Are there really “homeless” people?

 

Sandip was the leader of the Swadeshi Movement in the film “Ghare Baire”.  He saw a home in being a leader, having power, being an authoritative figure and having followers. He was insistent on people swallowing his idea of home.On some level, he too felt genuinely about having lost the essence of his home: in this case, the British ruling his native place.    Having had this happen, he tried his hand at leadership and ideology. This was his “world”. But eventually, this too, became his home. Although he probably didn’t feel about it as much as his original home, his country. Nikhil, on  the other hand, did not believe in home as a physical territory.  

 

We know of people who live without a physical roof over their heads. And so we categorize them as the “homeless”.

But throughout this course we have been finding a whole new meaning of home. A so called “homeless” man in Amsterdam once said that he can tell you all the possible places in the area where you could get a free cup of morning coffee.** Similarly, this section of society know how to fend for themselves, and attain bread on most days.

 

In this way, they learn all the patterns of their environment. They know how things function and when. They have made that street their home. But we argue that home is a place of growth, security, comfort, etc. The people may have gelled well in their surroundings. But whether they are guaranteed a cup of coffee each morning is beyond them. They would not have control over any change. It is not something they own and can facilitate. Hence they have insecurities.

 

Then again, the street has been their provider and they have, to some extent, come to terms with it. They have a major section of their community that they see everyday. They have their own set of chores for the day. Many even have their families.

 

So the whole concept of homelessness, according to me, is highly debatable.

 

** TED talk: Fighting homelessness my way, Jamal Mechbal

 

 

Below are a few postcards depicting this approach to homelessness metaphorically and for awareness sake: