Time seems to be standing still as the world is battling with Covid-19. The nationwide lockdown was announced in India on 24th March 2020. Generally, we were never homebound till we turn old, but this pandemic left no choice and “Stay Home Stay Safe” became the new normal.

​

I have been living in the same neighbourhood of Mehrauli, Delhi from past 13 years. I only had the joy of spending time on the roof of my building in early days when it was almost a ritual for any kid to go to their roof just to gaze around and kite to fly kites. Since lockdown was announced, I decided to spend my evenings on roof.

​

In the beginning, coming out to the roof was just an escape from four walls of ‘home’. While news about lockdown was creating panic all around the world, my gaze followed a different direction. I noticed that coming to the roof was not just an escape for people; but eventually it started to becoming a routine.

Staying in a city where people are often strangers, I wondered when and how life got so busy? Standing on my roof I noticed different lives. Some were scared while some were playful, some were sad but some grateful. I witnessed different kinds of people. One’s under different roofs but all united with hope.

​

Coming to the roof for 40 days gave me an insight to observe the surroundings and see the new yet unfamiliar pattern in the ordinary life of neighbours. Every shot I have taken during this time is a gentle reminder that with this coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe, everything we do and everything we see has changed, if only for now.

​

“Home & Neighbourhood are one of the places where we learn the most and it’s a great phenomenon to watch your surroundings change in a certain way and yet remain the same another way.”

​

Rooftop gave a limited yet an added perspective sneaking into the life of people who are quarantined. In this evening, pursuit of creating pictures gave me an inspiration to involve into the situation in my own way and do my part in this very own battle that mankind is facing with the virus.

There are a different kind of vibes floating around. We have never faced it and we were never prepared for it. And now, when this has become the reality, let’s hope for a better tomorrow in which we come out of this as a responsible and conscious citizen.

​

Stay Home Stay Safe