Photographer Name: Arup Ghosh

Year: 2014 

Image Description: I WAS ON DURGA PUJA FESTIVAL VACATION, TRAVELLING ON A LOCAL TRAIN. A BOY WAS SINGING DEVOTIONAL SONG AND BEGGING FOR ALMS. HE WAS GUISED AS A HINDU GOD, LORD SHIVA. THIS IS A COMMON VIEW IN INDIAN TRAINS. BUT THIS BOY WAS CHARMING, BRIGHT AND DID HAVE A MELODIOUS VOICE. HE COULD NOT EARN ANY MONEY FROM THE COMPARTMENT AND WAS SAD. HE WAS SINGING ALONE, STANDING BY THE DOOR. OUR DESTINATION WAS ARRIVING AND WE APPROACHED THE DOOR. MY CAMERA WAS READY HANGING ON MY NECK, WITH THE 20MM WIDE LENS ATTACHED. I TOOK 3 SHOTS OF THE BOY AND GOT OFF THE TRAIN. BEFORE LEAVING, MY DAUGHTER GAVE HIM AN APPLE AND I GAVE HIM SOME MONEY. THE BOY MOVED TO THE NEXT COMPARTMENT HAPPILY.

THESE CHILDREN ARE FROM VERY POOR FAMILY. THEIR PARENTS WORK AS CONTRACT WORKERS ON A VERY POOR DAILY WAGE. THEY WORK DAY LONG IN THE FIELDS. THE CHILDREN SING AND BEG FOR MONEY TO EARN BREAD FOR THE FAMILY, WHEN THEIR PARENTS CANNOT MANAGE A CONTRACT. YET THEY ARE CHEERFUL, HAPPY AND FRIENDLY.  

Copyright: © Arup Ghosh_India_Winner_Open_People_2014 Sony World Photography Awards