Harris argues that the “gentrification process” was projected from heartland cities such as London, and adapted and reshaped to fit the Global South (2008). Thus in the case of Mumbai, it was the product of a “powerful nexus of politicians, builders and developers exploiting and profiting from Mumbai’s poorly implemented and monitored land use policies and planning controls (2008).” Hence it is important to recognize that rather than operating gentrification processes through a Eurocentric prospective, there is a need to examine and reshape the process from a geographic specific understanding.
In the context of Mumbai, we believe that the area is able to become a global city through retaining its unique Southern dynamics. This needs to begin with recognition of the informal sector through the appreciation for their contributions socially, culturally and economically, as stated by Chalana: “the informal settlements accommodate local, homebased, informal industries, and any attempt at rehabilitation that does not address this simple fact is bound to be far more disruptive than helpful (2010).” Thus we argue that Mumbai should develop through its own geographical experience rather than through a Western framework. This leads to our second point that Mumbai should not attempt to view slums as a nuisance to the community, but rather as experiences of the displaced peoples and their aspirations towards a better life, supporting Chalana’s argument that disruption of slums tends to exacerbate problems, as demonstrated by the failed policies.
Finally, while Mumbai struggles to find a place as a “global city”, it is important that “designers and planners must not prioritize the values of this approach over a true respect for local urbanism and for the lives and livelihoods of those affected (Chalana, 2010).”
References:
Chalana, M. (2010). Slumdogs vs. Millionaires. Journal of Architectural Education, 63(2), pp.25-37.
Ghertner, D. (2014). India’s urban revolution: geographies of displacement beyond gentrification. Environment and Planning A, 46(7), pp.1554-1571.
Harris, A. (2008). From London to Mumbai and Back Again: Gentrification and Public Policy in Comparative Perspective. Urban Studies, 45(12), pp.2407-2428.