Photo Archive Project
An archive of accessible and diverse photoessays that touch upon our thematic areas.
Kheta: Weaving a Tale of Women Empowerment, Kinship, and Inheritance
The term Shershabadi (original Shershabadia) has direct reference to the community’s place of origin, i.e., the former Jawar-e-Sarsabad, which comprised parts of Murshidabad, Malda in West Bengal, and Sahibganj district in Jharkhand.
Owing to various social, political, and environmental reasons, they migrated from their place of origin, and are now settled in Kishanganj and its neighbouring districts, in Bihar. Originally a community of settled agriculturists, they slowly dispersed along the river banks and tried to make a living through cultivation.
arrow_outwardDrying Rivers and Temple Towns: Tale of Kaveri and Srirangam
The photo story captures the neighbourhood which falls under the administration of Tiruchirappalli City Municipal Corporation and is navigating complex ecological, geographical, and governance problems.
arrow_outwardNot an ‘Aam’ Baat: How Climate Change & Fertilizers Are Damaging Mangoes in UP’s Malihabad
Malihabad, tehsil and Nagar panchayat in Lucknow district, Uttar Pradesh is famous for its mangoes. The Malihabadi Dussehra, a variety of mango, got its Geographical Indicator [GI] tag in 2009[1]. Even though Mangoes are widely consumed across the subcontinent, a common narrative of all the mango cultivators of the region is: “Everybody loves mangoes, but no one wants to make the lives of mango farmers any better.”
arrow_outwardDocumenting the Ghazipur Phool Mandi and its Phoolwallas
n the east of Delhi lies Ghazipur. Over the years, Ghazipur has become an essential route and a stop for people looking to purchase flowers for special occasions.
arrow_outwardClimate-Proofing Agriculture: Building Resilience in Agriculture and Allied Sectors
arrow_outwardNaqqashi Work and the art of making the ‘Chaandi ki Chappal’
As one walks further into one of Lucknow’s oldest lanes, Gol Darwaza, they are struck by the alley’s rich cultural past
arrow_outwardUp in Smoke—The Increasing Trend of Forest Fires in Uttarakhand
The livelihoods of several indigenous communities in Uttarakhand depend on forests, making it imperative that the state and central governments control the spread of fires.
arrow_outwardTreading on Troubled Waters: Exploring Livelihood Vulnerabilities among Coastal Communities in the Indian Part of the Sundarban Delta
Fishers are compelled to trawl despite its fatal outcomes to secure their livelihood instead of venturing to the forests with motorboats.
arrow_outwardBeyond the Red Sandstones: A Critical Analysis of the Redevelopment Plan of Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk is caught between the urgency for urban development to accommodate the rising population and the need to preserve its historic landscape. This photo essay critically examines the redevelopment plans undertaken by the Delhi government and highlights the various issues it raises.
arrow_outwardWomen’s Experiences of Climate Change: Notes from a Village in Rural Nainital
The loss of 50,000 hectares of forest cover over the last couple of decades in Uttarakhand has led to micro-climatic changes in the state.
arrow_outwardA Natural Fight: Ecological Impact of Urbanisation on Landscapes of Kolkata
New Town and Rajarhat are neighbourhoods located in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Situated on the north-eastern side of Kolkata, they are newly planned and peri-urban satellite townships that underwent rapid urbanisation since the late 1990s
arrow_outwardA Hot Meal: Langars and Food Security Beyond Ration
During the pandemic, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib distributed food under DSGMC’s larger endeavour to help the Delhi government ensure food availability, especially to low-income individuals.
arrow_outwardAshy Hands: Inside Ganjam’s Cashew Factories
Nagamma and a few other workers stretch and discuss their aching bodies after hours of crouching and husking the nuts. The workers eat, use the toilet, and rest briefly before returning to work.
arrow_outwardHunger, Malnutrition, and Overflowing Granaries: Food Insecurity in a Grain Surplus Country
Since the early years of the Green Revolution in the 1960s, the focus of the policymakers has been on achieving food self-sufficiency. As a result, the foodgrain stocks of the government have increased over time.
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