Partners In Survival, Forgotten By Society

Asem Mustafa Awan

Islamabad: The first thing this picture shows is exhaustion. A man lies on a hard street floor under the unforgiving heat, his body finally surrendering after hours of struggle. Beside him rests his companion, a trained monkey that has shared the same journey, the same roads and perhaps the same hunger.

They are not simply performers. They are partners trying to survive.

From the outskirts of cities, these animal handlers walk miles carrying their small world with them. A rope, a stick, a trained animal and the hope that somewhere someone will stop, watch and offer a few coins.

For hours they perform under the sun. Sometimes they receive appreciation. Sometimes they face indifference. Sometimes they face insults. But every day begins with the same uncertainty: whether the effort will bring enough money to take food home.

The picture quietly reveals another painful reality. The man’s shoes are placed under his head, not as a pillow of comfort but as a possession he cannot afford to lose. Even in sleep, there is a reminder of insecurity. A small pair of worn shoes becomes more valuable than rest itself.

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Beside him, the exhausted monkey lies motionless after spending the day on roads that were never meant for such journeys. The bond between the two is visible. Both depend on each other in a world where opportunities have become increasingly limited.

Animal handlers were once a familiar part of society’s cultural landscape. Their skills in training and understanding animals required patience, dedication and years of experience. Today, many of them are disappearing, not because their skills have vanished, but because there are fewer spaces where those skills are recognised.

For many, there is no pathway to formal employment, no transition towards working in educational centres, wildlife facilities or other opportunities where their knowledge could be used differently.

Instead, they remain on streets, trying to preserve a fading tradition while fighting for survival.

The photograph is not only about poverty. It is about how easily society walks past those who struggle quietly. We enjoy a few moments of entertainment but rarely ask about the life behind the performance.

A society is judged not only by how it treats those with power, but also by how it treats those with the least.

This tired man and his tired companion are resting for a moment. Tomorrow, they will walk again.

Because for them, survival does not wait.

Photo Credit: APP

Asem Mustafa Awan has extensive reporting experience with leading national and international media organizations. He has also contributed to reference books such as the Alpine Journal and the American Alpine Journal, among other international publications.

The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.