Main Aurat Hoon ,, Luti Hui Shaurat Hoon

The Dhobis Of Bandra Bazar Road

He stays at Bandra but I see him every morning going to deliver the washed clothes to his clients at Bandra Reclamation I greet him with Jai Shree Ram .. he acknowledges my greeting but wonders why I shoot him.

So one day I told him I write stories of the common man of Bandra humble souls like him with my camera ,,and the Dhobis are also old residents of Bandra like the butchers and the Kathiawadis and the Marwari merchants and the Gujrati provision store owners ,, most of them are here since 100 years or so.

I am not a historian nor am I am Bandra born I came here relocated to Bandra Bazar since 25 years or more ..

The Bandra Reclamation was all seaside where the dhobis washed and dried the clothes , and was known as Dhobi Ghat ,,  there was the Bandra abattoir near the Bandra Depot now Shastri Nagar and Bandra Compound.

The East Indians were the earliest original inhabitants but living with them side by side in mutual co existence were these other communities ,,

I Am Proud To Be A Rafidi.. In Your Eyes

Meri amma ne kaha khoon me naha kar aana...
SHEH KA MATAM KIYA TO SABKO DIKHA KAR AANA...
Sar se pa khoon ke behte huye dhare dekhun...
Zakhm e taza o qama sar pe tumhare dekhun...
Hukm e madar hai,yahi takhleed e AZADARI hai...
Baqi makkari hai ghaddari, rawadari hai...
Arif bajazvi

Street Photography Is Penetrating The Dark Soul Of Man

he was a daily wage worker
having a cup of tea.. I saw
him he saw me I held him
in the grip of my camera
steadfastly ,,his life his hope
his struggle his hardships
that I could see reading
his inner thoughts to which
I was privy ..sometimes I
wonder that there is much
more to street photography
mystically mesmerizing
adding a touch of humanity
healing him me holistically

he was held captive I set him free
a picture a part of street poetry

Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegi

Jis Subah Ke Amrit Ki Dhun Me, Hum Zahar Ke Pyaale Pite Hai
In Bhukhi Pyaasi Ruho Par, Ek Din To Karam Faramaayegi
Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegi, Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegi

The Goat ,,,

little does he realize
that this world is not
kindly or nice
that soon he has to go
his flesh willing his soul
cries next bakra eid
he will be sacrificed
to appease the soul
of a muslim man
who has paid the price
when he bought him
from the market
checking his two teeth
his human eyes ,,
his girth his body size

sweet serenity .. pain lingers
as time flies to be or not to
be a sacrificial goat worldly
wise no he does not yearn
for mans paradise

What Is The Future Of Municipal School Kids I Ask..

considered
vernacular
taken to task
they deserve a
better education
under the bright
rays of hope they
need to bask ,.

but sadly it is the ambani  billabong podar
 schools for the children of the rich behind elitist masks