Kite Flyers

Childhood. The pure innocent pleasures of playful games. Incandescent discovery of the big, wide world. The realities of childhood are not uniform for all kids. In Developed nations like Australia, most are afforded the opportunity to play and learn in a safe, tender and ultimately structured environment based on a framework of what society believes is the optimum developmental mix. The world is not as black and white for most young Indians. Growing up in Bombay’s infamous urban slums means most simple joys of childhood are superseded by a raw battle for survival . Forced to beg for pity, working amongst toxic fumes in the traffic stuck at Bombay’s jammed intersections. Otherwise youngsters spend the day caring for younger siblings, traversing dirty slum laneways, as their mother travels long distances out of the slum every day to earn money as domestic help or in a textile factory. Just to shelter and feed the family.

It goes without saying that these kids do not get showered in material toys at birthdays, Christmas or other religious festivals throughout the year. Such events do not consist of glutinous consumption. Devoid of high-tech gadgets, these kids can instead revert to their fleeting childhoods, indulging in simples pleasures.

 Kite flying. Every year on the 15^th January it is a special day in India’s cacophony of religious festivals and rituals. For Hindus it is the festival of Markarsancanti, the celebration of Shiva ‘s birthday. Also celebrated by Punjabis as Lohdi, by Brahmins, and even Southern Indians as Pungal, their New Year. And so this is the festival of Kites, the one day of the year that the children of India put into practice their kite flying skills. Childish regression, all at once.  

These birds of prey are not super strong, nor particularly aero-dynamic. Most probably completely different to anything you’d find in a store in Australia. They are simple contraptions made of thin paper not dissimilar to tissue paper, held together by wooden sticks. On this day, kids fly kites from the roof tops of slums, on the edges of freeways, or the beach. Many end up caught in power lines. Pure, playful pleasure.  

Impressions of Pune.




Malavli station, Maharastra.

Waiting for the train from the rural village of Malavli, for the 1 1/2 hour journey to work in Pune. Pune is a mid-sized urban sprall of 4 Million people about 150 kms inland from Mumbai. It is known for its large university and was the birthplace of India's I.T industry.

 


Train, just outside of Pune station.

Indians love nothing more than a chat, even with strangers. Particularly on the train, a captive foreigner is a prime target. Even with little english, it is possible to share a laugh with a simple "Ricky Ponting". Despite being packed to bursting most of the time all travellers are well natured and are happy to share their personal space with dozens of strangers.

 


Train traveller, somewhere in Maharastra.

Train is easily the most preferred way of travelling medium to long distances in India, particularly for the poor. This woman was transporting half a dozen sacks of grain and rice.

 


Thousand Oaks, Pune.


In even the most decrepid street, open the doors to a walled compound and enter a new world. Full of light, manicured trees and beer! India, full of contrasts and contradictions.

 


Osho Ashram, Pune.


The picture perfect gardens of Osho Ashram in Pune, a world famous centre for spiritual enlightenment, healing and yoga. In reality, it looked more like a money spinning spiritual theme park. Some believe the 'spiritual enlightenment' is in fact orgies for old, wrinkly Americans. This is the only picture taken as a number of security people ejected us immediately afterwards.

 


Iron man, Pune.


Ironing cloths the old fashioned way. Open the top of the iron, load a couple of handfuls of red hot coals, then away you go. The other vendor in charge of lighting and heating the coals (out of shot) is exposed to thick smoke all day. These guys make only a couple of rupees per item despite the time consuming manual labour.  

 


Pune Prison Walls.


Inmates inside Pune prison are required to work in the large fields adjacent the prison, tending vegetable gardens. Their share of proceeds from the vegetables sold is given in a lump sum on release. In the absence of the male, his family will struggle to survive until the main bread-winner is released and can earn a regular income once again. During incarceration, wives of inmates rely on the father-in-law to provide food, shelter and other necessities.

Guava seller, Pune.


In the absence of supermarkets, a la Coles & Woolies, most food shopping in India is done in markets and street stalls. This stall was on MG (Mahatma Gandhi) Road in Pune, a main shopping street, selling snacking guavas for shoppers. A bargain at only 5 rupees each.

Micro-finance billboard, Pune.


Luckily, there is no penalty for premature withdrawal.