Title - Runaway urchin ‘shoots’ to global glory

KANPUR: Meet Vicky Roy, freelance photographer, whose real life story is literally rags to riches. Vicky, who came to IIT-Kanpur to deliver his talk to students in TEDx, shared with them his experiences, with less than humble beginnings and culminating at name, fame and good money along accolades in US, UK and other countries of the world.A native of Purulia in West Bengal, Vicky ran away to the capital from his home at the age of 11 with Rs 1,000 in his pocket in the year 1999. He used to refill used water bottles on the Delhi railway platform for more than six months before being spotted by an NGO named Salam Balak. Efforts of the Delhi-based NGO helped him go to school.Narrating to the students his life experiences after running away from home, Vicky said, "I spent life on Delhi railway station selling water bottles. I used to earn Rs 250 a day out of which 200 had to be given to the station 'Dada' (bully). No matter how much I earned he used to give me just Rs 50 daily for food, etc. One day I was spotted by the NGO representatives who talked to me and gave me new clothes and food to eat. I was then admitted to a school."

He added that he washed utensils at a dhaba (eatery) in Paharganj area in Delhi. With tears in his eyes he recalled the pain of leaving his home.

In 2003, he went back home for the first time. His parents did not believe he was alive as they had launched a frantic search for him and even registered a missing FIR with Purulia police.

Vicky told the audience how his parents tried to convince him to stay back and not go back to Delhi, but on the pretext of continuing studies he came back. Also, with poor financial condition back home Vicky's parents could not force him to stay back. His father is a tailor.

Transformation in Vicky's life came when he learnt the skills of photography from Dixie Benjamin, a British photographer and got opportunity to travel to far-off places like USA, UK, Vietnam, South Africa where he put up his photo exhibition.

His love and passion for photography grew so intense he started working hard and it bore fruits. His photo exhibitions were appreciated and art lovers paid him handsome amounts for pictures clicked by him. In 2007, Vicky put up an exhibition named Street Dreams. He also put on display the photo shoot of the ongoing reconstruction work of the World Trade Centre in USA. This exhibition was put up in Mumbai.

This life journey of Vicky left the students of IIT-Kanpur motivated at heart. This was a story of person travelling from rags to riches.

"He is 24 years of age now and has both name and fame by his side. He is a successful photographer and has travelled world across. He has put up exhibitions at several places in the world. His life story is moving," said Apoorva Goel, a student of IIT-Kanpur. The students of the premier institute were all praise for the ace photographer and his accomplishment.