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http://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch-stories/navika-mehta-decided-to-teach-kathak-to-young-girls-less-fortunate-than-her/article1-1318142.aspx

A view from a footover bridge

Delhi from a foot over bridge during the peak traffic hours is an interesting sight. I wonder what will become of this road in 5 years. I guess we'll have to wait till 2020 to find out.

Delhi Gold indeed.
"This isn't life in the fast lane,
its life in the oncoming traffic."
-Terry Pratchett 

Busy People

"I am the lover's gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness
I am the last gift of the living to the dead
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow."
- Khalil Gibran

catching up for panipuri?

Something about the way this chewing gum is stuck seems very aesthetic

In life, always remember...

Lemonade stall on the busiest street in Delhi.

Trucks are very photogenic

Sunrise, Sunset
Sunrise, Sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

Lets compare this in 5 years time.

PAPERAZZI

This summer I worked as an Intern at the kalyanmayee project, a student initiative to spread awareness about the importance of paper recycling. The project was conducted at Airport Authority of Indias' Paper recycling factory.

Here we worked in two teams - Production and Documentary. I was the photographer in the documentary team and my job was to capture the production team at work. The internship lasted for 10 days with a total of 50 hours. Interns slogged away in the gruelling heat of the first week of June. Each day after shooting around 300 pictures, 10 theme related pictures were uploaded on the Projects' Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/thekalyanmayeeproject) Blog (http://kalyanmayeeproject.tumblr.com/), Instagram and other social networking sites.
The final goal was a 13-15 minute documentary to spread awareness about recycling paper . Check it out here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7f0T4ndwKI

This 10 day internship was an amazing experience that ended too soon.

Here is a glimpse of The Kalyanmayee Project 2014.

Factory worker

Production team at work

Day 1-Doc Buddies

The Machinery 

Prduction team designers

The paper makers

THE PRODUCTS

Notepad

Paperbag

Penstand

Notebook

Notebook

MUCH FUN

The Backyard Experiment

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”  ― Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Child labour inspite of being condemned by law is still prevalent in our society.

 My first brush with child labour was about six months back when my mother employed a new  domestic help. This lady was one of the hundreds of people who migrate to cities each day in search for better economic prospects. She has five children, two of them she said will work in case she is not able to make the ends meet. At first, it seemed alright but soon it became clear that  this was not the case. She was actually looking for more employment in order to earn more which meant that her two daughters would have to work all day to sustain the family. At 14 and 16 years it is not too young, the mother insisted, to do household chores - not realising at what cost? - Compromising on their education?
I ensured that this wouldn't happen . The situation soon changed and the girls joined a local school. This experience made me realise that there are many more kids like them who have to take up odd jobs to help run their homes. Their plight moved me. Specially, lack of quality education.I then decided to do whatever little I could for sake of these children in my neighbourhood. I decided to give them an hour every week to teach them something that I have had the opportunity to learn....DANCE !

I started taking Kathak classes for all interested children. The response has been phenomenal. Today I get such immense  joy and satisfaction from the classes that I feel, I receive much more in return than what I give to these children.
The joy on their faces and sense of liberation during their dance is a pleasure to watch. I Share pictures of these classes which I call......Chance to Dance.

Mansi

Kanchan

Pooja

Class in Progress

The youngest dancer- Vasundhara , 5 years old.

More from the 10-minute drive . . .

The Background 

Green Fields Forever

The Bullockcart

Parasia Drift

Temple Bells

cows and chicks

The Pujari

Reflection

warmth from the sun and the tea

A Farmhouse for real

Indian Ghost Tree (glows at night)

Precious Water

Dolce far niente