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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

11:00 PM Contractions Have Started - Birth Photography by #PhotoblogHER

Born : 4:33AM, In Labour: 5.30 hours, Birth: Natural - Captured by #PhotoblogHER

'Birth Photography' is the most stunning and misunderstood art/stream of photography. It is very subjective and not everyone would be fine with it, which is perfectly acceptable. If this is the first time you herd about this, please have an open mind. Birth is raw and empowering, there are very few couples in India who are as bold to let someone capture their most vulnerable moment. This experience reassured me that #PhotoblogHER is on the right path, I celebrate women through photography.

Life Hack: I couldn't hold my tears but that would ruin his' first photograph.
I am not writing this to offend anyone but sharing the power I saw which was the most glorious I ever experienced. There is so much trust in the room, the mother trusting her body, baby trusting the mother, the couple trusting each other.

You are one call away, there is no shoot set up, no extra lighting just an ocean of emotions, noise, anxiety, pain, joy, in the delivery room. 

Note: Couples document birth for themselves, we capture every aspect of our lives except birth because it seems intrusive but the truth is that there is nothing more magical than creating life. 
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Monday, May 16, 2016

Jailed For Love - Life After Prison, A True Story

I have been attempting to write this story since 2 months, tried various options to get to the jail authorities and lawyers but nobody wants to talk about it. Any conversation regarding the rights of the prisoners sparks a debate, ‘why should we worry about them?' agreed, but what about the ones who are being punished due to a delay in judgement and spend years being an under trial. Our society does not forgive them even after they have served their term for being guilty. In most cases even their own families avoid contact and support. 

Life Hack: There is a strong nexus of unspoken politics, crime, and bribe that exists within these jails you have to really ‘up’ your survival game. 
This is the story of Nagma (name changed), she was married at the age of 22 in UP. “Amitabh Bachchan was also born in Allahabad, but his kismet made him a super star and mine made me a criminal”.  I asked her the reason and she replied in a very poetic yet tragic tone “Pyaar Ke Liye”, I wanted a good life with my husband, he introduced me to an easy way of making money, initially I smuggled small packets of drugs unaware but by the time I realised the mess, it was too late. As time progressed he got very abusive and difficult, I was balancing guilt, a new born child and a drunk husband at the same time. 

Then something I feared for months finally happened, I was caught in a big raid which turned my life upside down. If you are seized, you are left on your own nobody comes forward, even my husband left me with the fear of getting caught himself. 

Nagma spent almost 5 years in the prison, out of which 2 years were under trial. Her daughter was with her throughout as she was completely dependant on her. According to the Indian jurisdiction, the child can accompany the mother in the jail till the age of 6years. “ I do not know if it was good or bad” my daughter was raised behind the bars, for no fault of hers. She was fed and looked after better than my relatives would but she thinks, jail is her real home because no one talks to us when we are free. 

Nagma’s story is a reflection of what most of these women go through once they are released from the prison. I really believe in letting people recover emotionally, just because you did something bad, doesn't mean you are a bad person. We need to give them opportunities to reintegrate with the society. Nagma is going to help me (PhotoblogHER) with body positive workshops in schools, she wants to be a part of the society in a constructive way in the hope that this might give her daughter a normal childhood. 

We judge people too soon, every struggle always has a reason, she committed the crime for the love of her life and now she wants to be a better person for the love of her child. If they are willing to make a positive change give them a chance because no one is perfect. 
*****
Nagma's story was covered by C4N News and Speaking Tree, within 24 hours I received emails from readers across India who genuinely wanted to help them. One of them has offered to help her daughter with education and child development. Every step in the right direction deserves an applause.

C4N News Link: http://bit.ly/1TXB2K2
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Saturday, May 7, 2016

Fighting Body Shaming With PhotoblogHER

#PhotoblogHER, it is my attempt to talk about 'positive body image'. I combine art and activism to strike a conversation about body positivity. Take everything that is bright within you and introduce it someone. As privileged strong women we should take ownership and inspire the next generation to live fearlessly. Women are very focused when they are vulnerable because they anticipate fear, using this as the base I work on projects that actively manifest female embodiment and strength. 

PhotoblogHER disrupts the status quo, speaks the truth, ruffles stereotypes and encourages change. A woman should never have to apologise for her glory.

Life Hack: When a woman stands up for herself, she represents the entire race. 
Recently The Better India featured stories and photographs by PhotoblogHER, in a world where bloggers promote 'perfection' to take a stand against it and celebrate vulnerabilities is a tough call, but I am committed. 
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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Celles De La Terra features 30ish and PhotoblogHER - Beauty is fearless

"My purpose is bigger than me"
Thank you for embracing the power of young Indian women, Celles De La Terre a Paris based international women's group featured stories of exceptional women across the globe, my fight as a body positive activist has a global voice. 
Interview Link(French and English)

The reason why they feel ashamed, is probably because when they were a child they went through a lot of discrimination or kind of feeling of being judged. They felt this at the early age. If they want to fight against body shaming they have to tackle the true causes

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