phone worries and productive meetings

A long and somewhat productive day.  I guess I can't really call it productive yet, because what I've gotten today are leads, and now I have to see if they will materialize.

But the foremost thing on my mind at the moment is the possibility that my cell phone service will get cut off tomorrow.  I got the phone on Sunday, I think.  Maimoona's friend, who is a vodafone dealer, told me I needed to submit an application and a copy of my passport soon, but I guess I didn't realize how soon.  Today, I got a message that if I don't submit my identity documents within 24 hours, my service will shut down.  I got the message in the afternoon-- I was busy trying to get to some meetings at the time-- though I did manage to stop and get my passport photocopied.  I think if I had gone the normal route of getting a phone (like going to a store and dealing with strangers instead of doing things through a friend) they would have asked me for my documents on the spot.  Now the friend who sold me the sim card has exams tomorrow and cant help me out.  Maimoona, who is so extremely helpful, has offered to take me to a vodafone store first thing in the morning to prevent the shutdown.   There is a chance that may not work-- because the people in the store may not like my initial acquisition of the phone, which was not by books.  In that case my phone service will get disconnected, and apparently, once that happens, its really difficult to get it back.  Of course it is my own fault about the tardiness with the documentation.  All of this comes at an inopportune time, because I have a couple of things on my schedule tomorrow and a bunch of people to call and coordinate with.

I met with a professor in the civics and politics department of University of Mumbai.  She couldn't have been nicer.  She was super-friendly, had insightful things to say about the topics that I am researching, and gave me tons of contacts to get in touch with for my research.  She called a couple of them herself and set up some meetings for me.  I left her office feeling really relieved and a bit excited... I have enough leads to keep me busy for a few days (provided I still have a phone).  She encouraged me to keep her posted on my progress, and I definitely will.  Its nice to have an academic friend :)

After she and I were done talking, she sent me over to meet Dr. Sneha, a director in the All-India Institute for Local Self-Government, which is a research and training organization that specializes in urban development and administration.  Its government funded, but autonomous.  Although her offices were close to the university, they weren't walking distance, and it was still pretty hard to get there because the rickshaws are all on strike.  (They are protesting an impending law that will require them to have electronic meters).  So that meant that it was also really hard to get a cab.  I ended up walking a lot and was really uncomfortably hot and tired for most of the day... I'm sure I will get used to the heat soon.  When I got there,  Dr. Sneha was quite busy... she listened to my description of my research for about 5 minutes, and then nodded and said, Now I understand what you're doing.  This is not going to be a short meeting.  I'm really busy right now, can you come back tomorrow?  And she proceeded to tell me about the various kinds of data she will pull out for me, and the people she can introduce to me for interviews.  At one point, she offered to call up Raj Thackeray's PA and set up a meeting.  (Raj Thackeray is the leader of a political party that is at the center of anti-migrant politics in Mumbai). I don't really know how that is possible, but it would be totally ridiculous.  Anyhow, she seems really smart and was businesslike and busy, but quite cordial.  I'm looking forward to meeting with her again.

Update on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 10:16AM by Rameez

Was able to submit documents and the phone works just fine!

The level of identity verification and bureacracy surrounding simple things is really extensive.  By law, to get mobile phone service, you have to either submit proof of residency in the city or provide a copy of your passport and visa, local contact information and references, and a wallet sized photograph. 

You also can't get television or internet service unless you show proof of residency.  The people who are setting up my internet access are familiar with Bakir Uncle's family in this building, so they are willing to hook up my service without the necessary documents.

And just this afternoon, I tried to buy a monthly train pass, but was thwarted because I didn't have any pictures of myself.  I guess I better get used to carrying them around.  I got them taken, will receive them tomorrow, and then a train pass will be issued to me.  Will have to go back to VT (stands for Victoria Terminus, but the actual name is Mumbai CST, which stands for Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus).  Its a huge train station.  Chhatrapati Shivaji was a famous Marathi king, from a few centuries ago.  The re-naming campaign happened in the mid-1990s in Bombay (Mumbai), and it is one aspect of the different sub-nationalisms (based on regional languages and cultures) that are a part of the Indian political landscape.