The Truth of Two Decades: Slums, the System, and My Research

Pictures speak... if only one has the eye to listen. Today, while browsing through old files on my computer, this photograph suddenly appeared, and a caravan of memories began to unfold. This photo is from 2016, during a trip to Jaipur with 16 of my NGO colleagues. We had stopped at a farmhouse, where I met this woman. To me, it wasn't just a picture; it was a glimpse into the self-respect of rural life—knowing how to smile even amidst scarcity. However, as a researcher, my true destination was the slums of Jaipur. My connection with Valmiki Nagar began in 2001 when I first applied for my PhD at Rajasthan University under Dr. M. Kapur. The journey was far from easy. I faced a long administrative battle over the 'equivalence' of my B.Sc. degree. After three years of persistent effort, my admission was finally confirmed in 2004, and I officially immersed myself in fieldwork in 2005. During that 2005-06 fieldwork, I was deeply impressed by a woman in Valmiki Nagar who had completed 12th grade. Despite a lack of resources, her education had led her to live a very organized life. Seeing her discipline, I truly believed that education would transform the fate of these slums.

"A single photograph can hold a lifetime of stories. For me, this image is more than a memory—it is a window into a 25-year-old quest that began with a struggle for a PhD admission in 2001 and evolved into a deep study of Jaipur’s slums. From Nehru's vision of 'Eradication' in 1952 to the stagnant reality of 2026, here is a glimpse into the two decades of my research journey." But when I returned in 2016-17 for a 'Decadal Change' study, the reality disappointed me. That same woman had become an 'Anganwadi worker' in the same slum. While the administration might view this as progress, I saw it as a stagnant shift. This brings to mind Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's visit to the slums of Kanpur in 1952. Distressed by the subhuman conditions, he remarked: "These slums should be burnt to the ground and replaced with decent houses for human beings." His vision was 'Eradication'—to lift people out of squalor and settle them in planned townships. Unfortunately, we shifted from 'eradication' to making these slums 'permanent.' By 2016, the system focused on providing minor facilities like Anganwadis, effectively institutionalizing their stay there. Now, in April-May 2026, I am preparing for my third visit. I want to observe this full cycle from 2005 to 2026 to see if we have truly progressed, or if we have simply given 'disorder' a new, permanent name.This journey from 2005 to 2026 is now taking the shape of a book and research papers XOXO