Documentary Photography, Street Photography,
Dharavi is considered to be one of Asia's largest slums and has an area of just over 2.1 square kilometers and a population of around 1 million. Dharavi is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
I Spent three months in Mumbai exploring Dharavi, meeting locals and learning about the industries within. I met some of the most inspirational and resourceful people there. I witnessed happiness and community, Hindus and Muslims living together in one of the poorest and most overpopulated areas of the world. There is a lot of misconceptions about Dharavi. The media portrays Dharavi residents as down and outs in films such as “Slumdog millionaire” and crappy Coldplay music videos. This is not what i experienced! I witnessed resourcefulness and community with limited resources. I was overwhelmed with the sense of community ,ingenuity and resourcefulness of the inhabitants. With issues such as only having running water for one hour per day, a lack of any sewer system, hazardous obstacles such as live electric cables around nearly every corner of the tight mazes which make up one of the worlds largest slum, I still found Dharavi a warm Magical and welcoming place to be. Maybe an example of true Anarchy?
I also asked myself what has the “Western world” lost or forgotten and what could it learn from Dharavi?
The Industries not only support the residents, but also help support the rest of Mumbai with rag-pickers cleaning up waste and taking to Dharavi to be recycled. It is estimated that 80 per cent of the Mumbai’s solid waste is recycled into usable materials. The UK’s recycling rate was almost half that, with just under 45 per cent of household waste recycled in 2015. Other contributions to the economy of Mumbai and industries include recycling sorting center, paint, clothing, tools, soap, wood sculpture leather industries including a handbag brand (Dharavi Handbag) sold in fashion outlets in the west, religious ornaments and many others. It's a crucial time for Dharavi; a government development plan is threatening industries and their survival. Through talking with locals I've learned how detrimental this scheme is.
Since leaving Dharavi, it has been in my thoughts everyday. I will soon return.