A Village in Mumbai

I had forgotten the unexpectedly rural nature of the little pocket of Mumbai where my grandparents house is located. It is a "cooperative housing colony" i.e. cheap residences built on marshy land as post independence Mumbai expanded. The initial tiny and roughly built residences are now quite changed as those with money built the squat, concrete and storied bungalows beloved of modern Indians announcing their arrival into the ranks of the comfortably off. Somewhere in between, the residences were modest and aesthetic cottages. Few now remain, the picture on the right below is of two residences that were the norm in the 70s and the 80s. It is also a long time since I saw common house sparrows (picture below left) and they along with squirrels seem to have made a comeback of sorts. And while cows are common in all parts of Mumbai, the picture on the left below has a somewhat bucolic setting.

Rarely for Mumbai, the residences are set on their own land and boast tiny gardens. A fair few were in bloom. The three above are trumpet flowers, rangoon creeper and ixora.

Travelling around Mumbai, you are lost in the ceaseless, anonymous roar of the city. But the colonies, enclaves and societies of the city are tiny domestic worlds with ordinary rhythms and routines and sometimes as with my grandparents place are unexpectedly quiet. The banana seller above has been making the rounds of the colony for many years as do other vendors of small goods.

And I quite liked the signage above for the school bus as well as the one hung by an irate householder whose intent is clearer than his spelling.