Vickey Roy, 34, now an established international photographer but then at his age 11, he was a homeless child picking rags and selling water in trains, sleeping in outdoor, so that he wouldn’t starve to death. Here is the inspirational real-life story of Vicky Roy from homeless to Forbes Asia’s ’30 under 30’ list in 2016 and 3 life-lesson tips.
 |
| Vicky Roy (Source: Instagram) |
When Vicky was 3, he was left to his grandparents. His father was a tailor and his daily income was only 25 rupees. His father thought it would be better to send him to his grandparents, there he could study in school as well. But, from childhood it was impossible for Vicky to do nothing to change his situation and just wait for good things to happen.
Living in a village of West Bengal, Vicky saw many people from their village have gone to the city and changed their fortune. So, one day when he was 11, he steals some money from his grandfather and left home. He took a train to Delhi. His child mind was only focused on changing fortune; He had no idea what to do in Delhi. He just took the risk.
“Because we were very poor, my family could not afford my education so they sent me to my naani’s house where my uncle would often beat me up for petty things. One day I decided to run away and I got on a train to Delhi,” recalls Vicky.
When he came to Delhi, he start crying. He did not know where to go. The street seems so crowded and busy, yet it is so quiet that he can hear his own heartbeat. No one stops to ask him what has happened or for help. Crying in the station he caught attention of some rag-picker children, same age as him.
Soon they became friends. He start working with them as a rag-picker and often selling water in trains. He also used to work as dishwasher in local hotels, to survive. At night, he used to sleep on the ground under the sky with other homeless children. This routine continued unless Doctor put him, I touch with a NGO, ‘Salaam Balak’ which provide 3 times meal and shelter to abandoned kids. Life was much better in there. He also used to go to school with other children. After the school hour they used to sale balloons to earn some extra money.
One day a British photographer visited in there for a photography workshop. Vicky took inspiration from the photographer. In an interview with Bhumik Popli he said,
“From the beginning, I saw photograph as a mean to travel. I was overjoyed to take up something that would give me the opportunity to move.”
When he turns 18, the NGO gave him a camera cost 499 rupees and Vick left the NGO after getting an apprenticeship with photographer Anay Mann.
‘Street Dreams’ was his first solo photograph exhibition in 2007. And after that there was no turning back. He was invited to New York, London, South Africa, San Francisco.
 |
| " STREET DREAMS" at FotoFest International, Silver Street Studios, Houston, Texas |
In 2009 he worked as one of four international photographers to document the reconstruction of World Trade Center after the 9/11. In 2014 he was awarded the MIT Media Fellowship. In 2016 he was featured in the Forbes Asia ’30 under 30’ list.
This story about a homeless guy who became an internationally recognized photographer is the perfect example of how you should never give up. You hear that quite often, right? You hear it all the time, but I’m sure you’ve also seen many people “give up” on their dreams. So here are 3 quotes that summarizes the Life Lessons from Vicky Roy.
1. "However difficult LIFE may seem, their is always something you can do and SUCCEED at. It matters that you just DON'T GIVE UP." - Stephen Hawking Tweet
2. "My mission in LIFE is not merely to SURVIVE but to thrive and to do so with some PASSION, some compassion, some humor and some style." - Maya Angelou Tweet
3. "What you RISK reveals what you value." - Jeanette Winterson Tweet
