am I wrong in believing I live in a free country?
Am I right in thinking I have no mobility?
North Indian, South Indian, No Indian at all.
Differences persist.
Freedom of choice, freedom to live.
Freedom to just be me!
Does that really exist?
*My response to the MNS attacks in Nashik and the Sri Ram Sena attacks in Mangalore.
Uncertain.
Notes play on my finger tips.
Notes float in my mind’s space.
Notes trying to make sense.
Sense, sense of love lost.
Sense of independence gained.
Sense of a persistent void.
Notes play on my finger tips.
They play…
Beyond the city lights 