Sweet sugarcane - Urban Changes

Urban Changes project was organised by the Goethe-Institut Mumbai and it invited 7 regional photographers to Mumbai in 2007. Jagath was a co-member of the regional seven photographers team. The Urban Changes exhibition travelled to many cities starting from Mumbai : Pune, Delhi, Karachchi and Bangalore. The exhibition is expected to come to Colombo in September 2008 Jagath's focus in the project was people who are in the sugarcane juice industry. The industry is flourishing mainly because it is very cheap - Rs 3, 5, 6 etc. It was a cottage industry long years ago. In the post independent India it took streets as a common man’s drink. It is an alternative to bottled or branded soft drinks for ordinary people. With "migrants" flocking into Bombay and its population is exploding, this industry also expands into every corner of the city. Started as a common man's drink now it pushes the boundary being a natural pure drink. People who work in it are truly seasonal workers. They travel from one state to the other. Living conditions are pathetic as space being a scare commodity in Bombay. They live in crammed rooms and all most all of their social and biological needs take place there.

Want to link to this gallery?
Flash Slideshow: