Making Indian desserts, Varanasi, India. 2015.
Outside a small shop - varanasi, India. 2015.
Pappan, 42, Delhi (Paharganj), India. I photographed Pappan on my first visit to Delhi in 2014. What I knew about her I could only surmise, as we frustratingly didn’t share a common language. In spite of this I could see and feel her genuineness, kindness, strength and pride. A year later I returned to Delhi and once again found Pappan. When I gave her a print of her photo, I was met with surprise, followed by a warm-hearted smile. This time I had an interpreter with me and Pappan insisted we sit together and share some conversation and cola. Pappan recounted moving to Delhi from Uttar Pradesh thirty years ago, but considers Delhi her home now. She lost her husband many years ago but said she doesn't feel alone as she has three daughters (18, 20 & 23) who she cares for very much. I didn’t want to push Pappan any further on the subject, but I sensed she missed her husband dearly. When I asked about the possibility of marrying again she said she will only have “one love”. Pappan shifted the attention back to her daughters, saying she was in the process of finding suitable husbands for them and was doing her best. She couldn’t conceal her pride as she explained all three girls had graduated from school, with one working as a rail inspector, another in a beauty salon and the youngest still living at home helping with the chores. When I ask more about her own life, Pappan told me she was illiterate and has never travelled. Despite all of her hardships though, she's proud that she's always found a way. “In life there are good and bad things, you just have to take it all as it comes”. Pappan still seemed uncertain about the future however, as it's getting harder and harder to make a living selling fruit and vegetables from her cart. In the early years she would make five hundred rupees a day (just under $8), but now there is far more competition, which means some days she makes less than half of that. When it was time to leave, I felt sad to say goodbye to Pappan. We knew very little about each other’s lives but that didn't seem to matter - sometimes words aren't so important ... Photo: 2014, Interview: 2015. *A Special thanks to my fixer and translator, Ravi Mishra, for making my photos and stories in Delhi possible. Ravi Mishra
