In March, during a talk in New Delhi, one question stood out. A woman asked, “How does my conditioning influence the photographs I take?” This resonated with me because it’s not just about photography—it’s about how we see the world.
Our conditioning shapes our views—what we accept, reject, engage with, or ignore. It starts early, with the narratives we’re taught about religion, food, caste, borders, and freedom. These influences shape our perception, which often becomes rigid. Instead of questioning why we need borders, we build mental fences.
When we cling to these rigid beliefs, our thinking becomes narrow. It’s no surprise that we face conflicts over faith, stricter borders, and endless arguments on social media.
It seems absurd that people fight over stories passed down for centuries—stories no one has witnessed, yet we hold on to them, sometimes to the point of violence.
Imagine the possibilities if we embraced new versions of these stories, created new characters, expanded the narrative, and invited the next generation to explore a broader, more colourful world.
When I work, I approach it with an open mind, eager to soak in every experience and story. I dream of landscapes where borders are defined by hills and rivers, not armed forces. During a recent trip to Nagaland, my guide pointed out a range of hills and said, "Across those is Myanmar." I only wish I could have crossed over to experience the stories on the other side.
Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face
And stars fill my dream
I'm a traveler of both time and space
To be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gentle race
This world has seldom seen
They talk of days for which they sit and wait
All will be revealed
Kashmir, Led Zeppelin
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