A photograph that many social media users may have come across last week shows a man lying by the roadside in Mumbai, dressed in a yellow T-shirt and grey shorts, stretched out on a pile of rags. In one hand, he holds a Sidney Sheldon novel; in the other, a beedi. The image, shared on Reddit’s r/Mumbai subreddit, went viral within hours and triggered a wide range of reactions from the users on social media. While many admired the man’s concentration, focus, and evident love for reading, there were others who expressed discomfort at the sight. For some it was upsetting because it was almost like romanticizing hardship, which should not happen as the man genuinely looked destitute even though he was trying to make the best of the situation. For them, the photograph raised deeper questions about homelessness, inequality, and the lack of safe spaces in the city for those without shelter.User DisciplineOk3328, addressed the criticism, saying, “To those saying that I’m calling this the ‘spirit of Mumbai’ or romanticising it, nowhere in my post have I said that. I’ve simply described what’s visible in the photograph and mentioned that it was taken in Mumbai. Nothing more has been implied. Since it was something strange and unique, I shared it here.”Reactions on the thread ranged from thoughtful to humorous. One user, Uchihamadaralord, remarked, “Well, a bit sad-looking state, but the old man sure has some style in reading a book.” Another, KamalTheCoder, quipped, “Drink and read is better than drink and drive,” a comment that was echoed approvingly by several others. User Inevitable_Bar1607 added, “Drink and read- exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life.”However, the post also became a platform for broader discussions on governance and social responsibility. User Financial-Emotion316 wrote, “Government should make more shelters. People don’t deserve to live like this. Why are we giving so much tax every year, for people to struggle like this?”

Some users shared personal anecdotes that complicated the assumptions often attached to people seen begging on the streets. GamerDeepesh recounted a conversation with a beggar he once shared tea with. “He spoke English so well that I was shocked,” the user wrote, adding that the man owned an apartment in South Mumbai but lacked basic identity documents such as Aadhaar or PAN cards. “Some beggars aren’t beggars at all—they’re just thrown out of their homes,” he concluded, noting that the man had politely asked for tea rather than demanded anything.Who is the man in the photograph?There were also claims-unverified-about the man in the photograph. One now-deleted comment suggested that he lived nearby, spent his days reading and drinking, and often received food and clothes from locals, with a wine shop located close to where he was usually seen.The post which now reads [deleted] says, “This guy lives near my home and I often see him carrying books by well-known authors, all he does is drink and read. He begs/chills, locality achi hai so log khana/kapde bhi dete hain + Wine shop bhi hai baju me.”

While the image has amused many and drawn admiration for the man’s apparent love for books despite his circumstances, it has also reignited uncomfortable conversations about homelessness, access to housing, and the complex realities faced by those living on the margins of India’s financial capital.All image credit: Reddit