She writes that on a househunt she found that every caste group and community was busy creating its own ghetto but it is Muslims who are only termed [or accused] as the ghettoised people.
In Mumbai, it is very tough for a Muslim to find a house in a multi-cultural society because no body is willing to give a house to Muslim on rent [or for purchase either].
The situation is similar in most cities of the country and unless a strong movement emerges against this ghettoisation (by any community) and governments take certain measures, it will damage the social fabric of the nation. She writes:
One has heard of instances about how the Malabar Hill-Napeansea road belt (the most prized and pricey areas of Mumbai) are being take over by the Jain-Marwari business families.
Old Parsi bungalows are being bought just to ensure that the particular part of the city is left pure for a group of people.
Christians too have begun to form their own buildings, so do Parsis and Gujaratis and Sikhs. But these are not called ghettoes. Why, then, must Muslim-populated areas be deemed ghettos?This blog has raised the issue of discrimination with Muslims in housing societies, on many occasions. Read the stories:
1. Builders' boycott pushes Muslims into the ghettos
2. No House for Muslims: Controversy on Shabana Azmi's comment
3. Finally, a bank for the Muslim-dominated Juhapura in Ahmedabad
[Link to Farzana Versey's story]
