Comments on: Homelessness in Mumbai http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:41:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Zencat http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-106708 Zencat Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:09:27 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-106708 When I walked the streets and byways of Mumbai for the first time (1979) I was amazed at not only the homelessness there, but of the high intellect and spiritual awareness of those who were homeless. And also of the unity of the people there. As a student of <a href="http://http://www.bookzap.com/Gurdjieff_and_Ouspensky_Collection_on_CD_p/gurd_jieff.htm" rel="nofollow"> Gurdjieff and Ouspensky </a> my path led me there with few expectations, but resulted in many realizations. When I walked the streets and byways of Mumbai for the first time (1979) I was amazed at not only the homelessness there, but of the high intellect and spiritual awareness of those who were homeless. And also of the unity of the people there.
As a student of
Gurdjieff and Ouspensky my path led me there with few expectations, but resulted in many realizations.

]]> By: Atanu Dey on India’s Development » Ever Wonder Why Fire-engines are Red? http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-105095 Atanu Dey on India’s Development » Ever Wonder Why Fire-engines are Red? Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:09:06 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-105095 [...] engines are Red? Jump to comments Permalink Yesterday I wrote about being homeless and just for comparison used Finland in my blog post. [...] [...] engines are Red?

Jump to comments
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Yesterday I wrote about being homeless and just for comparison used Finland in my blog post. [...]

]]> By: Abhishek Bharadwaj http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-102799 Abhishek Bharadwaj Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:57:33 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-102799 In April 2003, as a second year student of TISS, I wanted to experience the much touted ‘nightlife’ of Mumbai and so I ventured out in the night. That is how I witnessed hundreds of homeless populations wandering in search of livelihood at various places in Mumbai. In the days to come, two of my friends joined me in my night-out mission and we teamed up with an organization named Action-Aid Mumbai. Clocking in hours of such interventions with face-to-face encounters with the people sleeping on the streets, night-outs and individual interactions taught me a lot about the issue of homelessness in Mumbai. I met so many youth who eke out a life daily, without proper food for days, with lost hopes and shattered dreams…homeless beings who are victims of police atrocities, women taking refuge in sex work to meet their basic needs, old citizens languishing in the streets in search of security, children succumbing to juvenile delinquency, extreme misery and want. The homeless get beaten up mercilessly by the police who mark them as criminals. They are denied access to basic facilities like medicine, education, water and so on. Even though the homeless constitute a large portion of Mumbai population, they are invisible for the general populace. Yet they are optimistic and I do believe that their reality can be changed. They can be empowered to change their lives so that they enjoy a life of dignity. Now Homeless citizens of Mumbai have started coming together against injustice and initiated a campaign to get their "Right to Live with Dignity". We have established an organisation called "Alternative Realities" and working to influene policy in favour of homeless citizens. - Abhishek Bharadwaj, Founder President of "Alternative Realities" In April 2003, as a second year student of TISS, I wanted to experience the much touted ‘nightlife’ of Mumbai and so I ventured out in the night. That is how I witnessed hundreds of homeless populations wandering in search of livelihood at various places in Mumbai. In the days to come, two of my friends joined me in my night-out mission and we teamed up with an organization named Action-Aid Mumbai. Clocking in hours of such interventions with face-to-face encounters with the people sleeping on the streets, night-outs and individual interactions taught me a lot about the issue of homelessness in Mumbai.

I met so many youth who eke out a life daily, without proper food for days, with lost hopes and shattered dreams…homeless beings who are victims of police atrocities, women taking refuge in sex work to meet their basic needs, old citizens languishing in the streets in search of security, children succumbing to juvenile delinquency, extreme misery and want.

The homeless get beaten up mercilessly by the police who mark them as criminals. They are denied access to basic facilities like medicine, education, water and so on. Even though the homeless constitute a large portion of Mumbai population, they are invisible for the general populace. Yet they are optimistic and I do believe that their reality can be changed. They can be empowered to change their lives so that they enjoy a life of dignity.

Now Homeless citizens of Mumbai have started coming together against injustice and initiated a campaign to get their “Right to Live with Dignity”. We have established an organisation called “Alternative Realities” and working to influene policy in favour of homeless citizens. – Abhishek Bharadwaj, Founder President of “Alternative Realities”

]]> By: Beverly Brown http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-98919 Beverly Brown Sun, 29 Apr 2007 05:31:53 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-98919 To Prayas Abhinav re: where do the homeless go??? where do they hide?? As a 1st time tourist to Mumbai I witnessed thousands of thousands of the sleeping homeless driving in from the airport at 3:00AM. I don't know where we were so I cannot give account of location. But from a taxi window I was aghast at the numbers of people sleeping in the streets. We passed them for it seemed at least 10 or 15 minutes, a sea of bodies asleep. After a bit the numbers seemed to sprinkle down from masses of bodies to just a sprinkling....then after a few minutes it began again. At 1st, just a few then more and more and more. Masses and masses of them only this time they were all little tiny bodies.....the women and childrens section I guessed. I have no answers.... only shock for this daunting suffering. I left the next night. To Prayas Abhinav re: where do the homeless go??? where do they hide??

As a 1st time tourist to Mumbai I witnessed thousands of thousands of the sleeping homeless driving in from the airport at 3:00AM. I don’t know where we were so I cannot give account of location. But from a taxi window I was aghast at the numbers of people sleeping in the streets. We passed them for it seemed at least 10 or 15 minutes, a sea of bodies asleep. After a bit the numbers seemed to sprinkle down from masses of bodies to just a sprinkling….then after a few minutes it began again. At 1st, just a few then more and more and more. Masses and masses of them only this time they were all little tiny bodies…..the women and childrens section I guessed. I have no answers…. only shock for this daunting suffering. I left the next night.

]]> By: Jim Rogers http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-98904 Jim Rogers Sat, 28 Apr 2007 20:48:05 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-98904 I have just returned from a business trip in Mumbai. During the trip I celebrated my birthday. I must have been one of the very few people celebrating in what I can only call hell. My daughter Andrea worked as a flight attendant for 5 years and often used to tell me what it was like. But of course she was blowing things out of all proportions, nothing could be as bad as that. My God !! What the hell is this world coming to. The people of the world and certainly the government of India are a disgrace to allow this to continue, Thousands upon thousands of homeless people living a stones throw from an international airport, and millions in Mumbai alone. How the hell do the leaders of other countries live with these pathetic sights when they visit. Or am I being cynical when I suspect they leave BOM international by helicopter. I could sit here all night giving examples of the awful sights I saw during my time in Hell, but one will be with me for ever more. When I got out of my big posh Merc at 23.00 at the airport I was approached by 5 girls, the oldest about 11 the youngest about 4. They very politely asked for 1 ruppee each (just over 1p). I honestly had no cash at all just credit cards. That was 41 hours ago. I have seen those girls a million times since. I wish they would go away and let me live my good life but they wont. They got into my mind and wont leave. There are 2 options. 1. Live with the 5 girls and their 8 million freinds. 2. Do something !! Its easy, option 2. Dont know what yet but I am going to bed one night soon and not thinking about the poor little souls. Next time I fill in my travel aurthorisation destination will say HELL. If my boss has a problem signing it I am not going. Anyway back to the good life...until they come back again. I have just returned from a business trip in Mumbai. During the trip I celebrated my birthday. I must have been one of the very few people celebrating in what I can only call hell. My daughter Andrea worked as a flight attendant for 5 years and often used to tell me what it was like. But of course she was blowing things out of all proportions, nothing could be as bad as that. My God !! What the hell is this world coming to. The people of the world and certainly the government of India are a disgrace to allow this to continue, Thousands upon thousands of homeless people living a stones throw from an international airport, and millions in Mumbai alone. How the hell do the leaders of other countries live with these pathetic sights when they visit. Or am I being cynical when I suspect they leave BOM international by helicopter. I could sit here all night giving examples of the awful sights I saw during my time in Hell, but one will be with me for ever more. When I got out of my big posh Merc at 23.00 at the airport I was approached by 5 girls, the oldest about 11 the youngest about 4. They very politely asked for 1 ruppee each (just over 1p). I honestly had no cash at all just credit cards. That was 41 hours ago. I have seen those girls a million times since. I wish they would go away and let me live my good life but they wont. They got into my mind and wont leave. There are 2 options.
1. Live with the 5 girls and their 8 million freinds.
2. Do something !!
Its easy, option 2. Dont know what yet but I am going to bed one night soon and not thinking about the poor little souls. Next time I fill in my travel aurthorisation destination will say HELL. If my boss has a problem signing it I am not going.

Anyway back to the good life…until they come back again.

]]> By: MATHEW.T.V. http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-98545 MATHEW.T.V. Sun, 22 Apr 2007 06:09:03 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-98545 The labouring poor in slums in Mumbaiare much more rational and productive than we are told to believe. They are not a drain on the city, but subsidises the formal sector in diverse ways.A macro economic modelling of what is going on in this sector is the need of the hour for policy success.The role of the poor in development is neither completely understood nor properly acknowledged. The labouring poor in slums in Mumbaiare much more rational and productive than we are told to believe. They are not a drain on the city, but subsidises the formal sector in diverse ways.A macro economic modelling of what is going on in this sector is the need of the hour for policy success.The role of the poor in development is neither completely understood nor properly acknowledged.

]]> By: India » Blog Archive » by: Robert Edrington http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-87363 India » Blog Archive » by: Robert Edrington Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:42:14 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-87363 [...] news, some sections only available with registration. – more – Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron enjoyed shooti [...] [...] news, some sections only available with registration.
– more – Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron enjoyed shooti [...]

]]> By: Robert Edrington http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-86923 Robert Edrington Sun, 11 Feb 2007 16:58:52 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-86923 I come to Mumbai every so often for business. Today I had a walk around and a young man insisted on shining my shoes for two rupees. I agreed but grudgingly like you tend to do in these situations. But in the five minutes with this man of 20 years something clicked and he ended up showing me all around the city. During those hours I asked questions about him and he answered. He and his mother and two younger sisters have no home and live in the Bandra train station. I could feel that this was a good man who had simply gotten bad luck. His dad had taken to alchohol and so was left by his mom. His mom and two sisters beg while he goes around shining shoes. If all goes well during the day he earns 30 rupees. He has no license however and so is always under the threat of imprisonment. He dreams of saving 900 rupees to buy a shoebox and municipal license needed for doing that work. I gave him ten thousand rupees which is not a fortune for me but for him it is very significant because he can now rent a small abode for a year for himself and mom and sisters. And maybe he can send one of his two little sisters to school. It costs 4 thousand rupees to enroll. Whoever is reading this: Don't think I am tooting my horn here thinking I am someone special. I just got touched by a fellow brother today who needed a hand and I gave him one. Nothing more than that. I didn't "save the world" I just helped a brother get back on his feet. I would like to help a second brother now. The feeling is good. I admit. It feels good to help a brother or sister. If anyone is listening I would welcome your opinion. There are quite a few sisters and brothers in this city who need a hand. I am writing this now still in Mumbai before I fly back to Europe in the comfortable jet and then forget all about my brothers and sisters here. I come to Mumbai every so often for business. Today I had a walk around and a young man insisted on shining my shoes for two rupees. I agreed but grudgingly like you tend to do in these situations. But in the five minutes with this man of 20 years something clicked and he ended up showing me all around the city. During those hours I asked questions about him and he answered. He and his mother and two younger sisters have no home and live in the Bandra train station. I could feel that this was a good man who had simply gotten bad luck. His dad had taken to alchohol and so was left by his mom. His mom and two sisters beg while he goes around shining shoes. If all goes well during the day he earns 30 rupees. He has no license however and so is always under the threat of imprisonment. He dreams of saving 900 rupees to buy a shoebox and municipal license needed for doing that work. I gave him ten thousand rupees which is not a fortune for me but for him it is very significant because he can now rent a small abode for a year for himself and mom and sisters. And maybe he can send one of his two little sisters to school. It costs 4 thousand rupees to enroll. Whoever is reading this: Don’t think I am tooting my horn here thinking I am someone special. I just got touched by a fellow brother today who needed a hand and I gave him one. Nothing more than that. I didn’t “save the world” I just helped a brother get back on his feet. I would like to help a second brother now. The feeling is good. I admit. It feels good to help a brother or sister. If anyone is listening I would welcome your opinion. There are quite a few sisters and brothers in this city who need a hand. I am writing this now still in Mumbai before I fly back to Europe in the comfortable jet and then forget all about my brothers and sisters here.

]]> By: Tanya Saieesh http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-27798 Tanya Saieesh Fri, 27 Oct 2006 09:17:00 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-27798 We seem to be busy in our cosy homes with our cosy lives and pretend not to know what's happening around us. We take a moral stand of not being able to fight the system and feel better about ourselves. When politicians, business tycoons or the so called rich talk about spending 1,100 or 1000 crores on projects, I feel like shaking them and asking them to look around. How can anyone be so oblivious to the misery around them ? We seem to be busy in our cosy homes with our cosy lives and pretend not to know what’s happening around us. We take a moral stand of not being able to fight the system and feel better about ourselves. When politicians, business tycoons or the so called rich talk about spending 1,100 or 1000 crores on projects, I feel like shaking them and asking them to look around. How can anyone be so oblivious to the misery around them ?

]]> By: Psuedo-Random » Dark side of the moon… http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-12321 Psuedo-Random » Dark side of the moon… Fri, 28 Apr 2006 23:57:48 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-12321 [...] lesser population than there are homeless in Mumbai… its a perfect place to witness the triple point of world at zero degree humanity! Glimpses of the dark side captures i [...] [...] lesser population than there are homeless in Mumbai… its a perfect place to witness the triple point of world at zero degree humanity! Glimpses of the dark side captures i [...]

]]> By: peacefarm » Atanu Dey on India’s Development » Homelessness in Mumbai http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-5826 peacefarm » Atanu Dey on India’s Development » Homelessness in Mumbai Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:35:33 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-5826 [...] ’s Development » Homelessness in Mumbai February 25, 2006 by Prayas Abhinav Atanu Dey on India’s Development » Homelessness in Mumbai An old [...] [...] ’s Development » Homelessness in Mumbai February 25, 2006
by Prayas Abhinav

Atanu Dey on India’s Development » Homelessness in Mumbai An old [...]

]]> By: Prayas Abhinav http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-5825 Prayas Abhinav Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:26:51 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-5825 Maybe, this is too old a thread to comment on? But, still... Being another "homeless" person in Mumbai, felt like leaving a note. The housing problem in Mumbai... I talk about this at least twice everyday with my friends. Where do all the homeless stay? After their temperory homes are blown away, where do they hide? Any clue? Maybe, this is too old a thread to comment on? But, still…

Being another “homeless” person in Mumbai, felt like leaving a note. The housing problem in Mumbai… I talk about this at least twice everyday with my friends. Where do all the homeless stay? After their temperory homes are blown away, where do they hide? Any clue?

]]> By: Amit Kulkarni http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-652 Amit Kulkarni Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-652 The reason they take down the ghettos (and that too, only after local,state,federal elections are a long ways off) is to make sure some builder will get the rights to build a pathetic 10-20% for old slum dwellers. The builders then sell the other 80-90% and share some of the moolah with all the political parties concerned. How do you think a politician can afford to spend crores? They literally spend upwards of $1 million USD on a election. The reason they take down the ghettos (and that too, only after local,state,federal elections are a long ways off) is to make sure some builder will get the rights to build a pathetic 10-20% for old slum dwellers. The builders then sell the other 80-90% and share some of the moolah with all the political parties concerned.

How do you think a politician can afford to spend crores? They literally spend upwards of $1 million USD on a election.

]]> By: Atanu Dey http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-653 Atanu Dey Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-653 Gurdjieff the old rascal is one of my favorite heroes. He does call a spade a spade. Gurdjieff the old rascal is one of my favorite heroes. He does call a spade a spade.

]]> By: Myke http://www.deeshaa.org/2005/02/09/homelessness-in-mumbai/comment-page-1/#comment-654 Myke Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2005/02/09/262#comment-654 George Gurdjieff said "The world is a pain factory run by madmen." George Gurdjieff said “The world is a pain factory run by madmen.”

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