Growing up in the Vale of Kashmir. I was always in awe of the majestic Himalayas. It was only, when I started to learn photography and photograph indigenous peoples, I came to realise that here in Himalayas was a niche unexplored. As they were remote and inaccessible.
My journey as an artist and philanthropist commenced, when I decided to document Himalayan people for preserving the authenticity of cultural traditions in a rapidly changing world. At the onset of my independent project, I soon realised, peoples struggles of survival had to be highlighted. That became the driving force of the projects. For me, Photography is a conduit in visual story telling and imagery. An intuitive gift of human connection that allows me to focus on the people living in extreme conditions on the periphery of society. Placing myself "out there“ without inhibition entails a flow of positive energy between people, vital to all human interactions. Venturing into the Himalayas takes emotional courage as one faces the unknown in areas prone to political strife and environmental flux. The Himalayan range from Bhutan, Kashmir and China is home to varied ethnic groups, whose way of life is in itself unique. Nomads, Refugees and Border liners represent my intimate and immersive body of work “Via Himalayas.”
