the children of Delhi

One Saturday afternoon, I was on my way to a Tibetan enclave, Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi. I was there to try the momos (steamed dumplings), an integral part of Tibetan cuisine.

Along the way, I passed by a little street with children playing in the alleyways. I couldn’t resist pulling out my camera to capture the moment. Little did I know that one shot would lead to another, and soon the children had alerted their friends in the neighbourhood, who came racing out of their homes to get a picture of themselves taken.

Many of them had not seen a digital camera before and they absolutely loved it when they saw themselves clearly on the camera screen. My only wish at that moment was to have a polaroid camera so that I could give them the photos I had.

India is known for poverty and her children are often photographed in rags, begging for alms at road intersections. But that afternoon, I saw India’s children in a different light. Like children in other parts of the world, they loved to play, and had a role in taking care of their little brothers and sisters. But more importantly, there was a different type of happiness in their eyes, quite unlike their peers in developed countries, whose happiness are sometimes derived from gifts of the latest toy or iPad gizmo.

—–

About The Travelling Squid

Phebe is the author of The Travelling Squid, a travel blog filled with tips and anecdotes of her “career of travelling”, which began at a tender age of 19. Despite having been to many top destinations, India continues to remain as Phebe’s favourite place in the world. Phebe has a bad sense of direction but continues to travel, sometimes alone because of her quirky habits and intensely inquisitive mind.

Want to see your picture featured on our Sunday Snapshot segment? We’re now accepting guest submissions! Just send us an email at acruisingcouple (at) gmail (dot) com with your photo and a brief description. We’d love to have you!