Tightrope walk of life for a 10-year-old

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 28:

The life of ten-year-old Anjali is different. When other girls of her age are in school and life is all about books and toys, this little girl is up and ready to practice her acrobatic moves including balancing pots on her head and walking on the tightrope.

Balancing herself 10 feet above the ground, face puckered up in concentration and gaze steady, her only concern at that instant is the money that will come her way in trying to entertain spectators. No one knows or even tries to find out if she is scared of falling or losing her balance.

Her brother Vikram and sister-in-law Pinky look up at her and stay close lest there is an incident of any sort. “We have been doing this since we were kids and it is our source of income. We earn Rs 500- Rs 600 per day unless it rains,” said Pinky.

“We live near the airport on the roadside and hope that we can earn some good money in the next one year. This is our profession and we are not scared of heights,” said Vikram keeping an eye on his little sister.

Education and safety is far away from their conscious mind and does not seem like a priority in life. The main concern of the group of wanderers is how to earn a living and age takes a back seat.