India, a new perspective

Slumdog Millionaire

As Next Step Connections is launching a new internship program destination in India, I am currently in Mumbai and had the chance to be there during two important évents.

The diwali festival and the visit of US president Barack Obama.

Diwali is also named as the festival of lights. Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil throughout the city to signify the triumph of good over evil.

Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India and is celebrated by families by performing traditional activities together in their homes.

The atmosphere in the Streets was a bit frantic as loud fireworks exploded all over the city.

This morning, I watched US President Barack Obama’s speech at St Xavier’s school here in Mumbai. He addressed the student body in a very warm and interactive way, answering many questions coming from an impressed yet excited  young crowd.

A few minutes before, Michelle Obama had made an introductory speech emphasizing the need for US students and Young entrepreneurs to travel to India and create lifetime friendships.  No one can ignore the rising role of India in today’s global economy. She also encouraged US students to become global citizens through educational exchanges with India.

The US president’s visit has been a major event here in Mumbai.

I had already felt the tension when I walked through the Taj hotel in South Mumbai a few days before Mr. Obama’s arrival. The place, usually packed with tourists was transformed into a gigantic fortress.

During my trip, I also had the chance to visit the notorious Dharavi slum with a non-profit organization. I am hoping to get our program involved with this organization as we plan to give back to the community here in India.

Dharavi is the largest slum in Asia where more than 1 million slum dwellers are packed within 535 acres.

Dharavi is what I would call a ‘functional chaos’, It contains a huge conglomeration of cottage industries and primitive workshops that produce goods for the world market as well as an expanding industry processing recyclable waste from across Mumbai. The total annual turnover of Dharavi is estimated to be anywhere from US$650 million to US$1 billion

Dharavi recently became the center of attention in the entertainement news as it was partially depicted in Danny Boyle’s latest Oscar-winning movie ‘Slumdog millionnaire’.

To be honest,  I had never seen something quite like it : 535 acres of shantytown, open sewers and narrow lanes in central Bombay. Not the perfect beach destination but I felt completely safe.

80% of the children at Dharavi go to free governement schools.

They all had smiles on their faces, shaked my hand, one even asked me if I was Obama…