The Pain and The Anguish Beggar Hijras of Mumbai, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
This was shot yesterday at the Turner Road Traffic Signal Bandra , once upon a time hijras moved about freely this was their beat , and they got good alms because of the restaurants and high end fashion and jewelery shops around this signal .
I began shooting HIjras here as it was on the way to my old workplace , the person that called the shots was a beggar hijra called Lakshmi..I have not seen her ever since , Archana hijra in the picture loves me for only one reason she loves trinkets and I gave them a lot of stuff that I had picked up at Chor Bazar Flea market , I gave them sarees too I picked up from Chor Bazar second hand clothes sellers ..
But than with the hefty fine of Rs 1200 for begging imposed by the cops , this friendly group of hijras moved to other signals.. I was really surprised seeing Archana , though her beggar guru Lakshmi was not around..
Many a time I had an urge to go and shoot them in the slums where they stayed but though their Guru promised to take me along it never happened..
And Marziya my two year old grand daughter now knows hijras very well , sees them on the street and nudges me Dada Hijdas..
And what really hurts me the hijras that need urgent attention and rehabilitation are these beggar hijras of Mumbai, they are known as Mangtis.
And I doubt they will ever walk the Hijra Fashion Ramp, they walk the streets of Pain and I shoot them showing you their life up close and perhaps one of thees days I will go and shoot Peela House Red Light area , its just that I cant make an effort , and I want to reconnect with Heena the Wild Orchid of Falkland Road as the red light area is called.
I am presently shooting pictures with Dr Glenn Losack MD's Nikon D 80 camera sent to me as a present.
