An observer of two different worlds.
In November 2019, just before the world was brought to its knees by COVID-19, I was in Jharkhand, photographing and documenting the role of the Gram Sabha in Adivasi communities. During this time, I met Goma Champia, a priest of the Ho community in a small village.
As we walked through the forest, I asked him a question I often pose to those living in rural and tribal areas: "What does development mean to you?" The answers I’ve received over the years have been varied.
Goma Champia’s response was simple but profound: "Raksha karna (to preserve)." He went on to explain, "Development means preservation—preserving the resources that God has given us. This is what our ancestors have done for generations."
In just a few words, he managed to bridge the past and the future. "For us, nature is God. God lives in every element, and that’s why we symbolically worship the Sal trees. It is Mother Earth, 'Sarna Maa.'"
Today, however, the idea of God has shifted for many of us. It now lives in the virtual realm, where popularity reigns supreme, and social media has become the deity we worship, with likes and follows as our offerings. This stands in stark contrast to Goma's belief, where God is embodied in trees, rivers, and rocks—deeply rooted in nature.
I navigate between two distinct worlds, continuously trying to connect my work with broader global dynamics, which is often a complex process. Today, however, the world I work in is seeking a different kind of belief. In the end, both popularity and meaning are part of a search.
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