Encroachment of land in Mumbai
This opinion piece critiques the 'builderdari' culture in Mumbai, where land intended for public use is increasingly diverted to luxury real estate. The author argues that common citizens are being displaced by powerful developers.
Why it matters
It addresses the critical issue of urban planning, land rights, and the widening gap between the wealthy and the common man in India's financial capital.
T he average Mumbaikar’s plight has become like that of the poor peasant in Tagore’s epic poem Dui Bigha Jomi (two bighas of land) , in which the poor man says to his zamindar –“O Lord, countless are the plots of land you already own, But consider — I only have land enough to bury me when I’m gone!”. The zamindar brushes him aside saying — “Your half-acre will allow me to design a lovely fountain”. The poor peasant replies: “Spare this poor man’s land, or else he dies!”
Today, the average Mumbaikar occupies two positions when it comes to land ownership. Is he from the builders’ lobby (the zamindars of today) or is he a poor Mumbaikar (today’s landless farmer) whose only remaining Dui Bigha Jomi is being taken away from him? Zamindari exists in India’s financial capital today. And it is called ‘ Builderdari ’.
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