People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): grief within

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.


Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!









"My grief is not leaving me, 'Guru ji'!!"

"Why it is so?"

"It has been 3-4 years ago, my brother died. He was double M.A., employed in government hospital. My fate changed ever since. For a year or two, I was mentally not okay. 
Things may turn for better if I can arrange marriage of his son with a 'good' girl."

"And if you don't find a 'good' girl for him."

"Then my grief is going to overpower me for all time."

Nan Sai, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

Nan Sai, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): conversation different

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.

Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!






"Ayeeeeeeeeee...
TaTaTaTaTaTaTaTa.....
Tata....bey....bhaisaaaaa
Ooooooohoooohooooohoooo...
Tata......beyeeee...
Huurraaaaaaaaa
Bhaisa...bey..
Aaaaaale....ooooooo...kahaaaa....kudto..
Tata....beyeeeee....
Wah...rey....bhaisaa...maan...
Chal beta....'Daadoooo'...'Badka'..
Tatattattabeyeee..
Laalooooo..chal beta....
Harrrrrrrr...."

"What are you doing?" 
"Ploughing sir, going to sow chicken pea in this field."
"Do buffalo understand your talk?" 
"Yes, and they need to be taught like parrot from their childhood."

Pawan Kumar, Majhapara/Saraitikra near Ambikapur

Pawan Kumar, Majhapara/Saraitikra near Ambikapur

Pawan Kumar, Majhapara/Saraitikra near Ambikapur

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): frost bite

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.

Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!







"Our potato crop is suffering from frost bite, leaves are dying, underground tuber will not attain their normal size. It's because of sub zero temperature in the past week."
"What do you do then?"
"We are mending our-water pump and then going to irrigate the potato field. Watering prevents frost."

Bindeshwar and Krishna, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

Bindeshwar and Krishna, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

Bindeshwar, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): our days

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.

Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!

"This was the shallowest place I use to cross this hilly river."
"And then on 10 miles journey on foot to the school with no slippers."
"Which class do you passed?"
"Only 9th. I was unable to continue due to poverty. Things were so different then in 1981."
"Your kids?"
"My daughter is studying in 9th class in a Government High School just near to my home."
"Things have changed so much!!"

Dhola Ram, 49 years, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

"This is all I had from the paddy crop this year."
''And land you own?"
"Three acres for a big joint family."
"Do you plan for the next crop?"
"It depends, if water supply is provided in the canal by the government, then yes."

Lallu Ram, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): democracy royale

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.

Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!






"Please vote for our party candidate."
"For your better amenities and services by Municipality council."
"That is what democracy is, it empowers all, children, women, backward classes and everyone."

T.S. Singhdeo, ex Maharaja (King) of Surguja State, canvassing for his party candidate in Municipal election

T.S. Singhdeo, ex Maharaja (King) of Surguja State, canvassing for his party candidate in Municipal election

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): herbal man and palmist lady

We meet amazing people in our life.

Though strangers they are

but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.

Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!

========================================== 

"How do you cure the bone fracture cases?"
"It's simple herbal treatment."
"I bring herbal plant parts early in the morning from forest, make a paste of those parts on a grindstone with my own hand, apply that paste around that concern part of the person with a bandage around and prepare a drink of the same potion for the patient."
"And how much time a fractured bone takes to heal?"
"Only three days."

Lallu Ram Rajwade, 
Saraitikra, near Ambikapur

"You have 'Trishul' (a trident spear which is the main emblem of the Hindu god Shiva) in your right hand."
"And what does it mean to.."
"You must do some temple-offerings on some suitable auspicious day in time to come."
"Or else..?
........ (silence and smile).

Anjani Kumar Tripathi with Maheshwari Pandey, 
Pahadgaon, near Ambikapur

Luke Somers: photographer of conscience

The year 2014 showcased cruelty unhindered, unmasked !!

Killing choreographed for maximum brutality !!

Those who tried to show the conflict were 

the photographers of conscience,

they too were blown like Anja,

lost mental balance as Jason,

and now one more as Somers.

Mr. Somers, 33, was killed during an attempt to rescue him in southern Yemen. He had been missing since September 2013, when he was taken from a street in Sana, the Yemeni capital.

Born in England and raised in the United States, Mr. Somers went to Yemen to teach English, but ended up covering a wave of protests against the government in 2011. He photographed major events in Yemen for the likes of Al Jazeera, the BBC and The New York Times, but he also wanted to capture the concerns of regular people, friends said.

Photo from Luke Somers’ 
Facebook page

Before moving overseas, Mr. Somers attended Beloit College in Wisconsin. He graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing. 

A girl, her face bare in a sea of veiled women protesting against the government, looks at the camera and flashes a peace sign with her fingers. Jubilant crowds celebrate the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a Yemeni woman for her pro-democracy work. A small boy from the Houthi minority walks alongside his father, an AK-47 rifle slung over a tiny shoulder.

The images, published online by Al Jazeera on Saturday, capture moments of turmoil in Yemen as the Arab Spring swept the region, but also the people who were of particular interest to a young American photojournalist, Luke Somers.

thankfully acknowledge:
story credit: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/us/luke-somers-remembered-as-journalist-dedicated-to-yemens-story.html?smid=nytcore-iphone-share&smprod=nytcore-iphone

picture credit: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2014/12/pictures-luke-somer-work-al-jaz-201412610410897469.html

for news update: http://abcnews.go.com/International/american-hostage-luke-somers-killed-us-rescue-attempt/story?id=27397528