Ujjain Kumbh Through The Eyes of a Sufi Malang Firoze Shakir

Ujjain Kumbh Playlist You Tube

The poor lady comes to search for food at the Bandra Bazar Garbage Dump . So much for two years of progress and development

Playlist on Bandra Bazar Garbage Dump

The Ear Cleaners Of Bandra Talao

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Raju the Ear Cleaner 

I have known Raju since many years he used to clean ears near my old workspace at Abbas Compound 29 Road and today he wonders why I don't wear the crazy dresses I wore those days one white shoe one black shoe turban rings and silver sticks .

Raju came to Mumbai from Gulbarga Karnataka when he was 19 year old he worked as a helper in the construction field ..but he was not happy so he picked up the ear cleaning trade and he is a Hindu who is a follower of Haji Malang Baba .

He works at the Bandra Talao with two Muslim colleague s from his native town Nabi and Qasim who are now in their village for Qasims daughters marriage .

Raju stays on rent with his family at Mahim I come and sit with him listen to his stories of the Bandra Talao which in the old days was patronized by masseurs and a homosexual pick up joint ..there were a few prostitutes who did business in the nights .

Some thieves operated here as masseurs and would rip rich drunk guys who came for massage robbing them of their wallets and gold chains .

A lot of people came to the Talao to commit suicide he tells me and he is full of stories .

I did not get my ears cleaned today I took these two shots to tell this story...and mind you though I did not clean my ears I paid him.

I shot a few videos too..

One thing he did tell me those rich guys who come in cars to feed the pigeons will not give a rupee to a poor hungry child .