"Want Pencils or Toffees?" Photo

Photographer’s Note

Khaba is a deserted village of Paliwal Brahmins (a business community). It is one amongst the many abandoned 19th century villages located 18 and 30 km southwest of Jaisalmer.

Khaba was once an ideal village of Paliwal Brahmins which was abandoned around mid of 19th Century by the then Prime Minister Salim Singh. History reveals that Salim Singh being Mohta by caste, wanted to marry a girl from Paliwal Brahmins. Because of the caste system, the Paliwals objected to it and Prime Minister started using evil devices to make the Brahmins permit him to marry that girl. On being refused he started torturing them. Because of it the Paliwal Brahmins fled from Jaisalmer to the nearby states in over night. There were eighty four villages of Paliwal Brahmins in the princely state of Jaisalmer in those days. Khaba is a testimonial of their prosperity and part of this village is occupied by Sodala Rajputs now.

The Khaba (or Jazia) Fort stands in ruins amidst desolation. The word Jazia stands for Tax that was imposed. New bastis (habitats) have developed mostly of the nomadic people here.

The two kids ran upto my car as soon as I stopped here. They tried to sell pencils and toffees to me! Pencils? I wondered....Some NGO would have provided them materials (including these pencils) to make these kids attend schools, & here they were trying to earn a fast buck, selling them!!

ChrisJ, plimrn, isabela_sor, PaulVDV, dareco, papagolf21, BurhanettinMasa, ymrk, bukitgolfb301, Scharan, dip, pierrefonds, edytungkal, josepmarin, Jonas_Schmitt, jhm, riclopes, Bluejeans, sagar trouve(nt) cette note utile

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isabela_sor (42349) 2009-05-11 22:32 [Comment]

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PaulVDV (5318) 2009-05-11 22:32

Hello Angshuman,
A nice desert village scene with the dromedaries, the houses with blue doors and blue small windows and the fortress on top of the hill. The kids bring life to the picture.
Best regards, Paul

dareco (17104) 2009-05-11 23:20

An interesting note and picture. Such a different scene than you would ever see here :) which is what makes TrekEarth so fascinating. Great job! TFS

marek-mzungu (480) 2009-05-11 23:49

Namaskar Mumbai my friend! how r u? how do u like "my" city?
sorry long time no news :(

interesting shot and the story behind,

best rgds
m

fanni (8791) 2009-05-12 0:39

Hello Angshu,
it is not the children to blame for what they do... it is always the government - the government's policy. If things go on like they are going, soon in some regions of Russia we will have the same situation.
The photo is very interesting and very eloquent, as well as your Note!
I also like the composition - very well balanced, with many interesting details.
Warm regards,
Elena

papagolf21 (56623) 2009-05-12 0:49

Bonjour, cher ami Angshu,
Outre la très belle image présentée, il est bien dommage de voir que les fournitures scolaires sont revendues pour gagner de l'argent !
Très belle réalisation comme d'habitude.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jasmis (50891) 2009-05-12 1:25

Incredible light and colours. Detailed note. Thanks for sharing.
Regards my dear friend.

PS. I'm quite well. Still alive and well.

vincz (19043) 2009-05-12 5:05

Great to see you back. Hope your relocation is going well. Nice picture from a remote area with the camels resting all over. The kids running to sell you pencils are a great inclusion. Too bad to see that they are not using them for the intended use :)

carper (65448) 2009-05-12 9:47

very nice anghu
a fine balance in this well taken composition, good details
fine photo job here, have a nice day.
regard jaap

ymrk (9059) 2009-05-12 12:02

I loved to array of camel with walking of the child.Temperate colors,sand with site by models are perfect!
Congratulations,

Yağmur

bukitgolfb301 (4883) 2009-05-12 13:58

Hello again my dear Prof. Angshuman

After one week silence, you jsut comeback to TE again, everybod are waiting for your comeback, I thinks.

Great photo. Nice balanced camael at the background and two boys are good combination. Congratulation on your masterpiece.
Thanks for sharing and best regards,

Takero

Scharan (13955) 2009-05-12 16:40

Olá Angsmhuman

Interessante composição.
Bonitos detalhes.
Ótimas cores.
Parabéns!
GA
Vera

dip (12792) 2009-05-12 23:39

Hi Angshu,
good capture of this beautiful daily life scene,I like the warm tones and the composition with the two 'salesmen' in the foreground :)
Greetings,
Dimitris.

aadilj (17950) 2009-05-13 1:38

Hey Angshuman, how are you doing my freind from Mumbai! I love the play of the sunlight in your composition and the way you have set this shot up with vivid tones and textures.

pierrefonds (26559) 2009-05-13 4:47

Hi Angshuman,

The point of view leads our eyes toward the horizon which is giving depth to the photo. It is allowing us to see the houses and the castle. The presence of the children and dromadaries has an effect of scale. The early evening light is enhancing the colors of the scenery. Have a nice day.

Pierre

edytungkal (4519) 2009-05-13 8:31

As your said not always a cup of tea for everyone, this shot showed a place that we maybe never seen before, that is the spirit of TE. An interesting shot my friend, glad you are back.

best regards
daniel

josepmarin (34011) 2009-05-13 11:16

Hi Angshuman,
I like the light and the shades on this landscape and the camels resting calmly. Both boys who run towards you give dynamism to the scene, and the Fort on the hill creates a beautiful contrast on the blue sky.
Your note informs us about the authentic interest of the boys, to sell some materials provided by some NGO.....
A good work.
Friendly regards,
Josep

Jonas_Schmitt (3074) 2009-05-13 11:49

Hello Angshu!
Very nice photo, I really like this daily life scene a lot. The positioning of the boys here is perfect, actually the whole picture is composed very well ! Depth, sharpness, colors, contrast and pov, everything is fine.....well seen and presented. Thanks for sharing!
Best regards,
Jonas

marietom (32060) 2009-05-13 12:46

hello Angshu,

C'est une jolie scène de vie quotidienne, dans une belle lumière. PLus je vois de photos d'Inde, plus j'ai envie de visiter ce pays...
Bonne soirée
Marie

Waylim (11081) 2009-05-13 12:53

Sabaidee Angshu,
Very nice daily life image. I light the low and warm light that casts long shadow of the kids. It is a tough life out there, they try to sell what they don't need in their daily life, perhaps they just got too many pen and pencils, even I as tourist bring pencil to give to children, because we thought it encourage them to go to school and I'm sure they do as much as they felt they needed. What are the chance that some of these kids will end up in a place where they need a higher education, at lease they don't know it. It's their reality, Hopefully it will change through generations.
Way

pablominto (41148) 2009-05-14 0:49

Hello Angshu,

The final conclusion is that money is regarded higher than knowledge!
The scene is well presented with many details to explore, and camels are no doubt the most important mean of transportation...
A fine composition with the running guys!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Graal (58577) 2009-05-14 1:22

Hi Angshuman,
nice view, amazing village on the desert. Fine scenery. Well done photo and interesting note. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

jhm (83161) 2009-05-14 5:18

Hello Angshu,

The a lot Dromedaries care for a wonderful image.
This type villages know we here not, this is for me very interesting.
The two boys get perhaps the pencils of one organisation.
Nice composition and attractive of colours. TFS.

Best regards,
John.

ChrisJ (70419) 2009-05-14 18:23

Hi Angshuman

Good repetition of the camels, & the fort atop the bg hill, makes a superb focal point. Excellent sharpness throughout. Tfs!

riclopes (33117) 2009-05-15 0:36

Olá Angshu, I'm always atracted by these remote places never shown on TE before. This image has a strong Indian mood. The "stylo" kids abound everywhere although they usually ask for pens instead of trying to sell them. The sight of so many camels reminded me immediately of the camel fair in Pushkar. For locals a camel must be their main mean of transportation. The fort makes a nice silhouette in the distance. Good reportage pic with excellent inclusion of the kids approaching you.
friendly regards,
ricardo

plimrn (19688) 2009-05-15 0:45

Hi Angshu,
Nice to see you back, I guess you're getting settled in from your move. Hope things are peaceful in Mumbai.

I've never seen a camel parking lot before; the fort above and the eager salesmen in the FG add great detail and balance.

What a sad history, an area destroyed by a man's determination to put his own desires before his duty to serve - sounds like Dick Cheny to me.
A belated happy birthday as well.
HLJ, Pat

Atousa (3456) 2009-05-17 6:51

Salam Angshu,

A well balanced shot with interesting details about the place they are living..seems they are breeding camels too..I think its one of the rare shots that I like the presence of the poles in them..good work..thank you.
Best regards, Atousa

siolaw (25800) 2009-05-18 0:13

Hi Angshu
A typical scene, about which we understand more by reading your note...! Quality is reasonable, but the 400D is better!
Greetings
Laurent

Bluejeans (32901) 2009-05-19 10:49

Hello my friend ,
Que lugar interessante com este banco de camelos deitados na areia , as casas tem uma arquitectura bem simples e pobre , gostei muito dos dois rapazes a caminhar para ti , boas cores e detalhes, parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

sagar (2307) 2009-05-19 12:19

How cruel poverty can be, isnt it Angshumanda!! Lovely bright lights and the far off fort looks good. However, the story you told about the two boys, surpassess everything!
Regards,
Sagarneel.