Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Five students from the College of Art bring back from Rajasthan memories, experiences & sights in print
It was meant to be a project, but it turned out to be an enriching experience. A trip to Rajasthan is any college student’s dream vacation… the safaris, the palaces, the dances. But sometimes, you come across those who want to take the road less travelled, like this talented bunch of students from Government College of Art, Chandigarh. As you quiz them about the fun times, it all ends up around their love for art and photography. It’s been a month since Charanjot, Rajveer, Nitin, Aditya and Aspaan came back from the desert, but the experiences are afresh and vivid.
“The idea was to capture the Rajasthan that tourists seldom see. We did not want typical images of the state,” shares Charanjot. That’s not the only thing that’s unique about the project. All five students are from different trades, and they also claim this is a first-of-its kind initiative in the history of the college. Partially funded by Chandigarh Tourism, the group hired a jeep and ventured into areas like Khilchipur, Sherpur, Dhani, Ranthambore and Balaas. “We wanted to focus on the villages in the interiors. It was like a trip back in time. Many people demanded money for being clicked and some even reacted back in anger. The villagers did not know Hindi, they had never seen a camera and were shocked at our attires. There were no facilities available to them, yet they were so happy, their attitude made us all introspect,” reflects Nitin, while for Aspaan it was an opportunity to study their lifestyle. She shares, “Colour sense, style and a sense of composition is inborn in them.” The result was eight days of total experimentation of colours, compositions, techniques et al. They came back with about 2,000 captures, 40 of which will be on display at Government Art Gallery and Museum from November 10 to 14. “It has made us realize that to get a complete grasp over something, it is important to work beyond one’s comfort zone and keep an open mind,” Aspaan sums it up aptly.
