or how a short walk leads into a better future
Devotional pictures are covering the sidewall of a 60 centimeter alleyway. While pressing our backs on to the wall, Iqbal (20) repeats his question “why devotional pictures are purfling this wall (and many more)”. We had quite „holy“ ideas – but not a clue at all. „It‘s protection against urination.“
We were a group of 12 people from all over the world doing „sightseeing“ in one of the poorest parts of Delhi. From my point of view it‘s more worse to close your eyes to this intense portion of poverty. It‘s worth facing it. A guilty conscience helps either them nor you.
No stairway to heaven. The walk started at New Delhi Railstation. The beginning and maybe the end of a street-kids‘ life. Every new train transports new children. Picked-up by pimps or gang leaders they enter the Delhi street-life. They find shelter in the small corner at the end of every stairway to the platforms. The place is to narrow for the policemen, so they can‘t pull them out. Each stairway is owned by a „gang“. The aim of a street-kid is to become a „gang-leader“. But first they had to serve and might never become a gang-leader. Sexual abuse by the police and gang-leaders is common like beating.
Recycling & Videogames. The area we passed was surprisingly clean – for Delhi circumstances. The answer is near: Street children are turning waste into their daily bread through collecting and selling it to recycling (kabadi) shops: Glasbottles for 3 Rupees, one kilo of plastic 10 Rupees. Just opposite of the kabadi is a video-game palour… Why spending the money on food when you can get it free at the temples.
Food & Freedom. „They life their dream-life“, Iqbar says. „They are their own bosses: they have freedom, they watch movies, they enjoy entertainment.“ No one tells them what to do. Playing video-games; spending the money for watching bollywood movies in the cinema. Bollywood is like heaven – it‘s their dream. Drug-induced dancing and singing are the forces driving them not into the intended brighter future. Often just straight into an illusion and into the arms of felon.
Red light. Boys have a much better way to survive on the streets: collecting waste, repairing things, polishing shoes, working in chai-shaks or restaurants. Girls have to pickpocket or prostitute themselves. 20 to 30 wooers a day. 100 Rupees each. But not all of the money is not for their use. It’s for their panders (,boyfriends‘). 50 Rupees are for the girls. But financing a shelter and raising an unwanted child with 1 EUR per day?
Indian wrestling. They loved posing for pictures, touching my hair and looking into my blue eyes. I saw so many smiling faces at one of the Salaam Baalak Shelter Homes for boys. But each was marked from life. Some faces were those of old men. Even when they just turned 10. I gave my camera to the boys. Loads of pictures were taken. We wrestled the Indian style (in german: „Armdrücken“). And we laughed.
Simple dreams. Their dreams are simple: security, help, love; having a place to play and to dream. „Guess, where I was born?“, Iqbal was asking. We gave him a selection of places. He nodded. Mumbled.„Actually, I don‘t know where I‘m from. Maybe from Tamil Nadu, maybe Assam, maybe Delhi.“ Iqbal‘s dream is becoming a software-engineer. His parents got divorced. He and his older brother stayed with their dad. His Mum took his little sister. The father beat him. And left the boys. Iqbar took drugs, worked in restaurants, did what street-kids are doing. And finally met a lady, who brought him to SBT. He has one more year at high-school and besides english, he‘s learning german. Sometimes dreams come true.
What ever you or the Salaam Baalak Trust can do – will be a fraction of what all children deserve. Just help to do more.
Learn more about the Salaam Baalak Trust: www.salaambaalaktrust.com
Me, my good self & India 