Professor traces untold stories of women’s influence in Mumbai
Inspiration for Paroma Wagle’s recent research came from a deeply personal source: her grandmother. A local politician and activist, her grandmother played a key role in some of Mumbai’s most formative social movements of the 1960s. But what struck Wagle most was how little these stories were known.
“While studying Mumbai for my doctoral dissertation, I realized the mainstream academic literature talked a lot about men and their contributions, but the stories of women who had a big role in making Mumbai what it is today remained untold,” said Wagle, assistant professor in the School of Public and International Affairs. “When my grandmother was telling me her story, I got the sense that I was hearing a fuller story of Mumbai.”
As an urban planning and geography scholar, Wagle was drawn to this untold history. She began researching key moments of social activism in Mumbai, tracing their outcomes and impact. What started as an exploration of her grandmother’s story soon expanded into a broader investigation of how women had shaped India’s largest city over decades.
Now she is bringing this research to the broader university community on Feb. 20 as the first speaker in this year’s Women and Girls in International Development Discussion Series.
Researching decades of women’s activism
Wagle initially focused on two major women-led movements: the Anti-Price Rise Movement of the 1960s, when women campaigned against inflation, and the present-day Right to Pee movement, which advocates for safe sanitation options for women in Mumbai.
“I began drawing similarities between the ’60s movement and the Right to Pee movement,” Wagle said. “It gave me a little snapshot of how feminist thought in India has changed. We evolved from looking at things politically to doing intersectional work to increase women’s access to basic things like housing, water, and sanitation.”
Expanding her research, Wagle uncovered more stories of women reshaping Mumbai. One of the most inspiring, she said, was of a woman politician named Mrinal Gore, who fought to have her suburb included in the city’s metropolitan boundary so residents could access municipal water and utilities. Today, locals still call her the “Water Lady” for her lasting impact.
“From an urban planning perspective, it is fascinating to see Mumbai changing — literally expanding — because of this one woman’s advocacy,” Wagle said.
Sharing her findings, inspiring hope
Now, Wagle brings these stories into her classroom, using them to illustrate the power of advocacy in urban planning and to inspire her students.
“My students ask me for success stories. I did too when I was in their place. I used to bug all my professors by constantly asking, ‘Where do we find hope?’” Wagle said. “This research has been about finding those success stories — finding hope.”
For Wagle, the many stories she has uncovered demonstrate that, despite obstacles, individuals — especially women — can drive meaningful change.
“They show me that despite any disadvantages we have in front of us, or that we have to carry with us, we can make an impact. We can make change.”
Wagle will present her research on Mumbai’s city-shaping women on Feb. 20 at noon. The talk, presented by the Center for International Research, Education, and Development, will be held in the Goodall Room (Multipurpose Room) in Newman Library and via Zoom.
To register for the Zoom, visit the Women and Girls in International Development webpage. The event is free and open to the public. To request accommodations, email pratirakshyak24@vt.edu.
