On one side we have enclaves for the rich and powerful, full of luxuries and

amenities, and access to the bounties of a globalized world. On the other,

there are the disempowered and poor, slumdwellers, and recent migrants,
who lack even the most basic services.
But we are also seeing new social and political movements to press back
against these trends – novel combinations of interests and community
groups that are discovering that the best way forward is through
cooperation to build better cities for everyone.

One such movement started on a cold foggy morning in November 2013,

south of New Delhi in the financial and industrial hub of Gurugram. On a
stretch of road that would otherwise be filled with cars on any given day,
hundreds of people followed the sound of short speeches about non-
motorized transport and “people-friendly” streets to join bicycle races and
stroll the boulevards on foot. Raahgiri Day, as the temporary closure of 4.5
kilometers of roads in the city to encourage non-motorized transport came
to be called, quickly became a monthly phenomenon. Five years later the
concept has spread to over 70 cities in India.

Raahgiri has become India’s largest urban movement for three reasons:

1. It’s a Platform for Positive Collaboration

Raahgiri is derived from Raah meaning “path,” while Giri comes from
“Gandhigiri,” a form of nonviolent resistance practiced by Mahatma
Gandhi. It was born from residents in Gurugram coming together to
proclaim their streets as safe spaces for all people – safe from the risk of car
crashes and air pollution, but also safe from discrimination by gender,
caste, age or income.
Today, the Raahgiri platform has also been used to amplify other
development programs, like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (reducing gender-
biased sex selection and encouraging girls education), Swachh
Bharat (improving sanitation), Accessible India, and more.
2. It’s Owned by All
The Raahgiri co-founders in Gurugram later formalized the movement in
the form of the Raahgiri Foundation. Yet, ownership of the campaign has
little to do with these individuals. There is no common branding for
Raahgiri Days and no one “presents” or “powers” these events across
dozens of cities. In fact, the organizers of Raahgiri are normally local public
agencies.
Cities like Bhopal, Chandigarh, and Jamshedpur used the “Raahgiri” name
for their initiative, while Mumbai, Chennai, and Lucknow came up with
their own versions. Others, like Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Ahmedabad,
started with Raahgiri but changed to local names later.
This is a very important attribute as it’s saved the movement from being too
closely associated with any one organization or government, allowing it to
be taken on by anyone with a shared interest, wherever they may be.

3. It Puts Cause Before Credit

Irrespective of what Raahgiri is called or looks like in different places, the
people involved have always put the cause first. If a city, initiates a
campaign for promoting walking and cycling through a local Raahgiri
event, it gets technical support from those in the foundation and other
supporters, like WRI India, a long-time supporter and knowledge partner,
even if they don’t brand it as Raahgiri.
In Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, for example, a campaign under the
Raahgiri name was a resounding success. Later on, the city transitioned to
“Patha Utsav,” a local name for a street festival. However, it continued
getting the support from the team.