Poor Little Rich Slum

by Rashmi Bansal, Deepak Gandhi

One little two little three little Indians, four little five little six little Indians, seven little eight little nine little Indians... One million little Indian entrepreneurs.

These are the stories of the little people who make up the Big Idea of Dharavi.

A slum of energy, enterprise and hope.
Where every hand is busy, every head held high.
Where people could be miserable but choose to be happy.
A choice each of us can make.

Genres: Nonfiction, India, Business, Entrepreneurship, Economics

204 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Rashmi Bansal is a writer, entrepreneur and youth expert.She is the author of two bestselling books on entrepreneurship. ‘Stay Hungry Stay Foolish’ features the stories of 25 MBAs who left lucrative jobs to follow the rough road of entrepreneurship. The book created a new record in Indian publishing by selling over 300,000 copies and has been translated into 8 languages.

Rashmi’s second book, ‘Connect the Dots’ focuses on non-MBA entrepreneurs. It has also been a bestseller, selling over 100,000 copies.

Her third book ‘I Have a Dream’, on social entrepreneurs, is releasing in May 2011.

Rashmi is co-founder and editor of JAM (Just Another Magazine), India’s leading youth magazine. She writes extensively on youth, careers and entrepreneurship on her popular blog: Youth Curry.
Rashmi is a columnist on popular Indian news portal Rediff.com. She has been Consulting Editor with Businessworld magazine and Bloomberg UTV, where she hosted India’s first interactive show on careers.

Rashmi is a consultant for international youth research agencies such as The Futures Company (a division of WPP, London ) and Flamingo Research (Singapore ).A guest lecturer at various business schools of repute including IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, ISB, S P Jain among others, Rashmi mentors numerous students and young entrepreneurs. She also conducts motivational talks and youth insight seminars for corporates.

Reviews

[Ravi Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

To become a great non-fiction author you need a mind-boggling subject, you have to do exhaustive research and you need such jargons in your book that people seldom understand. Read Rashmi Bansal’s books and you’ll realise that all that is just a myth. Who imagined that one can become an instant bestseller by publishing a few pages of “Interviews of IIM Entrepreneurs”, well, that is what “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” was.

Read the full review here: Poor Little Rich Slum Review

[Fred Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been to Dharavi a couple of times and worked in other Mumbai slums, it's good to see a book talk about the positive sides of these communities. But in the end, this is just a short summary of businesses and people, seemingly geared towards the Indian middle class that drives by these slums every day and are discovering that there is a real economy there. Key points of dialogue are in Hindi so that probably hurts my interpretation of the book, so I can't be too critical. If you do want to learn more, just use Google to follow up on these organizations. If you want to dig deeper into people's stories and motivations, read "End of Karma".

[Anbukarasan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have seen a movie slumdog billionaire, read this book to know the good things in a large slum

Also the book is so well written

[Alokmahajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dharavi is a cauldron bubbling with enterprise, with a never-say-die attitude. With spirit and spunk”

I have been in exile for quite a long time. One day I suddenly watched amazing blog of my friend Jimmy Jay @http://personalstreet.blogspot.in/ and thought I should also pen down something.

Recently I brought the fourth book written by “Rashmi Bansal” (https://twitter.com/rashmibansal )Poor Little Rich Slum. I ordered the book along with biography of Fauja Singh at dirt cheap price. But that was it. They were lying in one corner when one day I just picked Poor Little Rich Slum and flipped the pages. My inspiration to buy this came when I visited Bombay in year 2010 for a bakchodi aka presentation contest. Once we landed at the airport and were driving towards the destination I saw a huge rather mammoth slum and thought wow!! These guys have serious balls if they can stay in this mess. Smile on their face made me confused.

Time filed by and the in year 2012 I was reading about Dharavi Asia's largest slum, Dharavi, home to more than a million people right in the mid of India’s Financial Capital where 1,400 people shared one toilet. Somewhere it reminded me of Shantaram prison scene (read http://humangb.blogspot.in/2011/12/sh...) .

Written in fluid and simplistic fashion this books is about 20 son of soils came from all parts of India and their destiny has one common factor Dharavi. No Silicon valley, No Princeton University it all starts right here, right now in the heart of India AamchiMumbai.

Be it the story of jameel Shah the man who made dancing shoes for bollywood head honchos , Soaib Grewal, a graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design using his skills to cure one of the worst problems in India “Water Purification” each one of them is filled with what human spirit can achieve. It manifests that all the blockers are in the mind and the most powerful tool given by god to human race “Hands” can do wonder if used in the right spirit. Stop this all for an a moment.

Coming to the pertinent question a lot of people ask (including me) we don’t have enough resources, don’t have money, qualification, correct exposure and all that kind of questions which we hide behind. I remember during my MBA macroeconomics professor used to teach about the macroeconomic indicator like Purchasing Power Parity, Per Capita Income , GDP and so on( complex terms YUkk!!) . But as evident Most of us working in Corporate Rut have one indicator to judge everything i.e CTC or package. A parochial view has been created and most of the persons are afraid to take the plunge. This book proves it wrong. All guys listed in the book don’t look the world from the safe view and were not willing to spend their life as bunch of sheep’s living in a herd. The question I ask to everyone is that they have lived in worst situations ( imagine ten people living in 10X10 room) have no formal education but have used Jigar ,Jugaad and Junoon. So if they can live their dream and are creating their Magic factory who is stopping us. Only the Mental Roadblocks.

Please read this saga of human spirit, compassion , blood, pain and pride. There are moments when you will feel happy, sad but I am sure it will ask you for a bigger introspection something which education can’t teach you. Something that is very near to your heart. Read to know more about it. Colourful photographs are also very good. Mind it , it’s funny as well in between.

No Silicon Valley, No Princeton University it’s all About Dharavi my friend . Salute to strength of Human Spirit.

Post is dedicated to Jimmy Jay https://twitter.com/JimmyShout and his blog http://personalstreet.blogspot.in/.
“A life lived for oneself is the biggest waste of all” -Poor Little Rich Slum

My Rating 12/10 Must Read

http://humangb.blogspot.in/2012/09/po...

[Lubna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just one word to begin with: This book is a MUST READ - it is brilliantly written and is accompanied by stunning photographs. When overseas visitors land in Mumbai, they appear shocked at the slums which they spot along the highway en-route from the airport. Why, even visitors from other parts of India tend to stare open-mouthed and ask: How do these people live within the four walls of plastic sheets or rusty tin sheets? And most of us 'pucca' Mumbaikars (i.e. - long-time residents of Mumbai) are just immune to the squalor and prefer to ignore it. At the same time, within all of us, there is a grudging admiration for the grit which the slum dwellers display, their ingenuity and deep rooted desire to thrive in this big bad world of Mumbai.
This book by capturing the lives of many people living in Asia's largest slum Dharavi pays a tribute to the spirit of can do, of entrepreneurship, of the willingness to march ahead despite all odds.
The book is divided into sections, viz: (1)Dharavi, What Ees?; (2) The Incubator; (3)The Cauldron Of Change; (4)The Future. Each of the sections contain stories about people surviving or at times successfully thriving in Dharavi. If the story of Jameel Shah, who now has a thriving enteprise and makes dancing shoes for famous Bollywood stars, captures one heart, so do the stories of those not living in Dharavi, but engaged with Dharavi.Take Srini for example. His story is aptly captured in the chapter - Less is More. Srini volunteers for Teach for India. A lot of love and patience has helped him ensure that his students take an interest in learning, especially in learning English. Of course, his innovative concepts of putting coins in a box, when pleased with the students performance (to be used for a treat later) or prize rewards of marbles -- which no young lad can resist, played a huge motivational role. Or then, there is Soaib Grewal, a graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design, who has set up a social enterprise that aims to introduce clean water techniques in Dharavi. A water purification tablet sells for as little as Rs 1 and then there are the high end filters which sell for more than a thousand bucks. Creating awareness about the need to drink clean water is taking time, but this enterprise is determined to do its bit.
You can find a detailed review on my blog:
http://www.booksonmyshelves.blogspot....

[Shail Raghuvanshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, ‘Poor Little Rich Slum’ is a great valiant effort in bringing to the forefront what urban dwellers in cities would rather hastily sweep under the carpet. The book writes about not just any slum but a place where “….a cauldron is bubbling with enterprise, with a never -say-die attitude. With spirit and spunk…” It writes about “Ten by ten feet rooms occupied by eight- member families with barely enough space to stretch their legs. Stove in one corner, TV in another.”

One wonders, “….Even that is surely not enough…Where do people relax? How do children study? When do couples make love?”
The answers are obvious because people do adjust, they make do with what they have.

Poor Little Rich Slum could be just any other book about a society bursting at its seams, bearing with the indifferent attitude of the have-it-alls. But, there is a difference. What makes this book stand out is the heartfelt intention and initiative of the authors and the photographer to make a difference and the ability to perceive life from the point of view of the people living in Dharavi.

People in the pages of this book are real living characters who suffer, slog but survive only because of their determination to make it in life, come what may. We may not expect this from them because of the background that they come from. But it is a fact, that Dharavi shows time and again that life can be lived and made a success of (of course, the definition of success varies everywhere!) if only one aspires for more with the little that one has.

I would suggest that everybody, irrespective of status and ideology must have a TASTE of this wonderful book. The writing touches the heart without getting too emotional and the pictures are mind blowing.

“A slum of energy, enterprise and hope.

Where every hand is busy, every head held high.

Where people could be miserable but choose to be happy.

A choice each of us can make.”

This quite sums up Dharavi, about which the authors so passionately write in this beautifully designed book. I think this should be a prompt enough for you to read this book? What say?

[Sahana Siska · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was a fascinating read to someone who has almost never heard of Dharavi, which is the largest slum in Mumbai, but is a hotbed of entrepreneurship and social initiatives. The pros of the book are the wide variety of people and their stories introduced in this book, which is characteristic of Rashmi Bansal. And there is a peek into the Dharavi slum which is almost a self-sustaining ecosystem, an overgrown monster on valuable real estate land, but also a different sort of habitat for poor Mumbai immigrants. The inner dynamics of the slum's industries and the people living there would make a interesting read but you catch only a glimpse of it this book. The cons are the writing style which is a bit too preachy especially when she needs to conclude a chapter, it could have been avoided but seeing as how her books are marketed as inspirational reads I can see why needs to twist every story into a single line motivational quote. This became annoying as the chapters went on. But overall, it's a 2 hour read and changes your perception of slums and the people who've dedicated their lives to it.

[Sagar Papneja · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a fast paced summary of businesses surviving in Dharavi. It does not show the full picture of conditions and that is still okay. What it fails to do is to make us care about these real life fighters. Probably because it is less of their voice and more of the writer's.

[Ankita L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know Dharavi has a gymnasium busy building several champions? Did you know that WaterWalla is the new name of clean water for Dharavi? Did you know there are self run schools in Dharavi? Did you know Dharavi is brimming with energy and enterprise? Did you know there is a redevelopment plan of Dharavi envisioned by their very own? And most importantly, Did you know that nobody in Dharavi is sitting idly, waiting for an outsider to be their knight in shining armour? No.. Right? I too did not.

This book is an eyeopener for those people , including myself, who have thought of Dharavi just as a slum needing a massive intervention (the popular Slumdog view). For this book is a brilliant and a moving depiction of the success stories of people of Dharavi and the real economy that exists there. What stirred me most was their belief that 'paucity of means is no barrier to the audacity of dreams'. I feel so proud that they have accomplished so much with so little. The book is truly a treasure worth reading and preserving!

One line in the book moved me very deeply : "Even the government believes that a criminal has a right to a space of 8x8 ft in jails. But we are even worse placed than them, for here in Dharavi about ten to fifteen of us live in a small space of 10x10 ft.". Despite this, they still don't want to relocate. For this is their home. And here is the big realization that for any redevelopment or rehabilitation to be successful that it shall be then and there only. It shall be driven by them and for themselves.

It is to the authors' credit that every single story is narrated beautifully. All throughout, the expressions, jargon, tone and language runs in line with the milieu. This makes the discourse very relatable and immensely moving. Honestly, I did not expect it to be this good. But its most striking feature is story being told through the eyes, faces and words of the Dharavians. This lends it unmistakable authenticity and just draws the reader deeper and deeper. The best part is the ending that proposes a solution of redeveloping the slum area as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), carefully tailoring it to their needs.

But, in all fairness, the book does have a few shortcomings. Firstly, font size is too small to be readable. Secondly, it looks more like a compilation of individual stories rather than a more holistic and chronological account.

In a nutshell, my recommendation is please go for it. I am sure you won't regret it. It will make you empathize with true realities of slum dwellers. More than that it will help in dispelling your not so well founded notions of slums, esp. Dharavi (India), if any. Plus, it will lift your spirits coz if they can realize their dreams, so can others!

[Nihit Parikh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors take us on a journey of stories of struggles of a man living in Dharavi. Even though the hardships of life is quite similar to other slums across the country, what's different here is the approach of citizens of Dharavi. The people here don't only live from the hoped they have from the government, but rather they dream, and they work even more harder to achieve those. Be it a creative shoe making business, or clothing industry, body-building industry. The success stories of Ayyappan Idli Stall & INMA enterprise are a must read for all. The book goes on to talk about the various NGOs & other organizations i.e. SPARC, SNEHA, Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work have worked on changing the rhetoric of what Dharavi used to be defined by. The research projects (non-governmental) taken up in past three decades have not only made it clear to us what problems the people living in slum are facing, but also handed a helping hand in elevating the level of education, housewives, and awareness about health & welfare.

Read the entire book review of this book on my Instagram page. Follow @what.areyoureading on Instagram.

[Aparna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and touching read. So many stories from the most vibrant and happening place of Mumbai. Lives of so many people are described in this books. A good start for people who want to research on Dharavi , or even just to know about the place.

[Veena · Rating 4 out of 5]

The outsider is blind to the drudgery of Dharavi. He chooses to see a colorful, chaotic, creatively inspirational mess. We watch these blind men as they scramble over the elephant of Dharavi. It is an amusing sight and, at the same time, a tragic one.

Above are few sentences that are written by the authors about the situation in Dharavi. They have picked up individual entrepreneur stories from the slum. The book showcases how the inhabitants have made a comfortable life for themselves despite the hardships.

There is also a mention of different NGOs working towards a better life for the people in Dharavi. The book gives a statistical account with a personal take on the lives. It is not always the pitying state. The authors also provide with solutions towards the end.

The language is very simple since the book is directed to the majority who cares about the cause. The authors also go poetic in a few places, quoting books. It also has a Hindi sentences to bring people in slums closer to the readers. I liked the flow of sentences. Even though they are separated by wide gaps the sentences seem to have a flow.

Read complete review at :
http://acupofcoffeeandafairytale.blog...

[Karan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice book if you want to see Dharavi(or slums in general) from the perspective of the people who live there. It includes short stories about people and organisations who live or work in Dharavi. Some of which are inspirational while others simply highlight leading concerns.

[Rohit S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the title and the premise of this book, which explores the lives of the wealthy elite in Mumbai's slums. The author, a journalist who spent two years living and working in the slums, offers a fascinating and eye-opening account of the paradoxes and contradictions of this hidden world. He introduces us to a cast of colorful characters, such as a slumlord who owns a fleet of luxury cars, a Bollywood star who lives in a shanty, a gangster who runs a charity, and a millionaire who sleeps on the floor. He also reveals the complex social dynamics, the cultural diversity, the political corruption, and the human resilience that shape this unique environment.

The book is well-written, engaging, and informative. It challenges the stereotypes and assumptions that we often have about poverty and wealth, and shows us a different perspective on what it means to be rich or poor. It also raises important questions about inequality, development, and justice in a globalized world. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the realities and complexities of life in the slums.

[Dhiran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Came to know of it as a slum in Bombay, the second largest slum in Asia. The book provides a whole new picture, Dharavi is an ecosystem in itself, where poor migrants have made it their home and work place. Attracting not only poor migrants but also many educated professionals not just from parts of India but globally, like Mr. Walter Fischer who has set up an acupuncture clinic to treat the residents of Dharavi. Most residents now don’t want to leave, even if they have the resources for a better dwell. Cause for the world it may be a slum, but over time it has now become a Taj Mahal of Slums which organises tours for foreigners and locals. Dharavi is a self sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystem providing its residents the livelihood that they possibly may not be assured stepping out. #BookLovers #LoveToRead #dntjbookclub #atozentrepreneurship

[Garima Banerjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is packed with inspiration. So often we come across hurdles in our lives, blaming them for our failures, but here's a book that comes up with so many inspiring stories of success that came up with flying colors inspite of all the difficulties existing in their daily life.

Poor Little Rich Slum is an ode to the success stories of Dharavi that will not only uplift your soul but also fill you up with determination that no matter how the situation is, it can be won over our sheer determination and perseverance.

Excellent Read. We need more of such books!

[Swateek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike other Rashmi Bansal's books which talk about stories in each chapter, this book sells Dharavi in the whole book.

Quite well written, and ends with more than a perfect epilogue I have ever seen. Not quite engaging but that's also good for information heavy books.

[Anagha Yatin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dharavi, Asia's largest slum, Slumdog fame. Is that all about it? Ofcourse not. Its a place of thriving economic activity as well as poverty ridden multi layered social life. The book shares the success stories from Dharavi specially from enterprise, economic point of view. A good read.

[Robert Donisch]

Learned about a culture and life I can't imagine. Frequently supporting the ideologies of Paulo Freire in practice, this gives hope of improvement to a slum most people would probably rather bull-doze than attempt to improve.

[Sahil Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like any other Rashmi Bansal’s book, this one is too inspirational and quite insightful about Dharavi people and what’s actually happening in there. About the beauty within the chaos.

[Sriram Shanbhag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.

Well written guide to a dharavi we don't know about . Hard work and will, make any place, a slum or not, an incubator for success.

[Aakanksha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing!
Liked the way it brings out varied industries and businesses in Dharavi. A good one to start with.

[Neha Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check my review at this link
https://wrytin.com/nehaneha/poor-litt...

[Pravin Uttarwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing insights of Dharavi..

I live in Mumbai but still there were lot of things were there which i do not know mentioned in this book. Simply amazing..

[Tushar Parashar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great narrative and amalgamation of short life stories and accomplishments of people in Dharavi. A must-read. Breaks stereotypes and challenges your knowledge of what a slum usually is like.

[Ameya Paleja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great on ground research.simple story telling.

[Nirav Dobariya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's a good book to understand about slum area and people.

[Raman]

Good quick read.

[Teja Avvari · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very interesting book on Asia's largest slum Dharavi. The lives of the people there and many things about Dharavi and the people there.

[Bhavneesh Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Interesting Read!