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  • Journalist Suryatapa Bhattacharya reports in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012.  Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...jpg
  • After Cyclone Aila struck the Sundarbans in 2009, locals still struggle with logged salt water that renders fertile farming land almost unusable on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. Due to this loss of livelihood, many have had to turn to fishing or wild honey gathering in the forest reserve, exposing themselves to becoming prey for the sanctuary's booming tiger population. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • A party calendar of BSP Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, is seen hung on the wall in Ajanpara village, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Anindita Kazi sits for a portrait at her reading desk surrounded by photos and books of her grandfather Kazi Nazrul Islam and Rabindranath Tagore as she holds her mother's recently released book on Nazrul Islam, in Calcutta, West Bengal, India, on 17th January, 2012. The West Bengal government's attempts to rename one of its historic buildings after a Bengali poet has met with controversy. Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh's national poet's legacy has always been debated, including his relationship with other Indian intellectuals such as Rabindranath Tagore, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. In an attempt to quell doubts, Anindita Kazi, Mr Islam's grand daughter will release a CD in which she reads from unpublished letters between the two poets to show their regard for each other. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120117-Anindita-Kazi-Nazrul...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, sits in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • After Typhoon Alia struck the Sundarbans recently, locals still struggle with logged salt water that renders fertile farming land unusable on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Honey-gatherers wear their masks as they prepare to board a boat on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. After Cyclone Aila struck the Sundarbans in 2009, locals still struggle with logged salt water that renders fertile farming land almost unusable. Due to this loss of livelihood, many have had to turn to fishing or wild honey gathering in the forest reserve, exposing themselves to becoming prey for the sanctuary's booming tiger population. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Indian tourists arrive by boats in droves on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Tiger attack survivor Tarubala Mandol, 30, speaks of the attack as she sits in front of her home on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. 1.5 years ago, she was pounced on by a waiting tiger outside her home. She survived as the tiger was chased away and tranquilized when it hid in the forest goddess Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple nearby. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, sits amongst other rag-picker's children in class in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. Most of these children are rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Mamta (standing, in pink), age unknown, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • A stone elephant statue built by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kumari Mayawati is seen covered with yellow tarpaulin during the State Elections in Uttar Pradesh (a Bellwether state), India, on 21st January, 2012. The elephant is a symbol of the BSP party and "press the button, decide the elephant" is a slogan chanted during campaigning. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, campaigns door-to-door in a Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) village with a crowd of supporters chanting slogans such as "long live Ritesh Pandey" and "press the button, decide the elephant (symbol)" in Ajanpara, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • A woman dries her yield outside the Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. A tiger hid in this temple after attacking a woman. Villagers pray to this endemic goddess, known as Bono Debi to Hindus and Bono Bibi to Muslims, to protect them from tigers. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • (L-R: (blue) Saraswati Saha, 84; unnamed; and (white) Kamla Das, 90) Three elderly women who were the original refugees of The Partition recall being brought to Cooper's Camp on trains and trucks as they gather outside their homes in Cooper's Camp, Nadia district, Ranaghat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India, on 19th January, 2012. "The government will neither eat us nor spit us out." says Kamla Das. "They dropped us off here (in 1947) and I'm still here!" Over 60 years after the bloody creation of Bangladesh in 1947, refugees who fled what was then known as West Pakistan to India still live as refugees, raising their children as refugees, and standing in line for government handouts..Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120119-Borders-Coopers-Camp...jpg
  • Widow Mamata Mandol (center), 26, stands for a portrait with two of her 3 young children at her home on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. While her husband was killed while fishing, tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Widow Sumitra Mandol (center), 45, speaks of her husband's death as she sits outside her home on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. While her husband was killed while hunting illegally in the sanctuary across the river, tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Local villagers travel to and from the islands by wooden boats in Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • An overview of the Nai Duniya Children's Activity Center in the rag-picker's colony Lodha Basti, in Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of the children living here are rag-pickers like the rest of their families. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Anindita Kazi's collage of images of her grandfather Kazi Nazrul Islam, in the different stages of his life, adorns the walls in her house in Calcutta, West Bengal, India, on 17th January, 2012. The West Bengal government's attempts to rename one of its historic buildings after a Bengali poet has met with controversy. Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh's national poet's legacy has always been debated, including his relationship with other Indian intellectuals such as Rabindranath Tagore, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. In an attempt to quell doubts, Anindita Kazi, Mr Islam's grand daughter will release a CD in which she reads from unpublished letters between the two poets to show their regard for each other. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120117-Anindita-Kazi-Nazrul...JPG
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, campaigns door-to-door in rural villages with a crowd of supporters chanting slogans such as "long live Ritesh Pandey" and "press the button, decide the elephant (symbol)" in Ajanpara, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, takes a bat as he inaugurates a cricket tournament for 20-25 year olds in Saharanpur Umran, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, speaks to teachers in Takshila Academy, a primary school he founded mid last year in Akbarpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Tiger attack survivor Tarubala Mandol, 30, speaks of the attack as she sits in front of her home on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. 1.5 years ago, she was pounced on by a waiting tiger outside her home. She survived as the tiger was chased away and tranquilized when it hid in the forest goddess Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple nearby. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Anjali Mandol, 47, a farm labourer, stands in front of her mud hut on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. After Typhoon Alia struck the Sundarbans recently, locals still struggle with logged salt water that renders fertile farming land unusable, causing loss of livelihood and many young, like Mandol's son, to leave for the city in search of work. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, campaigns door-to-door in a Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) village with a crowd of supporters chanting slogans such as "long live Ritesh Pandey" and "press the button, decide the elephant (symbol)" in Ajanpara, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, campaigns door-to-door in rural villages with a crowd of supporters chanting slogans such as "long live Ritesh Pandey" and "press the button, decide the elephant (symbol)" in Ajanpara, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Heavy traffic of tourist boats are seen beyond a line of mangrove trees on the coast of Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, is greeted by a crowd of supporters on motorbikes chanting "long live Ritesh Pandey" as he drives through rural roads in Jalalpur constituency in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • After Cyclone Aila struck the Sundarbans in 2009, locals still struggle with logged salt water that renders fertile farming land almost unusable on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. Due to this loss of livelihood, many have had to turn to fishing or wild honey gathering in the forest reserve, exposing themselves to becoming prey for the sanctuary's booming tiger population. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Trash discarded into the mangroves by tourists on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. The trash prevent the mangrove seeds from growing thus allowing the island soil to slip away into the sea. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • Local villagers use wooden boats to travel and fish in Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, poses for a portrait in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and hence their children are not learning the traditional trade. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Kusum Devi (center, in red), 10, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012.  Kusum walks to and from her school daily, one kilometer away from her village. When she is not schooling, she takes care of her family and their livestock. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • An iconic photo of Nazrul Islam, Anindita Kazi's grandfather, displayed on her reading desk that is decorated with laughing buddhas next to Rabindranath Tagore and Nazrul Islam's images and books, in her house in Calcutta, West Bengal, India, on 17th January, 2012. The West Bengal government's attempts to rename one of its historic buildings after a Bengali poet has met with controversy. Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh's national poet's legacy has always been debated, including his relationship with other Indian intellectuals such as Rabindranath Tagore, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. In an attempt to quell doubts, Anindita Kazi, Mr Islam's grand daughter will release a CD in which she reads from unpublished letters between the two poets to show their regard for each other. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120117-Anindita-Kazi-Nazrul...JPG
  • Anindita Kazi sits for a portrait at her reading desk surrounded by photos and books of her grandfather Kazi Nazrul Islam and Rabindranath Tagore as she holds her mother's recently released book on Nazrul Islam, in Calcutta, West Bengal, India, on 17th January, 2012. The West Bengal government's attempts to rename one of its historic buildings after a Bengali poet has met with controversy. Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh's national poet's legacy has always been debated, including his relationship with other Indian intellectuals such as Rabindranath Tagore, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. In an attempt to quell doubts, Anindita Kazi, Mr Islam's grand daughter will release a CD in which she reads from unpublished letters between the two poets to show their regard for each other. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120117-Anindita-Kazi-Nazrul...JPG
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, speaks with a party worker as he signs cheques at home after campaigning late into the night in Jalalpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh, India, on 20th January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader, Mayawati herself is a Dalit but has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, unwinds as he sits around a fire in his father's cowshed at home after campaigning late into the night in Jalalpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh, India, on 20th January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader, Mayawati herself is a Dalit but has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, waits in his car at a train crossing after campaigning late into the night in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 20th January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader, Mayawati herself is a Dalit but has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Honey-gatherers walk along a path bordering the coastline and the water-logged farmlands in Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. After Cyclone Aila struck the Sundarbans in 2009, locals still struggle with logged salt water that renders fertile farming land almost unusable. Due to this loss of livelihood, many have had to turn to fishing or wild honey gathering in the forest reserve, exposing themselves to becoming prey for the sanctuary's booming tiger population. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Tiger attack survivor Tarubala Mandol, 30, stands for a portrait at her home on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. 1.5 years ago, she was pounced on by a waiting tiger outside her home. She survived as the tiger was chased away and tranquilized when it hid in the forest goddess Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple nearby. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • A woman dries her yield outside the Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. A tiger hid in this temple after attacking a woman. Villagers pray to this endemic goddess, known as Bono Debi to Hindus and Bono Bibi to Muslims, to protect them from tigers. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Widow Mamata Mandol, 26, speaks of her husband's recent death as she sits with other widows near her home on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. While her husband was killed while fishing, tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Tourists walk around the coast on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • After Cyclone Aila struck the Sundarbans in 2009, locals still struggle with logged salt water that renders fertile farming land unusable on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. Due to this loss of livelihood, many have had to turn to fishing or wild honey gathering in the forest reserve, exposing themselves to becoming prey for the sanctuary's booming tiger population. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Chandrawati (center, in black), age unknown, sits on the floor amongst other rag-picker's children as they learn basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Vicky Nath, 11, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Vicky dropped out of school for 2 years to work as a domestic help daily-wage labourer but was re-enrolled last year as part of the Nai Duniya program and is in Class 4 now. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sanjay Kumar, 22, a former snake charmer, holds his snake charming musical instruments, that he now uses in cultural performances (without the snakes), at his home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "Only during elections does the government pay attention to us," he says. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, unwinds as he sits around a fire in his father's cowshed at home after campaigning late into the night in Jalalpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh, India, on 20th January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader, Mayawati herself is a Dalit but has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, signs cheques at home after campaigning late into the night in Jalalpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh, India, on 20th January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader, Mayawati herself is a Dalit but has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, meets with a crowd in his constituency as he campaigns late into the night in Suhururpur Village, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 20th January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader, Mayawati herself is a Dalit but has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Rag-picker Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. She goes to school from 8-12 in the morning, and studies again at the activity center after her work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, sits in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Kusum Devi (center, in red), 10, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Kusum walks to and from her school daily, one kilometer away from her village. When she is not schooling, she takes care of her family and their livestock. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, drives through rural dirt roads in Saharanpur Umran, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • A fisherman walks along the coastline on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, from the sanctuary across the river to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Local villagers travel to and from the islands by wooden boats in Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • An overview of the rag-picker's colony Lodha Basti, in Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of the children living here are rag-pickers like the rest of their families. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sajna (center, in black), age unknown, sits amongst other rag-picker's children as they learn basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Activity center teacher Shiksha Sharma (standing, center) has been teaching the rag-picker's children for 3 months in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children are rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Rag-picker Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. She goes to school from 8-12 in the morning, and studies again at the activity center after her work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, sits in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Kusum Devi (center, in red), 10, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012.  Kusum walks to and from her school daily, one kilometer away from her village. When she is not schooling, she takes care of her family and their livestock. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Anindita Kazi's mother, Kalyani Kazi's book on her grandfather Nazrul Islam is photographed on Anindita's reading desk that is decorated with Rabindranath Tagore and Nazrul Islam's images, in her house in Calcutta, West Bengal, India, on 17th January, 2012. The West Bengal government's attempts to rename one of its historic buildings after a Bengali poet has met with controversy. Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh's national poet's legacy has always been debated, including his relationship with other Indian intellectuals such as Rabindranath Tagore, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. In an attempt to quell doubts, Anindita Kazi, Mr Islam's grand daughter will release a CD in which she reads from unpublished letters between the two poets to show their regard for each other. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120117-Anindita-Kazi-Nazrul...JPG
  • Anindita Kazi's reading desk stacked with books, many about her grandfather Nazrul Islam, in her house in Calcutta, West Bengal, India, on 17th January, 2012. The West Bengal government's attempts to rename one of its historic buildings after a Bengali poet has met with controversy. Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh's national poet's legacy has always been debated, including his relationship with other Indian intellectuals such as Rabindranath Tagore, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. In an attempt to quell doubts, Anindita Kazi, Mr Islam's grand daughter will release a CD in which she reads from unpublished letters between the two poets to show their regard for each other. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120117-Anindita-Kazi-Nazrul...JPG
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, enjoys the poetry of a local as he has lunch with villagers after campaigning door-to-door in a Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) village in Ajanpara, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, walks through mustard fields as he campaigns door-to-door in rural villages with a crowd of supporters chanting slogans such as "long live Ritesh Pandey" and "press the button, decide the elephant (symbol)" in Ajanpara, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, accepts refreshments from villagers after inaugurating a cricket tournament for 20-25 year olds in Saharanpur Umran, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, has a bowl of peas and turmeric milk for breakfast after his daily exercise before campaigning in Jalalpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader, Mayawati herself is a Dalit but has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, speaks to the sports teacher in Takshila Academy, a primary school he founded mid last year in Akbarpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • "This car is worth between 100,000 and 2,000,000 rupees" scrawled in the day-old dust on the rear windscreen of Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey's, 30, car as he campaigns in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 20th January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) voters. Party leader, Mayawati herself is a Dalit but has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Tiger attack survivor Tarubala Mandol, 30, walks out of her home on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. 1.5 years ago, she was pounced on at dawn by a waiting tiger outside her home. She survived as the tiger was chased away and tranquilized when it hid in the forest goddess Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple nearby. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • (L-R: Purnima Mandol, 36, in green; Saraswati Saha, 84, blue shawl; and Kamla Das, 90, white sari) Refugees of The Partition gather and discuss their unfortunate situation outside their homes in Cooper's Camp, Nadia district, Ranaghat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India, on 19th January, 2012. "I was born here, but I spent my entire life growing up as a refugee. I grew up standing in line for government handouts." says Purnima angrily. Over 60 years after the bloody creation of Bangladesh in 1947, refugees who fled what was then known as West Pakistan to India still live as refugees. .Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120119-Borders-Coopers-Camp...jpg
  • Heavy traffic of tourist boats are seen beyond a line of mangrove trees on the coast of Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • After Cyclone Aila struck the Sundarbans in 2009, locals still struggle with logged salt water that renders fertile farming land almost unusable on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. Due to this loss of livelihood, many have had to turn to fishing or wild honey gathering in the forest reserve, exposing themselves to becoming prey for the sanctuary's booming tiger population. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Chandrawati (standing, in black), age unknown, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Vicky Nath, 11, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Vicky dropped out of school for 2 years to work as a domestic help daily-wage labourer but was re-enrolled last year as part of the Nai Duniya program and is in Class 4 now. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, campaigns door-to-door in a Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) village with a crowd of supporters chanting slogans such as "long live Ritesh Pandey" and "press the button, decide the elephant (symbol)" in Ajanpara, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • Minister of Legislative Assembly, Ritesh Pandey, 30, campaigns door-to-door in a Dalit (the lowest Hindu caste) village with a crowd of supporters chanting slogans such as "long live Ritesh Pandey" and "press the button, decide the elephant (symbol)" in Ajanpara, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21st January, 2012. Returning 1.5 years ago after almost 10 years abroad, Pandey is contesting on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that is based on its appeal to Dalit voters. Party leader Mayawati, herself a Dalit, has recently been giving out more tickets to muslims and high caste candidates in an attempt to woo a larger spectrum of voters in Uttar Pradesh, a Bellwether state. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120120-Ritesh-Pandey-UP-Ele...jpg
  • A villager prays to the goddess Durga, who is always depicted riding a tiger, in the Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. A tiger hid in this temple after attacking a woman. Villagers pray to Durga and this endemic goddess, known as Bono Debi to Hindus and Bono Bibi to Muslims, to protect them from tigers. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • A woman walks along the elevated path bordering the coastline and the village in Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, from the sanctuary (as seen on the horizon) to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Tourists walk around the coast on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. The Sundarban islands and mangroves are sinking, say experts, due to climate change. Locals say they are overwhelmed by tourists' trash that affect the mangroves and sudden changes in weather patterns that have caused such damage that they continue to struggle to recover. One of the islands, once inhabited, has slowly sunk. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Environment-Sundarba...jpg
  • Mamta (standing, in pink), age unknown, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, poses for a portrait in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sanjay Kumar, 22, a former snake charmer, talks of being a cultural musician at his home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "Only during elections does the government pay attention to us," he says. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Honey-gatherers wear their masks as they enter the mangrove forests on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. After Cyclone Aila struck the Sundarbans in 2009, locals still struggle with logged salt water that renders fertile farming land almost unusable. Due to this loss of livelihood, many have had to turn to fishing or wild honey gathering in the forest reserve, exposing themselves to becoming prey for the sanctuary's booming tiger population. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Honey-gatherers wear their masks as they prepare to board a boat on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. After Cyclone Aila struck the Sundarbans in 2009, locals still struggle with logged salt water that renders fertile farming land almost unusable. Due to this loss of livelihood, many have had to turn to fishing or wild honey gathering in the forest reserve, exposing themselves to becoming prey for the sanctuary's booming tiger population. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Tiger attack survivor Tarubala Mandol, 30, stands for a portrait at her home on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. 1.5 years ago, she was pounced on by a waiting tiger outside her home. She survived as the tiger was chased away and tranquilized when it hid in the forest goddess Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple nearby. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Widow Mamata Mandol (center), 26, sits for a portrait with two of her 3 young children at her home on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. While her husband was killed while fishing, tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Rag-picker Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. She goes to school from 8-12 in the morning, and studies again at the activity center after her work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Chandrawati (center, in black), age unknown, sits on the floor amongst other rag-picker's children as they learn basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, sits in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • A group of travelling Rajasthani snake charmers sit in their temporary camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath (extreme right), a snake charmer. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
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