Satish Dalvi, a second-generation Dharavi resident whose journey from sanitation work to caregiving exposes the layered realities of caste, labor, and survival in Mumbai. As an outspoken activist and rationalist, his quiet rebellion against exploitation and superstition carves space for dignity and resistance in the city.

Shankar Jadhav, a 61-year-old cobbler, defies caste boundaries beneath Samvidhan Square. With calloused hands, a love for books, and quiet resilience, he mends shoes, nurtures a square, and challenges the invisibility imposed by society: one stitch, one flower, one act of dignity at a time.

 The 13th Compound, known for being a hub of informal recycling of plastic and metal, branches into endless veins of tempos overflowing with waste collected from the city, and godowns churning with heavy crushers. Irfan Bhai, a man with 30 years of experience and Ashraf, his son, tell us the intricacies of this age-old business and their future plans.

Policies can be supportive or prohibitive, depending on who they serve. A public policy student tries to understand how marginalised communities navigate urban realities from the lens of the architects and urban planners who work with them. 

Dharavi Koliwada was abuzz with news of the 8 Australians helping to build the Customs House study space for students. From ferrying huge blocks of basalt stone to putting together a teak wood chair, the team from Sullivan Carpentry did it all. 

The Dharavi Koli Jamaat Trust has been entrusted the responsibility to address socio-economic and spatial  challenges in Dharavi for the Koliwada community. The Dharavi Koli Jamaat Trust is a functional example of urban local bodies promoting grass-root level governance with a community centric approach.

Tahir Bhai takes us through his journey of self-exploration, bitter-sweet memories of his Kismat (fate) and being a spect-actor in Dharavi’s emergence as a socio-economic powerhouse.    

Pushpa has been living in Dharavi since she was born. Our day starts with her bright smile as she sells pulses right outside the urbz office. We recently had a little chat with her.

In the third part of this series, we explored the elaborate process that goes into embroidery (locally known as zari work).

In the second part of this series, we explore two leather workshops near the 90 feet road in Dharavi, to understand where and how all processes in the creation of leather products are carried out.