The notion that life is an illusory duality is a worldview that Pramod has carried with him as a child from his village near Sultanpur (a small city in Uttar Pradesh), all the way to Dharavi. Pramod Kumar Vishwakarma is a carpenter in his early fifties who lives in Dharavi with his wife and four children. As he describes his journey to Mumbai at the age of 19, he constantly juggles thoughts of moving back to his village versus staying in the home he has built in Dharavi.

It was Pramod’s older brother who brought him to Dharavi. Like any other newcomer to the city, he faced his share of struggles and challenges before feeling settled enough to bring his younger brother over. He stayed at a relative’s place, taking on odd jobs to survive. Once he had learnt the ways of the big city, he decided to bring Pramod along. Perhaps that is why Pramod often mentions his older brother (Bade Bhai) with great respect.

The meticulousness of hand-making and an interest in the craft are what drew Pramod towards carpentry. While in high school, he would spend time at his relative’s wood workshops in the village, taking on small projects and apprenticeships. When we asked Pramod whether he also helps people design their homes in Dharavi, he said that he has the experience, having worked on multiple turn-key interior projects when he first arrived in the city.  He starts with hand drawings to work out the designs and then builds the entire project on-site. He believes architects have a grip on theoretical knowledge, while he is well-versed in the practical aspect of making things. Back in his village, he wants to redesign his Baranda - a Verandah, typical to rural homes generally used to meet with visitors outside of the private zones of the house. But every time he saves money for it, some expense in the city forces him to postpone this project. 

With a sigh, he admits that life in Dharavi is not entirely his choice but because his wife always believed there was hope in Dharavi. If it were up to him, he would have left the city long ago. He fondly recalls his village and how he returns every 6-8 months when the chaos of the city becomes overwhelming. On the one hand, he reminisces fondly about his 2,000 sq. ft. village home with a large front yard and home-cooked meals, he dislikes the lack of freedom in the village, particularly for women. He adds, “Nobody in the city questions why you do certain things in a certain way, nobody interferes in your life, you are your own king.”

“Yeh sab moh maya hai, sansarik moh mein phase hai sablog” (This is all an illusion; everyone is trapped in the worldly illusion), he says, as if consoling himself, torn between thoughts about his home, the city, and what it all truly means to him. His conflicting emotions about the village and the city reflect the tension between Dharavi’s past and its uncertain future.

The idea of redevelopment makes a lot of sense to Pramod, but he insists it must be done the right way. “Everyone should get what they deserve,” he says firmly. For him, this means ensuring that no one is relocated outside Dharavi and that residents receive shared ownership of the new buildings. Dharavi is, in Pramod’s words, a “treasure trove” of industries, businesses, and opportunities. “No one will die hungry here,” he says with pride. “Everyone has something to work on.” Yet he acknowledges that Dharavi needs improvements, improvements that respect its residents and their way of life while upgrading infrastructure and living conditions.

He says, “The community’s strength lies in its interconnectedness, and uprooting people would destroy the very fabric of what makes Dharavi unique. "He is very critical of the lack of transparency in the current redevelopment plans. He recalls earlier plans that were better communicated to residents. “Now, everything is up in the air,” he complains.

But Pramod’s vision goes beyond mere functionality; he dreams of a Dharavi that leaves “a mark in history…. Dharavi is not bad at all,” he says. “People should change the way they look at it. If you see it in a certain way, it can be either good or bad.” Quoting the Bhagavad Gita, he says, “Parivartan sansar ka niyam hai” (Change is the law of nature). For him, redevelopment is not just about physical transformation; it’s about changing mindsets and creating a brighter future. “Dharavi should become a new model,” he says. “It has already become better, but it should become the best.” However, the ideal home for Pramod would be the best of both worlds, where he could have the spaciousness and peace of the village, combined with the freedom of city life. Dharavi comes closest to offering him this.