I clicked these portraits across Mumbai for a presentation made by a speaker (I'm not sure if it was actually used though) at the recently concluded Thinkfest in Goa about the common man and his views on education.
Key-wala
Name: Hakim Khan
Has 4 children. 3 girls and a boy. The boy is not the youngest. They study in a Government School in UP.
Location: Vashi Node
Home: UP
Education: Education is probably better in Mumbai, but I can’t afford to have the family and give them an education here. The cost of living in Mumbai is too much. But UP is also a place that is only for the rich. Who cares for me, I have no money.
Key-wala
Name: Hakim Khan
Has 4 children. 3 girls and a boy. The boy is not the youngest. They study in a Government School in UP.
Location: Vashi Node
Home: UP
Education: Education is probably better in Mumbai, but I can’t afford to have the family and give them an education here. The cost of living in Mumbai is too much. But UP is also a place that is only for the rich. Who cares for me, I have no money.
Toy-seller
Name: Usman
Has 4 children. And had to think a bit before he could tell me which class/grade they were studying.
Location: Fort
Home: Antop Hill
Education: I earn a few rupees and say and live from day to day. (He means that he has more urgent needs to worry about than his children's education)
Driver
Name: Prakash Govind Surti
Has 2 children. They study in an English Medium School in Bhayandar.
Location: Fort
Home: Bhayandar
Education: Higher education is a Takleef Galli (difficult road for him, money-wise). But it’s a road we should take. That’s my duty. It’s up to the children to study though. And I think they will understand.
Name: Prakash Govind Surti
Has 2 children. They study in an English Medium School in Bhayandar.
Location: Fort
Home: Bhayandar
Education: Higher education is a Takleef Galli (difficult road for him, money-wise). But it’s a road we should take. That’s my duty. It’s up to the children to study though. And I think they will understand.
