Walking with Satindar

Our days in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are over, and served by the excellent chaiwallahs on the Varanasi-Delhi express we arrived in New Delhi quite optimistic and ready for the third stage of our journey: The long way up to Himachal Pradesh and the residence of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile, McLeod Ganj. This hill station is a bundle of prayer flags, prayer wheels, mandalas and red and yellow clothed monks.

A quick stop in Delhi was necessary though, and making the most of our time here we decided to take a walking tour with a former street child through the organization Salaam Baalak Trust. Thus we met Satindar, an 18 year old living in Delhi since he ran away from an abusive father at the age of 7. Combining his personal story with interesting facts about homeless children in India, taking us through alleyways, crowded streets and pointing out details we never would have noticed on our own, mixing the tragic events of his childhood with small jokes about the Indian government and the corrupt police, he fascinated and impressed us from beginning to end. At the end of our tour we came to the Trust's headquarters. It was swarming with young boys asking for shelter. Lixian got thoroughly impressed, and they certainly gave us something to think about.

Satindar grew up in the countryside in Uttar Pradesh. He came from an abusive home dominated by his father, a powerful politician in the area. One day he watched his father kill his mother. After that he ran off and ended up on the New Delhi railway station, as hundreds of other children do every day. Here, Satindar entered a hand to mouth-life, similar to that of all street children in Delhi, picking up whatever you can get, trying to stay clear of the touts who will take advantage of your hunger. Still, being a child you spend your time and the little money you can get your hands on playing video games and watching Bollywood movies. If you don't spend your money right away someone will take them from you. Thus, there's little hope of moving on, you're in a vicious circle. Sleeping on the railway station, Satindar got picked up by the Trust who first tried to locate his family. Refusing to return to his father's home he started his education with the Trust, both formal and informal. Seeing him today, confidently guiding tourists through the streets of Delhi, really made an impact.
Elise

Satindar pointing out that the holy pictures were put up on this wall to keep men from urinating on the spot.