Monday 11 January 2016

The Amazing life of Rural India


I have always been fascinated by the rural and tribal way of life in India. The diversity in building the houses, use of local material, the variety in food, music and dress, the list is endless. I belong to the time when cameras were not common and certainly not handy and digital. Moreover I was hesitant that taking photos of people randomly could be a violation of their privacy. Besides, I felt images are best preserved in one’s memory. However, in this fast moving world, endless consumerism and ruthless/destructive development, I feel it necessary to share the simplicity of large number of rural and tribal people of our country. I have a few photographs that I had taken during my several travels to the interior parts of India and I wish to share some of these here. Each image speaks for itself. A friend pointed out that some of these structures may not be earthquake resistant. May be it is true, however a bit of innovation and these may not only remain sustainable but also earthquake resistant. But I am sure, most of these structures are not only more sustainable but possibly more earthquake resistant than most of the high rise buildings in the Indian cities.

I must also add here that our tribal and rural people face extreme hardships and are also paying the cost of 'development'. But a lot of meaning and a lot of wisdom continues to exist in their way of life. 

A House in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh. Photo: Nandini Oza

A school in a village in Konkan, Maharashtra. Photo: Nandini Oza.

A house in Shivpuri Madhya Pradesh. Photo: Nandini Oza

Houses in a village in Arunachal Pradesh. Photo: Shripad Dharmadhikary

A House in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Photo: Nandini Oza
A house in Konkan, Maharashtra. Photograph: Nandini Oza
A house near Harihareshwar in Maharashtra. Photo: Nandini Oza
At Gopnath in Gujarat. Photo: Shripad Dharmadhikary
Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh. Photo: Nandini Oza.
Mulshi, Maharashtra. Photo: Nandini Oza.
end
10-Jan-16