Vicky Roy is living proof that if you work hard enough, your goals may come true. His extraordinary climb from rag picker at the station to getting his name in Forbes is admirable. He also inspires the country’s youth, who are its future. This accomplished photographer from a tiny town had high goals. Let’s have a peek at how he accomplished this lovely transition for himself.
Vicky Roy’s Difficult Beginnings
Vicky’s father was not financially secure, so he could not finance his daughter’s schooling. He was from Purulia, a tiny town in West Bengal. His father earned between 15 and 20 rupees a day and was unable to provide an education for his son. Vicky was sent to live with his maternal grandparents by his father, who hoped to see his son complete his upper secondary education and have a better life.
From there, he went to school, returned home, and did domestic tasks, but he didn’t have the life his father envisioned for him. He was beaten up for the tiniest of offenses, leading a life that was diametrically opposed to what his father believed.
He fled that facility because he was tired of the everyday torment he was subjected to. He stole money from his maternal uncle’s wallet and took the train to Delhi. When he arrived at the New Delhi railway station, he was stunned by the crowds on the platform. After arriving at the station, he burst out weeping from fear and shock.
The life of a ragpicker
A few youngsters picking up rags at the station noticed him, soothed him, and accepted him as one of them. He quickly began to work with them, collecting water bottles, washing them, refilling them, and selling them in the general sections.
They ate the leftovers from the railway pantry, but he quickly saw that this was not life for him because children like him were tortured and abused. The guys who attacked them robbed them of their little earnings.
He sought another job at a tiny dhaba outside Ajmeri Gate, where he worked as a dishwasher. A young man who came in for dinner one day questioned him about why he worked when he was meant to finish his education and achieve great things in life. When the young guy learned about Vicky’s circumstances, he registered him with the Salaam Baalak Trust in Delhi, an NGO that provides a nurturing environment for children.
Vicky, the photographer
Vicky Roy began his schooling in the sixth grade. After graduating from tenth grade with a low percentage, his instructor advised him to seek a vocational job because his academic performance was lacking. He did photography, for which his trust bought him an Rs. 499 plastic camera. With that camera, he began taking shots of his buddies for 5 rupees apiece. He began his career as a photographer with big goals and a camera. Vickey’s life is quite similar to The Inspiring Story Of A Rag Picker Who Is Now Feeding Over 800 Slum Children.
His perseverance paid off, as his first photographic show was held at the Indian Habitat Centre in 2007. The show was named Street Dreams, and it was a huge success for him. It was also shown in London, Johannesburg, and Vietnam. The next year, he was chosen as one of the top four finalists in a prestigious competition, allowing him to photograph the reconstruction of the World Trade Centre.
After acquiring better documentary photography methods in New York, he returned to India and was honored as a gold medal holder by the Salaam Baalak Trust. Following that, he was invited to Buckingham Palace for lunch with Prince Edward. He has also worked for well-known networks such as National Geographic and has been invited to deliver motivational lectures at Google headquarters, Facebook headquarters, Harvard, the White House, and the Pentagon.