In this archive story we are experiencing poverty firsthand at the Dargah Rd in Mumbai also known as the 'Sick Street'.
Read the background story of this archive photo by the photographer.
Clustered on the ground in Mumbai this photo of a beggar girl cannot help one think about the difference between the poor and the rich in India. Beggary is an age old social issue in India. In the medieval and earlier times begging was considered to be an acceptable occupation, which was embraced within the traditional social structure. This system of begging and alms-giving to mendicants and the poor is still widely practiced in India with over 400,000 beggars some years ago.
Clustered on the ground in Mumbai this photo of a beggar girl cannot help one think about the difference between the poor and the rich in India. Beggary is an age old social issue in India. In the medieval and earlier times begging was considered to be an acceptable occupation, which was embraced within the traditional social structure. This system of begging and alms-giving to mendicants and the poor is still widely practiced in India with over 400,000 beggars some years ago.
Kristian Bertel, Photographer By Kristian Bertel, Photographer
– Updated on February 29, 2024

Dargah Rd portraiture

The portrait was taken near the Haji Ali Dargah, which is a mosque and 'Dargah', which means tomb located on an islet off the coast of Worli in the southern part of Mumbai. Near the heart of the city proper, the 'Dargah' is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Mumbai. According to legends Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari saw a poor woman crying on the road, holding an empty vessel. He asked her what the problem was, she sobbed that her husband would thrash her as she stumbled and accidentally spilled the oil she was carrying. He asked her to take him to the spot where she spilt the oil. There, he jabbed a finger into the soil and the oil gushed out and the overjoyed woman filled up the vessel and went home.




What is the definition of alms?'

Alms are money, food or other material goods donated to people living in poverty. The word is most often used in historical contexts. Providing alms is often considered an act of virtue or charity. The act of providing alms is also called 'Alms' or 'Almsgiving' and it is a widespread practice in a number of different religions and cultures.


A darker side of India
India is home to some of the most vibrant and dynamic cities in the world. But beneath its bustling streets lies a darker side – a side where people are living in extreme poverty and struggling to survive. This is the reality of life on the 'Sick Street' of India.

The 'Sick Street' consists of people from the slums and shanty towns that are home to the country's poorest and most vulnerable. These settlements where they come from are often lack basic facilities such as sanitation, clean water and electricity and people living in these areas are often exposed to dangerous and unhealthy conditions, with little access to healthcare or education.

People begging on the 'Sick Street'
The lack of basic services and resources means that many people begging on the 'Sick Street' of India are unable to break out of the cycle of poverty and those who do manage to find jobs often do not earn enough to cover their basic needs and this leaves them trapped in a cycle of poverty and deprivation, unable to break free. The situation for women and girls is especially dire and they often suffer from gender-based violence, lack of education and employment opportunities and a lack of basic healthcare and nutrition.

The only way to truly improve the lives of those living on the 'Sick Street' of India is to address the underlying causes of poverty and inequality and this means investing in education, health and employment opportunities for the poorest and most vulnerable. It also means tackling the gender-based violence and discrimination that prevent women and girls from accessing the same opportunities as men.

Only when these challenges are addressed will the people living on the 'Sick Street' of India be able to break free from the cycle of poverty and deprivation. Until then, their future remains uncertain.


Giving to a beggar is a personal decision
For many of us, being approached by a beggar on the street is an uncomfortable situation. It is natural to feel a twinge of guilt for not wanting to share what little money we may have on us or worry about giving money to someone who may use it for something other than what we intend. But as we all strive to become more charitable and generous individuals, it is important to consider the potential benefits of giving to a beggar.




"When you give to a beggar, you are not only providing much-needed funds to an individual who may not have access to other forms of support. You are also providing a connection that can make all the difference in a person's life. Even a few coins can help a beggar to buy a meal, a warm cup of coffee or a night's stay in a shelter. The simple act of giving can help to restore a sense of self-worth, dignity and hope to someone in need"




Giving to a beggar is a personal decision
It is also important to remember that giving to a beggar is a personal decision. You do not have to feel guilty for not wanting to give money or for wanting to ask questions about how the money will be used. Many of us want to give in a way that will have the greatest positive impact on someone's life and that is ok. You can also choose to donate to a homeless shelter or food bank in your community to make a bigger difference. In the end, giving to a beggar can be one of the most rewarding experiences. Not only are you helping to meet a person's immediate needs, but you are also showing kindness and compassion that could potentially make a lasting impact. With thoughtful consideration and an open heart, we can all make a difference in the lives of those around us.

History of Haji Ali
Later, Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari had a recurring and disturbing dream that he had injured Earth by his act. Full of remorse and grief from that day he became very serious and was not keeping well. Then with the permission of his mother he traveled to India with his brother and finally reached the shore of Mumbai – near Worli or at some place opposite the present tomb. His brother went back to their native place. Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari sent a letter with him to their mother informing her that he was keeping good health and that he had decided to reside at that place permanently for the spread of Islam and that she should forgive him.

Till his death he kept spreading knowledge about Islam to the people and his devotees would regularly visit him. Before his death he advised his followers that they should not bury him at any proper place or graveyard and should drop his shroud 'Kafan' in the ocean such that it should be buried by the people where it is found. His wish was obeyed by his followers. That is why the 'Dargah Sharief' is built at the very site where his shroud came to rest in the middle of the sea where it perched on a small mound of rocks rising above the sea. The tomb and 'Dargah Sharief' were built in the years to come.

On Thursdays and Fridays, the shrine is visited by an enormous number of pilgrims. Irrespective of faith and religion, people visit the 'Dargah' to get the blessings of the legendary saint. Sometimes, especially on Fridays, various 'Sufi' musicians perform a form of devotional music called 'Qawwali at the Dargah'.

Chaos and hope with stories in India
Mumbai is a spectacular paradox of chaos and hope, glamor and squalor, modernity and tradition, old and new. Mumbai is a city that proudly boasts of stories from different walks of human survival as seen with the beggar girl in this archive story. Since Mumbai is situated right beside the Arabian Sea, there are various promenades where you just sit back and relax and feel the breeze on your face. Marine Drive is one such promenade where you can sit with your feet dangling over the ledge and enjoy a beautiful sunset against the backdrop of the roaring waves of the Arabian sea.




"Giving to a beggar is the sort of spur-of-the-moment kindness that makes the giver feel better. The receiver gets one meal perhaps, but in the longer term it can mean that this causes more damage than good, since it perpetuates the situation and makes begging a viable profession"




Scam begging in India
As a photographer and traveler in India it is hard to ignore the poverty and begging in India. In Mumbai the begging was a real problem for many visitors and they are often ending up giving away a lot of money to scams. The photographer got caught with this scam where a young girl or girls ask you to buy milk for their baby and rice for them to eat and guide you to a store and get you to buy there and then but this is a scam. And they return the goods to the shopkeeper and take a smaller amount of money back. The trick is but what about genuinely poor people with kids. It may be better for someone who is doing something that will make a difference, will change the system, will create permanent change. There are a lot of committed people in this city, who have that sort of gut and determination and the willingness to play the game for the long term, but they have not enough funds. It is a crying shame.

Giving to a beggar is the sort of spur-of-the-moment kindness that makes the giver feel better. The receiver gets one meal perhaps, but in the longer term it can mean that this causes more damage than good, since it perpetuates the situation and makes begging a viable profession.




See this video about the Haji Ali in Mumbai made by VKS Production.




Grief and compassion
In the end, poverty photography in India is both emotionally and ethically challenging, yet it is also essential. Only by showing the stark realities of life in India can the world truly be brought to a place of understanding and compassion.

"- As a photographer, traveling to India to take photos of poverty can be an emotionally challenging experience. Capturing the realities of poverty on film can be intensely difficult, resulting in a range of weighty emotions. Despite the realities of poverty, there is also hope for change. Although the poverty cycle is often hard to break, photography can be used to advocate for people in need. By documenting the daily lives of those in poverty, photographers can be part of the movement to inspire meaningful change. Being a witness to the realities of poverty can be a burden. However, by taking photos, a photographer can help to document the struggles of people living in poverty and bring attention to a cause that needs worldwide attention. While not easy, a photographer can also find hope in the process the hope of meaningful change", the Photographer says.

Read also:  Mumbai street child




Read also:  Mumbai street child

More archive stories

India is a land full of stories. On every street, on every corner and in the many places in India, life is rushing by you as a photographer with millions of stories to be told. In the archive story above, you hopefully had a readable insight in the story that was behind the photo of an Indian girl in Mumbai. On this website of Kristian Bertel | Photography you can find numerous travel pictures from the photographer. Stories and moments that tell the travel stories of how the photographer captured the specific scene that you see in the picture. The photographer's images have a story behind them, images that all are taken from around India throughout his photo journeys. The archive stories delve into Kristian's personal archive to reveal never-before-seen, including portraits and landscapes beautifully produced snapshots from various travel assignments. The archive is so-far organized into photo stories, this one included, each brought to life by narrative text and full-color photos. Together, these fascinating stories tell a story about the life in India. India, the motherland to many people around the world, a land of unforgetable travel moments. The archive takes viewers on a spectacular visual journey through some of the most stunning photographs to be found in the photographer's archive collection. The photographer culled the images to reflect the many variations on the universal theme of beauty and everyday life in India. By adding these back stories the photographer's work might immensely enhanced the understanding of the photographs.

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