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"Tools of the Trade"
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Another shot from my last trip to India. This one is also from the series taken of the Balmiki Dalits. Balmiki are the street sweepers of Delhi. Here you see what their tools are. They accomplish their jobs with only the broom and wheelbarrow. They are given neither masks, gloves, or proper boots. You can see someone using these tools here.
During monsoon season, most of them spend the time ill. The stuff that comes out of the sewers and drains of Delhi during monsoon season disgusts even the most experienced of the sweepers. Without proper safety gear, they pick up every disease out there.
The largest hurdles to getting these people properly equipped to do their job is money, and apathy. Money is obvious, but apathy is almost hidden by Indian society.
As Dalits, it is believed that they did something horrible in their "past" life, and they deserve to be at the station of life they are currently at.
This attitude affects more than just the oppressed. India has more Millionaires (by USD standard) than any other country. However, she also has the lowest rate of philanthropy of any "modern" county.
I put the word modern in quotations because I don't consider the entire county modern, just the metropolitan areas. India is in a period of change from third world to modern. She will have her growing pains. I hope the Dalit issue will be one of those addressed positively, and aggressively.
I look forward to your comments.
~V~ |
rgarrigus, everlasting, zmey has marked this note useful
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Hi Vic,
great composition. You made a great picture starting from so simple objects. Congratulations.
TFS.
Gabriele.
- Morac
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 998 W: 159 N: 1176]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(8505) - [2008-04-15 13:21]
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Good evening Vic,
Your photographs of India are beautiful because it are true.
They show you the truth of this country
Therefore I like much that which you put in WS.
Cordially
Marc
Hi Vic,
This is a wonderfully simple image that really tells a story. The slight cant somehow adds a nice visual tension that I enjoy. I would completely have missed an opportunity like this.
Excellent note.
Cheers!
Bob G.
hi vic,
well seen,very symbolic.
This simple image together with your informative note Vic tells a complex story. The image is full of detail and texture. Nice colourtones.
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- zmey
(4369)
- [2008-05-01 5:32]
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hello vic
visually a pleasant picture, but what's really outstanding is your note. interesting and insightful analysis regarding the lower caste indians. i'm not sure, if i would have chosen this particular picture to go with the story though. something less sunny and more dramatic would have stronger appeal and would make more people open your thumbnail, stop and read the note. but that maybe just me :)
in any case, i learned something from your note so, the green facie goes in appreciation for that.
warm regards,
kristaps
ps. a couple days ago i had a conversation about how bangladesh turned from a hindu area to a muslim dominated country. it turned out (according to my bangladeshi friend) that social injustice was the major factor behind conversion. supposedly, bangla inhabited territory numerically was dominated by lower hindu casts and islam opened the doors to religious (ideological) and social equality refused under traditional hindu beliefs... i wonder, to what extent this conversion process is in progress in india itself nowadays.
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 100 W: 2 N: 96]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(619)