Two cameras, a few kids and a little hope

I am a cynical person. I somehow find it very hard to believe that people will do something without getting anything in return. Even when I worked for Child Relief and You (CRY), I had to try every emotional trick in the book in order to get a single subscription. Finally when I pulled out the ‘tax exemption’ trump card did some people evince interest and made out a little sum for the kids. That short stint with CRY reaffirmed my belief – nobody will write out a single penny for nothing. Throwing a few coins at a beggar, whose profession is begging, is a different issue.

But, inspite of all my cynicism, I am willing to give this a try – the project Do Right. What shook my staunch belief? This, a video put up on the website.



And why was I so much moved by it? Because, I have a two year old son who loves to take photographs. I can never take out my digicam without the little one reaching out his tiny hands towards it. After a few half-hearted ‘Nos’ I would give in to his pleading liquid eyes. The bright light that would shine in his eyes and the wide toothy smile that would spread on his face as his tubby fingers curled around the camera – nothing can give me more pleasure. It warms my heart just to see my baby fiddling around with the camera, the way he would raise it up to his eyes and click the button, copying his dad. The shutter sound of the camera would delight him no end and he would look up to me with a big grin, as if saying “Mamma, I clicked you!”

I went through the write-up accompanying the video and it pained me to think about the predicament of these kids, who are deprived of the senses of hearing and speaking. Would there be no outlet for them to express themselves? Some of the kids, who were trained and then asked to photograph Mumbai, brought out such facets of the city that we grown-ups with our so-called intelligence were not aware of. Their innocence reflected in their work – a cynical city laid itself bare before their gleeful eyes. 

Would it be possible then, really, to gift these little children with a few cameras? Can we let them look at the world through the lenses of the cameras and come up with their own interpretations? They cannot speak properly, nor can they hear. But they can see, they can express – through photographs. I had asked myself – what good can a few cameras do? I recalled Vicky Roy and his rag-picker to celebrity photographer story. But that aside, essentially these kids have the same aptitude as my son does. They would click a picture and smile happily, won’t they, like my son? 

I have no idea if my post will lead anyone to donate anything towards these kids who are looking forward to click a few pictures. In case, just in case, you do, please visit this site DoRight.in and I hope you will be able to complete the half-story of these children. Do take a look around and maybe you can help out others, too. I live in hope.