HUSSAIN
CHACHA

A narrow lane that runs parallel to the busy thoroughfare Duncan Road (that divides Kamathipura and Nagpada) is today the nerve centre for small scale units that recycle used jeans. Cramped units with mezzanine floors line the narrow alley as migrant workers, mostly Muslim men from UP go about their work at a furious pace - sorting, stitching, repairing, washing, dyeing, drying, packaging, labeling, etc. On the other side of the street there are a couple of temporary huts abutting some larger buildings, a mosque and a Buddha Vihar. Before the lane was settled by the migrants from UP, the same buildings used to be the residences of the municipal corporation’s lower caste sweepers who fled the area post the riots of 1992-93, since the lane was in the middle of Hindu and Muslim areas. Behind the row of units, there is a wall which barely conceals a large block of apartment towers under construction signaling the transformation of the area and its possible ramifications on the livelihoods of these migrant workers.

About 30 years ago, Hussain Ali migrated to Mumbai with the help of his neighbour from Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh, to work as an assistant in a shop in Nagpada. At the time, every youth in the city aspired to own a pair of “jeans pants”. With the financial help from his employer, and some savings, Hussain Chacha started a small jeans recycling unit in Stable Street. He had only two workers in his shop to begin with. Eventually these workers too went on to establish their own recycling units as the business in Stable Street grew in 1990s and 2000s.

Hussain Chacha brought his family from Gonda district of UP and is currently settled in Vikhroli. His struggles and success as an entrepreneur have become a legend on Stable Street inspiring new migrants to enter the business. His business has expanded considerably. Recycled jeans from his units are not only sold in Mumbai but also in Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Workers in his units are from Gonda district in UP. Though Chacha is one of the oldest jeans recycling unit owners on Stable Street, he too is considering winding up his business and moving away.

The multiple names by which Stable Street is known, point out to the waves of complex migrations into this locality.

Chandramanu Budhha Vihar kehte hai is raste ko. Buddha community wale rehte the. Humlogo ne unse rent pe rooms liye the. Woh log Panvel side sab shift hog aye.’

When Stable Street emptied out post the riots, small scale entrepreneurs from the neighbouring Chor Bazaar, Do tanki, Nagpada area began to rent out the vacated units and retrofit them into small factories cum living spaces for the migrant workers. The proximity to Chor Bazar attracted this lot of entrepreneurs.

‘Kathawala Saab ek side ka sab rooms leke baithe hai. Dusre side me Bhawani Leke baitha hai. Hum logo ke baare me koi sochta nahi hai. Humein last meeting mein bulaya tha 2011 mein lekin uske baad kuch nahi hua. Andar kam chalu hai. Pata nahi kab ake sab tod denge.’

High rises are coming up in almost every lane in Kamathipura. According to Hussain, the entire Stable Street is going to disappear in a few years. This is his place of work and for many it is their place of residence. But, redevelopment means that only residents - i.e., landlords and tenants would get compensation and an apartment in the new high rise buildings. Unfortunately, the small scale businesses and shops would be wiped out.