One can spot many rag pickers in the
crowded market of Batamaloo near its cesspools, trashcans and public dumps;
picking rags, used paperboards and discarded plastics bottles. Hamida, 13, is
in same work for three years. The nose pin was eye-catching on her oil and
sweat smeared face. Her attire looked shabby, but the jasmine flower print on
her frock and pink veil was striking. She dwells here with her parents and two
brothers-Mohammad Junail Mian, 11, and Mohammad Shoboz Mian, 10. They are from
Bangaon, a village in Kolkata. The three siblings were carrying rag filled
plastic sacks.
A day is not lost when
the happy memories are created, ‘We only remember the days of Eid and Basakhi
Mela (in Kolkata) for they only make us joyful,’ Hamida said. ‘The other day of
happiness was with Abu (my father) when he took us to Makhdoom Sahib Shrine. We
offered prayers in the mosque and had fritters. Later, when my brothers and I
walked around, I came across a pond, which had plenty of coins in it. I just
wished that moment to get them. The shine of those coins never goes off from my
memory,’ Recalled Hamida smilingly.
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