A slum with a thousand smiles

I was much like an eager beaver as i happily strolled into the slum, amidst the urban Shadipur setting, but i walked out speechless and in awe at what i just witnessed. Hundreds, or maybe thousands, of (young children) roaming around naked, or with torn-and-tattered dribs and drabs of cloth, barefooted, limping, with bloated tummies, hair bleached to an unhealthy light brown due to malnutrition and bowed legs due to Rickets (Vit. D deficiency), some are relaxing - stretched across the muddy ground, and some fiddling with their prosthetic legs due to Leprosy and sensory loss. I visited a school that was built by a Belgian NGO to educate slum children. They welcomed me with a garland and a sprinkling of flower petals and an applause that still rings in my ear. I was moved. I was enthusiastically greeted by a "Namaste! Welcome to India, Didi (sister)!" They will then voluntarily begin introducing themselves in English. "Hello, what is your name? My name is so-and-so." They all wanted a piece of me like I was a rare slice of meat up for grabs. They all wanted to be in my pictures. But more importantly, I only saw them smiling, from ear to ear - since i arrived, till the minute i left. As i took a tour around the slum, my eyes met with those of the wide-eyed, full of curiosity and full of spark. I was stunned to see the living conditions. A small shabby hut, some made of only straw, only 1 room, with 2-7 people living in it, a wooden bed, and that's where they sleep/cook/eat/study/and everything else in between. The stench from the choked streams left me slightly woozy. The garbage dump was never cleared that it turned into a massive landfill.

One girl remarked, "We live in fear of the house collapsing in the rain." Others said, "I want to be Miss India." "I want to be a lawyer." and "I want to be a teacher." I don't think I am capable of translating my experience accurately but these quotes are the exact sentiment i took away with me. The juxtaposition of fear and hope - Living in so much fear, yet, equally as much hope.

Take a look at how a room looks like:

This is how part of the slum looks like:

Bangla Sahib Gurdwara

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the most revered places of worship, for Sikhs, in Delhi. It is dedicated to the eighth Sikh Guru, Sri Harkishen Sahib. It effortlessly stands out with its gold-plated dome and white facade tower.

Above: The holy pond ('sarovar') where, as the Sikhs believe, sins could be washed away. You find devotees immersing themselves and their mouths muttering away, chanting a prayer or confession of some sort.

Below: The white facade of the Gurdwara; the interior; that's where the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, is placed; and the blessed sweet offering you can take home (Kada Prasad). Its made of Sugee (Semolina); the view of the Gurdwara from the pond; and people rinsing their hands and feet to get rid of their sins.

Ugrasen Ki Baoli

A Baoli is a stepwell - an underground structure for storing water. What's amazing is that you'll find this ancient structure in the middle of the city! This was supposedly built by King Ugrasen. Built with only rubble and stones, it is one of the finest Baolis in Delhi. The main feature is the long and steep flight of stairs leading down to the well.

Above: Juxtaposing the well, about 7 storeys below ground level, with the high-rise apartments across the road.

Below: The steep flight of stairs leading down to the well; looking up from the bottom of the well; the corridors of arched units where people, back in the days, used to sit to cool off on a very hot day; a quaint mosque erected at the top of the stairs.

It's also great that this is not a very touristy place. A treasure amidst the concrete urban setting!

Purana Qila (Old Fort)

Above: The main entrance to the Old Fort, at sunset.

Built in 1538 by then Mughal Emperor Humayun, the Old fort, also know as Purana Qila is one of the oldest monuments in Delhi. It was built with a single aim: to protect the City of Delhi that Emperor Humayun had created. Rumor has it, Humayun died after falling from the steps of Sher Mandal, after which the Purana Qila was considered cursed by the Mughal’s and was abandoned. Today most of the old fort’s walls are in shambles. However Qal’a-I-Kunha Masjid and Sher Mandal have stood the test of time and still look spectacular.

Below: The ruined walls lining the perimeter of the Old Fort.

Below: The Qal’a-I-Kunha Masjid (mosque) still standing in all it's glory. Look at the intricacies of the architecture and designs, as well as the inscriptions of verses from the Holy Quran.

Below: The Sher Mandal which was an observatory and library.

Below: A serene lake hidden behind the ruined bricked-walls.