Sonia Faleiro
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
The Kids of Anna Nagar, A.W. I
:: posted by Sonia Faleiro, 11:01 PM
6 Comments:
Beautiful, precious photographs. I take it Anna Nagar is some kind of children's home?
Thank you, Gauri.
Anna Nagar is a slum in suburban Mumbai, made up largely of migrants from Tamil Nadu.
The kids are all in school for now. The mothers are domestic workers (official figures almost 100 out of 500 men and women), the fathers are labourers. Alcoholism is a huge problem here. The men work intermittently, leaving the women to take financial responsibility for the family.
It's a wretchedly poor area. The homes are made of tin and wood; there are huge holes in the walls, and in the monsoons sewage water floods the homes upto three feet. The toilet is the open sewer outside; the bathing area is a communal space where people bathe, wash clothes and dishes.
I'd gone there on work, and have become quite adept at taking photos, while keeping the recorder on; the strap wrapped around my wrist. :)
Anna Nagar is a slum in suburban Mumbai, made up largely of migrants from Tamil Nadu.
The kids are all in school for now. The mothers are domestic workers (official figures almost 100 out of 500 men and women), the fathers are labourers. Alcoholism is a huge problem here. The men work intermittently, leaving the women to take financial responsibility for the family.
It's a wretchedly poor area. The homes are made of tin and wood; there are huge holes in the walls, and in the monsoons sewage water floods the homes upto three feet. The toilet is the open sewer outside; the bathing area is a communal space where people bathe, wash clothes and dishes.
I'd gone there on work, and have become quite adept at taking photos, while keeping the recorder on; the strap wrapped around my wrist. :)
Thanks Sonia. Your series on domestic workers is illuminating and the pictures have a raw beauty. It's so easy for the privileged in India to live their whole lives without knowing or caring how the other half (or three quarters in this case) gets by, and it's journalism like yours that sensitises us and hopefully brings about more compassion, empathy and generosity in our relationships with the disadvantaged.
Also, the best of luck with your book :)
Also, the best of luck with your book :)
First time on your blog, surfed in via Amit's India Uncut. You have some excellent content here - the features on domestic workers and these pictures are particularly moving. I look forward to purchasing your book here in the US!
Best wishes,
Sriram
Best wishes,
Sriram
"Anna Nagar is a slum in suburban Mumbai, made up largely of migrants from Tamil Nadu."
On the contrary,Anna Nagar is a post neighbourhood in chennai :)
On the contrary,Anna Nagar is a post neighbourhood in chennai :)
Sriram: Thank you. The book can also be purchased online. Check out the Buy section on my site www.soniafaleiro.com for the best shipping options.
AN: "On the contrary"?
Do you really think that no two places can have the same name? And do you find it unbelieveable that migrants from TN would name their slum in Mumbai after their old home?
You need to get out of your house more often, buddy.
AN: "On the contrary"?
Do you really think that no two places can have the same name? And do you find it unbelieveable that migrants from TN would name their slum in Mumbai after their old home?
You need to get out of your house more often, buddy.
