Of ghettos and housing discrimination in Mumbai

Not all ghettos in this megapolis are decaying, dirty and poverty-stricken areas, but if one is not born into privilege, then living in a fairly nice area can seem like a distant dream.

A few weeks ago I sat in a bright, well-ventilated living room in Bandra with a view of a quiet and leafy lane and an old bungalow with white walls and a roof with Mangalore tiles. The so-called ‘Queen of the Suburbs,’ Bandra has a few tranquil and well-maintained neighbourhoods with a distinct Old World charm. If you ignore the fancy cars you’ll feel l…