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Over an extended period, coercive messages continued. Originally, reportedly from a retired cop and a former defense officer, and then from the police themselves. Ultimately, one resident claims he was called to law enforcement headquarters and warned explicitly: keep quiet or encounter real trouble.

The leather artisan is part of a group fighting a multimillion-dollar initiative where Dharavi – a massive informal community with rich history – faces demolished and transformed by a corporate giant.

"The unique ecosystem of Dharavi is like nowhere else in the planet," explains Shaikh. "Yet the plan aims to destroy our way of life and stop us speaking out."

Dual Worlds

The narrow alleys of this community sit in stark contrast to the towering buildings and elite residences that loom over the settlement. Dwellings are assembled randomly and often lacking adequate facilities, small-scale operations emit toxic smoke and the air is saturated with the suffocating smell of uncovered waste channels.

To some, the vision of Dharavi transformed into a modern district of premium apartments, organized recreational areas, contemporary malls and apartments with proper sanitation is an aspirational dream come true.

"We lack proper healthcare, proper streets or sewage systems and there's nowhere for children to play," explains a chai seller, fifty-six, who moved from his home state in 1982. "The single option is to clear the area and provide modern residences."

Resident Opposition

However, some, like Shaikh, are opposing the redevelopment.

All recognize that Dharavi, historically ignored as informal housing, is desperately requiring economic input and modernization. But they worry that this initiative – lacking public consultation – might turn valuable urban land into a luxury development, displacing the disadvantaged, immigrant populations who have lived there since the nineteenth century.

It was these excluded, migrant workers who established the empty marshland into an extensively researched phenomenon of local enterprise and business activity, whose output is worth between a significant amount and $2m a year, making it one of the world's largest unofficial markets.

Displacement Concerns

Out of about one million people living in the crowded 220-hectare neighborhood, a minority will be eligible for replacement housing in the redevelopment, which is estimated to take a significant period to accomplish. The remainder will be moved to wastelands and coastal regions on the distant periphery of Mumbai, threatening to divide a historic community. Certain individuals will receive no housing at all.

People eligible to continue living in Dharavi will be allocated flats in high-rise buildings, a significant rupture from the organic, shared lifestyle of residing and operating that has sustained the community for so long.

Businesses from tailoring to pottery and waste processing are expected to reduce in scale and be transferred to an allocated "commercial zone" separated from people's residences.

Survival Challenge

For those such as the leather artisan, a craftsman and multi-generational of his family to reside in this community, the project presents a survival challenge. His rickety, three-floor operation creates garments – sharp blazers, suede trenches, studded bomber jackets – distributed in luxury boutiques in upscale neighborhoods and overseas.

Household members dwells in the accommodations underneath and his workers and sewers – workers from different regions – live there, enabling him to manage costs. Beyond this community, Mumbai rents are typically significantly costlier for a single room.

Threats and Warning

At the official facilities in the vicinity, a visual representation of the redevelopment plan illustrates an alternative vision for the future. Slickly dressed residents gather on bicycles and electric vehicles, acquiring international baked goods and breakfast items and socializing on an outdoor area adjacent to a coffee shop and treat station. This represents a world away from the affordable idli sambar breakfast and low-cost tea that sustains local residents.

"This represents no development for our community," states the protester. "This constitutes an enormous real estate deal that will render it impossible for our community to continue."

Additionally, there exists concern of the business conglomerate. Headed by a prominent businessman – one of India's most powerful and a close ally of the Indian prime minister – the business group has faced accusations of crony capitalism and financial impropriety, which it disputes.

Although administrative bodies calls it a joint project, the corporation paid a significant amount for its majority share. A lawsuit claiming that the project was improperly granted to the corporation is being considered in the top court.

Ongoing Pressure

After they started to vocally oppose the development, Shaikh and other residents state they have been faced an extended period of coercion and warning – involving messages, explicit warnings and implications that speaking against the development was equivalent to opposing national interests – by individuals they claim represent the business conglomerate.

Included in these alleged to have making intimidations is {a retired police officer|a former law enforcement official|an ex-c