Stories of Lights Exhibition

I am organising an exhibition of the photographs from my fieldwork on electricity access in rural India. The exhibition starts on the 6^th of January, 2014 and is titled ‘stories of lights’. It presents different forms of lights, lighting instruments and peoples engagements with them. The exhibition will be at the Elvet hill house and will be open to general public. If some of you would like to visit, please do let me know. I would be happy to give a guided tour. The details of the exhibition are in the poster below.

where's the light?

photographs in field work exhibition

One of my photographs recently was accepted to be the part of an exhibition organised by the Geography Department at Durham University. The exhibition focused on the use of photography in fieldwork. Photographs in my view are an important tool to tell the various stories emerging in the field, especially if one is doing ethnographic work. Since, ethnography involves being, living, spending time and integrating with the community, photographs provide a very good means of recording data, information and experiences. Needless to say, if one is looking at dissemination of one's research, photographs could be one of the most effective means to do so. 

So, I submitted a few photographs out of which one was selected for the final exhibition. Its probably my favorite out of the thousands of photographs that I clicked during my 9 months in the field. There are several good ones (self appreciation) but I think this one takes the cake. I especially love the colors in this photograph, which came out naturally. No manipulation of the composition.

Holy Cow

Algu, having dinner in complete darkness

A sleepy village, tucked between a national highway and the Ganges in central Bihar. It is only 7.00pm. I am having dinner under a battery operated lamp. I have just returned from a home tour related to my research. This village was electrified in the 1960s but people still walk around with torches in hand. Those who can afford, eat dinner under battery operated lamps. There is darkness all around. Electricity is like a guest here. It makes short visits. 

Since, it is early, my host offers to take me for another home tour after dinner, an offer I gladly accept. Armed with our torches, we walk through the dark lanes, past the well and past the temple. Finally we reach jaadab toli (Yadav Toli), a neighbourhood inhabited by Yadavs (As par the caste system, Yadavs have traditionally been involved in taking care of cattle and the business of milk). 

My host calls for the person we are looking for. A reply comes from the dark. My host directs his torch towards the sound. The man, Algu Yadav is sitting on a chauki (wooden bed used for sleeping and sitting) with a plate full of rice and lentil. The heap of rice is topped with about 10 red chillies (wonder how he manages his mornings). The usual accessories give him company, a torch and a stick. In the dark dogs and cats are regular scares to the food. The stick needs to be kept by the side in case a dog is tempted. The torch will be used when Algu will need to move about. I find this condition strange and worrying but Algu seems to be at peace with his condition.

the curious case of vegetable vendors

Please click on any photograph for slideshow