[This article was first published on Leher.org and has been republished here with permission.]
From boys in juvenile homes breaking the shackles of a life of crime, girls in Jharkhand fighting gender inequality and child marriage to children choosing a life off the street, the rise of football in India is changing the lives of girls and boys alike. With the upcoming FIFA World Cup, one can’t help but mirror the mood of young footballers across the bylanes and beaches of India, as they await this years most popular sporting event.
In a country where cricket is a religion, will India ever learn to love football? Here are images of children across India, a large population of the millions of followers across the world, who exemplify just how much the country loves this sport.
In alleyways and bylanes
On streets…
And off the sidewalk
Outside shops...
And inside school.
On the beach
And off the railway tracks.
Outside abandoned homes...
And temple walls
Under the sun..
And a cloudy sky…
On railways tracks…
And on the field…
In conflict zones
And in hilly areas …
In shorts
And skirts…
And in robes…
With friends..
And teammates..
Simply, for the love of the game.
Feature Image Credits: Outlook Traveller