History of Dharavi
Dharavi is an informal regularized slum area one amongst the many in the city of Mumbai although with a unique characteristic, often referred to as the largest slum in Asia or may be the second largest – but that hardly matters, as the struggle for livelihood remains the same. It is on this land where they survive, build their dreams – amidst tears and smiles.
The history of development in Dharavi can be traced along the lines of Girangaon, asboth areas were ‘affected’ approximately during similar timeline although operating in different contexts. Both the neighbourhoods have been responding to the processes of industrialization and urbanization, simultaneously. While the change in Girangaon fabric can be linked directly to colonialism, Dharavi in contrast develops itself on the distilleries of colonialism, but, both have similar urban, social and cultural patterns developing with contrasting forms. Today these two areas are a center of growth and redevelopment proceedings in Mumbai, where both are challenged as well threatened to sustain their identities and the socio-cultural framework developed amidst the haphazard and inequitable city planning processes.
The origins of the name Dharavi are still non traceable, but it was founded by the inhabitants of Koli fisherman community fishing in the region of Mahim Creek since time immemorial. The Portuguese entered through the Mahim Creek and settled on the opposite shore. On a map from 1777, dharavi is marked out as “a small town” between Sion and Mayham (Mahim) (Dharavi, Documenting Informalities, page 48).
The Central and western railway lines created a border to this swamp area. The first people to settle here, did so because the ground was still free and unregulated (Dharavi, Documenting Informalities, page 48). Later with reclamation and relocation policies undertaken by the city government various people from around Mumbai and within Mumbai started settling in this scrappy swamp far away from the island city. Amongst the third settlers of dharavi were the potters from Saurashtra in Gujarat, relocated by the authorities who did not want them in the expanding city center. In dharavi just like in Mumbai at large most people affiliated with those of similar heritage and language. As the area grew denser a pattern could be deciphered: language, religion, heritage and traditional production which defined the areas with floating and dynamic contours and also created nagars which literally means cities but represented these traditional settlements (Dharavi, Documenting Informalities, page 48).
This research entailed a study of certain areas and along with interviewing certain residents of the community living here, an effort was made to have an overview regarding the industries/crafts, political phenomena and basic facilities in the area.
Dharavi is a combination of 85 different settlements comprising of people from various regions of India like interior Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as also from West Bengal who have settled here in large numbers. Settlements in some places have been formed on the basis of occupations so one sees leather-related work in Chamda Bazaar, brooms are made in Kunchikorve Nagar , occupations that are related to caste. When the first slums mushroomed, the area had no facilities for either living or conducting any kind of occupation and Dharavi was ill-reputed as a filthy and dirty place to live. Most people recall that even taxis barely ferried to this part of the city. People had to walk miles for water with lack of the most basic facilities so those who came to settle here- had no other option- who were they? They were Dalits, Mang, Matang, Charmakar, Dhor, Quereshi, and Sayyeds – all belonging to the backward classes. Even today, 80% of the people living in Dharavi are dalits belonging to the lower castes which means that whenever a region suffered natural calamities like droughts or floods or man-made disasters, these people left their villages for cities in search of livelihood. Those who acquired jobs took them up in small-big companies, mills and those who failed to get a job began their own businesses. Hence when you see around in Dharavi almost everyone is involved in small-scale jobs or things that can be done from home. Many homes in Dharavi run some small-scale industry, people either rent the upper portion of their homes to a business or run a business from there and live at the street level. People who work here have to work very hard as that is their most important investment. Tremendous capacity to work is essential in leather, garment industry, embroidery, jari work.
Eventually large number of tanners and leather workers from the state of Tamil Nadu came to Dharavi from the central parts of the city and directly to establish the first tanneries. Also as dharavi started growing came chiki makers and embroiders from Tamilnadu and Uttar Pradesh, respectively. Some brought skills and some labour. By the mid 20th century as migrants continue to land in Dharavi providing cheap labour to the city’s growth. The urban fabric thus developed was unique, with narrow streets and buildings that served as both work and living quarters with production area on street level and living quarters on the top similar to traditional villages.
