Student-cum-shoeshine boy

NEW DELHI, India, May 24 -- THOUGH SHOESHINE boys were immortalised on the silver screen by award winning and acclaimed films like 'Boot Polish' and 'Deewar', their plight has not changed. The shoeshine boys have become such an integral part of the Indian society that most films prior to the 80's featured them.

Though Amitabh Bachchan played a shoeshine boy only for few minutes in the Yash Chopra classic Deewar, the profession of shoe shining is antedated and common in the country.

Some do it for money, some because of problems back home and others because they have no other option. Though the reasons may be varied the phenomenon of young urchins engaged in the profession …