it was in autumn oh nine in 1994 a teenage boy was returning home after
teenage boy was returning home after
teenage boy was returning home after finishing his prayers at a neighborhood
finishing his prayers at a neighborhood
finishing his prayers at a neighborhood mosque in Srinagar the mosque was in the
mosque in Srinagar the mosque was in the
mosque in Srinagar the mosque was in the vicinity of an erstwhile cinema hall
vicinity of an erstwhile cinema hall
vicinity of an erstwhile cinema hall which now sold as a border security
which now sold as a border security
which now sold as a border security force camp that night the camp was
force camp that night the camp was
force camp that night the camp was attacked by suspected rebels who are
attacked by suspected rebels who are
attacked by suspected rebels who are fighting against Indian rule in Kashmir
fighting against Indian rule in Kashmir
fighting against Indian rule in Kashmir as this boy was stepping into the
as this boy was stepping into the
as this boy was stepping into the alleyway which led to his home a group
alleyway which led to his home a group
alleyway which led to his home a group of BSF soldiers
of BSF soldiers
of BSF soldiers intercepted and dragged him off to make
intercepted and dragged him off to make
intercepted and dragged him off to make him as a human shield for four hours
him as a human shield for four hours
him as a human shield for four hours after this incident the scared family of
after this incident the scared family of
after this incident the scared family of the boy send you far away to Calcutta
the boy send you far away to Calcutta
the boy send you far away to Calcutta when one of the sisters used to live you
when one of the sisters used to live you
when one of the sisters used to live you must be wondering how do I know about a
must be wondering how do I know about a
must be wondering how do I know about a boy because I am boy the entire incident
boy because I am boy the entire incident
boy because I am boy the entire incident which lasted no more than few hours left
which lasted no more than few hours left
which lasted no more than few hours left deep scars nonetheless the fear
deep scars nonetheless the fear
deep scars nonetheless the fear humiliation and helplessness that I felt
humiliation and helplessness that I felt
humiliation and helplessness that I felt in that moment is something I carry
in that moment is something I carry
in that moment is something I carry within you and me today on the bright
within you and me today on the bright
within you and me today on the bright side the one distinct thought which I
side the one distinct thought which I
side the one distinct thought which I had during that whole ordeal was what if
had during that whole ordeal was what if
had during that whole ordeal was what if I had a camera so that I could show the
I had a camera so that I could show the
I had a camera so that I could show the whole world what exactly happened that
whole world what exactly happened that
whole world what exactly happened that night today thankfully I have many
night today thankfully I have many
night today thankfully I have many cameras and my job is to tell news to
cameras and my job is to tell news to
cameras and my job is to tell news to photographs agriculture Povera finished
photographs agriculture Povera finished
photographs agriculture Povera finished my first deployment computers I worked
my first deployment computers I worked
my first deployment computers I worked with an IT company in New Delhi it was
with an IT company in New Delhi it was
with an IT company in New Delhi it was some years before I took a photo
some years before I took a photo
some years before I took a photo journalism as a full-time carrier I was
journalism as a full-time carrier I was
journalism as a full-time carrier I was around 26
around 26
around 26 that time and moved back to Kashmir and
that time and moved back to Kashmir and
that time and moved back to Kashmir and started working with local newspapers
started working with local newspapers
started working with local newspapers there I used to get 1,000 rupees per
there I used to get 1,000 rupees per
there I used to get 1,000 rupees per month as a salary but the for
month as a salary but the for
month as a salary but the for regionalism paid rich dividends as food
regionalism paid rich dividends as food
regionalism paid rich dividends as food for soul for me working in Kashmir
for soul for me working in Kashmir
for soul for me working in Kashmir became me deep insights in as to how
became me deep insights in as to how
became me deep insights in as to how four agents work in a conflict zone in
four agents work in a conflict zone in
four agents work in a conflict zone in 2003 I joined Europe in fresh photo
2003 I joined Europe in fresh photo
2003 I joined Europe in fresh photo agency in Kashmir I moved to The
agency in Kashmir I moved to The
agency in Kashmir I moved to The Associated Press in 2008 with whom I
Associated Press in 2008 with whom I
Associated Press in 2008 with whom I have been working ever since throughout
have been working ever since throughout
have been working ever since throughout my career
my career
my career besides the Kashmir conflict of course I
besides the Kashmir conflict of course I
besides the Kashmir conflict of course I have covered historic 2012 elections in
have covered historic 2012 elections in
have covered historic 2012 elections in Myanmar Chronicle the torrents 7 Hajj
Myanmar Chronicle the torrents 7 Hajj
Myanmar Chronicle the torrents 7 Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia the
pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia the
pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia the Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 covered
Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 covered
Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 covered the war and presidential elections in
the war and presidential elections in
the war and presidential elections in Afghanistan reported on the Nepal’s
Afghanistan reported on the Nepal’s
Afghanistan reported on the Nepal’s transition to democracy between 2010 and
transition to democracy between 2010 and
transition to democracy between 2010 and 12 the devastating earthquake in Nepal
12 the devastating earthquake in Nepal
12 the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015 and other numerous stories
in 2015 and other numerous stories
in 2015 and other numerous stories across India while all these assignments
across India while all these assignments
across India while all these assignments have shaped my professional journey they
have shaped my professional journey they
have shaped my professional journey they have also left me via several dilemmas
have also left me via several dilemmas
have also left me via several dilemmas as an ordinary person let me give an
as an ordinary person let me give an
as an ordinary person let me give an example in 2011 I was covering Libyan
example in 2011 I was covering Libyan
example in 2011 I was covering Libyan the revolution for The Associated Press
the revolution for The Associated Press
the revolution for The Associated Press where Libyan rebels with the help of
where Libyan rebels with the help of
where Libyan rebels with the help of NATO fought to overthrow Colonel
NATO fought to overthrow Colonel
NATO fought to overthrow Colonel Gaddafi’s government during the
Gaddafi’s government during the
Gaddafi’s government during the assignment near the frontline in
assignment near the frontline in
assignment near the frontline in disturbia I somehow managed to embed
disturbia I somehow managed to embed
disturbia I somehow managed to embed myself to a group of rebels who were
myself to a group of rebels who were
myself to a group of rebels who were heading the front line to launch
heading the front line to launch
heading the front line to launch missiles towards the forces loyal to
missiles towards the forces loyal to
missiles towards the forces loyal to Gaddafi and they let me ride in the back
Gaddafi and they let me ride in the back
Gaddafi and they let me ride in the back of a pickup truck carrying the missile
of a pickup truck carrying the missile
of a pickup truck carrying the missile launcher
launcher
launcher however obviously as it
however obviously as it
however obviously as it during these situations as soon as they
during these situations as soon as they
during these situations as soon as they fired the missile towards the enemy
fired the missile towards the enemy
fired the missile towards the enemy positions we came under heavy return
positions we came under heavy return
positions we came under heavy return fire from the Gaddafi forces all hell
fire from the Gaddafi forces all hell
fire from the Gaddafi forces all hell broke loose and the rebels I was with
broke loose and the rebels I was with
broke loose and the rebels I was with started to running away and they beat a
started to running away and they beat a
started to running away and they beat a hasty retreat I barely managed to jump
hasty retreat I barely managed to jump
hasty retreat I barely managed to jump back in the back of the pickup truck
back in the back of the pickup truck
back in the back of the pickup truck I was in and now I was staying right
I was in and now I was staying right
I was in and now I was staying right beneath the the missile launcher the
beneath the the missile launcher the
beneath the the missile launcher the rebels decide to fire one more last
rebels decide to fire one more last
rebels decide to fire one more last missile or was the chasing Gaddafi
missile or was the chasing Gaddafi
missile or was the chasing Gaddafi forces as they were speeding away the
forces as they were speeding away the
forces as they were speeding away the blast knocked me off and I fell on the
blast knocked me off and I fell on the
blast knocked me off and I fell on the sand with the third I immediately got on
sand with the third I immediately got on
sand with the third I immediately got on my feet and started running after the
my feet and started running after the
my feet and started running after the vehicle but they were too scared to stop
vehicle but they were too scared to stop
vehicle but they were too scared to stop for me to get on at the next few minutes
for me to get on at the next few minutes
for me to get on at the next few minutes I found myself deserted in steady
I found myself deserted in steady
I found myself deserted in steady pelting of blood spawns and just like
pelting of blood spawns and just like
pelting of blood spawns and just like you see in the movies I hid inside a
you see in the movies I hid inside a
you see in the movies I hid inside a small kitchen room at the back of a gas
small kitchen room at the back of a gas
small kitchen room at the back of a gas station the Gaddafi forces over hunting
station the Gaddafi forces over hunting
station the Gaddafi forces over hunting for the rebels stormed at the gas
for the rebels stormed at the gas
for the rebels stormed at the gas station and started shooting everywhere
station and started shooting everywhere
station and started shooting everywhere and they fired into every room and let
and they fired into every room and let
and they fired into every room and let loose grenades in most of the rooms to
loose grenades in most of the rooms to
loose grenades in most of the rooms to flush any hiding rebels
flush any hiding rebels
flush any hiding rebels more realistically to kill every hiding
more realistically to kill every hiding
more realistically to kill every hiding rebel it was this time that I finally
rebel it was this time that I finally
rebel it was this time that I finally realized how close I was to taking my
realized how close I was to taking my
realized how close I was to taking my last few breaths on this earth I could
last few breaths on this earth I could
last few breaths on this earth I could visualize them searching every storeroom
visualize them searching every storeroom
visualize them searching every storeroom they finished with three rooms already
they finished with three rooms already
they finished with three rooms already now it was a turn of the small room I
now it was a turn of the small room I
now it was a turn of the small room I was hiding in I could hear the shattered
was hiding in I could hear the shattered
was hiding in I could hear the shattered pieces of glass being crushed under
pieces of glass being crushed under
pieces of glass being crushed under their boots as they were walking towards
their boots as they were walking towards
their boots as they were walking towards the room I was hiding it outside the
the room I was hiding it outside the
the room I was hiding it outside the room I could hear them talking briefly
room I could hear them talking briefly
room I could hear them talking briefly in Arabic and they suddenly left the
in Arabic and they suddenly left the
in Arabic and they suddenly left the place without in firing a single bullet
place without in firing a single bullet
place without in firing a single bullet as
as
as happens in movies I have a video clip a
happens in movies I have a video clip a
happens in movies I have a video clip a short while running for my life
I call him to cpj 341 just have been
I call him to cpj 341 just have been killed in the last 10 years the most
killed in the last 10 years the most
killed in the last 10 years the most shocking thing is only few of them have
shocking thing is only few of them have
shocking thing is only few of them have been killed during their work
sixty-eight journalists were killed in
sixty-eight journalists were killed in the crossfire while the rest wonder 47
the crossfire while the rest wonder 47
the crossfire while the rest wonder 47 turns that 72% of them have been hunted
turns that 72% of them have been hunted
turns that 72% of them have been hunted down and murdered intentionally these
down and murdered intentionally these
down and murdered intentionally these two most of you will be just faraway
two most of you will be just faraway
two most of you will be just faraway numbers I have been close to being one
numbers I have been close to being one
numbers I have been close to being one of these numbers a few times now few
of these numbers a few times now few
of these numbers a few times now few others of my ilk have risked their life
others of my ilk have risked their life
others of my ilk have risked their life and limb to be a witness and report from
and limb to be a witness and report from
and limb to be a witness and report from hostile zones we do this so that those
hostile zones we do this so that those
hostile zones we do this so that those in faraway places just like you in this
in faraway places just like you in this
in faraway places just like you in this auditorium right now can get a glimpse
auditorium right now can get a glimpse
auditorium right now can get a glimpse of what happens behind the headlines we
of what happens behind the headlines we
of what happens behind the headlines we do this in the hope that we can effect
do this in the hope that we can effect
do this in the hope that we can effect change on the ground because photography
change on the ground because photography
change on the ground because photography in a sense is a slice of time captured
in a sense is a slice of time captured
in a sense is a slice of time captured forever you can look at a picture
forever you can look at a picture
forever you can look at a picture moments after it is taken or look at it
moments after it is taken or look at it
moments after it is taken or look at it decades later and each time you look at
decades later and each time you look at
decades later and each time you look at it a strong picture will compel you to
it a strong picture will compel you to
it a strong picture will compel you to think to understand to connect and this
think to understand to connect and this
think to understand to connect and this connection is what is fundamental to
connection is what is fundamental to
connection is what is fundamental to bringing about a change on the ground
bringing about a change on the ground
bringing about a change on the ground sadly these days more often than not I’m
sadly these days more often than not I’m
sadly these days more often than not I’m left amazed and confounded this is
left amazed and confounded this is
left amazed and confounded this is perhaps because we journalists go some
perhaps because we journalists go some
perhaps because we journalists go some may argue foolishly in two locations and
may argue foolishly in two locations and
may argue foolishly in two locations and situations where madness pervades there
situations where madness pervades there
situations where madness pervades there we leave our souls open to unimaginable
we leave our souls open to unimaginable
we leave our souls open to unimaginable haunting sights and hope that to our
haunting sights and hope that to our
haunting sights and hope that to our pictures and our potage the situation on
pictures and our potage the situation on
pictures and our potage the situation on the ground will change something better
the ground will change something better
the ground will change something better will happen imagine our absolute despair
will happen imagine our absolute despair
will happen imagine our absolute despair when we come back and are shocked to
when we come back and are shocked to
when we come back and are shocked to find that nothing changed for me
find that nothing changed for me
find that nothing changed for me photojournalism is my way of trying to
photojournalism is my way of trying to
photojournalism is my way of trying to make it
make it
make it people often walk up to me and say we
people often walk up to me and say we
people often walk up to me and say we love your image but it’s so complex it’s
love your image but it’s so complex it’s
love your image but it’s so complex it’s so far how can we help and I think all
so far how can we help and I think all
so far how can we help and I think all those countless pictures have taken over
those countless pictures have taken over
those countless pictures have taken over the years that where nothing has changed
the years that where nothing has changed
the years that where nothing has changed but every once in a while there comes an
but every once in a while there comes an
but every once in a while there comes an opportunity if done right can make a
opportunity if done right can make a
opportunity if done right can make a difference like it did in New Delhi in
difference like it did in New Delhi in
difference like it did in New Delhi in 2012 10 years ago an Indian shopkeeper
2012 10 years ago an Indian shopkeeper
2012 10 years ago an Indian shopkeeper Rajesh Kumar Sharma founded a free
Rajesh Kumar Sharma founded a free
Rajesh Kumar Sharma founded a free school for underprivileged children
school for underprivileged children
school for underprivileged children under a metro bridge in New Delhi he
under a metro bridge in New Delhi he
under a metro bridge in New Delhi he along with a friend teach children every
along with a friend teach children every
along with a friend teach children every day for a couple of hours before and
day for a couple of hours before and
day for a couple of hours before and after their stores opening and closing
after their stores opening and closing
after their stores opening and closing Sharma a 46 year old father of three was
Sharma a 46 year old father of three was
Sharma a 46 year old father of three was forced to drop out of college in third
forced to drop out of college in third
forced to drop out of college in third year due to financial difficulties he
year due to financial difficulties he
year due to financial difficulties he didn’t want other children to have the
didn’t want other children to have the
didn’t want other children to have the same fate so he decided to start the
same fate so he decided to start the
same fate so he decided to start the free school that was how the school used
free school that was how the school used
free school that was how the school used to look when first I first saw it the
to look when first I first saw it the
to look when first I first saw it the school received an overwhelming response
school received an overwhelming response
school received an overwhelming response and sportful from the people far and
and sportful from the people far and
and sportful from the people far and wide they helped with the school with
wide they helped with the school with
wide they helped with the school with new shoes socks school bags new flooring
new shoes socks school bags new flooring
new shoes socks school bags new flooring clean drinking bottled water and others
clean drinking bottled water and others
clean drinking bottled water and others Wallander to teach this photo story
Wallander to teach this photo story
Wallander to teach this photo story titled school for less fortunate
titled school for less fortunate
titled school for less fortunate received a world press for award in 2013
received a world press for award in 2013
received a world press for award in 2013 it was dedication of a single man who
it was dedication of a single man who
it was dedication of a single man who was not even a teacher that changed the
was not even a teacher that changed the
was not even a teacher that changed the lives of hundreds of poor children by
lives of hundreds of poor children by
lives of hundreds of poor children by starting an informal school
starting an informal school
starting an informal school he initially started with only two kids
he initially started with only two kids
he initially started with only two kids but now the role has gone around 300
but now the role has gone around 300
but now the role has gone around 300 each year this is how it looks now
as mother Teresa had once said I alone
as mother Teresa had once said I alone cannot change the world but I can cast a
cannot change the world but I can cast a
cannot change the world but I can cast a stone across waters to create ripples
stone across waters to create ripples
stone across waters to create ripples that’s how for me I bring change as a
that’s how for me I bring change as a
that’s how for me I bring change as a photojournalist as a banker a doctor a
photojournalist as a banker a doctor a
photojournalist as a banker a doctor a teacher an engineer or any other stream
teacher an engineer or any other stream
teacher an engineer or any other stream you may be in can do to change things on
you may be in can do to change things on
you may be in can do to change things on ground for anyone I absolutely think so
”
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