Just last week, McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) published a seminal report on the future of India’s urbanization. Some numbers they’ve calculated are totally staggering: for instance, did you know that by 2030, 590 million people will be living in India’s cities? That’s twice the population of the United States today! And did you know that [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Urban’
India’s Empire State of Mind
Posted in Infrastructure, tagged India, McKinsey & Co, Urban on April 26, 2010 | 4 Comments »
This Ganesh Chaturthi, please think: “What would Tilak do?”
Posted in Environment, Mumbai, Religion, tagged Ganesh Chaturthi, India, Mumbai, Religion, Sanitation, Urban on August 28, 2009 | 4 Comments »
After ten long days of prayer and celebration, of dancing on the streets and recklessly blocking traffic, of beating drums and reciting devotional bhajans, it will be time to bid farewell to Lord Ganesh. Ganesh, widely regarded as the bringer of prosperity and remover of obstacles, will not slip away unnoticed. Rather, devotees will make [...]
Potentially the worst job in the world?
Posted in Infrastructure, Public health, tagged Dalit, India, Infrastructure, Public health, Sanitation, Sewer workers, Urban on April 10, 2009 | 2 Comments »
“OMG, isn’t it, like, so disturbing to see all those beggars in India, with their disfigured limbs and stuff?” You won’t believe how many times I’ve been asked that question. The sad part is that after living here for so long, it’s actually not that disturbing. It’s part of life. Regardless of how one may [...]
Voyeurism 2.0: If you can’t beat ‘em, make ‘em socially responsible
Posted in Mumbai, tagged Dharavi, Mumbai, Slum tourism, Slumdog Millionaire, Urban on March 12, 2009 | 6 Comments »
Three times in the past week, I’ve unexpectedly been a participant in conversations regarding Mumbai’s hottest new tourist spot: Dharavi. In case any of you missed the Slumdog Millionaire bus (er, bulldozer?), Dharavi has the dubious honor of being Asia’s largest slum. It houses upwards of 1 million people over a 175 hectare expanse of [...]
An ode to Mumbai’s local trains
Posted in Infrastructure, Mumbai, tagged Class, India, Mumbai, Public transportation, Street vendors, Train, Urban on February 27, 2009 | 8 Comments »
The Mumbai Suburban Railway. Mumbai’s arteries, veins, and capillaries rolled into one functional hunk of steel. Even after living in this bulging metropolis for so long, I am continually amazed by the efficiency of its semi-antiquated local rail network. This is not a network built to help, say, a quaint German hamlet go about its [...]
