Abdul Hamid Sayyed is a sofa maker who operates a rented workshop at the edge of Dharavi Koliwada, with a frontage facing the Sion-Bandra link road. He has lived in Dharavi since 1985, having arrived when he was just seven years old. He says he has seen the area transform right before his eyes. He reminisces about a time when the land where the Bandra Kurla Complex (Mumbai’s business district) stands today was just an open ground with no buildings, and a massive open-air theatre where films were screened.

Abdul entered the furniture-making profession because he was not particularly interested in academic studies. Instead, he found designing furniture to be an engaging pursuit that challenged his mind. He spent years learning woodworking and sofa-making as an apprentice artisan at various workshops and studios across the city, including within Dharavi.

Three years ago, he started his own business. He speaks passionately about his work, noting that he does not shy away from challenges. He enjoys engaging in dialogue with clients to experiment with newer designs. Even if commissioned for a single piece of furniture, Abdul is willing to undertake design briefs that give fodder to his brain. His many years in this profession have given him the kind of experience where no challenge feels too big to handle.

Hum ghabraate nahi hai naye type ke kaam se, aapko jaisa bhi kuch banwaana ho, kuch ekdum customised banwaana ho, hum kar denge.

 I don't shy away from a challenge. If you need something specific and one-of-a-kind, I’m ready for it. Consider it done.

Currently residing in Dharavi with his family, Abdul has four children, including a school-going son and a daughter in the 12th grade. His son attends the local municipality school. He reflects that just as his parents invested everything in their capacity to educate him, he is now investing everything he can to ensure his children have access to the best education. Although he suspects his children are not very interested in studying, much like he was, he remains committed to seeing them succeed in life.

Dharavi Mumbai ka dil hai.

Dharavi is the heart of Mumbai.

He explains that Dharavi has a perfect ecosystem that has grown over time to sustain small-scale industrial and workshop businesses. It is one of the few places where he can find all the required raw materials and the skills to process them. In Dharavi, whenever a primary industry takes root, it naturally fosters a surrounding cluster of auxiliary businesses that provide the essential supplies and specialised services needed for production. This concentration fosters a self-sustaining cycle, where every stage of the supply chain is within reach, enabling small-scale operations to function with high efficiency. Furthermore, the extensive network of artisans allows him to outsource tasks that cannot be done at his relatively small workshop. Since his business thrives on word of mouth, this network is vital for his growth. Geographically located in the centre of Mumbai, Dharavi also serves as a logistical centre, providing unparalleled proximity to the city’s major transport networks and many of its commercial marketplaces.

Abdul speaks very practically about the Dharavi redevelopment project. He anticipates that once the neighbourhood is redeveloped, the existing ecosystem will be disrupted. He expects overhead costs to increase and knows he may incur losses, but he views this as the part and parcel of any business and is prepared to deal with it when it happens.

However, he remains sceptical about the redevelopment project's intent, describing the redevelopment as divisive and not for the poor. While there are talks that residents will receive homes in the same locality, he refuses to believe that these homes will be permanent. He believes the aim is to create an elite urban neighbourhood, similar to the Bandra Kurla Complex, and push the poor and middle class to the peripheries of the city.

Despite these uncertainties, Abdul maintains an optimistic outlook regarding his future. When asked about moving away from the network of friends and work associates he has made over the decades, he simply states, "Wherever we go, we’ll make new friends and rebuild our business.”

Abdul’s perspective suggests an acceptance of his limitations within the social hierarchy and, to a certain degree, a resignation to his fate. While he acknowledges that some things are out of his control, he remains focused on moving forward in life without losing hope.