Rahul Srivastava is a co-founder of urbz and The Institute of Urbanology. He studied social and urban anthropology in Mumbai, Delhi and Cambridge (UK). His previous publications include an ethnography of urbanized nomads around Mumbai, a novel published by Puffin, (Penguin, India) and 'The Slum Outside', a commentary on Dharavi, co-written with Matias Echanove and published by Strelka Press. He continues to write extensively on urban issues with Matias, with their next major publication signed up with Verso, London. He brings his background in anthropology and visual ethnography to urbanology, the practice that energises much of urbz's work in Mumbai and elsewhere.
Articles
Use-value vs Exchange value
The overlooked importance of local construction activity. (The Hindu 21/1/2018)
Spirit of the forest
A traditional drink made from wild flowers can become a strong local economy for tribal India (The Hindu 6/1/2018)
New States, New Possibilities
Emerging political boundaries can help us rethink other categories. (The Hindu 3/12/2017)
The laborious journey from hell to paradise
How one of Sao Paulo’s largest favelas became a nice neighbourhood
The road to the city
How renewed attention to urban-rural linkages may reshape the urbanisation debate. (The Hindu 5/11/2017)
Constructive Resistance
One small indomitable neighbourhood holds out against the planners (and changes the plan). (The Hindu 22.10.2017)
A Humane City
Anyone who has commuted on trains during rush hour knows there’s something deeply tolerant about the Mumbaikar (The Hindu 07.10.2017)
Exporting Indian Urbanism
Not all is worthy of the bin! Our latest column in The Hindu explores features of Indian urbanism that could inspire cities around the world. (The Hindu 24.09.2017)