Manzar

A View

How does one reconcile the seemingly stark polarities in the lives of Pastoralists?
Divine grasslands and shrill highways,
The complete leisure in a rain soaked year, and the utter distress of a dry year;
The enviable laziness of a pastoralist sitting by her herd, and the back breaking hard labour of herding animals, across harsh and strenuous terrains;
The movement of a herd, and the stillness of their lone herder.The deep bonds with animals and the quick gains from selling them;
Protecting and parenting their flocks, and then sacrificing a special one in appeasement to a deity…..

I simply could not capture the oneness of these binaries, even as I struggled to comprehend it. No outsider can, or even begin to understand this world. You are either one of them, or live with them. As did some of the photographers we bring to you in this section called Manzar.

Manzar carries photo essays by young pastoralists who knew how to embrace the romance and face the grime. It also has photo essays by individuals who were allowed entry into the inner folds of pastoralist’s lives and brought us a visual slice of their experiences.
Manzar presents a selection of such photo-essays. Some from noted photographers and some from a group of young herders in Kachchh.
There are few places on earth that can compare with the beauty of pastoral lands. Stunning landscapes, robust breeds, and elegant people have moved many photographers, from India and abroad, to wander into the heart of pastoralists. They have made the hard journey and emerged with exceptional photo essays.
Manzar presents a selection of such photo-essays. Some from noted photographers and a bunch from a group of bright young herders from Kutch.