By P Abigail Sadhana Rao
Photography is an art form where fleeting moments are transmuted into timeless narratives, where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary, and where the seen and unseen merge to evoke emotions that transcend words. The power of a photograph lies not just in its visual appeal but in its ability to speak to the soul. Let’s delve into the works of five masterful photographers on Mojarto, whose lenses have captured the essence of life in all its profound beauty, complexity, and impermanence.
The Poetry of Devotion
Ravi Dhingra’s journey into photography began as a casual hobby, a creative outlet in the midst of life’s demands. It wasn’t until he joined Triveni Kala Sangam in New Delhi in 1998 that his passion took a deeper, more meaningful turn. His photographs transcend the superficial, delving deep into the emotional landscapes of his subjects. For Dhingra, photography is not just an art form but an emotional excavation as stories are frozen in time yet pulsating with life. It is an exploration of the invisible threads that connect us to one another and to the divine.
In a striking depiction of a Sufi performance, Dhingra’s lens captures the performer in a moment of spiritual ecstasy. Draped in flowing robes, Sufi performers appear to be dancing in unison, lost in the rhythm and energy of devotion, embodying the beauty of surrendering to something greater than oneself. The flow of movement, the intensity of the moment, and the quiet resonance of faith all converge into a single, breathtaking image. It evokes a sense of stillness and movement all at once—a paradox that mirrors the nature of spirituality itself.
Textures of Time and Space
Kolkata-based Sugato Mukherjee is a storyteller whose lens traverses the textured layers of India’s landscapes and cultures. Growing up in the transitional period of the 1990s, Sugato developed a keen eye for the complex interplay of tradition and modernity that defines India as he witnessed the country’s dynamic shifts, the multidimensional layers of its identity coming into sharper focus. His works, published in esteemed platforms such as The Globe and Mail and Outlook Traveller, explore both the visible and the intangible.
In one of his evocative photographs, Sugato immortalizes the stark beauty of Ladakh. His coffee table book, An Antique Land: A Visual Memoir of Ladakh, is a tribute to this majestic region. Among the striking images captured by Sugato is a silhouette of riders in the Ladakhi landscape, ready to take on the challenges of the rugged terrain. The photograph, like much of his work, is a masterclass in storytelling through minimalism. The riders shadowed against the vast expanse of Ladakh’s raw beauty, evoke a sense of resilience, adventure, and harmony with nature. It is a moment of quiet strength, reflecting the indomitable spirit required to navigate such unforgiving terrains.
A Morning in Motion
In the serene embrace of dawn, where the golden sun unfurls its warmth across the horizon, life begins anew. The air feels crisp, and the world hums with a quiet rhythm as fishermen step into the shimmering waters, their nets casting fleeting glints of gold against the rising sun. The delicate balance of human labour and nature’s artistry is captured in one breathtaking moment through the lens of Tulika Sahu. A distinguished art photographer from Lucknow who has etched her name into history as the first woman in India to earn a PhD in Photography—a feat acknowledged by the Limca Book of Records.
“Photography has never been equipment-based. It’s a high-class art that requires deep thinking. Snapping the moments using mobile phones can be fun, but actual photography is not a lens—it’s an eye,” she shared in an interview with Times of India journalist Isha Jain. This philosophy is reflected beautifully in her sunrise photograph. The glow of the sun, the dexterity of the fishermen, the quiet energy of the women, and the majesty of the mountains—each element is in harmony, a symphony of light, colour, and life.
Tulika immortalizes the rich cultural fabric of coastal India. The scene of fishermen casting their nets symbolizes a centuries-old livelihood rooted in community and harmony with the sea. Fishing, after all, is not merely an occupation but a way of life along India’s vast coastline. It represents survival, dedication, and faith, as each throw of the net is a gamble against the whims of nature. The golden glint on the net reflects the connection between human labour and the benevolence of the sea. Tulika’s eye sees beyond the obvious; her art delves into the soul of the moment, making the mundane extraordinary.
Humanity in Its Purest Form
For documentary filmmaker and photographer Srijan Nandan, the act of photography is deeply personal. His camera is not wielded frivolously but becomes an instrument of dialogue, capturing moments that speak to the intrinsic humanity within us all. At its best, his frames transcend the realm of aesthetics and become a powerful narrative –a window into the human condition.
In his photograph Future on My Back, Nandan encapsulates the delicate yet unyielding bond between siblings. the tenderness and resilience of a tribal girl in a remote village near the Rinchen India-China border in Nubra Valley, Ladakh. The photograph portrays the young girl in a red scarf carrying her sibling on her back. The child is wrapped snugly in a purplish cloth, carefully supported by the girl’s small hands, cradling her sibling like a precious bundle. It is a scene that might remind us of carefree childhood games—being carried on someone’s back, laughing with abandon. But in this context, the image takes on a deeper, more poignant significance.
This isn’t just a snapshot of childhood; it is a testament to the innate humanity within us all. The girl, too young to shoulder the weight of responsibility, carries her sibling with quiet dignity. There is no sign of complaint, no hint of burden—only an unspoken act of love, a gesture so pure that it defies the harsh realities of life. It reminds us that even in the most remote corners of the world, amidst the harshest realities, acts of kindness shine through as beacons of hope and humanity.
This photograph is a narrative of resilience, love, and the quiet heroism of everyday life. Nandan’s work pleads us to see the world not just with our eyes but with our hearts. It allows us to find beauty and meaning in the ordinary and be ignited with compassion and empathy, not out of obligation but because we can care –we can always choose to care.
A Temple Transformed
Photography has the unique ability to capture moments that challenge our perceptions and redefine the ordinary. In the heart of New Delhi, Nitin Akolia, a photographer trained at Triveni Kala Sangam, uses his lens to explore the intersection of tradition and modernity. His work often juxtaposes the familiar with the unexpected, creating visual narratives that challenge our perceptions and expand our understanding of cultural evolution.
One of works depicts a scene on the steps of a sacred temple, where the harmony of tradition meets the disruption of modernity. A foreign musician plays the saxophone—a symbol of the West—in this quintessentially Eastern space, while a pandit, captivated and introspective, gazes at the performer. The priest’s astonishment becomes the focal point, embodying the transformative power of unexpected moments that break cycles of predictability and stir our souls, forcing us to reconsider the boundaries of tradition.
This image transcends its visual appeal, serving as a poignant metaphor for the inevitability of change. The juxtaposition of the temple’s sanctity with the musician’s modernity symbolizes the fusion of tradition and evolution. It suggests that progress often arises from such contrasts, urging us to reconsider rigid conventions and embrace the unfamiliar. Other temple-goers remain engrossed in their routines, seemingly oblivious to this cultural fusion.
It is not merely a snapshot of a singular moment—it is a profound exploration of change. Akolia invites us to reflect on our own lives. How often do we resist change, clinging to the comfort of tradition and routine? How often do we dismiss the unfamiliar rather than seeing it as an opportunity for growth? Its depth lies not just in its subjects but in its ability to provoke philosophical introspection: true transformation begins with a shift in perspective, much like the pandit’s contemplative reaction.
Permanence of Stories
Through the eyes of these extraordinary photographers, we are invited to see the world anew. Tulika Sahu’s luminous depiction of sunrise and labour, Ravi Dhingra’s spiritual odyssey, Sugato Mukherjee’s exploration of Ladakh’s timeless landscapes, Srijan Nandan’s heartfelt tribute to sibling bonds, and the juxtaposition of tradition and modernity at a temple—all these works transcend the limitations of the medium to touch something universal.
Photography, as these artists demonstrate, is not merely about freezing time but about expanding it. It is about capturing the intangible—the emotions, stories, and philosophies that lie beneath the surface of life. Through their lenses, we are reminded of the infinite beauty and complexity of the human experience and of the profound connections that unite us all. It ultimately is the art of chronicling the layered stories of a land and its people; photography remains a testament to the power of observation and the art of storytelling.