INDIA

Delhi rickshaw riders endure incredibly hot and tough conditions. Sharing his picture with me was a real gift. 2014.

This lady and her husband were tending to their rice paddy on the banks of the Mulshi, Pune, India. 2014

Jaspal, 55, Mumbai, India. I’ve never seen such an intense stare back through my camera lens. At first I thought Jaspal really didn’t want his photo to be taken, but I think I misunderstood. The more photos I took, the more it seemed Jaspal wanted me to see what he did for a living. Jaspal fired solid pieces of metal in a coal oven, ready to be pressed and shaped into sledge-hammer heads. He would wait until the metal was red-hot, before using tongs to pass the pieces onto the next person in the chain. The heat from the oven was extreme and the iron dust that filled air clung to Jaspal’s skin and clothes. In spite of this, neither Jaspal or his co-workers wore any safety equipment. 2015.

Najameen, 6 & Sajiya, 7, with their younger brother, Mumbai, India. Najameen and Sajiya shared a connection that was very touching. The two sisters were such an amazing expression of happiness and joy in life. They posed for the camera and danced around, laughing uncontrollably, as their brother did his best to join in. From my point of view I wanted to know more about their story. I tried in vain to talk to Najameen and Sajiya but they didn’t want to stop having fun - I couldn’t blame them! Life in this area of Mumbai is very, very tough, but all I could see were these shining faces that made me smile contagiously! 2015. *A Special thanks to my fixer and translator, Dinesh Dubey, for making my photos and stories in Mumbai possible.

Baheer, 60, Delhi, India. Baheer was amongst the less fortunate waiting to be served a meal donated by a stranger - near the Jama Masjid mosque, Delhi, India. 2015.

Kisan Gupta, 8, lives on the shipping docks in Darukhana. The living and working conditions here are some of the toughest in Mumbai. In spite of this, happiness and beauty still shine through with surprising frequency. 2015.

Archana, 6 & Anjali, 6, Mumbai, India. Many shanties align the narrow docks in the ship wrecking yards in central Mumbai. It was outside one of these homes that I stumbled upon two girls writing the English alphabet for homework. The first thing that surprised me was that both Archana and Anjali had the opportunity to learn English at school. I had a preconception that not all children in India could readily access education, but the more I saw throughout the country, the more I realised this assumption was wrong. My second reason for being surprised was that they were both so happy and eager to learn. I look back to myself as a six year old and there was no way I was going to do any homework! It is heartening to see India as a whole, placing so much importance on education. Both Anjali and Archana said they would like to be teachers when they grow up. I would love to know what their futures hold … 2015.

Amirul, 62, Mumbai, India. Amirul watched with curiosity as I photographed someone nearby, but was a little shy to come out of her doorway. I was immediately drawn to her bright eyes and kind looking face. A mother to four children and a grandmother to nine, Amirul’s eyes lit up at the mere mention of her grand kids. 2015.

Anand, 25, Agalya, 3 & Anusha, 5, Mumbai, India. “I spend my free time with my family”. 
Happiness is a hard thing to find at times, especially when it’s totally unrestrained. We often put on an outward show, particularly for the camera, but forget about the present moment. This is why I was so drawn to Anand and his 2 daughters. There was nothing false or contrived, but instead a genuine outward expression of shared joy. Today was Anand’s day off. He is a supervisor at Tata Electric Company and still chooses to live in the tough working class neighbourhood where he was raised. As for his daughters, he would like them to receive good educations and go on to have respectable jobs, like doctors or police officers. 2015.

Mcleod Ganj, India. Tourists flock here to see the Dalai Lama and his residence in exile. I was sure this monk would refuse to have his photo taken as he would have been asked a thousand times before, but to my surprise he gave me a big smile and a nod. I didn't meet the Dalai Lama but I was still touched by this place and the people. 2014.

Majeed, 24 Mumbai, India. I met Majeed at a street-stall outside a cemetery in Mumbai. The first thing I noticed about him and excuse the irony, was he was full of life. He didn't seem to be at all bored with his job and enjoyed simply watching time pass. His friend joked that Majeed was still a virgin, which they both laughed about. Majeed explained that he was to be married shortly after Ramadan and that he was extremely happy and excited - "She is beautiful”. Majeed also said it was hard at home having no mother to look after his father, brother and himself. His bride be would soon take on this role. Majeed was amused when I ask him about children - naturally he would like to have them and has no preference for sons or daughters. "Children aren't like money, you can't give and take. God will decide". 2015.

Vinod, 23, Delhi, India. “I want to stay here … this is home”. Vinod was an extremely cheerful young guy who seemed very content. His family owns 2 shops and when I asked what he wanted to do in the future, his answer was “this”. That’s when I realised why Vinod was happy. 2014.

Muhammad Bhai, 70, Mumbai, India. “I prefer to get my news from the paper, I don’t like modern technology”. Muhammad Bhai seemed like a Dharavi fixture, as relaxed with his paper. His favourite pastime is reading world news and he’s grateful that his vision still permits him to do so. As he sat outside his house, I noted Muhammad Bhai appeared to be very content: “I like it here. I’ve lived here all my life. I know everyone and it’s like a village. The only thing that has changed is it’s got busier”. 2015.

Kasturi, 74, Delhi, India. I was instantly drawn to Kasturi. Both her face and eyes told so much, yet it was her words that affected me the most, as she acknowledged that now, only death awaits her … Kasturi is a mother to three girls and two boys, although one of her sons passed away thirty years ago. She still looks after her remaining son who is deaf and dumb, a job that is very difficult but what else can she do? Kasturi explained she is aided by local boys who are like family to her. When I asked her about her own two Grandchildren, she said she could not say or do anything, but simply hopes they turn out to be good people. Kasturi mentioned that many tourists ask to take her photo as she sells fruit and veg on the street corner and she’s always obliging as it makes them happy. When I asked her about own happiness and inspiration though, she said she is too old. She has seen everything and there is just death now. God has given her life and she has lived it. “I’ve only done good. I’ve never abused or sworn at anyone”. 2015.

Muhammad Kale, 40, Delhi, India. “I also play drums at weddings”. Muhammad Kale has spent all his life in Paharganj and knows everyone in the area. He sells children’s toys for 2 rupees each as he relaxes back on his scooter. “It’s good living here”. 2015.

Ankur, 26, Delhi, India. I was surprised to see a sophisticated looking young man sipping coffee in a gritty, working class area of central Delhi. Ankur is a traditional Indian dancer, performing around a dozen shows and festivals a month. I told him I’d never met a professional dancer in India before and he reassured me that it was a very well respected profession. Ankur explained that he first saw traditional dancers when he was a child and from then on, dreamt of being one when he grew up. When I asked about the motorbike and the photo on it, Ankur told me it was a picture of his brother, as the bike belonged to him. Ankur’s dream now is to buy a bike just like his brother’s. 2015.

The simple things ... boys swinging from tress in an old metal scrap yard in central Mumbai, India. 2015.

Many holy men (Sadhus) call the Ganges home - Varanasi, India. 2015.

Giving blessings on the banks of the Ganges, Varanasi, India. 2015.

A child watches the passers by - Mumbai, India. 2015.

Fun with the camera - Mumbai, India. 2015.

A local store in Mumbai, India. 2015.

Posing for the camera - Mumbai, India.

Street life in Mumbai, India. 2015.