Aspiring contrasts

In Mumbai, I was introduced to the anthropologist Arjun Appadurai, who is famous for his writings and efforts to connecting culture to development. He was fundamental to founding Pukar, which is a local organization mentioned 2 blogs earlier. In the little that I have read of Appadurai, his concept of development viewed rather as 'the capacity to aspire' is going to be churning in my head for a long while.

India Calling is a book that my parents sent my sister for christmas. Its a book that is sometimes scoffed at because of its optimistic picture it paints of India. Before going to Bombay, my thought was that anyone who says that India's youth are aspiring across caste boundaries has to be seeing a different India. Bombay is a different India.

From diversity in architecture to walkable streetscapes, even down to guys wearing shorts and breezes gusting over the hilly landscape Bombay is a pleasant place. More than all that, however, the people on the streets have a public culture of showing respect to each other, and seem to be reflective before reactive.

I took very few pictures, as I spent most of my time selfishly soaking it in for myself - but I left most of it intact for you to check out on your own.

Here are a couple contrasts:

Delhi historical downtown Victoria Terminus (VT) and the New Mumbai suburban rail station (Vashi). The link has a map to help visualize. In Bombay, there are 3 rail lines that act as above ground transport and are great because their doors are perennially open and you get a thrilling ride - safely inside but mostly out.)

My trip started at the Victoria Terminus. This is a side shot and does not do it justice (see link above).

And ended at the Vashi rail station. This station is called the International InfoTech Park and it was made to make profitable use of the land of a station by building office buildings up above it. I'm not sure what money goes where, but its certainly profitable on paper for the government I'm sure. Talk to Aditya, he knows these things.

Vashi station is below the massive white structure that is InfoTech Park

Across from the rail station is a mall with all the works. It was flooded with well-off people my age, many of them in groups happily enjoying the AC and smells of the mall.

Here is another set of contrasts from near the coast of Southern Mumbai in Walkeshvar where we were staying.

In this picture you can see a little worship temple with residential towers in the background. The land just beyond the temple is actually a burial ground for sadhus, or Hindu wandering holy men - note that most Hindus are burnt after death. This spot has not yet been displaced by developers, the right people have yet to say the right things into the right ears.

A bonus contrast comes alive when you zoom in on the icons on the worship temple. Ganesha (Hindu - wealth) is at the 90, Shiva (Hindu - destroyer, fertility) at the 180, a muslim icon* at 270, Christ is at the 360, and a sadhu in the middle. Take your pick is one response. Another is respect diverse religions. Or maybe expand your horizons.

*Since Muslims don't worship images, I assume this is probably Mecca depicted.