Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR’s international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
Mumbai
A ban on feeding pigeons ruffles lots of feathers in Mumbai
The pigeon population has exploded — a result of people feeding the birds. For some it’s a holy duty and a way to connect to nature. Critics point to health risks tied to exposure to pigeon droppings.
India’s honk-happy drivers are switching to even louder horns
In India’s bustling megacities, honking is a common form of communication among drivers. But in this case, one person’s language is another person’s noise pollution.
Mumbai’s iconic pav bread might soon be toast
It’s a working-class staple. And it could be priced out of the market by government efforts to make bakeries change from wood-fired ovens to other fuels to curb air pollution.
Friendship becomes a powerful act of resistance in ‘All We Can Imagine as Light’
This enveloping drama, which centers two women in Mumbai, is about solidarity between women, about making ends meeting, and about how a populous city can feel like the loneliest place in the world.


