Lucky by Chance

As the the temperature in Delhi dips to an all-time low and all we fortunates tuck ourselves in the warmth of our quilts and blankets at home ...there are more than 1,00,000 homeless people who survive these chilly and harsh winters by luck and some goodwill on part of a few kind-hearted...

There are 31 night shelters in Delhi constructed by the government and managed by a couple of NGOs. The average capacity of these shelters is 250 people, which means only 7750 lucky souls can find roofs to sleep under. Nobody knows what happens to the rest...

Many of them die due to the chill ... their deaths go unnoticed as they are unknown or don't exist in the statistical charts of the national capital of India.

Last night, I visited around 5 night shelters across the city, both permanent and temporary.

A lucky soul at one of these night shelters told me: "Jo aaj andar hai kal woh bahar ho sakhta hai...aur parso upar ho sakhta hai..." (Anyone who is inside can be outside tomorrow and possibly a past tense, the day after tomorrow.) Spaces in night shelters are given on a first-cum-first-serve basis.

Bracing the cold too, it appears, has become a survival of the fittest. But is it an even competition?

Comments

NBJanuary 9, 2010 at 4:18 PM
Wonderful depiction Danish. Nothing more.
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chrmyersJanuary 9, 2010 at 8:22 PM
i appreciate you reminding us of those who most of us walk by and never even realize they exist. in the small amount of time i was there, i saw that you gave the children in the cc more attention than most others. you saw them for what they are, human beings who deserve to be treated like it. thanks brother.
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crookedlinesJanuary 9, 2010 at 10:01 PM
Poignant.
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UnknownJanuary 10, 2010 at 2:33 PM
Very touching. They are defenitely 'Lucky by chance.' Bring out the apathy of 'Unlucky by chance'- those who sleep out at night, on the pavements- no roof, no walls, just next to dogs, under the open sky, which is so foggy that even God also can't see them.
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Rana AyyubJanuary 10, 2010 at 11:16 PM
awesome pics dan..it makes for a bloody good story..fab as usual..great work
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AnonymousJanuary 12, 2010 at 2:49 AM
2nd image - brilliant...
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RaghavJanuary 14, 2010 at 2:03 AM
2nd and last my favs

good stuff bhai
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SALMA SIDDIQUEJanuary 14, 2010 at 2:35 PM
Remarkable boss! I really like the pic with the woman. the bunker pic had a lot of potential...somewhere you became hesitant. understandably so.
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hardik mehtaJanuary 22, 2010 at 4:04 PM
those are some nice pics..my pick - the 2nd black and white one
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