Dr Mamta Mantri | University of Mumbai (original) (raw)

Books by Dr Mamta Mantri

Cambridge Scholars Publishing , 2021

The world has witnessed many protests in recent years over a range of issues, from climate change... more The world has witnessed many protests in recent years over a range of issues, from climate change and rights of marginalized communities to threats to democracy or the rise of fundamentalism. This collection explores how any particular city (usually the capital of a nation) participates in, and provides answers and closure (or not) to, the issue and its protesters, negotiating both their identities and its own. Dr Mamta Mantri specializes in spatial criticism, and explores the idea of 'space' through different media, in both theory and praxis. Through her research on museums and heritage conservation, her first book on Bombay, and her creation of living spaces with an Indian idiom, she reinforces her beliefthat 'space' is a personal, political, and creative expression.

Words Rhymes and Rhythm via PublishDrive, 2019

A poem about dying and living in the context of abortion; as a part of an anthology ‘The Ethere... more A poem about dying and living in the context of abortion; as a part of an anthology

‘The Ethereal and the Ephemeral’ in Segun, Adesoro, E. (Ed), Voice of the voiceless: Life and Abortion Poetry Anthology Series

Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2019

Mumbai? Bombay? How do we explain this city and ourselves in this city? How do the city and the c... more Mumbai? Bombay? How do we explain this city and ourselves in this city? How do the city and the city dweller together allow for representations of urban life to arise in literature and the fine arts?

"It smells of ten thousand restaurants, five thousand temples, shrines, churches, and mosques, and of a hundred bazaars devoted exclusively to perfumes, spices, incense, and freshly cut flowers". Shantaram, the flâneur, observes and records.

This book is an understanding of Mumbai, both as an architectural and literary space, through the lens of spatial criticism and the technique of flânerie. As an icon of experiences, Mumbai is felt through the simultaneous acts of walking, observing, remembering and articulating.

In analyzing four novels- Baumgartner's Bombay, Ravan and Eddie, Shantaram and Baluta- the book claims that the characters and their authors offer an alternative vision of the city, as they also construct a transient place for themselves. This act of flânerie is an act of transgression as it turns the outside into the inside, changing public space into private space.As the characters serve to disrupt meaning, uncover hidden histories and expose power relations involved in the representation of place, they actualize many possibilities and meaning.

Using the novel as a literary device, the authors have told stories, not only of the protagonist- flâneur but also of people around them; sometimes in detail, sometimes in passing. Just like while walking on the crowded streets of Mumbai! In contesting, claiming and owning (the lives, the stories, and the city), the humane aspect is never forgotten. Mumbai also lives on, because that one person just smiled at you during the morning rush hour or offered you his/ her seat, or asked about your well being.

Papers by Dr Mamta Mantri

Safe collection, handling and transport of fecal sludge is an integral part of septage management... more Safe collection, handling and transport of fecal sludge is an integral part of septage management. Limited attention has been paid to the safe collection, transport, disposal and treatment of human excreta from septic tanks. A study was conducted in two cities in India to understand the current desludging practices, the underlying reasons for current occupational practices and hazards, relevance and sufficiency of personal protection equipment, and suggest ways to improve occupational safety. This report presents the findings of the study along with recommendations which are mapped on the hierarchy of controls.

European Academic Research Journal, Volume 3 / Issue 3, 2015

In India, the crafts and the design sectors share a symbiotic relationship. Design education in I... more In India, the crafts and the design sectors share a symbiotic
relationship. Design education in India, influenced by the Ulm and
Bauhaus schools, creates designers who are trying to bridge the gap
between the past and present, in an effort to create a design language
that leads to renewal of the craft traditions and ensure the
sustainability of our living crafts legacy. Government and Design
institutions also create and undertake independent projects for the
upliftment of the crafts. However, there are many drawbacks to such
schemes. It is well known that these schemes focus only on the creation
of newer products and artifacts only, without considering the context of
any craft itself. In this paper, a framework has been proposed for an
alternate design led intervention in the crafts sector. The components
include: Creation of a Design Cell, Guidelines preparation, Research,
Seminar, Creation of craft specific Action Plan, Design Development
Workshop, Exhibition and Documentary.
This framework hopes to celebrate the sanctified relation
between the crafts and its craftspersons, in the creation of marketfriendly products, facilitated by the designer, while bridging the gap between the old and the new.

The Criterion, 2015

A poem on some of the many contexts of deaths and pain

This article is an attempt to understand Hindi film director Rajkumar Hirani’s films through Mich... more This article is an attempt to understand Hindi film director Rajkumar Hirani’s films through Michel Foucault’s theoretical framework concerning power and resistance.

Approach to design education in India in the 21st century must reflect the emergence of innovatio... more Approach to design education in India in the 21st century must reflect the emergence of innovation and knowledge economy and convergence of media, communication and information, while keeping in roots in design values such as harmony, ethics, consumer delight, quality, functionality, visual culture and aesthetics. Design education in India, led by the Bauhaus and Ulm schools, catered to the ‘Developing India’ agenda. As things change today, what becomes the role of design education and design institutions? With the imperative to change and redefine their courses, Indian design education also has to change its mindset about itself and the way business perceive design. For what is a daunting task ahead, the paper proposes a 7 point vision. In creating a vision for design education and creating a newer definition for design, the paper actively acknowledges the human and cultural aspect that it encompasses. In breaking barriers with behavioral sciences and making them allied components of design education, designers shall be able to perceive and create ‘right’ solutions for humanity. Government policies play a major role in the development of design education. The paper also adds to the long due demand of a dedicated ministry for creative and cultural industries, by the design academia fraternity.

It is widely known that heritage can support rural development in general- not just for tourism a... more It is widely known that heritage can support rural development in general- not just for tourism alone. The characteristics of rural tourism sector are best served by the joint management of a wide variety of resources, agents and enterprises. For any heritage conservation to take place in Anegundi, The Kishkinda Trust (TKT) believes that it must first and foremost benefit the people of Anegundi economically, culturally and socially. The following paper is a theoretical model for increasing people participation in heritage led rural-tourism, with its core emphasis on skill development and capacity building.

Girish Karnad wrote many plays in Kannada, but his most powerful one is Tughlaq, written in 1964.... more Girish Karnad wrote many plays in Kannada, but his most powerful one is Tughlaq, written in 1964. This paper is an attempt to critique the play as a critique of the Nehruvian times, the 1950s and 1960s. the paper emphasizes the fact that Tughlaq, like other plays, at the hands of the postcolonial playwright, is a mirror for the contemporary society. In the use of history is a means to expose the current problematics of the contemporary society, Tughlaq can be seen through a modern-postcolonial perspective.

An exploration of the Nehruvian Era, as a part of my M Phil Dissertation on the theatre of Mohan ... more An exploration of the Nehruvian Era, as a part of my M Phil Dissertation on the theatre of Mohan Rakesh and Girish Karnad

Jaipur is known for its gota craft work, also called lappe ka kaam. It is a kind of appliqué work... more Jaipur is known for its gota craft work, also called lappe ka kaam. It is a kind of appliqué work on cloth; a fabric ornamentation, where small pieces of zari or ribbons are stitched onto the fabric with the edges sewn down to create elaborate patterns. Lengths of wide, golden ribbons are similarly stitched on the edges of the fabric to create an effect of gold zari work.

Conference Presentations by Dr Mamta Mantri

5th INTERNATIONAL FAECAL SLUDGE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, 2019

The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 has mandate... more The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 has mandated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning devices for sanitary workers but its utility and efficacy in the Indian context is worrisome. The study’s objective is to understand occupational safety, health and hygiene issues faced by de-sludging workers and to comprehend how risk exposure can be minimised through protection, prevention and mitigation. A systems-thinking approach involving daily assessment of workers, field testing of PPE and safety experts’ inputs helped chart hazard mitigation measures, protection by use of appropriate recommended PPE and safety protocols for de-sludging workers.