Birmingham and Dharavi (CP)

Question 1

Birmingham - LOCATION

Answer 1

• located in the West Midlands, England.
• located at centre of national motorway network and central of UK rail network (New Street Station).

Question 2

Birmingham - INDUSTRIAL PAST (LOCALE)

Answer 2

• 1800s = factories heavily dependent on workshops and application of factory based steam power.
• 1791 = first manufacturing town in the world.

Question 3

Birmingham - INDUSTRIAL DECLINE (LOCALE)

Answer 3

• spiral of social and economic decline = high unemployment rates and closure of the manufacturing industry.
• competition from abroad = manufacturing buildings left derelict > cheaper to import materials from emerging countries.

Question 4

Birmingham - RECENT REGENERATION (LOCALE)

Answer 4

• main industry = service industry.
• Eastside City Park = increase the amount of green space.
• Centenary Square = Central Library to replace old library = removed vehicular traffic around the area, making it more attractive.

Question 5

Birmingham - TV SHOW (LIVED EXPERIENCE)

Answer 5

Peaky Blinders = gangster family of Irish and Roma origin, set in Birmingham, in 1919, several months after end of World War 1 > mural unveiled on 15 February 2022 to announce launch date of final season, painted by Akse.

Question 6

Birmingham - MUSIC (LIVED EXPERIENCE)

Answer 6

• UB40 = pop-reggae band formed in Birmingham, more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart and have had over 70 million record sales.
• The vamps have also helped promote Birmingham and often host their album release parties in the city which helps promote the city.

Question 7

Birmingham - ART (LIVED EXPERIENCE)

Answer 7

Reuben Colley:
- fine art
- depicts areas of Birmingham City Centre.
- barren or empty.
- serene.

Question 8

Birmingham - DEMOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

Answer 8

• population (2021 census) = 1,144,900.
• population density = 3,650 people per km^2.
• main religions (2011 Census) = Christian (46.07%), Muslim (21.85%) and no religion (19.27%).
• multicultural society = 70% white, 20% Asian and 6% black.
• 20% of the inhabitants who live in Birmingham were born in another country = migration is common.
• 52% of pupils in schools are non-white = population of non-white people is growing and will continue to in the future.

Question 9

Dharavi - LOCATION

Answer 9

• Considered one of Asia’s largest slums.
• West side of the state of Maharashtra, India.
• Area of just over 2.1 square kilometres.

Question 10

Dharavi - PAST (LOCALE)

Answer 10

• 18th Century = island with a predominant mangrove swamp, inhabited by Koli fishermen.
• 1950s = proposals for Dharavi redevelopment plans periodically came out > most failed due to lack of financial banking and political support.
• Dharavi’s Co-operative Housing Society formed in the 1960s = uplift the lives of thousands of slum dwellers, promoted 338 flats and 97 shops.

Question 11

Dharavi - REDEVELOPMENT PLANS (LOCALE)

Answer 11

• Plans have been made since 1997.
• Latest urban redevelopment plan = managed by American-trained architect Mukesh Mehta, involves construction of 2,800,000 square metres of housing, schools, parks and roads, as well as 3,700,000 square metres of residential and commercial space for sale.

Question 12

Dharavi - FISHING PAST (LOCALE)

Answer 12

• For over 500 years, the Koli fishing communities have been living and working along the coastal waters of Mumbai.
• 1800s = construction waste from nearby building sites were deposited on the banks of Mahim Creek, which soon became an illegal dumping ground.
• Mahim Creek dried up = Koli could not fish, moved to find sources of water for fishing, hence as the ground grew firmer, buildings and factories were built on top of all the rubbish, creating the slums.
• As people migrated to Dharavi the slum became full of crime such as illegal liquor and the mafia.

Question 13

Dharavi - IMPORTANCE OF WATER (LOCALE)

Answer 13

• Big issue = standpipes come on at 5:30am for 2 hours as water is rationed > shared between many people.
• Water pollution = locals urinate in the Mahim Creek, polluting the river and creating a spread of diseases.
• section to wash their clothes = washing clothes in water that people defecate in.

Question 14

Dharavi - POETRY (LIVED EXPERIENCE)

Answer 14

Living Space by Imtiaz Dharker:
- Beginning = negative perspective of the slums in Mumbai; near the end = more positive perspective > shows strong sense of hope and community.
- “Beams balance crookedly on supports”.
- Each stanza is uneven with different shapes and lengths/random line lengths = reflects buildings in the slums / uneven.

Question 15

Dharavi - FILM (LIVED EXPERIENCE)

Answer 15

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
- 18-year-old boy answers questions on Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”.
- flashbacks = part of a stable of young thieves after their mother dies, Jamal and his brother, Salim, survive on the streets of Mumbai.

Question 16

Dharavi - ART (LIVED EXPERIENCE)

Answer 16

Jeffery Gillete:
- produces art work which he calls “slum scapes”.
- contrasts the slums with Disneyland
- highlights how children are supposed to be happy like in Disneyland which is seen as the happiest place on earth.

Question 17

Dharavi - DEMOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

Answer 17

• Population = 700,000 to 1,000,000
• Population density = over 277,136/km^2.
• 30% Muslim, 6% Christian and the rest predominantly Hindus (63%).
• Literacy rate = 69% > most literate slum in India.

Question 18

Dharavi - SOCIAL

Answer 18

• 2018 = approximately 31 million people unemployed / 40% of India’s population is unemployed.
• Local residents urinate and defecate into Mahim Creek = spread of contagious diseases.
• Doctors have to deal with over 4,000 cases of typhoid per day.
• 2006 Human Development Report by the UN = average of 1 toilet for every 1,440 people.

Question 19

Dharavi - ECONOMIC

Answer 19

• Increasingly large recycling industry, processing recyclable waste from other parts of Mumbai = reported to employ approximately 250,000 people.
• Exporter of goods = various leather products, jewellery, various accessories and textiles. Markets include stores in the US, Europe and Middle East.
• Tour operators = guided tours through Dharavi, showing industrial and residential parts and explaining problems and challenges Dharavi is facing > deeper insight to slum.
• 85% of people have jobs in the slum and work locally.

Question 20

Dharavi - ENVIRONMENTAL

Answer 20

• Potable water is supplied by the MCGM to Dharavi and the whole of Mumbai = large amounts of water is lost due to water thefts, illegal connections and leakages.
• Water and power shortages for residents due to relying heavily on illegal connections to the water and power supplies.
• Open sewers = spike in water pollutants, septic conditions and foul odours > lung cancer, tuberculosis and asthma are common among residents.
• 89.6% of deaths in the slums are from respiratory problems caused by pollution.

Question 21

Dharavi - POLITICAL

Answer 21

• India’s government has tried to increase industrial output by developing special economic zones to lure major manufacturers.
• Located next to Mumbai’s financial district = key place that needs to be re-developed and is often at the heart of political campaigns.
• Despite this regeneration attempts have been unsuccessful = residents don’t want the slum to be redeveloped; this is due to their informal economy and that they will struggle to find business elsewhere. As well as this many fear they will be left after the regeneration without a home.