Gurgaon, the new urban India - VPRO documentary - 2009

Original title: Documentary: I am Gurgaon. The new Urban India (VPRO Backlight)
The shining facades of Gurgaon, a satellite city of New Delhi, are symbols of India's unparalleled economic growth. Gurgaon was built at the turn of this century by the largest project developers in the world. A village 15 years ago, has now grown into a city of 1.4 million inhabitants, but with little or no infrastructure. How viable is this new type of city?
Residents of the gated communities of this privatized society offer insights in their hope, desires, and in the new self-confidence of the Indian middle class. Gradually it becomes clear what the consequences of the credit crisis and the growing gap between rich and poor are for the city and the psyche of its inhabitants.
Gurgaon: a Ponzi Scheme or the prototype for future megacities as they will be found all over India within a few decennials?
Originally broadcasted by VPRO in 2009.
© VPRO Backlight September 2009
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Credits:
Director: Marije Meerman
Research: William de Bruijn, Raghu Verma
Producer: Janneke van de Kerkhof
Commissioning Editors: Jos de Putter/Doke Romeijn, George Brugmans
English, French and Spanish subtitles: Ericsson.
French and Spanish subtitles are co-funded by European Union.

[@vprodocumentary]

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[@charuprakash1]

cant believe the 'beggar' lady!!!! what a thing for a mom to teach her kids................so sad

[@Rishnit]

I lived in gurgaon and i love it so so much.. the malls, the food, the clubs, the space and the people..everything is beautiful in that city

[@PrabhjotGill1972]

Looking for beggars to give them 10 rs each and telling her kids..... oh its a lot of money for them, really disturbing. Her attitude towards the GUard at the Golf Course, when he asks her if she is a member is like, " how can you even think i am not a member". I am sure if there were no cameras she would have gone all gangster on the guard.

[@lokhtar]

Did anyone notice how at 16:10, she says "Don't forget or I'll beat you." and they translated it as "Don't forget and I'll let you have it."....

[@leonardoc6504]

I have been reading some of the comments, and I think that most did not understand the documentary. - Before Gurgaon, there was nothing. Nothing at all. There were no houses, there were no streets, no routes, there was no electrical system, or sewage system, there were no schools, hospitals, sports clubs. THERE WAS NOTHING. The entire city was built by private companies, without state government participation. All services are privatized: Water, electricity, waste collection, security, justice, maintenance, cleaning. There are several companies competing to provide these services. There are almost no monopolies, not as many of the services offered by the state anywhere in the world do. Where the state monopolies generally give a poor quality service. What is special about the city of Guagaon is that many of the big global corporations have invested there. So it has had rapid growth in a few years. The City of Gurgaon in India is perhaps the most successful anarcho-capitalist contemporary experiment to date. Is the city perfect? Of course not and it is far from it. But I'm sure it's much better than if the state government had been administering it.

[@iWaNtMy0rAnGeS]

to some of you HATERS OUT THERE- i know the lady in the pink, not the other one, but her and my family has provided funds for her project at Sanshil. The whole organization is very effective and helpful and you would be surprised to know that some of those children HAVE made it to Delhi Public School from all their hard work.

[@monaskyes8579]

Shilpa Sonal does a good job. Bineeta Singh acts funny so she is getting hate.

[@rh001YT]

most indians are very cool. Many Indians speak better English than Americans or Brits. Indian women are still women - so refreshing, so graceful.

[@DurgeshKaushikVlogs]

Thanks a lot "I am Gurgaon"...India can become a developed country within next five years if we can call a "Corruption Ceasefire" for a couple of years!

[@skylark304]

THANK GOD! WHATEVER I THOUGHT WAS CORRECT ! I REALIZED MIGRATING TO DELHI OR PUNJAB IS AS GOOD AS GOING OUT OF INDIA!

[@sumantrawat5586]

Excellent work VPRO thanks for posting this.

[@KKIRANCHAND]

True...very true...Gurgaon's got all this splendor inside the office spaces. Outside it's a big failure - the typical indian city story right now. Missing transportation, lack of electricity, heavy traffic, pollution ....list can just keep going on

[@sameertandon22]

Amazing Video....Gurgaon could not be described better then this....Great Job!! Keep up the Good work!!

[@chomegyo]

It's amazing how Bineeta Singh has no idea how ridiculous she sounds!! Presentable, my ass! And giving handouts to beggars. That's some wisdom she's giving her children. I feel sorry for them already.

[@miffyjc]

My first visit in India was Gurgaon. The developers ran with money all right. Well, what can I say. I was stuck in the elevator during the blackout and it was very shaky. I was scared as hell.. My friend lived in the 24th floor*One of these DLF buildings) and it happened like 3 times in a week!

[@sipp91]

"can we get some juice...we're playing PSP with a 21 inch hi-tech TV"

[@apoorvsaxena3886]

very nice documentary ! :)

[@rh001YT]

I love the gentleman who is upset at the fraud - yes, he should sue. It is not your lot. Contact law is how the West was built - threat of lawsuit keeps people honest. I love the fact that India is becoming the second America - similar struggles, similar successes. What an amazing place. Pedal to the metal, my Indian brothers and sisters!

[@styledelights]

Great documentary! BTW Bineeta Singh seems (at least from this video) a terrible person. "Domestic people are not trained for cleaning dog litter!'? Her grammar as well as her horrible way of treating other human beings need help. At one point she says, the 'help' should be 'visually acceptable as well as behaviorally acceptable" an d "her toilet is inspected by me!!" - WTF!! Her maid seems to have her priorities right - educating her daughter even if she has to work for this heartless person!

[@mathiasmaranhao]

Is there an update done of this? Would be nice to always make frequent updates

[@vprodocumentary]

Hello Mathias, We receive quite a lot of comments asking for updates, and we let the redaction of vpro backlight know about it. We cannot tell you now if we will get updates on these documentaries or not.

[@kronemoz]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYXIm4mgorCgY5o

[@ShatrughanMishra29]

Most of the things shown here are hazards of this so-called indian urban society. People are still captured in feudalism. However, they think they have attained modernity but actually, they have become just richer in terms of wealth. But, intellectually, society doesn't want to grow. One of them said that the domestic helps should learn to clean the poop of the pets. This is sarcastic. If they are concerned about the community, they should practice it first. Its their community & pet.

[@divyadarshipandit3220]

Loved the ending as it ended on a hopeful note.

[@ganbhag3188]

it is sarcastic tone, how young Indiand are unmindful of problems and see it money minting opporutnity

[@leecarler4977]

does anyone know what happened to the apartments? did they get rebuilt?

[@prancinghorse21]

I dunno how landed into this video...but it somehow reminded me of Arvind adiga's novel white tiger which i read cuppla years ago

[@rajat955]

i tell these lokhtar,therawaan that dont comment unless you had seen this city i live in south delhi which is super posh ,gurgaon is just 20 mins drive from my home this city has the largest concentration of infrastucture 45 shopping malls r in this city even more than the capital of india delhi "25 malls" .best golf course of india ,wide roads but less population .gurgaon is just 5 mins drive from international airport delhi,this city is divided into to parts old gugaon ,NEW GURGAON

[@4aaaafamily]

I hope some one heard what Bineeta Singh told her maid at 16.10 , bhulna mat nahi to pitegi, iIwonder if she is acctually assaulting her maid . I live overseas but some one in India must look into that.

[@sethrajat1983]

I'm a nri n was thinking about investing in gurgaon but after this I gotta think again...

[@kalidasa_in]

The prices are sometimes translated incorrectly to English. Not 663,000 in Hindi in the video the price said is 66,300.

[@zshan4445]

Homeboy was feeling thirsty and decided on 8 water bottles and 8 grape juices !!!!!

[@Jeffro288]

Whatever you guys are haters i think its Great that india has this city

[@CJ4mPJ]

16:08 she actually said, "don't forget, or else you'll get a beating." I think she abuses her physically which happens quite too often in India.

[@mathiasmaranhao]

CJ4mPJ how do you know?

[@rh001YT]

thanks for posting this video - nice interiors. Maybe you could pay the domstic help a little more.

[@lokhtar]

Love how easily such indentured servitude is accepted. She is not allowed to leave? Her quarters are inspected by the owner of the house? What the hell? This is so disturbing and the fact that no one thinks so is the worst part.

[@sphiral84]

its kinda strange that newly developed properties are very beatifull but there are no roads and green background at all

[@venkataram4810]

These gated cmmunities are sadly becoming more of a norm

[@Reddylion]

you are spot on, were are you now..

[@ValueYourTimeOnEarth]

There is two India, India needs a government that will level the playing field and give every kid a chance to better future.

[@prancinghorse21]

p.s. it reminded me of 1 more thing called inclusive growth that ma favourite teacher used to talk about quite often...which i have not seen anywhere in india so far...

[@maryandindea]

I live in UK now but i remember al them places and while waching this it made me cry and laugh at the same time! Cry because i realzied how much i miss this place but laugh because i reazied what a clean enviroment i live in now!

[@seeget]

This is sad. And all our governments (all parties) want us to believe that this is what we should live for.

[@Rj964]

it has become dirtier and over-populated since this was shot! went to india and gorgaon after 8 years and was shocked to see the filth everywhere. love my homeland and wish people maintain what they build!

[@TheMadsteven686]

Any sociologist out there? so this is clearly referring to Gated Communities at Gurgaon, that in turn is changing Gurgaon into a Global City?

[@veganize]

haha eight mango juice, eight grape juice.. it's not eight, it's EK, meaning ONE hahaha ps haters piss off ok thanx love you

[@jimsykes6843]

I'm really bad at Hindi and even I knew it was "one" not "eight"! haha

[@chancesofrain6480]

google '10 rupees to usd'. 'a lot of money'.

[@RocketmanRockyMatrix]

10 Rupees = $0.016 US Dollar

[@lokhtar]

@smano555 It's not money I am against, it's this gaudy elitist way of living. It's disgusting. I'd rather live with real people on the street than with these shells of human beings going out looking for beggars.

[@MrWarriorspirit]

When this documentary started I was thinking how refreshing it was that a Western documentary is showing the more urban and developed side of India over the usual slums and sadhus, but I soon found out it was just your typical "Poor India" documentary except with a heavy anti-rich sentiment. Watching this one would think the few rich people in India are snobbish bastards that live in gated communities in artificial cities. What a hatchet job. I am not pro-rich or anything, but how one dimensional can you get, and the rich patronizing woman with her kids, was she actually a real person or a hired actress? The truth of how rich people live in India is as far from the actual truth in this documentary as is how poor people live in India in Slumdog millionaire. First of all let me address the poor-rich divide. It is called capitalism, and capitalism is based on having class division and competition, it is this competition that allows some in the system to rise to the top and while others remain at the bottom. Every capitalist society has economic inequality, including the most capitalist and richest society in the world America, where 70 million people live on food stamps, and the top 1% own 80% of the capital of the nation. How about a documentary on this, aye or maybe Bollywood should make the American slumdog? You know what they say about those living in glass houses? Secondly, rich middle class Indians are not some tiny minority that live in ivory towers, they are 300 million strong, yes the size of America and they live all over India. Mostly in metropolitan cities. By 2020 they will be about 50% of the country. Every day tens of thousands of Indians are lifted out of poverty. So the poor are also a part of India's growth story. Thirdly, Gurgoan and other new townships that are emerging across India is not a fully fledged city, it is a city in progress. Gurgoan of 2016 is far more developed than Gurgoan of 2009 when this video was first uploaded, and DLF the main property developer still has not completed it. Most of these new futuristic urban cities of India you will not see till 2020 and generally you will not see the new urban face of India till after 2020. But have no doubts about it, India is rapidly transforming. The skylines of India's major cities are growing every year. After 2020 the West are finally going to have to accept India is not just slums with a few rich people living in isolated high rises.

[@senankamalakanan5128]

Survey showed how delusional India is. 2020 is 3 years away. It will take 2030 atleast for poverty to below 10%. Wake up!

[@martianbilal]

mrwarriorspirit can you point to any such informative documentary about the gurgaon, I am a pakistani, and the concept of the gurgaon seems really amazing

[@LeftFalangie]

...are undeniably classist, but I know LOTS of families that have paid their loyal domestic workers' children's school fees, and some have even put them through college. In a world where lack of education increasingly means a life relegated to destitution, domestic service is a pretty cushy job sector, because not only do you get paid more if you're a live in worker, you also get a safe and comfortable place to sleep. Also you're forgetting that the working classes in this country...

[@mathiasmaranhao]

Being sarcastic... What a nice sport, finding beggars

[@ayanmaity259]

is western media dont know how to make a documentary or they just dont want to show the new prosporeous india

[@Jingogunner]

THE MAID IS NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COMPLEX. IS THAT SLAVERY/

[@tutorialconr]

@super1world Best comment ever. We have come a far way, but we still are 3rd world, we must come back to our senses. We cannot compare ourselves, to China, whose economic reforms happened almost 15-20 before our's.

[@mangalchand7242]

In day as well

[@rajat955]

@lokhtar MAN THIS CITY GURGAON IS IN THE RICHEST STATE OF INDIA HARYANA.THIS CITY WAS A GAON"VILLAGE" EARLIER BEFORE 1995. THIS CITY IS DEVELPOED WITHIN 10 YR'S FROM NOW SO RICH PEOPLE BUT PRESENTLY AS THIS IS 2010 AGAIN GROWTH IS COMING FAST 2009 WAS RECCESSION YEAR

[@Reddylion]

if u r in and around delhi..we can catch up over a snack..i agree with what you said..

[@sebba9648]

1 hour fun xD!

[@ShirleyDR]

why do they need security everywhere ??? I dont know much about insdia itself , could someone explain please...

[@kvd2909]

gaurav are you serious?? i have never been to gurgaon but was planning to visit there

[@thecyberseer]

For some reason I really cannot feel much compassion for these rich people who got ripped off. They emit elitism and greed with their whole attitude.

[@LeftFalangie]

Yeah but she was clearly kidding and the maid laughed.

[@lucasbck]

In regard to poverty. Taxes and regulations in Gurgaon are very low and liberal - that's a reason why so many investors started operating there. Unfortunately the rest of the country is still bounded in corruption, high taxes, regulations and unclear law system. So don't blame the rich for being rich, rather ask your government why it's preventing majority of the people to get rich.

[@Jingogunner]

@PrometheanRunGood The reason I asked is that Arundati Roy is the name of a woman who wrote a book called 'The God of Small Things' which actually won a famous literary prize in the UK, the Booker Prize. Clearly, this is not the same Arundati Roy that you have come to know and love. Can I ask please, are you a Hindu?

[@astunner]

No honking in Gurgaon, great Idea It may catch on...,

[@LeftFalangie]

Indentured servitude? Do you even know what that term means? Domestic help in India is paid, and paid increasingly higher wages as demand for help is rising as compared to supply. Don't kid yourself that the workers don't demand raises either, and just meekly take whatever the elites dish out to them. That's doing a disrespect to them, because they're not just quietly sitting around being victims. Yes, I will agree that this Bineeta person is a but ham-fistedly elitist, and the rich in India..

[@lasphifion]

1:50

[@trevorbourke7692]

上海の虹橋、古北のような街ですね。 深圳のように治安が悪くなければいいのですが、、

[@Jingogunner]

@PrometheanRunGood I've never seen any displays of hatred for Arundhati Roy on my travels around the net. Can you give us an example?

[@LeftFalangie]

...have the majority of votes, so political parties tend to favor them, leading to incidents of unionized violence like the events that led to the death of the Bombay textile industry.

[@hh847]

A very well made film, especially like the end with a nubile idiot who nurtures dreams of 'making' money. It would probably be useless to explain to him that cash and capital just flow; from one place to another. The concept of 'make' is only when one cannot see wealth as a very self-centric aspect. "I Am Gurgaon" barely realise how ridiculous they act and behave in a film that they thought was empathazing with their stupid actions.

[@lokhtar]

@rajat955 I don't care how posh it is. I don't care how the rich live. I care how the poor are treated.

[@bhabanikathua4211]

First time I have seen uropian country in india

[@udayn82]

This video shows the greed and nepotism of indian elite people and their need to fulfil greed. Living in a gated society would not solve the problem of safety . you should feel safe in the country. Yes Gudgaon has improved but it is more commercial and hollow. Citys like singapore and newyork are great cities becasue if has grown as a wholistic city keeping traditions intact.. This is nothing but showoff

[@pramod030489]

aah whteva... but haryana govt and the builders didnt hv a common perception while developing it tht who'll look aftr the water facilities and power etc...... and its a bloddy damnnnnn mistake they did.... haryana govt suckzzz....

[@psingh007]

God help her kids

[@keelaravinayakamouli9295]

This is so disgusting. Huhhh, you need to live here to understand what the actual story is....and that lady donating money to the beggars....stop showing off....

[@karunank1]

@gargantuanrave You said it. Sadly that is the state of India's so-called elite...

[@Reddylion]

:)

[@lokhtar]

@rajat955 I am against this treatment of other people, not against being rich.

[@lucasbck]

Showing off is a typical behaviour for (not to smart) people whose standard of living has jumped rapidly (people coming from farming family and got a good job in a big city). I observed this in many countries I lived. So don't blame Indians. This developers scam obviously means there is a problem with the law. In normal situation those thieves would end up in jail. So the government should be blamed in the first place. Corruption and ineffective law system is always a huge problem.

[@hardeeprai2114]

www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/gurugram-may-soon-be-living-hell/article18702548.ece In 2017 it is turning into living hell. can these "gated communities" protect themselves from pollution and global warming.

[@LeftFalangie]

Hahah ek mango juice ek grape juice, not EIGHT. Ek means one.

[@affablegiraffable]

its just like mexico =D

[@tutorialconr]

@TheSebulba1978 Even to Indians it's never enough. I've lived in Gurgaon, and we're doing pretty good. But, it can definitely be better. :)

[@4aaaafamily]

Katardh, I agree with you .... every word, it disgusts me to even see how an educated ill literate Bineeta Singh sounds.

[@rajat955]

@KKIRANCHAND FORGEET

[@mangalchand7242]

Yeah... very same in term of race and ethnicity

[@patentneer]

... "Bridge The Gap" ... The magnitutde of the 'gap' is .... uffff ... oooo ... OMG ! My real life eg., go to a 'Mall' in Delhi, a st. kid latches on to me and my friend ... under the guise of 'domenstic help' ... the guy did sneak it ... got caught by 'security' ... grabbed by the collar ... and was tossed out ... Sadly, I could relate ... as a mid-upper class kid, going by the Taj Palace in Delhi ... was ... over-awed ... wished ... how is it ... may be ... inside?

[@vik2008USA]

I didn't have to listen to her to puke, her attitude and body language was enough.

[@vik2008USA]

In india, if we have money, we can live like a king. Shame on you for having that mindset. When will you learn to start live like a human first. Ashamed to be an indian, i am.

[@1mikon]

Fight and make those people accountable. Gang up with other sufferers. DOn't accept it.

[@rahulsharma-rt3cc]

This Gurgaon beyong NH8 highway is not gurgaon..outsiders live here..not real gurgaonite

[@jcavale]

Ugh

[@AyanDutt]

damn the nazis :P

[@RingxWorld]

This video is lulz

[@prateekbhardwaj9943]

Gurgaon is not a happy place , gutter on road during rains, 6 hour traffic jam covering 6 KMs, roads are damaged and no amendment for years, super pollution,super corruption. you cannot see building that is 100 meter far away from your eyes due to smog clearly due to pollution, there is ton of dust on roads, no body cares.. miserable place ...no body is happy here. this is not a place this is not a millennium city we have built.. this is hell where there is no living standards, life quality is so poor, no nature, no good air to breath , no good water to drink, so much noise pollution people blow ears by blowing horns for no reason(it reflects stress because they are not happy), cannot imagine to go on roads due to excessive crowd and excessive traffic jams....CHAOS...and most notable thing is that there are lots of educated people live here who work in great MNCs but who do nothing for change...

[@JhonnyBoi]

This is the most fucking skewed video I've ever seen. My family comes from this kind of poverty and let me tell you how it goes. That rich lady is definitely running a business off those women. They're making it seem as if she's doing them a favor by "teaching" them to sew, but no it's a factory. If she was doing it for them, she'd be doing it as non profit. But from a business stand point, it's a nice penny so can't blame her. And on the other side, even though people are poor, that doesn't mean they give a shit. There's a lot of people who are just lazy. Her maid for example is lazy. Those security guards are lazy. They staged that little army like stance, they don't do that all the time. But in poverty there's this very small group of people that are very hard workers but very shy and humble. Because of that they get taken advantage of a lot. My family comes from this small group so that's how I know. Those poor people she's "teaching" to sew are from that group. You can tell by their houses. Very poor sheet metal but still pretty clean for India. She says "they can earn $1 by spending 2 hours making these bags, that's a lot of money for them". She is straight abusing them. The point is, she's causing more harm to society than this video makes it seem like. They need to start telling the story from the other side.

[@lablask]

Noida and G Noida are far better than Gurgaon!!why showing Gurgaon then?

[@rockysingh5563]

I hate rich culture in India

[@Me6GunLover]

@patentneer go fight taliban u americans r runing out of time the world know u cant win them he he he he he

[@rajat955]

@lokhtar i think you r pakisthani you come to india first, a house in dehi is expensive thats y people r goin to gurgaon,

[@prateekbhardwaj9943]

this is not real gurgaon...

[@monaskyes8579]

Then what is 'Real Gurgaon'?