2024_Akanksha Thakur — SEA Archives

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Women entrepreneurs and spatial adaptations: Mahim Koliwada

Indigenous Vocabularies in Urban Worlds
Akanksha Thakur, 2024

The study explores the role of fisherwomen as entrepreneurs in Mahim Koliwada, an urban fishing village in Mumbai. Taking the example of Seafood Plaza in Mahim, the research examines how economic initiatives shape spatial practices and social dynamics within the community. The plaza, established as an initiative to support the community, has become a lively space where women sell freshly prepared seafood, attracting thousands of visitors. This also provides a significant source of income. Central to this transformation are Mahila Bachat Gats—women's self-help groups through which Koli women support each other.

While koliwadas are often viewed through a deficit lens focusing on declining fishing practices, infrastructure, housing conditions, etc. this research focuses on the resilience and adaptability of Koli women. The Mahila Bacahat Gat that have emerged in Koliwadas play a strong role in empowering fisherwomen. These groups, built on family and community bonds, have allowed women to use their homes and shared spaces in new ways, transforming them into work areas to make preparations for the plaza.

Through semi-structured interviews, observations, and visual documentation, the study investigates the spatial adaptations made by these women within domestic and public spheres, unfolding how such activities reshape their standing within the community. Identifying such cases and studying the spatial shifts and underlying networks provides a deeper understanding of what contributes to the bustling scene at the Plaza. This research contributes to a broader understanding of women-led community resilience, challenging dominant narratives around fishing communities and shedding light on the evolving social and spatial landscapes of urban Koliwadas.

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