July 26, 2007 - Mumbai (Bombay), India

"I said money... money changes everything!"
~ Cyndi Lauper

In the last 10 years, the Bombay Stock market has been one of the fastest growing and most successful in the world. During the time we have been in India, the SENSEX (Bombay Stock Exchange) has increased by +3.5%, while the DOW (New York Stock Exchange) has decreased by -1.5%. All this activity is productive, but the primary investors are foreigners, thus Indian society is not receiving the major benefits.

In New York, the Stock Market is on Wall Street; in Bombay, the Stock Market is on Dalal Street. There isn't a Starbucks on the corner, but a Good Day Cafe (some of the best coffee I've ever tasted). The New York Stock Exchange began in 1792, the Bombay Stock Exchange began in 1875.

On Wall Street there are tourists and wealthy "suits". On Dalal Street there are people eating and sleeping on the sidewalks. They are not homeless. Their sense-of-place makes this their home. In the mornings, locals create open flamed fires on the sidewalks to cook their meals (much like their ancestors did centuries ago on this same street).

Wall Street, post 9.11, is heavily secured by road blocks, police, cameras, multiple security check points, and many more measures the general public has no awareness of. Dalal Street is heavily secured by a single check point, at the front of the building, and the largest Indian man in the country. With his arms crossed, legs spread, and an automatic oozy-style rifle strapped to his shoulder, he silently demanded presence.

A fellow American friend and I asked this Giant if we could ring today's opening bell. With a stern look, the Giant threw us "the Heisman." A clear, stiff-armed, wrist erect, palm forward - rejection.