Sleep Under Stars

Home Away

Qayoom Shiekh

Wrapped with tattered blankets, the bodies lie in an open sky at Meena Bazaar near historic Jamia Masjid. The dogs and rats are guarding them. Some youngsters, sitting in ragged charpoys, are puffing bidis. The old men are selling hot tea in the dread of the night.  It seems a massacre scene, but it is not. The bodies stood of homeless folks, sleeping in an open sky.

Jamia Masjid surroundings during daytime remain abuzz with visitors and vendors. However, the night scene is quite unusual; an uneasy calm prevails as if everything is dwindled with darkness.

These homeless people are from different states of India and had come to Delhi to earn livelihood. While few night shelters made by the government stand some meters away from them, they prefer to sleep in their workplace­­­—footpaths and stretches of the Bazaar.

myopera.com (Pic)

Those who earn only two meals a day prefer to sleep on road, while as those who earn some extra bucks sleep at charpoys, made available by some individuals and charge Rs. 30 (per charpoy) for a night’s sleep.  

However, there are other reasons to sleep on the road or in charpoys. The former can enjoy drinks or sex without any interference, while as the later feel somehow restricted to such activities.

In one corner, adjacent to filthy water drain, Jamal Hussain was in heavy sleep. Hearing conversation going on near him, he woke up. His eyes were red and angry expressions went down by his face, however, he managed to hide it.

Hussain, who hails from West Bengal sells jacket in Meena Bazaar and sleeps at the same place, under open sky.

Like Hussian, hundreds of men are amassed in the place and sleep the same way.

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Family Problem

The shelter problem is worst for those who have come to Delhi with their families. Their women folk cannot sleep in night shelter with other men for fear of being assaulted or molested. 

The apprehensions force them to sleep on the deserted footpaths, under flyovers or near the railway tracks.  

Raheqa, 22, who carries a two-month-old baby with her, prefers to sleep on footpath. She recalls how she had seen some men forcing women for “sex” in the night shelters. She along with other families with some elderly women sleep in the makeshift tarpaulin tents, away from the night shelters, where mostly men come for sleep.

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AIIMS Night Shelter

There is no choice for patients along with their family members, who come to AIIMS for treatment, other than to sleep in the AIIMS night shelter.

The only safety measure is to wrap a blanket and embrace the spouse with the aim to wake up in the dawn without being touched by any one.

Note: Names have been changed for certain reasons.