GREY SHADES OF A GRAY WORLD

I visited Jama Masjid which is in the heart of India's national capital a couple of days back. It was the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan and India's largest mosque was packed with muslims from all over Delhi. It was an interesting expereince for me to go to Jama Masjid as I got a chance to hear the sermon from the Shahi Imam of the mosque after a long time. Its always interesting to hear his sermon as he tries to include everything related to sufferings of muslims from US to Israel..from BJP to Congress...from Iraq to Afghanistan....in flat 10 MINUTES!!! P.S: I can bet that his speech hasn't changed for the last 10 years.     Jama Masjid was the symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity and was in the centre of storm during the 1857 revolution against the East India Company. The Britishers had planned to demolish this mosque but changed the plans after both Hindus and Muslims joined hands to protect it.     It is said that British took the revenge of the 1857 ...

He is a sitting MP (member of Parliament) in the world's biggest democracy but was caught sitting outside his own home on Saturday ----- not out of choice, mind you! It's sad but our politicians would rather make a mockery of themselves fighting for their plush abodes, even if it means their voters find it difficult to keep their own shelters while funding their neta's fancy desires. So, evicted he got, Mr Nand Kumar Sai, a leader of Bhartiya Janta Party, simply for not letting go of his bangla even after the junta had said goodbye. But stubborn as priya netaji were, he chose to throw a little tantrum until sarkar coughed up some more of taxpayers' money to keep him happy. Austerity drive, did someone say?? © Danish Siddiqui Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

I have tried to capture the different moods of 11 different people(including an animal) while they were being photographed knowingly or unknowingly in the holy city of Varanasi(also known as Banaras and Kashi). I am sorry for not posting any photographs of ghats and other rituals which this city is known for as this post is just about its people.                       © Danish Siddiqui Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

I met this 'little man' in the train on my way to the holy city of Banaras.  Name: Rohan  Profession: Tea seller  Residential Address: Shiv Ganga Express which runs between New Delhi and Varanasi(For the last 2 years)  Work Experience: 2 years Hometown: Unknown  AGE: 9 YEARS   I have promised to give him a printout of his picture on my way back to Delhi as I am traveling by the same train.    © Danish Siddiqui Foundation. All Rights Reserved.   

One early morning I met these two beautiful women who were sitting outside the Indian National Congress's headquarters in New Delhi. As one of them posed for the camera, the other one took a shower under the tap that provides drinking water to thirsty party workers and visitors. Nirmala Devi (the one in the foreground) told me that she and her elder sister are from Jammu and their kids have abandoned them. Now both the sisters are on their way to Varanasi (on foot as they have no money) to spend the remaining days of their lives by the holy river, Ganga. Jammu to Varanasi is a 1,311 kms. journey.                                 © Danish Siddiqui Foundation. All Rights Reserved.   

   As the nation and the media mourned the death of YSR Reddy, efforts to revive the Doha round of the stalled WTO talks began in New Delhi. Against the backdrop of the latter event (and inevitably the former too) around 45,000 Indian farmers raised slogans to stall efforts to liberalise agricultural trade.    The farmers, already hit by a major drought this year, fear further liberalisation in trade would mean a rush of foreign mechanized operations into agriculture that would in turn hurt their already meagre livelihoods. The Doha round of the WTO talks collapsed in July 2008; the current politicking in New Delhi among trade ministers from around 36 countries is designed to restart that round.     "I wonder why we live in the illusion of farmers being the silly ignorant country folks who land up in our cities by mistake! If our media gave you a chance you may really be struck by how much they know of what they do! And they may not know the hi fundas of t...

There are around one lakh street children in Delhi. Most of these children are victims of sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse, and other crimes resulting in a deep sense of insecurity and emotional conflict. When the entire Indian national capital comes to a standstill due to heavy rains, these street kids enjoy a swim in the Rain God's very own temporary swimming pool. © Danish Siddiqui Foundation. All Rights Reserved.