There are several insurgent groups in the northeast and everybody is aware of that. It is also known to all that every now and then troops of security forces are employed in this land to counter them. But then there are some tales of harsh reality those never come to light. There are several instances where a single bullet might have changed the fate of a family.
Come to the MF Hussain Gallery at the Jamia Millia Islamia campus in New Delhi, an exhibition featuring the snaps telling thousand words of harsh reality from the state of Assam and Nagaland are being displayed.
If there was a mother who saw her 12 year old son shot down in front of her eyes there were instances where kids became orphans and there were even some who escaped the death only to realize that their lives were more horrible to be alive with the ever increasing agony of the lost beloved ones during the decade long bloody movements.
The photographs taken by Kausiki Sarma during her study on Impact of the Armed Conflict in Assam and Nagaland in the region portrays the reality of the region.
“The study was conducted to map the impact of the conflicts on local people in both states that revolved around campaigns for ‘sovereignty’ by various armed groups. And the photographs displayed here is the reality,” Kausiki Sarma said adding that the photographs were shot across the three districts of Kokrajhar, Dhemaji and Sivasagar in Assam and three districts in Nagaland namely Peren, Kohima and Tuensang.
“In the course of travels for this project we met many women whose lives have been changed irrevocably by the decades of violence that had gripped the states. Each family, each woman had stories of personal loss and bereavement, of physical and emotional trauma,” she said.
She also expressed her sorrow that the real tales are still not known to the outside world. “For many of the victims it was the first time anyone from another part of India had visited their villages, sat among them and listened to their tales,” she said.
“These are stories that the world does not know and has not even cared to know,” she said adding, “I just make an attempt to make an honest portrayal of their stories through my lenses.”
Kausiki was born and brought up in Assam. She completed her Bachelors in Statistics and Masters in Operational Research from the University of Delhi. Kausiki has been traveling all over the North-East and photographing for several years.
Add new comment