Recognize Mumbai

What picture you make out of these photographs. For me it's as vibrant as a city could be. Its not only about the certain high rises of the city but also about the essence of it, it speaks and cries hard in front of us but our tendency is not to look at it. We keep wandering and try to create a new picture but we seldom look at the real people behind it who construct the city as we see it. Lets have a look at the different shade of Mumbai which is not hidden but never recognized for what it is.

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Religion? Does it really matter?

This is very rare in any other country you go but in India you find it. During my recent visit to Shani Shignapur I found this Muslim guy selling Sindur for the devotees who have come there for the pilgrimage. And that is why its rare, Shani Shignapur is a Hindu pilgrimage. Thats incredible about India.....Religion? Its really not matter but it does.....

© All of my photographs are Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved. They may not be used or reproduced in any way without my explicit written permission.

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To buy or not to buy!

You will find small kids in tourist destinations trying to sell local produce. They do not look like beggars, they enact to touch your sympathy cords. Try feeding them wholesome food and they are not interested. Chocolates and biscuits, well who says no to them. If you buy from them, well that’s what they want. If you don’t, they will keep following you to buy a portion. That’s cool. Its vacation time, no harm in earning a few extra bucks. But is it the right thing to do? To help a kid who is on road to earn his living, well that’s noble. But, what if the child on the road is not there by choice. Is the kid a victim to a group who force kids to be on the road? Beggar mafia is not a new word for us, its demand vs. supply. Did you just buy from a little boy and forced him further into hunger and darkness?

Took this picture on the premises on MTDC Bhandardara. Was surprised to find them on the property. This kid was following us constantly, well I observed every kid on the premise was chasing one assigned family. Who was coordinating this? You try speaking to them, they will rush away avoiding conversation. You take them off the prying eyes and the picture speaks the rest… 

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Equality - II

Childhood is something that we always want to relive again. It's like a nostalgia which engulf our thoughts the moment we think about those days. Those days were better, beautiful, awesome and there are so many beautiful memories are associated with our childhood. And we always think that this is the case with every child, and then we start looking around us and believe me its really painful. And this is not the case with a single country but everywhere the world, even the so called developed countries are struggling with this. Childhood is a memorable time and every child should enjoy it irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and family background. These children are the backbone of the nation and tomorrow, they are going to be the work force of this country. Do we really want to see them creeping in unhygienic conditions, in dirt, in drains? I am sure everyone here will have the same answer and the answer is a straight "NO". 

If this is the scenario, then we will have to come out of our shell and have to help them to rebuild this country. We will have to live selfless, so that the future of these children will not suffer and at the same time, they too enjoy what childhood offers to everyone. A smile can change the world......Let's change it, let's bring the smile to the faces who are in dire need of it. Let's help them, let's create a new world.

© All of my photographs are Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved. They may not be used or reproduced in any way without my explicit written permission.

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Oh Mumbai!!

The best part of Mumbai is that you can relive the lost era. Mumbai has it's own enigma and own story. And the more you dig, more it attracts.

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Mumbai or Bombay - II

She is an elderly lady and sells bubble maker at Gateway of India and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya ( formerly known as Prince of Wales Museum). I looked at her while she was talking to a chai wala in a rough and abusive language at Gateway of India, we again crossed our ways at museum while she was blowing the bubbles in front of some children in the hope that they will purchase her bubble maker. With some thoughts of taking a good portrait of her, when I focused my lens at her and she stopped me waving her hand ......I asked her permission to take her photo but she didn't allow me and I had to make peace with taking the photos of bubbles only. And that is how we started our discussion but she did not reveal anything about her. She only says life is hard but then this is life. She born and brought up in Mumbai but she did not like it to be called as Mumbai ........and says with a deep sigh....that Bombay was better....."Ye Mumbai apan se nahi bola jata saab.....saala jisko zindagi bhar alag naap se pukarta aaya uska naam kaise badal sakta hai bhala? (I cannot call this city as Mumbai, we have been calling this city as Bombay since our birth, giving it a different name is something like attacking on its identity.) She again started blowing the bubbles and said if you want to take a photo...purchase it and blow yourself but not my photo.....and she smiled and said "Don't act like Mumbaikars but behave like bambaiyah". I made her understand it that i cannot take the photograph while I myself blowing the bubbles. I paid her the price of the bubble maker and took the photograph thinking that someday I will capture you as well with your permission. I will be a Bambaiyaah......and Not Mumbaikar :)

© All of my photographs are Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved. They may not be used or reproduced in any way without my explicit written permission.

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Pure and Divine

It's same as earlier.......Pure and Divine.....

© All of my photographs are Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved. They may not be used or reproduced in any way without my explicit written permission.

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