The ultimate aspiration of any Indian- four walls and a roof. And rightly so- in a land where the population is high and land is scarce, real-estate prices are unrealistically high.
Those shelters made by stretching tarpaulin sheets over bamboo poles might look like makeshift accommodation, but families have often been living in them for years.
Slum housing is little better. A labyrinth of open drains, no running water or sanitation facilities, illegal electricity. Precisely enough floor-space for the eight family members to lie down at night. A plasma TV on the wall.
It is their own Ghar, Sweet Ghar.
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There are words, and there are words. Some words can be easily translated, others need to be described. In April, I’ll attempt to capture the Soul of 26 'Indian' words in a drabble of exactly 100 words.
6 comments:
Natasha - Home - that sense of one's own space and one's own things is so important! Your 'photo so beautifully captures the need people have to have a place to call ghar.
Plasma TV on the wall?? How weird is that???
I love your theme - it is so good to hear these words explicated. Home is such an important concept and those of us who have safe shelter can forget the meaning of it so easily. Thank you dear Natasha!
And Ghar remains an aspiration for so many!
---Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
That's the eternal quest for us, money can buy you everything else, even a temporary house but that dream home is a bit elusive.
Isn't that so strange? Obviously the family needs a lot if 8 people barely have the room to lie down, so why choose a plasma TV??? I don't get it.
I've seen it here, too. Family asks for assistance with bills and rent since husband lost job. They receive cash. They buy an X-Box 360 first, then pay only part of their rent., claiming struggling family. Landlord gives them a break, charging them a much reduced rent. Really bothers me.
Tina @ Life is Good
Co-Host of the April A to Z Challenge
Twitter: @AprilA2Z #atozchallenge
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