This is a project that I had to do for my college course. We were asked to pick a social issue that bothered us, and then photograph it.
The social issue I want to depict through my photographs for this assignment is homelessness or destitution. However, I did not want to just focus on people who are forced to live on the streets or in railway stations. While I realise that their life is extremely difficult, and that they suffer hardships that I may not completely comprehend ever, I also feel that in Bombay people very often settle for living conditions that actually are an insult to human dignity.
Intense over population and rising property prices, amongst other factors force people to live in all sorts of places, despite them working hard enough to be able to afford respectable accommodation anywhere else. Thus we see all around us people living out of ruins and taxis, and using construction site throwaways as houses. We have all also become desensitised to the lack of privacy that prevails everywhere, from a slum to a middle class populated locality. From the confines of our small rooms we can see directly into the room of our neighbour, and that does not disturb or surprise us.
It is this destitution and the lack of action against it, and the desensitisation that we have developed to the problems relating to homelessness that I have tried to capture.
You captured it perfect, though I have to admit, there’s something about a sweet child happily playing by the side of the street.
The photos of her were my absolute favourite. She was so beautiful!
She will grow up to inspire for sure š
So deep. I appreciate you bringing issue to light, even though it’s just for the project.
Pakistan and India are pretty much the same.
If only we could all realise that.
Living in this city for a year now, I get what you mean!