When the poor and illiterate resolve to faith to cure lethal mental problems such as dementia, delusion, schizophrenia and the likes, a scary world surfaces wherein the worlds of the so called sane and those tagged insane almost unite.
These images are taken near a small mosque located in the heart of a slum dwelling in Mumbai. Patients, mostly living way below the poverty line, are believed to be treated by the deity. Some come voluntarily but many with serious mental health issues are forcibly brought here. They are not treated with any medicines. Instead, they are required to stay on the street outside the mosque for a stipulated amount of time (in some cases, years). During their stay, if the patient actâ??s out or proves to be dangerous to the â??daily lifeâ?? around, he/she is shackled to a light pole (sometimes for months).
Life around the mosque continues unfettered by the constant crying and wailing of these patients. It is believed that when the patient is acting out or having one of his panic attacks, God is actually having a conversation with the â??devilâ?? inside the patient and so no one should disturb him.
The patients are accompanied by one or more family members who have volunteered to care for their loved ones for as long as they have to.
While I do not disregard these popular beliefs, it does raise one question in me -
Who is insane? The world within me or the world before me?
Awards Forbes India - Battle of the Indias
Lonely Planet
PX3 2011 - Honorable Mention
PX3 2012 - Honorable Mentino
Masterclass Color Awards - Nominee
