Kashmir was, is and shall always remain paradise on earth. But in the past two decades a sense of fear and ferocity has overtaken the serene hills. Through his collection Kashmir...As I See, photojournalist Shome Basu has made an attempt to let people see Kashmir in a new light — and show that even the irreplaceable beauty of the place can’t hide the melancholy it exudes at having lost its valiant sons to senseless violence and it’s peace.
Photography is all about becoming the eyes of the people and showing them the truth as it happens, says Shome. And while some blame the sorry state of affairs in the beautiful North to propaganda, he says, “In a conflict zone all kinds of forces — both negative and positive, work simultaneously. I haven’t taken sides and never will. Hence, I did my work, which was to document the reality I saw. I believe, that’s the best way to portray the truth.”
And talking about his Modus Operandi while keeping objectivity intact, he adds, “My work is very subjective and not judgmental. I don’t ask questions but it leaves to my viewers to answer. When a person goes documenting with preconceived ideas he sticks only to those subjects and in the process misses out on the real picture. So, the best way is to gel with the locals, see the place through their eyes and then document the story,” he adds.
The predominance of black and white frames that dot the exhibition makes one wonder whether he has used the dull greys to bring out the melancholy of the place and used the effect to create a contrast against the beautiful coloured shots of the Valley. “Black and white is my forte,” he says, “Some aspects of life look true in colour. But some subjects or ideas should be left in black and white as they bring out the drama and the truth.”
A very striking presence in his collection is of the “half-widows” of Kashmir. He explains the term, “Half-widows are women whose husbands went missing due to some crackdown by the security forces, or have crossed the borders to train and join militancy. Either way, they never returned. And were never declared dead. Hence, these women came to be known as ‘half-widows.’ They are, however, entitled to compensation by the government but hardly get it as officials refuse to acknowledge their husbands’ ‘missing’ status.”
And by bringing out such stories is there anything that he has seen, and is desperately trying to voice through his photographs? “Yes, (the truth is) we cannot afford to let the paradise decay,” he sums up.
The exhibition is on at Visual Arts Gallery, IHC, till July 8