World Photography Day 2021: A pictorial representation of Mumbai through the eyes of the Koli community

Photography, as a medium of expression, is limitless. It can capture history and reflect on the present times in equal measure. This World Photography Day 2021, a new digital photography exhibition -- Through the Eyes of the Kolis: A reflection on Mumbai’s past, present and future -- presents a series of archival images from the 1950s-2000s; from the section Alterations of the Edges (Image Credit Prithviraj Chandi)

The photographs have been sourced from the Koli community, the first residents in present-day Mumbai by Bombay61 Studio, an experimental think tank working across architecture, urban design and public participation; from the section Alterations of the Edges (Image Credit Prithviraj Chandi)

Alongside the photographs, a community map has also been developed that documents the historical narratives regarding the Koli’s relationship with the natural resources; from the section Alterations of the Edges (Image Credit Prithviraj Chandi)

Dol net was a traditional way of fishing that was more sustainable. The introduction of mechanized fishing boats in the late 1980’s made fishing easier and the fishermen could venture out in deep seas for the catch. The industry flourished briefly but led to overfishing, which has also proven to be one of the major contributors to the decline in fish catch; from the section The Community and Their Livelihood (Image Credit Sadashiv Raje)

The exhibition has been curated and developed by Bombay61 Studio, in collaboration with Ministry of Mumbai’s Magic, and hosted by The Heritage Lab; from the section The Community and Their Livelihood (Image Credit Sadashiv Raje)

Worli Koliwada was an island till about the 19th century. The canal seen in the image was used to navigate to koliwada from the main town of Mumbai; from the section Alterations of the Edges (Image Credit Denis Patil)

The Kolis were witness to rampant urbanisation in Mumbai and the rapid degeneration of its water bodies, impact of climate change on the city's coastline and have had to face the immediate repercussions; from the section Coastal Ecosystems (Image Credit Prithviraj Chandi)

The picture depicts the scenario where one could see fish drying platforms before the construction of the police station that was set up as a hindrance to the fishing activities. The area is now populated with densely packed buildings with hardly any space left for fish drying; from the section Alterations of the Edges (Image Credit Sadashiv Raje)

The photo shows the heart warming relation between a grandfather and his grandson, where the younger one is putting all efforts to learn about their traditional family occupational values; from the section The Community and Their Livelihood (Image Credit Sadashiv Raje)

The four-part exhibition showcasing the works offer a pictorial narrative of the generational history of the Kolis and the deep relationship they share with the natural environment; from the section The Community and Their Livelihood (Image Credit Denis Patil)

The vast expanse of the sea where the boats used to venture out for fishing at the Worli Koliwada before the construction of the Bandra-Worli Sea link; from the section Alterations of the Edges (Image Credit Wilson Koli)

The 2005 Mumbai floods were nothing but a nightmare to the ones living by the shore. The high tide and the rains had caused destruction much more than one could imagine. All the houses built on the shore and the small boats got destroyed; from the section Coastal Ecosystems (Image Credit Sadashiv Raje)