Crispin Hughes Photographer

Home Lives of the Donkey People

Donkey owners – problem or solution?

Itinerant donkey owners working in Gujarat’s brick kilns spend 24 hours a day with their donkeys. They live, work, play and abide together. The donkeys’ welfare is entirely in the people’s hands. So who are they, and how do they live alongside their animals? I hope these photographs from MA Ambapur kiln near Ahmedabad will help show how these two societies live together.

Indian brick kiln donkeys
M.A Ambabur Kiln, Ahmedabad.
Dagaji loading the donkeys with unfired bricks.
Modern India is built on the backs of donkeys.
M.A Ambabur Kiln, Ahmedabad.
Dawn at the kiln.

M.A Ambabur Kiln, Ahmedabad.
Arjun, Tejaji's brother working at the kiln.

Modern India is built on the backs of donkeys. They transport building materials at many construction sites – but almost every brick in the country has been carried by donkeys during its manufacture.
M.A Ambabur Kiln, Ahmedabad.
Jamuna unloading the donkeys and building the kiln.
Modern India is built on the backs of donkeys.
M.A Ambabur Kiln, Ahmedabad.

Kalsan removes, dusts and stows the back protectors and pack saddles at the end of the shift at the kiln.
Modern India is built on the backs of donkeys.
M.A Ambabur Kiln, Ahmedabad.


Modern India is built on the backs of donkeys.
M.A Ambabur Kiln, Ahmedabad.

Donkeys being fed and watered at the end of their shift at the kiln. Grooming and checking donkeys at the end of their shift at the kiln.
Modern India is built on the backs of donkeys.
Modern India is built on the backs of donkeys.

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