Unambitious Childhood, a photo from West Bengal, East

Photographer's Note

Everyone who has not yet seen the film “Slumdog Millionaire” should do so at once. It’s an unrealistic fairy tale with an unlikely feel-good ending, but it graphically illustrates the lives of the countless millions of India’s children who live on the street with only one concern: “How will I manage to find enough to eat today so that I’ll be alive tomorrow?”
In India you quickly steel yourself to the crowds of children who are grabbing your arm, knocking on the window of your car, thrusting flowers into your pockets, repeating endlessly the only words of English they know: “Hello Madame, food, hungry, money, please, eat…”

If you give any of them money or even move toward your pocket or purse, their number suddenly increases tenfold and you cannot move for all the hands clutching at you.
The begging industry has a tendency to establish collective behaviour. Begging syndicates are not unknown in India and it was highly improbable that child beggars established working patterns, ‘sales strategies’ and respective territories independently.
The begging profession also works on concepts of buying and selling – it regards sympathy as a market to be exploited. Yet this human sense of ‘heart’ merely encourages the growth of the begging business, by proving that there is profit to be made. Each rupee given is a transaction for the sale of poverty.
The children get just enough to feed themselves while the leaders of the syndicates keep the rest. Furthermore, after reaching the age of physical maturity, the girls are then sold off into the flesh trade while the boys become slaves or labourers. It is difficult to find a girl or boy between 13 to 16 begging along the streets when their value lies elsewhere.

arijit_ghosh86, serp2000, Kofman, bema, patdeph, rmajum, bayno, Graal, Budapestman, lakshmip1949, nilotpal_patra, danos, snunney, holmertz, Robert1969, yanastallerova, daddo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

arijit_ghosh86 (795) 2011-10-17 10:40

WOW..very strong image Madhumita..!!!
The notes, The subject and its depth have been really crafted very beautifully.
Very touchy one and good sharp shot too.
Its very high time for us and please Lets think about them !!

Kudos to you and full point from me.

serp2000 (29612) 2011-10-17 10:47

Namaste, Madhumita ,
Very good documentary style shot and an interesting note. Excellent title, I like this social photowork.
My compliments! TFS!
Best regards,
Serghei

bema (25964) 2011-10-17 10:54

Hello Madhumita,

first a very informative notewhich tells us a lot to understand the thoughts behind, when taken this sensitive portrait.. think black and white was the best choice here, colors would have not fit to the note !

thanks for sharing, see you soon, cheers Bernd

marina7 (6134) 2011-10-17 12:16

Amazing portrait, Madhumita.

Those innocent eyes say it all, wonderful capture. Thanks for your thoughtful note. Thanks for sharing and have a nice day,

Marina

patdeph (35738) 2011-10-17 13:01

hello Madhumita
a good picture associated with an excellent and instructive note.The B&W gives more impact to this sad subject.Excellent.
Regards
Pascale

quillo (11840) 2011-10-18 1:52

Namaste Madhumita:

An image lasts a reflection of reality in India ...
and a call to solve this serious problem,
I'm sad and I wonder - where is the solution?

Un saludo y feliz día.

subhendu_bagchi (16650) 2011-10-18 2:09

hi Madhumita,
a nice portrait-cum-daily life shot in black and white. Excellent composition though I feel it needs some more space at right, a personal opinion. Anyway a nice shot. Good DOF. Fine clarity. Bhalo chhobi. Tfs.
Best wishes.
Subhendu

bayno (16407) 2011-10-18 8:11

Namaste Madhumita , I saw the movie ... and I have lived many years in India, from North to South, I know the situation, I do not give alms willingly, especially children, not because they are greedy, but because I do not think educative, and certainly money does not end up in their pockets, but maybe some fund bottle, beautiful black and white and very expressive portrait of this beautiful baby, have a nice day, Valter

adramad (27872) 2011-10-18 10:54

Hi Madhumita.
Lovely image and a wonderful portrait of this child, with great attention, seems to look at the camera with her big eyes.
Superb sharpness, which gives a perfect texture, I like his vision at B&W, which gives us a more timeless.
Best regards.
Luis.

Graal (89420) 2011-10-18 23:07

Hi Madhumita,
good captured scene and comment in note. Well effect of photo in B&W. Fine contrast and composition. Well photowork.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

Budapestman (82620) 2011-10-19 1:16

Hi Madhumita,
a sad portrait with excellent note, the composition is powerful, a splendid photo of this importrant theme,
TFS! Have a nice day! Kellemes napot kívánok!
György

lakshmip1949 (19110) 2011-10-19 2:56

Hello Madhu,

A heart touching shot of this small boy begging for food and money. I completely agree with your notes , this is a big scam . These innocent children become the victims. Like the B&W shot and the expression on the face of this little boy.

Lakshmi

williewhistler (7593) 2011-10-19 3:43

Namaste Madhumita,the childs eyes combined with your photographic skills convey a powerful message.
Good work.
Les

rodgerg (55767) 2011-10-19 7:57

Hello Madhumita,

An another excellent portrait in your gaellry with here the expression and especially the impressive glance of this young boy very well collected. Good managment of B&w format with very nice contrasts well collected.
Best regards,
Roger

nilotpal_patra (1684) 2011-10-19 8:01

Namaskar Madhumita,
It is realy, realy a Wonderful Picture of Daily Life. Very strong image captured scene and comment in note.Nice Frame. Nice contrast and sharpness. Excellent shot. Nice POV. TFS.
Regards.
Nilotpal Patra.

Nicou (98741) 2011-10-20 5:27

Hello

Image touchet de ce jeune homme teant cette assiette, quel attitude et expression ce regard, quel captage fantastique image et compo, bravo.

Merci et amitié

Nicou

ChrisJ (87654) 2011-10-20 6:44

Namaste, Madhumita

A superb head & shoulders portrait of the angelic faced beggar boy. Good dof, reasonable sharpness, tonal range & diffused light. Tfs!

La_Tulipe (2786) 2011-10-20 9:29

Bonsoir Madhumita,
Un portrait d'enfant superbement réalisé: j'aime la profondeur du regard de ce petit garçon, qui même si ne semble pas souffrir de la famine, suppliant pour recevoir de quoi se nourrir. Le noir et blanc accentue le côté "dramatique" de la scène.
Bravo pour cette réalisation qui contient un message réel :)
Amitiés
Brigitte

JFS (32425) 2011-10-20 10:32

Hello Masdhumita!
Lovely portrait in B&W, I love the innocent and sweet regard of this child. Shot of hight quality. thanks!

Cheers,
Juan

danos (74478) 2011-10-21 0:34

Hello Madhumita,
excellent your reportage shot with the little boy as the other ones that are not seen in the shot to try to find some food in the streets of the city.I like the B/W format as the good presentation of the snapshot.

Regards,Danos

snunney (67918) 2011-10-21 4:39

Hello Madhumita,
Black and white suits this poignant composition perfectly. Your picture tells a story that is nicely complemented by your note. Well presented documentary image.

holmertz (27198) 2011-10-21 8:48

Hello Madhumita,
A good picture with an important note. Everyone who has visited India recognizes the situations you describe so well and has to face the dilemma to judge who is a "real" beggar and who belongs to a criminal syndicate. In 64 years the leaders of independent India have not yet solved the disgraceful problem of child poverty. Although your photo is a snap-shot in a crowd it has a strong focus on the little boy looking so intensely at a person he hopes will give him a rupee.
Kind regards,
Gert

Angshu (51394) 2011-10-22 21:34

Hello Madhumita
The focus on the little begging kind works nicely! The B&W conversion was apt & well done. The only thing feel is the green frame..you could have used a black or a white one. The colour is taking our attention away a bit. But wel done with the photograph!
Best Wishes
Angshuman

Robert1969 (6330) 2011-10-26 22:02

Hello Madhumita,

A picture that tells more than a thousand words.
Good composition and light management and the
B&W makes the picture timeless.....Good work.

Friendly regards,
Robert

daddo (18629) 2012-02-28 3:09

Namaste Madhu. Powerful image, one of the most arresting in your gallery for it focuses on a fate that is already sealed. Powerful note and a very sad one. How long will it take for India to protect its young and give them hope? Progress there is, but it is frustratingly slow and one wonders how many millions are to follow this child's path before there is real change. If Kerala could do it, then there is hope for the rest. Mind you, the whole idea of Karma makes certain people accept the status quo. Best wishes. Klaudio.

Paul62 (105) 2013-05-06 3:29

Hi,
A well thoughtout and strong portrait which conveys such a powerful message to the viewer. A scene that is sadly repeated all over the world.