Phantasmagoria by Kishore Murthy

Clicked in June 2006 | Mumbai

He sat on the official’s chair and amidst cheer posed for a shot in a very regal manner.

The Railway officials (the freight/loading section) were a little shy to pose for a picture. This kid came along shouting ‘chai chai‘… he brought tea many times during the day from a nearby restaurant where he works. Everyone tried to pull his leg but he was a smart one and his answers brought surprise, laughter and applaud. I asked if I could maybe take his picture instead and they agreed.

It is sad that child labor still exists in India and kids like this have to work for a living at a age when they should be in school or having fun playing.