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This commentary on Nijman’s presentation at the 100th anniversary celebration of TESG under-lines how his study of the Mumbai slum reconciles the multiple dualisms that lie at the core of the study of economic and social geography. The dualisms that are identified are located in the personal impressions of the urban landscape, the supposed homogeneity of the informal settle-ments, and the assumed barriers between the informal and the formal economy. The paper argues the importance of adding a personal reflection on doing research in a slum environment. Key words: Slum, dualism, informal settlements, economic activity, Mumbai, Dharavi As a child, growing up in Mumbai in the 1960s, my impressions of Dharavi came only from the window of a car as we drove past the slum on our way to the gated office complex of the company where my father worked. I remember the odour of garbage and human waste that permeated the safe bubble of the car lon