routephoto

Blipoint Source of Life - Shankar Laxman

2011-04-04T22:49:00.000-07:00

Blipoint Source of Life - Shankar Laxman

The second green revolution - Draft of the book

2011-01-10T02:23:00.000-08:00

One source Many Lights - Posters

2010-10-24T23:47:00.001-07:00

Case studies/Reports

2010-09-22T03:46:00.001-07:00

One Source Many Lights

2010-09-22T03:12:00.000-07:00

Chandni Chowk - A missing link.

2010-09-21T23:37:00.000-07:00

Vidharbha - Genocide of Indian Farmers Part - 1

2008-10-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

Part - III Kalghatgi; Agro-based EDP's

2008-06-13T01:37:00.000-07:00

Part -II Kalghatgi; BAIF Development Research Foundation

2008-05-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

Part - I Kalghatgi; State of farmers in North Karnataka

2008-05-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

KASHI KA BAS; The land of farmers and freedom fighters- English narration

2008-02-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

Purulia; A District of West Bengal

2008-01-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

sample book

2007-12-17T06:27:00.000-08:00

Photos by the Slum Kids from Madrasi Camp

2007-11-29T06:23:00.000-08:00

I call myself a photojournalist, who specialises in documentary and feature Photography. I got an assignment from a magazine, to do photo feature on a slum. I chose to do a feature story on Madrasi camp situated near a railway track. Quite pathetic, stinking and smelly. The factor that drew attention to the slum, was its demolition. But then by god's grace the Delhi government had posponded the date of demolition, due to efforts put by the Slum people. The story that I carried had that factor for its salability. The Feature didn't find a place in the Magazine. In due of course of time, I developed an attachement with the people in the slum. During the assignment I had visited them several times, But now the frequency is more. Journalism has become more commercial than the purpose for which it has evolved. News has to be new and glamourous everyday.

I had always dreamt of being in the war front. But then I discovered myself in a place where life is always a battle. I took up this project as a social service and initiated the Kids of Madrasi camp to portray what they see around the camp. With my expertise in Multimedia, I believe to bring a movie out of it. In the intial stage it was all vague. I visited these Kids at the slum, spent a while talking to them and getting familiar. Gradually they liked my face. I briefed them about my next visit. It was quite an experience, to be among them whom you belong to. I still remember my school days. I studied in a govt school where Kids from slum used to come.

The next visit was quite exciting. This time I had got a plastic camera and a film to offer. The Kids were all ready and waiting. I had to choose 4 Kids for this cause. In the meanwhile I had also sent some emails addressing NGO's about my intention of bringing up a book photographed and written by Kids from the slum and a Multimedia documentary with my expertise. I started briefing the Kids the magic of camera. They got involved in the conversation too. During the conversation the kids went haywire with their creativity. I always believe, "Creativity is nobody's leagcy". It was an encourging sign for me. I had selected Uma Mageshwari, age 11 as the content writer for the photographs. She grasped my senses with her fluency in Tamil. She is a voracious writer as well. I discovered the eagerness among the children, to bring peace to their life. They told me things they like and dislike in the slum. I asked them to photograph whatever occurs to them; likes and dislikes.

They say " When you have the will to search, you can discover God". The idea was forming the way I had visualized. The kids came with great results. The photographs were quite a revelation. Some of them can pulitzer award. My efforts are coming to some limelight with the first week of photo session. The best form of human is being a child, who is pure and not corrupt. Photography is pure when there are no rules to it. It seems like It would have been a brain storming session to make these children understand photography, but fortunately it is the interest and not imposition, that brought these beautiful results.

These are still early days. Things will get better and best in due course of time. These kids reminds you of a better life. They remind you to strive for survival. They remind you the future. Iam speechless to the efforts put by these kids. God help those who help themselves.

I believe, the best form of journalism is photography which writes images with composition and asthetics. I would keep the surprise alive by not revealing the name of the NGO which has agreed with this cause. The young journalist who have volunteered for the betterment of the slum and their fellow friends, are as follows. Prakash - 6th A class, Manju - 7th C , Umma Mageshwari - 7th C, Mano - 7th C, Meena - 5th B, Elavarshi - 5th A, Diya - 5th C

Madrasi Camp, New Delhi

2007-11-03T23:07:00.000-07:00

Madrasi camp is one of the biggest slum clusters in Lajpat Nagar area of South Delhi. Inhabited by Tamil people, the slum breathes on the side of the railway track. The camp has a population of 10,000. According to the official record of Railways, the slum came to purview on 8/10/1982. Since then it has expanded from 25 to 1350 jhuggis. The camp has its peculiarity. For someone from Delhi, it seems to be Madras. The slum is segregated from the rest of Delhi. "A proud hoarding of Rajnikanth, the Super Star gives us spirit and hope. We call him Thalaivar(leader)" says Magesh.

The male population in the jhuggis does bird watching most often than not. Some of them work on daily wages. Many clean cars in the morning and rest of the day they rest their butt under warm sun. There are few like Annadurai, who is educated and owns the only car in the camp. He is a government employee. The elders of the camp usually gather at a tea stall, talk about politics and the state of their camp. Many get Tamil newspaper for their breakfast. As soon as you enter into camp, you would come across an assembly of people sitting in round, playing the game of cards to kill time.

Recently a bad news has hit the life of Madrasi camp. They have received a notice from Railways. The land encroached by Madrasi camp belong to Railways. The Notice clearly says, that the people in the slum have to vacate the land by 19/11/2007, requesting a demolition team from MCD on the same date. The notice seems to be handwritten and not on a letter head. Many feel the letter isn't legitimate. Apparently this has brought in a chaotic situation in the camp. The camp has few representatives like Mr.Magesh, who are trying to comprehend this notification. The slum has 1644 registered voters and 920-ration cardholder. During V.P Singh's tenure as Prime minister, Madrasi camp got registered under ward S-67.

The people in Madrasi camp with the help of their representatives like Mr. Magesh and his Uncle are trying to sort out this problem. Apparently by rule, before any action of demolition takes place, these people should be assured of relocation into some other place, by the government authorities. As for now they haven't received any such assurances. Mr. Magesh says, "It seems like the authorities have turn their head to this issue, and every question is falling on deaf ears". Many in the camp are also of the opinion that this notification is a result of politics, and not with reason. Delhi capital of India is home to 3 million people living in slums and 45% of its population lives in unauthorized colonies, jhuggi-jhompris and urban villages. Delhi witnesses net addition of around 4 lakh settlers every year, who migrate from various parts of the country in the search of livelihood. From 12000 slum dwelling units in 1951, the official figure for these units is expected to reach 0.1 millions in 2010

Ms. Anjali wife of Mr.Magesh had contested for the post of councilor previous year, to bring change in the state of the slum. Being a woman from a slum, it was quite a brave effort to contest election. Her husband and the people in the slum supported her. The issues like sanitation, visiting doctors for regular check ups, officials from MCD for checking cleanliness and dengue, have gone unnoticed. The sanitation is the biggest problem these people are dealing with. They don't have a place to shit. A structure has been built that supposedly meant for this purpose. Many of the local opined that MCD released a tender for public toilets. Apparently the contractor made a fool out of the people and the structure never got completed. Ms. Anjali says, "What we want is a place to stay, if it is not this slum. There are no assurances as yet for a relocation, But we are assured by the official that we don't belong to this place." There are many cases of relocation, where they put these people quite far from the place they work, many times 25 to 30 kms.

In the camp the old females are called Amma in general. One Amma whom I came across told me that she used to work as street cleaner. As years pass by her hearing and vision has come down. When asked about the Visiting Doctors, She replied strongly "I don't expect care from my son, how can I expect treatment from a stranger, who calls himself a Doctor". Many old women are beggars in the streets of Delhi, with no attention to their health. They get Rs 100 to 200 per day from begging. Amma usually goes to the temple nearby, where poor are fed in the afternoon. She even doesn't know her age, but what she distinctly remember is, Ms.Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister, had visited these slums and provided them with warm cloths in peak winters. She says, "Those were golden days".

Manikandan 17, lost his one arm playing on the railway track. He distinctly remembers that one of his friend pushed him casually while playing when the train was passing by. He stopped going to school at a very early age. Manikandan and many of his kinds prefer begging and seeking sympathy. There are 1000 children in the slum, out of which 150 go to a school nearby. The families in the camp want their children to get educated, but due to circumstances, many end up as labourers. Child labour is also a feature of this slum, quite a common issue, but never addressed. The rail accidents happen quite often than not. Apparently from 1999 to 2007 the figures are 69 dead and 16 injured. The children loiter on the sides of the track as soon as their parents leave for work. Its like they don't fear danger, because they live in danger.

In the recent past MCD had installed hand pumps in the camp premises, but none of them works. The worst thing is, they don't get drinking water. The slum on the Jangpura B- Block gets tankers supplying water to them and the camp gets none. The amount of plastic also chokes the sewage system. The people should be made aware of the hazards of plastic, and the importance of cleanliness. It seems like, the slum is left at the mercy of water borne diseases. Mr. Ezhumalai, a local in the slum says "We encroached their land, they took our right to live".

Interestingly enough, while civil society is concerned about potential health hazards and criminal dangers from such population and hence demands their eviction from the residential area; they are dependent on slum population for their daily needs. A vegetable vendor, maid servant, laundry man under the tree, these people form an important component of any urban households. "Slum may well be breeding grounds of crime, but middle-class suburbs are incubators of apathy and delirium" quote by Cyril Connolly (English critic and editor 1903-1974)

The people at the camp are seeking a stay order from the court so that they can postpone the action of demolition by the MCD. They have approached many higher officials to come to a relief conclusion. But till now nothing fruitful has happened. No NGO has come to their rescue either. The life of this camp is quite unpredictable. New Delhi, 2004 - The Supreme had ordered demolition of slums near railway tracks and other places. MCD since then had removed many. The consequence following this demolition doesn't seem to be measured by the Government. The focus is evictions of their settlement from the residential areas, railway tracks and other places, where they create nuisance. But on the contrary the civil society should make some efforts to ensure basic amenities to the people of slums. The people in the slum belong to OBC category, but they aren't issued with any paper, certifying their status of OBC. The government allocates funds to relocate these slums, but most often the funds never reach the deserving. Hence its our responsibilty to understand the perplexity and deal with it. It stinks, it smells but its our negligence

" The slum is the measure of civilization"
Jacob Riis, Reporter and Photographer.

Walking Buddha

2007-10-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

I decided to go this place called Bylekuppe near Coorg. The place is inhabited by the Tibetan refugees. My exploration of this place came into relevance when one of my senior colleague mentioned about it. Bylekuppe has beautiful monasteries and is the second best place after Dharamshala. I was accompanied by Sunil, Junior of mine and is quite familiar with the terrain. Bylekuppe is around 75 kms away from Mysore. My ass went for a royal toss. We were on a bike that was pretty old and withered. At last we saw some glimpse of Tibetans and our morale reached the sky. I had a contact number of a guest house inside the Tibetan village. I called him to get the direction. We got into the guest house opposite to the Golden temple. After lunch we had a small nap. By evening the drizzle had stopped. We went to the temple with no intention to shoot.
Sunil had some health issues, that he was dealing with the help of meditation. So as soon as we entered into the temple Sunil joined hands with meditation. All our thoughts come to standstill. I got overwhelmed by the peace and tranquility within. There are 3 huge idols of Buddha depicting a female, a peaceful Buddha and a Buddha that scares the evils and demons off. My eyes started wandering here and there. Being a photographer the brightest part attracts attention. A young monk was looking out from a window and there were 2 painting of Buddha on the side of the window. I couldn't resist myself and took out the camera. It looked as if the monk is saying " Iam a third generation monk, no paintings of mine only photographs".

Sunil stands up. He is walking pathetic. He looks sick and searching for enlightenment. He looks up to Big B and I look down at his shadow falling on the marble floor. It seems like his soul is craving for attention from God.

I saw a small kid less than 6 years old walking across the road towards the Gompa(camp). The kids who are in these gompas have come away from their parents to learn the art to live life of Buddha. This picture came as a " junction of learning and experience". Usually in photography asthetics and conceptualisation contradicts. The asthetic doesn't allow space behind a moving subject. The concept gives emphasis to the perception that the space signifies the legacy of the kid who has forfeited pain for a greater cause followed by others.

There are two buddhist camps in Bylekuppe. In every camp from morning till evening, they have activities like chanting slokas, playing, studying books on academics and some extra-curricular activities. In the afternoon the young chaps are fed in their respective camps. In Buddhism food is a shere necessity and is associated with the senses that provokes hunger. The agenda of Buddhism is to control the senses for a greater cause, which is above all sensualities. This Picture is originated with the intention to show that here people eat to fill their stomach and there is no glamour to it.

It was a monday morning, Sunil and I were walking on the streets pretty high on spirituality and guess what? It was drizzling. The street was buzzing with monks and small students acting brats. Their morning activities are quite similar to ours. Get up and get going. The morning was misty and engulfed by blue clouds. The picture signifies the coolness in the atmosphere that embraces the peace within the person

I was looking for Sunil out in the huge ground. On the fences were these "Jandas" of all different colors. Every Janda is a prayer to God, who protects them from bad spirits. Finally I saw the glimse of Sunil jostling with the Kids of his age. I stood near fence that had lots of Jandas around, some were in white and some in colors, fluttering like butterflies. Suddenly my attention was drawn to a small kid, who was pulling my T-Shirt from behind. I turned around to address him. The kid asked me in broken hindi " Kya aap meri Photo Keechenge". It was blessing in disguise. I asked him to stand in the left side of the my frame with the fluttering Jandas in the background.

This day was my last day in Bylekuppe. In the past 2 days I have noticed a change in Sunil. He is actually getting attached with the aura of this place. He started feeling lite, got over his guilt and felt the need of self-realization. In the meantime, I visited the temple for the last time as my journey was coming to an end. Perhaps I decided that this won't be last visit to Bylekuppe. The time is for prayers and everyone is pursuing it with faith. I saw this couple praying with determination and dedication towards enlightenment. I took the camera out and Click!
" Photography is an art to portray peace as an essence of life."

We go back to the guest house and pack our stuff to leave the next morning. This is a Photographer's paradise. I want to come back to this place again for a longer time. The best place to stay, is the guest house opposite to the Golden temple. There are no big restaurant, but some small eating joints. The food is basically Indian and the Chinese is not great. The best means to carry yourself around is on bikes. Roads are ok! You get Autos, and they can be a good guide. The best time to go is, around Jan to May(before the arrival of monsoon) and from Oct and to Jan. The climate is pretty moderate throughout the year. The temperature in summers will be around 35 max and 25 min. In the winters it goes to 20 max and 15 min. Quite strangely this place is not very familiar to the tourist. So I hope my images would convey the tranquility of this spiritual place to the audiences and I wish peace to prevail in our souls.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2007

2007-08-23T21:45:00.001-07:00

Travel Jaiselmer

2007-07-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

Travel Pondy

2007-07-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

Pondicherry has been described and realized by millions. Its this contrast in taste, lifestyle and architecture, that attracts the tourist and the travellers from all over the world.

I was one of the traveller who was pretty keen in visiting Pondicherry. What inspires a traveller more often in a place, is its pecularity. And what inspires a photographer is the way he sees is it or visualises it.

What actually draws your attention is the contrast that beautifies and unites Pondicherry. Its actually pretty tricky to photograph the place, until you don't realize what you are pursuing.

I spent few days observing the place, its lifestyle and taste. Pondicherry is divided by a canal. On the east lies this sophisticated European lifestyle and the west is full of colors and noise, obviously Indian!

The East of the canal is where the trick lies. The architecture is marvellous. The streets are extremely clean for the Indian context. The east of the canal is also called "Villa Blanch" where all the streets have the French names. Streets in Pondicherry are one of the fascinating feature that unites the people of the East (Villa Blanch) with the people of the West (Villa Noir)

But Pondicherry isn't just this. It's Goubert Market cramped with sellers of everything from gargantuan bunches of bananas to dried shrimps and green coconuts. The richshaw-wallahs, the seller of the coconut water and the policemen in their khaki uniforms with the red hat are constant reminders that this is India.

Sunday market is a good place for shopping in Pondicherry. You can find a variety of items, from fresh exotic fruits to handicrafts and innumerable other items. However be prepared to be part of a crowded market.

Hole in the wall

2007-07-08T08:06:00.000-07:00

Sanskrit School

2007-07-08T07:43:00.001-07:00

MPD

2007-07-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

Multimedia Photo Documentary

2007-07-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

Beedi Factory, a photo essay

2007-07-06T01:09:00.000-07:00

Portfolio

2007-07-06T00:48:00.000-07:00