The Cobbler

Avi shot this picture of a road-side cobbler in his lean to,intent upon his work ,around Sarojini Nagar Market,New Delhi.The man makes a living out of resoling shoes ,selling laces, stitching together torn slippers and shining shoes to a mirror-finish.Each job fetches him just a few rupees and even though his shop is situated in the middle of a government colony with many middle-class office-goers its hard to see how he manages on so little maybe its his faith in the Hindu Gods whose pictures he has given an honoured place in his shop.

The Rose Seller

Avi took this picture one fine morning in the flower mandi at Connaught Place.The subject is Tiwari, a flower trader who along with his son deals exclusively in roses.In the '90s,before he started dealing in flowers,Tiwari worked as a supervisor in a factory in Bangalore.In his trademark safari suit,and his polished language,Tiwari is a regular feature in the mandi.