To say that Mumbai is an overload on the senses would be an understatement. From the spices and aromas, the hustle and bustle, the vivid colours, to the diversity of Indian culture – I am blown away!
I’ll kick off with one of my favourite aspects…the food! It quickly became apparent that food sits at the heart of Indian culture – whether it’s colleagues offering me a bite of their lunch, or restaurant workers constantly adding to my plate, food is the key to culture.
Below, you’ll see a picture of a traditional dish called Thali. Yes, it’s a huge plate, yes, it’s all for me, and yes…that was only the appetiser! Thali is a dish comprising of sauces, chutneys, dips, soups, yoghurts, breads, and rice curries. Every minute, the staff added a new item to try, rotis to dip, suggesting different combinations, and sprinkling extra seasonings on our dish.
You’ll also see a picture of one of my favourite staples that is home to Mumbai…pav bhaji. This is my lunch at work, for 60 rupees ($1 NZD!!) I’ll make the most of it while I can!
Admittedly, I’m too accustomed to bagging Auckland Transport at every opportunity. But I’ll confess… I’m really looking forward to catching the NX2 when I get home. If I had to describe Mumbai’s transport system in one word, it would be hectic.
I learned pretty quickly that you either shove your way onto the train or you get left behind. Fortunately, for us interns commuting solo, there are designated carriages for women only, which helps us feel more at ease in such a bustling city!
Stepping off the train into Bandra station is where my fight-or-flight kicks in. As you can see, it isn’t easy to spot your ride when it’s swallowed by the sea of rickshaws. But once I’m in, I have the time of my life – check out the video below to see our driver ripping around Mumbai like an F1 driver!
India has a population of 1.4 billion, putting NZ’s meagre 5 million to shame! While this adds an exciting pace to the way-of-life, it’s also sobering to see a clear divide between this population…the rich and the poor. All it took was the first drive from Mumbai airport to our accommodation for this to become clear.
As we crossed Sea Link Bridge, we saw an enormous structure, home to the daughter of India’s richest man. The house was purchased in 2012 for $61.2 million and contains a private cinema, swimming pool, and temple room.
A mere stone’s throw away sits some of India’s poorest living conditions. It’s difficult to accurately encapsulate these areas, witnessing how many people live well below the poverty line in overcrowded, under-served conditions. Just yesterday, I learnt that the average life expectancy of a person living in these areas is around 39.
I’ll give you time to let that sink in.
Now, to get to the whole reason I’m in Mumbai…my internship! I’m lucky to be interning with Vipla Foundation. This multi-faceted organisation works with the Indian Government to improve the lives of vulnerable women and children.
I’m excited to share that I’m in their Legal Research Team for Human Trafficking Prevention. It goes without saying that this area of work is taxing, both academically and emotionally. On my third day, I attended proceedings at the Thane District Court, where I watched the father of a 7-year-old victim give his testimony. While this experience was fascinating, it was also sobering, adding to the list of reasons why I want to work in the human rights field.
On a day-to-day basis, my work involves plenty of research. I am currently working on a comparative case analysis to determine how Prosecution can strengthen their cases, leading to an increase in human trafficking convictions. Grappling with India’s legislation and case law is both complicated and interesting – I’m looking forward to progressing my research and sharing what I find.
As I type, I’m sitting at Mumbai Airport, waiting for my flight to Ahmedabad, where I will attend an Indian wedding! Passport in hand, my Kurta’s packed… I’ll keep you posted!