Technology is our best friend and yet can be our worst enemy. Already down to nine cameras another has literally been fried. The first camera fell to a sacred death after being accidentally submerged in Ganges. It sank down through the milky grey liquid into the black sludge of feces, garbage, bones, and rotting flesh. Now, perhaps like the charred hindu bodies it will  be reborn as another type of gadget...who knows. However all we were left with was a wet piece of muddy metal. The two kids who accidentally sacrificed the camera will now loose 3,000 rupees each from their post card profit of 5,000 rupees. This was a big lesson for these kids who probably might not have appreciated the real value of such a tool. As a result, the two teenagers at fault will have to share a camera and they as well as the others will have learned the value of technology. None the less I can understand how easily it happened. If i was just given a camera of course it would be hard to imagine its value. The teenagers did not have to endure the  slow process of working and saving for it. Perhaps I too wouldn't have taken the necessary precaution and care when passing it to a friend on the sacred banks of the holy river. 

Yet the effect of the lost camera on the kids is something i personally will never be able to comprehend. A little accident can become much greater than little when pride and money are at stake.  In particular the owner of the camera really took the loss badly. This teenager's name is Deeretch. Deeretch, has never missed a day of school and thus never had to pay an absence fee (required by the government for all students). With out a living father he has learned to take responsibility of his mother and three sisters. This life of hard work is constantly reflected in his permanently serious face. His high cheekbones, smooth dark skin, and strong jawline would easily lend themselves to a career of modeling, if only he could learn how to smile. Although he is a decent photographer he really does not enjoy it. Deeretch would rather study politics and work to change his corrupt country. Like some of the others he does not chew pan, studies hard, and even earned a government quota scholarships given to the untouchables which allows him to attend a 'pre-university' school. Also, as the oldest in the fairmail group he has become somewhat of a father figure and role model. 

I only recently discovered this during a lesson. Although now, each day that passes I continue to notice his leadership. During this lesson we asked the teenagers to draw greeting cards for each other. Akaash, is a tall slim quiet boy who's dirty rose coloured tee-shirt perfectly matches his pink paan stained teeth. He does not attend school, cannot write, and works as a mechanic with his father during the day. This shy awkard pink grinning boy had picked Deeretch. After repeatedly telling him to hurry up (Janti!-Janti!), we asked whatever was taking him so long. Akaash replied, "It's not my fault! I got Deeretch! If i had picked anyone else it wouldn't matter how the card looks. Because I have Deeretch it has to be really good!". This comment really showed me how much Akaash and the others must respect Deeretch. 

After our talk about proper camera use and the example of the ganges soaked camera Deeretch was visibly depressed. His stern face had lost all emotion as he stared into space for the rest of the lesson. During the power point presentation on lighting the usually bright eyed enthusiastic student barely spoke. I personally cannot imagine how it must have felt to be in his position. As the 'leader' he had let down the troop, as the father, he had set a bad example, and most of all he was going to have to sacrifice part of his much needed salary from his postcard. Some lessons are so hard to learn and as a helpless observer they really break your heart. Sure, lessons have to be learned, but you wish there were other ways to teach them. 

However now, another camera has began to malfunction. Often when watching the weather man point to pictures of cartoon sun's placed over various locations with numbers such as 45/115F I think oh that can be that bad. However I now understand the reality behind those cartoon yellow spiky circles. I really dont mind the sting of the sun or the blinding white light that gives everything a strange metallic glow. What i do mind how the heat seems to sap any energy you have after a full night of sleep.  And moreover I mind the effect on computers and cameras. Thus we suspect the cruel late april heat is at fault for the unresponsive camera and are currently trying to devise ways to save the remaining eight cameras.

Of course an air-conditioning unit might solve the problem and serve as a simple solution. Yet the problem is that during approximately 9 am until 7pm...sometimes 8pm.... and even as late at 10 pm there is no electricity. The indian people say that the power is cut as the government's way of penalizing those who rewire and pilfer electricity from others. Others say they do it because they want the people to realize its value. I say it has to do with the very word itself-'power'. This lack of or extreme use (however you look at it) it prevents us from cooling the air in order to save the cameras and the perhaps later even the computer.

 

Luckily we are 'upper class' enough to be able to afford a small black generator that runs the fans during the day and chops up the layers stale hot air. During the afternoon it also hacks away at the putrid smells of curry and lunch from our neighbors below. I am not religious but sometimes i feel like worshipping those rotating wooden blades. I wonder how those without these sacred elements manage in such mercury rising temperatures. Perhaps India's reputation of spirituality has been born from the hot summer months. The heat makes it easy to fall into delirium, brain fog, and 'outer body experiences'. Thus it's no wonder an exercise such as yoga started here because rapid movements and other forms of 'exercise' are simply impossible. 

With only eight cameras left it will be interesting to see what happens as the climate's numbers continue to climb. I really hope the project continues because for most they have not had any experience with art. In fact at school they do not teach or learn any form of art. For many just to draw a simple flower picture is like painting the mona lisa. I wonder what effect this has on the culture? Perhaps as I suggested previously it somewhat accounts (or at least ads to) the teenager's extreme lack of confidence. Not only are they born as an untouchable they are never given the chance to explore, create, and imagine. Instead they are taught, made into memorizing machines, and only can see right and wrong, good and bad, rich and poor. Eight cameras are their chance to see the color in their black and white world.