due Sep 12

In Chapter 1, Dierdre Mask explores the slums of Kolkata, India (formerly Calcutta) and how street addresses can transform them. To understand Kolkata, it is crucial to examine its complicated history. Nearly 300 years ago, “the British divided the city into the Black Town and the White Town. The White Town, where they lived, had European architecture and boasted the same kind of town planning as London. Houses often resembled palaces or Greek temples, with imposing colonnades. In the Black Town, there were no colonnades. The population of Calcutta had increased by fifty times over two hundred years – but housing had only grown eleven times. Unsurprisingly, slums exploded” (Mask 21).

Mask examines these complexities in a slum called Chetla. While this area does struggle with sanitation, clean water, healthcare, and even roofs to protect them from the monsoon rains, “the lack of addresses was depriving those living in the slums a chance to get out of them” (Mask 19). Addressing the Unaddressed is one of the organizations Mask explores; their mission is to “provide a unique postal address for people living in slums and shantytowns around the world today.”

To understand precisely how they are accomplishing this, please watch the video below:

OPTIONAL: To know what it is like to walk the streets of Kolkata, see the video below. It is fascinating, as there is no music or commentary, just people going about their daily lives:

Mask found that people with addresses are empowered citizens with a sense of identity. “In other words, without an address, you are limited to communicating only with people who know you. And it’s often people who don’t know you who can most help you” (Mask 30).

For this lesson’s discussion in 150 – 250 words:

1. Reflect and Write: Examine one of the organizations that Mask mentions in this chapter that is helping those living in slums. Be sure and look up the organization online and determine what its purpose/mission statement may be. How is this organization working to accomplish its goals? Think about some of the obstacles or critiques these organizations have faced. What were they? How could they improve?
2. Question: Pose a question to your classmates that you had when considering this week’s discussion prompt. Be sure to make it an open-ended question (How? Why? What if?).