The Children of Kumbhalgarh
Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan, India, 2017
The children of Kumbhalgarh, with their bright, shining eyes and beautiful smiles, are looking at us timidly. They are remarkable for their charm and innocence. They live with their families in a house, built like two stacked concrete cubes. On the ground floor are the goat menagerie where goats run freely, on the second floor a single room, cement walls and floors that the family shares. Despite these simple and rudimentary living conditions, they are happy and full of grace.
Our arrival in the village is cause for celebration. The carpet, reserved for grand occasions, is laid out and we sit down for tea and exchange with a limited common language. A few minutes later, the entire population of the village is surrounding us and we are invited for a grand tour of the village.