Old world Charm in New Delhi

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

India | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 5 photos

I am an amateur photographer. I am merely 42 years old and have that urge to establish myself as a travel photographer. I started photography quite late in my late thirtees as I was fighting for a job at 18 and had no resources to continue my passion. I have already a few international awards in my name like CGAP-World Bank Microfinance Photo Contest 2008 top place, WEC Energy Photo of the Year 2008, Sony World Photo Awards: two times Runners up in 2008, 2009, Photoshare Photo Contest Winner in 2010, Intrepid Travel Photo Contest (Local Friends Category Winner 2009 ) and many other awards.
My photo story is a portrayal of a unique life and living of a community in Old Delhi. This Indian slum will showcase what India is all about. I did this story early this year.
OLD WORLD CHARM IN NEW DELHI
It is the story of a Delhi slum which houses nearly four thousand people for more than half a century. Heaps of garbage, flies and mosquitoes buzzing all around, stinking drains mouthing out filth here and there, women fighting over a bucket of water, the children running criss-cross, the stray dogs at their feet, a tipsy man finding his way back home or some young men playing cards, throwing a leery look at you—a common sight you encounter when you enter a slum.

So what makes it unique?

This slum near Shadipur Bus Depot in West Delhi houses nearly thousands of artisans and performers from all different parts of India. The area known as Kathputli ( puppeteers) colony lives stuck between the mundane and the stardom—a tinsel town which has no dearth of talent in acrobats, snake charmer, puppeteers, jugglers, fire ball player, magicians, drum players and many more. Hundreds of them have already participated in several India festivals and other functions abroad.