Final Year Project

Project Title

(Give Me) A Penny in the Name of God: A Thematic Analysis of Beggary in Urban Spaces

Description

Wandering the streets of Karachi, there are thousands of beggars living a life, each one with a different story. Some were expelled from school at a very young age, some washed car windscreens while others asked strangers for money so they can buy food or feed their drug addictions. Despite knowing a lot, a large part of this community is still in the darks. If not listed as an occupation, it is considered a crime which is officially punishable by three years in prison, but convictions are rare and law enforcement agencies are often paid-off in exchange for turning a blind eye. Settings aren’t confined to beggars asking strangers just for money, they sometimes offer services in favour of some cash too like going car-to-car at the red light and offering to (sometimes forcefully or assertively) wipe off cars’ widescreens, sell newspapers, and balloons, garlands, roses, and at times depending on the severity of need, their bodies. Offering an account of the multi-dimensional phenomenon of beggary, my thesis explores the factors and themes related to beggary in the context of urban spaces/centres in Pakistan and other developing nations. Using findings from interviews and other available data, I also discuss different notions attached to begging in urban spaces, especially in the context of Karachi.