Photo Essay – The 99 Percent, Around Town
They exist.
[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]
The Delhi government works hard to make the city’s homeless invisible. In the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the wretched of the roadsides were pushed behind giant hoardings so that foreign athletes could not get a wrong impression of our World Class City.
But the homeless continue to be everywhere: at traffic lights, under flyovers, on pavements, in subways.
Having so many homeless people is horrible. To hide them, or to pretend that they don’t exist, is sinful. Here are the Delhiwallas who have turned our streets into their bedrooms.
The night has just started
Blame the bankers
Bed of roses
Good morning, honey
Mattress please
Dog’s life
Just a shadow
Not just garbage
Stretch the legs
Sweet dreams
“In the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the wretched of the roadsides were pushed behind giant hoardings…”
Well, it is 2011 and the authorities are now bubble-wrapping the homeless like Christmas Gifts. They have indeed come a long way since the CWG debacle.
The next time you buy a fridge,TV or a Vacuum Cleaner, make sure NOT to throw away the packaging material. Mail it as a parcel to the MCD which will then make sure every homeless wretch feels ‘at home’. Before delivery to the final recipients, every item ( cardboard piece, bubble wrap , plastic sheet etc.) is stamped with a special message : Sardi mein bhi garmi ka ehsaas.