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The flag-sellers on the streets of Vadodara are mostly hungry, despairing migrants from the Sawai Madhopur and Tonk areas of Rajasthan. All of them switch wares seasonally – flags, rakhis, candles, Santa caps. [photo thread]
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Hansal Machchi
Full Story http://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/flagging-hunger-the-bagarias-in-vadodara
![The flag-sellers on the streets of Vadodara are mostly hungry, despairing migrants from the Sawai Madhopur and Tonk areas of Rajasthan. All of them switch wares seasonally – flags, rakhis, candles, Santa caps. [photo thread]| Hansal MachchiFull Story http://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/flagging-hunger-the-bagarias-in-vadodara](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Et7GDdaVgAA6vGV.jpg "The flag-sellers on the streets of Vadodara are mostly hungry, despairing migrants from the Sawai Madhopur and Tonk areas of Rajasthan. All of them switch wares seasonally – flags, rakhis, candles, Santa caps. [photo thread]| Hansal MachchiFull Story http://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/flagging-hunger-the-bagarias-in-vadodara")
| Hansal MachchiFull Story http://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/flagging-hunger-the-bagarias-in-vadodara
16-year-old Laxmi Bagaria has been selling flags since she was six. She comes with relatives from Tonk, Rajasthan 3 times a year – for Independence Day, Republic Day, Christmas. “People from the municipal corporation ask us to move, but we somehow manage and come back,” she says
Like her, around 20 persons from the Bagaria community set up stalls in the MS University area; others go to the Fatehgunj flyover or the railway station and other areas. Rakesh Bagaria, 19, has also been in this business since he was five. 3/n
They get all the tricolour items from Sadar Bazar in Delhi, travelling there by train. For these bulk purchases, often taking a loan of ₹20,000 from local jewellers in his village at an annual interest rate of 24%. 4/n
The Bagarias – an OBC community, mostly work as agricultural labourers and sharecroppers. They started migrating to the cities and towns around 3 decades ago, looking for work, driven from their village by shrinking agricultural labour. They took up this street business. 5/n
Vishal, who goes into the traffic to sell flags, has no idea why people in cars buy the tricolour from him. All the flag-sellers sleep on the pavement, behind the railings of the bridge over the Vishwamitri river are their flimsy plastic tents. 6/n
'Independence', says Sundar Bagaria, 'is for the rich and powerful'. She works 14-hour days selling flags and other items to earn ₹200, at most ₹300. “Sometimes we cook – or we kill our appetite with biscuits.” 7/n
Chiranjilal Bagaria, is the oldest flag-seller on these streets. While we're talking to him, an SUV comes and the occupant starts bargaining. He has to plead customers to not bargain for the modest prices he quotes for the tricolour. [fin]
Full story: http://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/flagging-hunger-the-bagarias-in-vadodara/
![Chiranjilal Bagaria, is the oldest flag-seller on these streets. While we're talking to him, an SUV comes and the occupant starts bargaining. He has to plead customers to not bargain for the modest prices he quotes for the tricolour. [fin]Full story: http://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/flagging-hunger-the-bagarias-in-vadodara/](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Et7N0HaUYAEZ3SQ.jpg "Chiranjilal Bagaria, is the oldest flag-seller on these streets. While we're talking to him, an SUV comes and the occupant starts bargaining. He has to plead customers to not bargain for the modest prices he quotes for the tricolour. [fin]Full story: http://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/flagging-hunger-the-bagarias-in-vadodara/")
Full story: http://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/flagging-hunger-the-bagarias-in-vadodara/
