Mumbai Weekly

Run by the students of Udaan

MumbaiWeekly Volume 01 Issue 05

people

feature

‌.

23rd December 2011

economy

health

(Above) Guddi, 12, sells Christmas caps to a motorist at a traffic intersection in Mumbai on 24 th December 2011. Shailesh Andrade/Mumbai Weekly

Twelve-year-old Guddi, stands at the Bandra traffic intersection waiting for the signal to turn red and vehicles to stop. She is holding Christmas caps in her hand, but not to wear or take home.

Rather, she hopes to sell them to motorists and passengers to eke a liv-

ing for herself and her family. She sells each cap for about Rupees 30 each (0.5 $ ) and hopes to make about Rupees 300 a day. Guddi works with her family her little brother, uncle and cousin. The money from the sales goes to the family and Guddi receives

food for her effort. On a good day the customer lets her keep the change.

The family has bought 500 caps this year and will make a loss if they do not manage to sell them. This is her Christmas , like thousands of other working children in the city.

Mumbai Weekly wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

We will be back with our next edition in 2012.

A hawker sells Christmas caps on a pavement in Mumbai on 24 th December 2011. Sathya Keerthi/Mumbai Weekly

Guddi, 12, arranges Christmas caps on a pavement in Mumbai on 24 th December 2011. Saarthak Aurora/Mumbai Weekly

A baby lies midst Christmas caps on sale at a pavement in Mumbai on 24 th December 2011. Saarthak Aurora/Mumbai Weekly

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2011

People

Mumbai Weekly

Dhobi Ghat Washing Dirty Linen in Public An unique feature of Mumbai is its large open laundries - the „Dhobi Ghats‟. And a particularly wellknown one is at South Mumbai‟s Mahalaxmi, believed to be the world‟s largest laundry - where laundrymen wash clothes in outdoor concrete enclosures. These laundrymen or „dhobis‟ earn about Rs 5,000 a month (around $ 100) . The most famous of these Dhobi Ghats is at Saat Rasta near Mahalaxmi Station where almost two hundred dhobis and their families work together in what has always been a hereditary occupation. This area is strangely popular with foreign tourists looking for a piece of quintessential "Indian-ness" Mumbai Weekly photographer Abhinav Reddy spent a day (23rd December 2011) at the „Dhobi Ghat‟ in Mahalaxmi, which dates back to the days of British rule in India.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23,2011

metro

Mumbai Weekly

A woman makes her way through a slum in Mumbai on 23 December 2011. Sathya Keerthi/Mumbai Weekly

Property Tax for Slum Dwellers Mumbai‟s civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a plan to collect property tax from slum dwellers, including illegal slum dwellers. The BMC estimates more than half

the city‟ population stays in slums. Slums in Mumbai have always existed. Even back in the time when the fort was developed, the native villages have always been close to slums. They never underwent any planning, in-

frastructure construction or implementation of facilities such as water, sewage and drainage. This has led to many problems with Mumbai's poor population. According to a report in a local newspaper, around 16 lakhs

(1.6 million) families will have to pay the tax under the new tax regime.

The proposed tax policy has met with protests from politicians and activists.

A boy looks towards the photographer at a slum in Mumbai on 23 December 2011 Sathya Keerthi/Mumbai Weekly

Between the lines

Two people talk to each other on the steps of the iconic Asiatic Library in Mumbai on 21 December 2011. With temperatures dipping in Mumbai, the steps of the Library, make for a great outdoor location to soak in the sun. Shankar Narayan / Mumbai Weekly

An Indian muslim prays during an anti-Israel demonstration in close to the Israeli consulate in Mumbai on 20 December 2011 A small but vocal group of Indian Muslims were protesting Israel‟s proposed law to ban the muslim prayer call in mosques in Israel. Abhinav Reddy / Mumbai Weekly

Indian Muslims protest proposed Israeli law

Indian muslim children pray during an anti-Israel demonstration close to the Israeli consulate in Mumbai on 20 December 2011. A small but vocal group of Indian Muslims were protesting Israel‟s proposed law to ban the muslim prayer call in mosques in Israel. Shailesh Andrade / Mumbai Weekly

Members of Raza Academy, a small but vocal group today called Azaan outside Israel Consulate in Mumbai to Protest against its proposed Ban on Azan.

According to the group they feel the Palestinian

Muslims are living in absolute Injustice and Israel has continued doing atrocities on this most victimised community despite Protests from various quarters of the world.U.N has became a mere tool in the

hands of U.S and its allies and is doing nothing to prevent regular violation of Human Rights, said the Statement. A number of children participated in the rally and offered prayers at the site of protest.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23,2011

EDITORIAL

Mumbai Weekly

OPINION The city that never sleeps, nor rests

Saatya Keerti / Mumbai Weekly It is said that Mumbai is the city of dreams. No other Indian city has been as magnetic and enigmatic to its citizens, as has been Mumbai. The glitzy Bollywood, big corporations, the Tendulkar and Ambanis , the sky scrapers and flyovers and even the mafia adds to the the city‟s aura of glamour and mystery. People come from all over India to Mumbai to fulfill their dreams. Almost half of Mumbai‟s 12 million population is made-up of migrants.

But, Mumbai is not a city for the faint hearted. Thousands of dreamers come to the city and become a part of the crowd.

The crowd grows larger and larger. Crowds flood the trains and the streets and relentlessly push you forward as long as you can stay on your feet. If one is not prepared for the madness, moving amidst the overwhelming pace of the city can make you feel giddy. The feeling is disorienting, especially for those new to the ways of the city. While thousands come to India‟s commercial capital with

Saarthak Aurora / Mumbai Weekly

Pratham Gokhale / Mumbai Weekly

starry eyes, most are soon overwhelmed

by the daily stress of just trying to survive. The lure to give up and lose oneself to alcohol and other such substances is strong. The stress on the younger generation is even more severe with psychological states like depression, anxiety and anger found much more commonly and at an earlier age than ever before and many are even unable to sleep. Stress and sleep disorders are leading to poor health in large numbers.

And the city‟s poor and rural migrants have almost turned invisible. Many perish everyday, but its barely noticed. In this city of millions only the strong survive.

While its true for all the large metropolises of the world, Mumbai has always been a city with a heart. But before it stops beating and before we get completely and irreversibly mechanised, we need to step out of the rat race and be able to sleep with a smile on our face.

Saarthak Aurora / Mumbai Weekly

Point of View: Fat Facts While large sections of the Indian population is known to suffer from malnutrition and shortage of food, it is surprising, that there is now another large section which suffers from something exactly the opposite – Obesity. And this problem is not on the fringes of Indian society, but at its very heart, as it takes on alarming proportions.

It can be said India, with a specific reference to Mumbaikers are in the grip of obesity, with the increase in popularity of junk food, a modern lifestyle and lack of exercise .

Obesity is one of the main reasons for diabetes and heart problems. And India has become the diabetes capital of the world. New data shows that every sixth diaIndia‟s obesity-related diseases betic in the world is an Indian. have now joined malnutrition as Earlier diabetes was restricted to the largest killers in the country. India‟s affluent but now it is seen Almost five percent of the Indian across other sections of the Indian population is morbidly obese, population, according to medical experts. And more than 20% of urban Indian This stems from the fact that obeare overweight or obese, accord- sity is largely not seen as a dising to India‟s National Family ease in India. And this has made Health Survey. obesity a silent killer in India

A man talks on his mobile phone on a suburban train in Mumbai.

Shailesh Andrade / Mumbai Weekly

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23,2011

Photo essay

ABYAAS GALLI Young people flock to a lane in Mumbai, popularly called Abhyas Galli (lane to train) – to study, oblivious of the speeding cars and cacophony around them. Located in the heart of the city, students from different areas of Mumbai can be seen studying on the pavements and under the lampposts. They bring their own bed sheets even, and some can be seen falling asleep over their books.

Mumbai Weekly photographer Chirag Sutar, visited „Abhyas Galli‟ to get a first hand feel of its environment and mood.

Mumbai Weekly

6

economy

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23,2011

Mumbai Weekly

A man walks past old cars at a scrap-yard in Mumbai on 23 December 2011. Sathya Keerthi/Mumbai Weekly

Indian Auto Industry back in first gear

Unlike US car makers, the Indian auto industry will hope that the new year does not begin the way the present one is ending. With a drastic fall in sales, 2011 is set to become one of the worst years for the Indian auto industry in a decade. According to an In-

dian Television channel, 2011 witnessed one of the steepest fall in car sales in the last eleven years. High interest rates, labour disputes and production problems played spoilsport, to an otherwise encouraging start to a year in car sales, that more than fizzled-out by

A model stands next to an Audi Q7 during its launch in Mumbai.. Krishanu Nagar / Mumbai Weekly

the year end. Fluctuating oil prices, depreciating rupee and environmental disasters added to the woe of car manufacturers.

Auto trade website Car Trade India reported that The dismal performance the tsunami that hit Japan resulted in an expected seriously damaged plants fall in stocks of several

the lowest food inflation since February 2008. The inflation was in double digits last month.

This sharp fall has been led by a more than 20% decline in the price of vegetables, like onions, potatoes and toma-

toes. Prices of wheat also considerably came down. Experts say that the decline in inflation is on account of a normal monsoon and a good harvest.

With the inflation number becoming more manageable, Indian economists predict a

Indian auto makers such as, Ashok Leyland, Mahindra & Mahindra , Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki India.

While the situation is gloomy, it definitely is not out of control for the Indian auto industry, with even

the stocks rebounding for some of the companies. Indian car makers hope that 2012 will be a better year , unlike the dismal year, 2011 has proven to be.

A man walks past an old-car at a scrap yard in Mumbai on 23 December 2011. Sathya Keerthi/Mumbai Weekly

India’s food inflation at fouryear low of 1.8% Amidst all the economic gloom, finally there is something to cheer. India’s food inflation has fallen to a four-year low of 1.8% according the country’s latest Wholesale Price Index data, released by the Indian government. This is

of several car makers including Maruti Suzuki, Toyota and Honda.

Maruti Suzuki, particularly suffered more, with labour problems in one of its plant.

cut in interest rates by India’s apex bank, the Reserve Bank of India. Buoyed by the numbers, the Indian Finance Minister , Pranab Mukherjee said that the economic will be good, according to an Indian media report.

(Left) A shopkeeper reads his newspaper in his vegetable shop in Mumbai on 23 December 2011 Pratham Ghokale / Mumbai Weekly

People walk in a vegetable market in Mumbai on 23 December 2011. Pratham Ghokale / Mumbai Weekly

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23,2011

Arts & Entertainment

Mumbai Weekly

Kathakali Mumbaikers on Friday , witnessed a visually spectacular show of ‘Kathakali’ a traditional Indian dance from the southern Indian state of Kerala during a promotional event of Kerala tourism in the city. Mumbai Weekly photographer, Shankar Narayan got access to the green room, prior to the show and photographed the artists preparing for the show.

Kathakali originated in Kerala in the 17th century . Its use of elaborate costumes and exaggerated gestures with dramatic body movements makes it a visual spectacle. The dances usually depict stories from Indian mythology and the performances can last through the night. However, recently, Kathakali performances have also been produced based on Shakespearean stories, with the aim of modernizing and promoting the dance form.

Abdul Gani : Street Artist Mumbai 23rd December 2011: While walking outside the Jehangir Art gallery a prominent art gallery in South Mumbai I stumbled into artist Abdul Ghani sitting on the side walk with his paintings displayed on the wall. His kind welcoming seasoned face welcomed me to speak to him. Abdul is a graduate from the famous J.J. School of Art in Mumbai. He is also a school teacher in a prominent school in the city. So what is a educator doing on the street?

The lack of space in the city and high cost for gallery rentals do not permit artists like Adul to showcase his work too often. He has to be con-

tent with displaying his work on the street like many other artists. It is lovely to have my work exhibited in the largest open sky gallery jokes Abdul. People of all walks of life can see my work without being scared to come into a gallery he adds.

The entire Ghani family is into art with the youngest member aged 6 years also painting and putting up her work in her grandfathers street show.

Abudl Ghani‟s latest work has been inspired by the sea. Water color paintings can be purchased for inr250 onwards.

Artist Abdul Ghani poses by his work in Mumbai Shailesh Andrade / Mumbai Weekly

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23,2011

FEATURE

Mumbai Weekly

“Too Young to Suffer” Anshuman suffers from cancer. He perhaps is too young to understand the ramification of his illness. But its not lost on his parents, or the doctors or on anyone interacting with the children undergoing treatment at the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. Mumbai Weekly photographer Shank ar Narayan covered an Christmas eve event at the hospital and photographed the innocent children who are braving the deadly illness with an immense zest for life, that only a child can. Perhaps it’s the bliss of ignorance. But a teardrop and a soulful eye, much

Published by: Udaan School of Photography. Editor: Shailesh Andrade Photo editor: Saarthak Aurora Chief Photographer: Shankar Narayan Email: editor.mumbaiweekly@gmail.com

mature for his age, betrays that notion. Perhaps not all are blissfully unaware, yet unlike most adults they battle the illness with tremendous resistance and a smile.

The number of cases of childhood cancer is increasing in India. Over forty thousand children are diagnosed with cancer in India every year, according , the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS). The survival rate of cancer in children are high as compared to adults, however only a small percentage of children suffering with cancer get a proper treatment in the country