Mission beautiful Kashmir

After participating in the All India Photography competition, Borderless World Foundation BWF that looks after orphaned Kashmiri girls plans to put up an exhibition of photographs taken by them, in Pune. A workshop for the same has been organised by BWF in Kashmir.

8220;This is the same place where I was walking around with my camera covered hidden under a hand towel. And today, girls are going around all over the place with six SLR cameras in their hands photographing everything that is coming in their way,8221; recalls Nitin Upadhey, programme coordinator, Basera-e-Tabassum BET, a project in Kupwara district of Kashmir, under BWF.

Girls of BET are gearing up to participate in an all India photography exhibition. Adhik kadam, chairman, BWF, says that though Nitin Upadhey has been conducting a photography workshop for the girls so that so that they could send selected entries, but actual motive is to give another opportunity to these kids to explore their creativity and love their surroundings. We selected six girls who had a liking for photography.

The BWF is running orphanages, under the name of BET, for Kashmir girls, who suffered during militant attacks. Altogether there are 83 girls in the orphanage.

8220;Photography is being promoted here as an art form and the undercurrent message is to make people realise the beauty in their surrounding and love it. Competition, being incentive-oriented, gives a clear goal to the participants and makes it more interesting. However, the idea is to allow freedom of expression and know the heart behind the art,8221; says Kadam.

He has brought six cameras, which were given to the girls and a day of free photography session was done. 8220;I was amazed to see the result. It was very evident from the photographs that despite all fear and danger, Kashmiri girls know that they live in a beautiful place.

One of the staff members however was afraid that the session may appear too heavy as for the girls the details seemed a little 8220;too technical8221;. However, the observation was proved completely wrong as the girls on the first day of their workshop gave an outstanding performance concentrating on the minutest of details,8221; says Upadhaye, adding, 8220;The sincerity with which they completed the first day of the workshop was very encouraging and motivating and certainly has given us bigger dreams for the future of these girls.8221;

Six girls 8212; Ishrat, Sunita, Afroza, Nuzhat, Rabia Shaista 8212; are participating in an All India Photography Competition.

The photography contest is being organised on a national level and entries are invited from all over the country. The contest has been divided between two categories 8211; nature and human in action8212;and is contested by the girls in the age group pf 12 years to 18 years.

8220;It is great to see girls appreciating their own environment as this is the foundation of love for their land, observes Kadam, who is right now in Kashmir.

8220;Despite all violence and suffering, these girls and their art depicts beauty and hope, and this is appreciable. This gives us immense happiness and a sense of satisfaction that our initiative not only gives a platform to the art but also mends the heart of children of Kashmir,8221; adds Upadhye.

Upadhey informs that an exhibition of the photographs would be put in Pune soon and the children would be here in the city to see the reactions to their work.