The Bhikari, a photo from Uttarakhand, North

Photographer's Note

Oh, the plight of beggars in India. Are they pests, nuisances, economic artifacts, or merely part of the scenery? The average Indian deals with the situation every day. But with what attitude! Is it a spiteful combination of irritation and apathy? Or just curiosity?

Whatever it is, we know two things from this photo. First, the attitudes are as diverse as the people themselves. Expressions range from derisive hatred, to calm perplexity. Secondly, the feelings are fleeting, since a photo from a moment later shows people in different thoughts.

Foreigners in India are attacked (with even greater intensity) by the same questions - but respond with very different attitudes. Most are confused: the customary Indian apathy is impossible to attain for a foreigner, while giving money is only propagating what seems to be a disease.

After all are they a disease? Hindu tradition includes begging as a part of daily life and spiritual attainment. Alms-giving, or Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. Buddhists call their monks bhikkhus, or beggars in Pali. Christ once said, "If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor." On one hand begging, charity and poverty are part of our culture and tradition. On the other hand, it's a formidable profession that feeds freely on human sympathy.

Regarding my own response, my policy varies: I will never fund a group of healthy teenagers sitting under a flyover, but I do try to give something to the old. And I clearly remember handing this old lady a 10 rupee note, not because I photographed her, but because I felt she needed it.

However, I am curious. To the photographers here who have visited or live in India: how do you respond to the begging issue in India?

bema, Leconte, jhm, belido, pajaran, s_lush, bukitgolfb301, dmarizz has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Longroute (19600) 2010-04-09 10:13

A fine photo Biswaroop,

really well composed and which faces a very embarassing issue.
When I went to India I was appalled by the number of beggars, most of them even with mutilations or serious desease... but at the same time when I used to go around by myself I was harassed by their insinstence. What can you do? They are too many and you can't feed them all... I remember the first time I gave a coin to a child - immediately I was surrounded by dozens of them asking their share....
Here the situation is different, the lady is old (and alone) and I can see she entered into an envinroment where beggars are not welcome... the second photo in the ws shows it well... I'm like you, I'd never give money to people who can work, but old and ill people need respect and sympathy. Look in the face and eyes of the person and let your heart act.
I really appreciate this work and your rising this issue. I've met so many people who went to India and saw nothing!
TFS,
Donato

svefay (810) 2010-04-10 1:19

hello,
a nice capture, good composition.

Leconte (5795) 2010-04-21 12:15

hi Biswaroop,

very beautiful portrait of elderly woman begging with great dignity and elegance, superb capture of this delicate moment of its expression in the face, good sharpness, beautiful colors, beautiful composition about human nature,

best regards,
Valerie.

best regards,
Valerie.

jhm (187981) 2010-04-22 3:13

Hello Biswaroop,

You brought the focus excellent on the old lady.
High quality picture with the hand of the lady in foreground.
Light and colors are attractive.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

belido (19934) 2010-04-22 6:49

Hi Biswaroop,

this is a nice daily life scene. I like the play with depth and focus. The approximation is very good and the light a lot pleasant. Great job!
Regards,
Carlos

pajaran (88816) 2010-04-22 11:37

Pozdrav.
Sve je vise starih ljudi koji nemaju od cega da zive, dobar motiv.
Tesko je biti star i sam, dobar prikaz uvodnim tekstom , dobrim bojama, trenutkom i lepom fotografijom, cestitam na vasem radu.
Pomognimo starima i mi cemo ostariti, Paja.

Google.

Hello.
More and more elderly people who have nothing to live, a good motive.
It is hard to be old and alone, a good view of the introductory text, good colors, nice moment and a photograph, congratulations on your work.
Help the elderly and we will grow old, Paja.

Waylim (25436) 2010-04-23 16:52

It is heart breaking to see such scenery when travelling in many part of the poorer countries and there's only so much we can do to help, and unfortunately at some point we learned to ignore it.
A good quality shot of reality, a thought provoking image that dealt with with humanity, and it shows the many sides of people emotions... imagine no one will ever have to beg for survival...how I want to live to see it.
Way

s_lush (16602) 2010-04-23 23:30

Hello Biswaroop,
This skilfully taken daily-life photo is a very good illustration of your comprehensive, informative and even philosophic note. Thanks for the interesting story with very artistic images!
Best regards,
Sergiy

bukitgolfb301 (52303) 2010-04-24 1:35

Hi Biswaroop

Great shot! Well calcurated composition / framework, light control and sharp/clear description in the detail. Her expression and fingre are quite significant.
You did a great job !
Thanks for sharing and have a good weekend !
Best regards,
Takero

peppe59 (14555) 2010-04-24 4:01

Ciao Biswaroop,
I find your gallery much beautiful one, with an optimal technique and photographic fantasy, compliment for this beautifulst image very cured, excuse my English. Good aim week peppe
I add you group to my " the friends of peppe"
"gli amici di peppe"

PixelTerror (0) 2010-04-29 1:01

Hi Biswaroop
An action image that documents and addresses an interesting issue, strangely my own experience must differ from most ones, when I visited India last november I didn't have real issues with beggars, apart from a few people on markets... Mostly people who came to me wanted to exchange with the foreigner and I had very interesting conversations with people, especially in Jaisalmer.
Have a nice day JY

dmarizz (2796) 2010-08-11 2:08

Hello Biswaroop,
very interesting subject/note. I've never been in India, but I would be in an embarassing situation regarding beaggar portraits. I find this subjects interesting and worth being captured according to TE spirit, but on the other side I do not know if a beggar can appreciate to be "on the stage". Often I don't make portraits being afraid to hurt the person (anyway I wouldn'pay him/her for the photo itself).
From a pure technical point of view, portraits among a crowd is attractive but complicated. The expression on the faces are important but should not distract excessively from the main subject. According to me the only way to get properly both is an extremely shallow DOF. I've done a fast workshop to show my idea: I hope you will not dislike it.
Have a nice week,
Dario

[workshop] [compare] +