This year is my fifth living abroad, which means I’ve spent a fifth of my life not in India. Although I may never forget my Indian roots, not living there means I am not constantly faced with the life I once had. Economically my life in India and here in Britain is pretty much the same. Not so socially.
Walking the streets of Nashik or Mumbai, there was no escaping the plight of the poor. Most have to learn to turn a blind eye to it, because there is only so much you can do to help. Even then just that constant reminder is a humbling experience.
There is nothing nice about watching people defecate or having a beggar at every corner, but it is a good reminder of the privileges that we happen to have. And it is this nostalgia which takes me to Mumbai Paused ever so often. It is a blog run by a photographer who calls himself Slogan Murugan. Without telling you more, I’ll let his pictures do their job.
While I am using words to help me, Murugan simply posts pictures. And the juxtaposition of images or subjects within an image make a powerful story, leaving you to judge what to make of it.
And it’s not all just about poverty. He brings to life some of the most mundane views of the city.
All images belong to Slogan Murugan.
Akshat Rathi 