Where India’s Children Play Football – From Railway Tracks To Conflict Zones

Where India’s Children Play Football – From Railway Tracks To Conflict Zones
Outlook Traveller

[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

Photo Credits: Outlook Traveller

On streets…

Photo Credits: Unknown

And off the sidewalk

Photo Credits: Chandan Khanna

Outside shops...

Photo Credits: Saumalya Ghosh Photography

And inside school.

Photo credits: Project Khel

On the beach

Photo Credits: Jisan Flickr

And off the railway tracks.

Photo Credits: Unknown

Outside abandoned homes...

Photo Credits: Better Photography

And temple walls

Photo Credits: Unknown

Under the sun..

Photo Credits: BBC

And a cloudy sky…

Photo Credits: Unknown

On railways tracks…

Photo Credits: Unknown

And on the field…

Photo Credits: Diwakar Prasad/Hindustan Times

In conflict zones

Photo Credits: Mukhtar Khan/AP

And in hilly areas …

Photo Credits: Unknown

In shorts

Photo Credits: Ayanava Sil Photography

And skirts…

Photo Credits: Yuwa

And in robes…

Photo credits: The Flapper Life

With friends..

Photo Credits: Better Photography

And teammates..

Photo Credits: Tanzeel Ur Rehman / Cover Asia Press

Simply, for the love of the game.

Photo Credits: Shoumik Kar

Feature Image Credits: Outlook Traveller

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