World's Largest Slum: Dharavi, India | Stories from the Hidden Worlds: India | Free Documentary

 The Multifaceted World of Dharavi

Dharavi, located in Mumbai, is a cramped slum that is home to around 1 million people. While it is often associated with human suffering, it is also a bustling cosmopolitan hub that highlights the nuances of Indian society and culture. The underground economy in Dharavi is estimated to be worth up to a billion dollars each year, providing employment to many of its residents. However, the lack of toilets, clean drinking water, and hygiene in the area is a major issue.

The Backbone of the Economy

Workshops and rudimentary factories form the backbone of the underground economy in Dharavi. The textiles industry provides work for many of the migrants who come to Dharavi, while leather makers, soap producers, and other entrepreneurs toil tirelessly amid squalor and detritus.

A Diverse Mix of Sects

Dharavi is home to a diverse mix of sectarian groups, with Hindus, Muslims, and Christians coexisting peacefully. The population of Dharavi began to swell in the 1850s, with tanners and leather workers streaming in. That migration continues largely unabated to this day, with the modes of transport changing post-independence in 1947. While the streets reek of sewage and hygiene is virtually nonexistent, the people here forge ahead regardless.

A Microcosm of India

Dharavi is a microcosm of India's languages, dialects, faiths, and foods. The residents of this neighborhood have learned to make do with scant few ingredients, with seasonal produce and assorted spices forming the base of most meals. Cricket is a national obsession in India, with children in Dharavi dreaming of one day becoming cricket stars. However, sports and brawls often lead to health issues, and healthcare providers have a regular stream of patients to care for.

Challenges Facing Women

While gender stereotypes remain entrenched in Dharavi, many women are both homemakers and breadwinners, fulfilling dual roles in the scramble for a better life. Indian women face pressure to conform to beauty standards, with a reported $10 billion spent each year on wellness and beauty products. Dharavi is also known for its profusion of barber shops offering hairstyles based on the latest trends in Bollywood.

Music and the Future of Daravi

Despite being an eyesore that undermines India's image as an economic juggernaut, Daravi remains a microcosm of Indian complexity. Assorted corporations have lobbied for the area to be opened up to developers, given its proximity to Mumbai's Gaudi financial district. However, development would likely see many of Daravi's residents scattered to all corners of Mumbai or further afield. Such real estate projects, symbolic of change in progress, would likely signal the destruction of the community that has evolved here. Yet daily life carries on at its own pace, according to its own rules and logic. For now, the people here can do little more than wait to see what the future holds.

The entrepreneurial spirit that defines the neighborhood may be lost

The narrow allies and ramshackle shanties that people call home may be destroyed

Assorted corporations have long lobbied for the area to be opened up to developers

Development would almost certainly see many of Daravi's residents scattered to all corners of Mumbai or further afield

Despite the potential for change, music continues to be an integral part of life in Daravi. Foreign music can be heard alongside local tunes, creating a unique soundscape that reflects the community's diversity. This positivity is a testament to the resilience of the people who call Daravi home.