The CRAPitalists

It's time Dilli's kabariwallahs got their due. A German photo-artist gets to the task and shows you what you can learn from the garbage gods

They've 'bin' there, done thatu00a0cleaned up all your muck, that is. While you were busy creating that one odd 'best of waste' project, they were sorting tons of thoughtless trash into biodegradable and non-biodegradable segments, so that it could be sent to recycling plants and turned into resourceful stuff. Delhi's rag-pickers deserve a standing ovation, but even taking a look around their lives would do. German shutterbug Enrico Fabian is all set to play guide with his exhibition Tracing Waste -u00a0The Kabari's Contribution To Society. And his shots don't stink.

They love scrapping: "The polar bear is eating the sealu00a0we're enjoying 24 X 7, just as this invisible army is struggling to rid us of rubbish," says the photog, who has partnered with NGO Chintan. "They're right there, walking next to you on the same street, but you know nothing about them, and often don't care," he accuses, stressing the need for awareness and involvement in cleaning the planet. Enrico scanned major dumpyards of the city, like those in Ghazipur, Nizammuddin, Seemapuri and Mustafabad, to find suitable, thought-provoking subjects. For three months, he mingled, ate and played with young kabaris and seasoned hands, and struck a chord that was "beautiful and uncomplicated," unlike their own worlds. "You do hope your work makes a difference, but it feels awful that you can't be of much direct help to this community," the artist laments.