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Photo Essay – Sleeping, Around Town

Period Bedroom

Our fundamental right.

[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]

In February 2012, the Supreme Court of India declared that a citizen has a right to sound sleep because it is fundamental to life and falls within the purview of Article 21 of the Indian constitution. “Sleep is essential for a human being to maintain the delicate balance of health necessary… Sleep is, therefore, a fundamental and basic requirement… ” the court said.

The Delhi Walla did not need a Supreme Court order to appreciate this human right and has been recording images of Delhiwallas sleeping in their bedrooms, in their offices and in the city’s streets. Here’s the evidence.

Don’t wake him

Sleep Well

Shh, Mummy is sleeping

Shh, Mummy is Sleeping

Sleeping beauty

Sleeping Beauty

No honking please

Wake Up Sid

Wet dreams

Wet Dreams

His majesty’s siesta

Wake Up, Sid

Delhi dreams

Delhi Dreams

You must wait

The Auto Walla

Calling it a night

I Want an Orange Bar

Sleeping beauty

Wake Up Sid

Every man is an island

Sweet Dreams

Yesterday’s news

Are Newspapers Dead?

Comfort Inn

Life in the Gutter

Boss not around

Boss Not Around

Morning glory

Wake Up, Sid

Last sleep

Wake Up, Sid

Shh

Shh, They're Sleeping

Green is my dream

Afternoon Siesta

Take it, he’s not watching

Shh, He's Sleeping

Oasis

Sweet Dreams

Late night shift

The Boy's Own Story

Old Hindi film songs

Radio Man

Dreaming together

Companions

7 thoughts on “Photo Essay – Sleeping, Around Town

  1. Hmm… Spy shots of your journalist colleagues… I think I now know why you left HT…

  2. hey, I know those ‘Vitality Vitamins’ dogs…right behind the Gas Station and right next to that upscale pub. The shopkeeper provides the dogs with jute-bags to sleep upon during cold winter days. The tongue of one of those dogs hangs out a bit as it sleeps , much like a cartoon character’s when it is knocked out. I think it is really cute!

    1. Hey, you noticed too! My wife said exactly the same thing about the dog’s tongue. Except she said it’s like a cartoon character who realized he made a mistake (like driving a tank over his commanding officer and flattening him like a chapati).

    2. OMG! that is uncanny. But hey, all great minds think alike. Or maybe we just watched more cartoons than most people do as kids!

  3. superb … I loved “His majesty’s siesta” and Comfort Inn most… in that order… soul stirring

  4. apart from the dogs, i am so happy to see the Oriental Fruit Mart’s shop window…I hope it’s still around…

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