Following on from a look inside our new home, here are some scenes from our new neighbourhood in Mumbai — Hirandanani Gardens, Powai. Powai is located in Mumbai’s central suburbs, around 6 kilometres from the airport and 25 kilometres from the city centre in south Mumbai.
Hiranandani Gardens isn’t your typical Mumbai neighbourhood. In fact, I was surprised that such a place existed! It’s a planned development township, built solely by Hiranandani Constructions.
I’m discovering that the quality of life here is quite exceptional. No wonder the area attracts a lot of expats. The developer has built parks, hospitals, and schools. There are world class hotels, shops, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, and clubs. Nearby, there’s even a go-kart track.
Most of the accommodations in the area consist of luxury highrise apartments, constructed by the developer. However, step outside the boundaries of the township and you’ll find people living in huts on the side of the road. The contrast is immense. The bungalows where I live are the only buildings that haven’t been built by Hiranandani Constructions. They lack the luxury element, but make up for it with character and space.
I feel incredibly comfortable walking around this neighbourhood. On more than one occasion I’ve seen Indian women dressed in mini skirts or shorts. I do miss the “Indian” element though — those small, small shops that clutter the side of the road in a mismatched manner. Outside my old apartment building there was a tailor, a paper recycler, numerous vegetable sellers, a laundry, a hardware store, a mattress maker, a chemist, a grocery store, a fancy store, a guy who came on his bicycle to sharpen knives and other instruments, a chai-wala, and an assortment of evening snack stalls. Sadly, the only vada pav we’ll be eating around here is Jumbo King!
Our street. Entrance to the compound is on the left.
Our street looking the other direction.
D-Mart is at the end of the street. 2 minutes walk from home.
So is Aromas, and other coffee shops.
Another 5 minute walk and there's a three level shopping centre.
Heading towards Powai Lake along Lake Boulevard there are stores such as Levis and Natures Basket.
Entrance to one of the public gardens.
Despite the sanitation, there are still some reminders of India, like this guy lifting his rickshaw up for repairs
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KL didn’t allude to any of that though. He/she was actually asking for information about how wealthy Indians earn their money. It was an open ended question. No hint of call centres!
Maybe Indians need to start relying less on perceptions and assumptions.
Developed countries don’t always equal wealthy people! All it generally means is that the standard of living there is better, AND goods and services also cost a lot more!
“Or the attraction and respect will be superficial I guess.”
Yeah, or else the attraction will seem fake.
Rich people in India get rich the same way they do anyhere in the world – businesses, artistry, high paying jobs, politics, etc. And of course, the alternative ‘industries’ – bureaucratic corruption, smuggling, sex trade and the like.
There are both old money and new money in India. There tends to be more of new money in the metropolitican cities and tourist hotspots. New money is generally spotted for being ‘loud’ – snobbery and crass. Old money is usually more sober.
If he knew, he wouldn’t have asked. Let us not be so rude and condescending to people who are curious about India and Indians.
Some people in India think developed countries are heaven but the fact of the matter is that people have to work like hell to develop it and the cost of living in some areas would seem like hell too.
And even the cost of home help makes it unaffordable to most people in developed countries! Having a driver or a maid is unheard of for middle class people, despite our perceived wealth and “luxurious” living standards!
Ancient Egypt, China, Rome etc. All these ancient Empires looked rich and developed but millions had to suffer and die in order to build the pyramids, the great wall, and the cities of Rome. So being developed exactly doesnt mean its all joyful all the time.
India has definitely earned a prosperous future then, considering all the past sufferings and challenges.
@Sharell
“India has definitely earned a prosperous future then……”
An ordinary Indian/Chinese will NEVER have the money that say an ordinary American have or make……but the STRENGTH LIES IN NUMBERS
For a lot of people in India, the developed world is indeed a heaven. And not just because of misconceptions. Think it this way – if one is a taxi driver, which would be a better place to make a living – London or Delhi? What about if one is an ace footballer? For people living a comfortable life in India, such questions do not arise.
Have a look:
http://nitawriter.wordpress.com/2007/01/24/india-will-be-number-two-economy-in-the-world-by-2050/
First China. Third US.
Though it means very little in 2010…..but there is a chance that big things will happen here.
Ronny, Numbers could be a bad thing as well cause human population is increasing and there’s not enough space left for life. Once population gets out of control, the balance of nature gets out of control, and that would mean trouble for the world.
@Indian American
“Numbers could be a bad thing as well cause human population is increasing and there’s not enough space left for life.”
That’s a very good point…….by the way, we may not survive till 2050 because of Global Warming……..lets hope for the best
Talking about 2050, some people are worried about 2012. But then we create our own problems. Like in the film where some people drill into the earths center, messes up the earths core. Thus causing the axis to shift its balance, and there goes the planet.
“But then we create our own problems.”
hahaha …….We have been creating our own problems since time immemorial……. biggest example is terrorism
KL didn’t allude to any of that though. He/she was actually asking for information about how wealthy Indians earn their money. It was an open ended question. No hint of call centres!
If he knew, he wouldn’t have asked. Let us not be so rude and condescending to people who are curious about India and Indians.
With the constant China India hysteria that the western media stirs up, I am surprised that someone can ask such a naive question. I mean, how do people the world over earn their money? I might have come across as rude but it was more of a surprise+shock response. No offense meant to anyone!
“hahaha …….We have been creating our own problems since time immemorial……. biggest example is terrorism”
Human beings are special when they care but human beings aren’t that special when they destroy.
Western media portrays India in a negative manner but then western media doesnt portray how India was robbed of its riches, its peace, its stability, etc once. During the time of chaos, she was standing on one leg. Now she’s standing on both her legs.
That’s a very good point…….by the way, we may not survive till 2050 because of Global Warming……..lets hope for the best
Humans are selfish, they’ll find always find ways to survive. This century will be the hotbed for clean/green technology and forget global warming, I can already see the ice age coming in another century!
Western media portrays India in a negative manner but then western media doesnt portray how India was robbed of its riches, its peace, its stability, etc once.
Well, we are a poor country and it’s normal for anyone to project India the way it is. But the western media does it very regularly and opportunistically.
He didn’t ask a naive question, he simply asked what rich people do in India. It is a perfectly normal question, no more naive than the suggestion that only the US is more industralised than India.
He didn’t ask a naive question, he simply asked what rich people do in India.
It was a perfectly normal question to you, but the most ridiculous question I’ve heard in my entire life along with the other statements.
It is a perfectly normal question, no more naive than the suggestion that only the US is more industralised than India.
Look up the meaning of industry verticals.
You want to hear a more ridiculous one?
“Do elephants have headlights in India?” This is a question a friend of mine got in a US church seminar.
I doubt many people live in Hirandani garden are rich. I see so many small small cars in the photos. Shouldnt there be all bmws,mercs and lexus models?
Posh area usually do not have auto rickshaws ,right?
Check out a reprint of my blog post that appeared in the local Powai paper.
http://www.planetpowai.com/news/2102201006.htm
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