Our nation is developing rapidly and an increasing number of skyscrapers in metro-cities definitely second that fact. But that\'s just one side of the coin as slums in these metro-cities underline how we are still struggling to overcome typical third world problems like poverty, population and hygiene.
Abandoning one’s home in a city all of a sudden and moving into an unknown destination, as a result of urban development, is one of the most excruciatingly painful experiences the urban poor undergo, especially in a developing country like India. The Kathputli colony, located on the western part of the national capital, Delhi is one such case, where thousands of puppeteers, magicians, snake charmers, acrobats, singers, dancers, actors, traditional healers and musicians from different parts of the country stand on the verge of being displaced. The “Kathputli Colony” got its name from string puppet theater (kathputli), a folk art in India. Recently, the colony has become the center of much media attention and political debate over the displacement of its residents. This article attempts to unfold the politics behind the urban displacement and rehabilitation issues related to Katputhli Colony and how the poor residents struggle against the might of the state as well as private developers
ABHISHEK SINGH, India, Delhi
