Girls in the Classroom, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2018

This is what happens when the digital camera comes out. The girls start to run around, pick friends and get creative. We use available light and sit still while the students direct the photography!

Etsy 

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Woman + Humana People to People India, Rajasthan, India, 2010

These images are over 8 years old and from my time of innocence in this wonderful land. At that time I was following those around me and documenting the great work being done by Humana People to People India. They had asked me to photograph a micro-finance project in the Virat Nagar area of Rajasthan.

This was one of my favorite spots for many reasons, one of which was a group of girls schools in the villages. At the time there were 16 schools for girls, and Humana was doing its best to transition out-of-school girls smoothly back into school. In these same villages there were examples of women who had taken on small loans in order to help their families.

In this case, this young mother had used the small loan to purchase this animal... and had used the proceeds from her new endeavor to purchase the gold in her hands. She told us that she would accumulate more in order to pass it onto her daughter when he daughter gets married in the future. We were witnessing change at the grass-roots, as it was happening right before our eyes!

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Students + Fabric, Sewing Center, Rajasthan, India, 2019

For those of us interested in supporting this school, and for those of us already on board, here is a portrait of the students from earlier today. More than a dozen years ago I was introduced to this village thanks to Humana India. This house back then was home to a school for girls, and the older girls from this village were the students. The school for girls continues to this day with private support, and girls continue to attend classes daily. It's a magical space!

Para aquellos de nosotros interesados en apoyar a esta escuela, y para aquellos de nosotros que ya estamos, aquí hay un retrato de las estudiantes de hoy. Hace más de una docena de años, me presentaron a este pueblo gracias a Humana India. Esta casa en ese entonces era el hogar de una escuela para niñas, y las niñas mayores eran las estudiantes. La escuela para niñas continúa hasta el día de hoy con apoyo privado, y las niñas continúan asistiendo a clases diariamente. ¡Es un espacio mágico!

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Lunchtime, Rajasthan, India, 2008

Over a dozen years ago this is how my experience began in India, with the wonderful people of Humana People to People India. They have continued doing their great work to this day and have flourished thanks to the vision of its people, and the resilience of the Indian people.

Here the team members and villagers work together to prepare the meal for the event! 

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Young Girl, Nat Community, Near Alwar, Rajasthan, November 5, 2009

She belongs to the Nat Community and lives near Alwar, Rajasthan. In this community prostitution is the only trade, and girls are sold by their own families to the local villages in exchange for their services. Brothers sit alongside sisters on the side of highways awaiting customers. The very people ignoring them during their daily routines then turn to them in their time of sexual need.

She knows nothing else even though her ancestors were something else entirely different: traveling performers. They traveled between villages and performed for everyone from peasants to royalty. The girls for example would walk on a tightrope while the men accompanied them with music. Remnants of this were still visible during my visit, as one young girl walked on a tightrope after our photography. Nirvanavan Foundation is helping to change this reality through their good works, and through their involvement in this community.

halim.ina@gmail.com
Halim Ina Photography

Halim Ina, Global Community Portraits, Cleveland Print Room, Humana People to People India, July 12, 2013

Today the frames came down and are now in my home, time to reflect on six weeks at the Cleveland Print Room. The feedback regarding the images as well as the collaboration with Humana People to People India was exhilarating. Here we have a space where people can get together and discuss analog photography, appreciate the image on paper rather than on a screen. All of this while supporting the education of girls thousands of miles away.

Three schools for girls have been funded through this exhibition, and now over one hundred girls will learn how to read and to write for an entire year. In two months I will visit these schools and document the very faces benefiting from this support. During this exhibit, people from all walks of life showed their connection to the girls. Some purchased the larger prints on the walls, some purchased smaller prints on the table and others donated without asking for a print in return.

I look forward to my visit in two months and to returning with stories to share with the Cleveland Print Room and all those involved in this most successful, recent endeavor. Many more are to come I believe.

Young Boy, Feather, Arbore Community, Ethiopia

My last day in the Lower Omo Valley was spent with this young boy and his community. We arrived early in the afternoon and decided to wait for the sun to set a little bit more. The children sat in the shade of a tree while I walked around and photographed the homes and landscape. When the moment was right we organized the boys first for their portraits, giving the girls a chance to adjust. The boys were of course more than ready, with paint on their faces and feathers to show to the tourists. Each stood for their portrait, was serious at first then turned comical before stepping down for his friends.

Unframed $250
Framed $400
Smaller Prints Available
100% of proceeds going to Schools for Girls in association with
Humana People to People India

halim.ina@gmail.com
Halim Ina Photography

Young Girl, Village near Advaita Garden, Nirvanavan Foundation, November 10, 2009

In between sessions we walked around and at times made images. The villages surrounding Advaita Garden send their children to this school, and are most generous with their hospitality to my collaboration with the foundation. Children surround us as we walk, and immediately offer their portraits whenever the tripod is pulled out of the bag.

We happened by this corner as we were walking from her left in between two homes. The spot had wonderful, soft light and we decided to make some images of the children following along. She was one of the girls and surprised me with her non-traditional clothes. Girl after girl sat on this corner and had so much fun doing so, all of them smiled.

Nirvanavan Foundation operates a school within walking distance of this village, and others like it. While the definition of 'walking distance' is different in rural India, all of the children walk to and from the school for their classes. The thin roads from the villages to the school are lined with children twice per day, and it is a beautiful sight to behold. There is something magical happening and it has been my privilege to have been a part of it since almost six years ago.

I look forward to visiting this village and those like it in this area, and to meeting up once again with the wonderful team at Nirvanavan Foundation. The readers of this story can learn more about the foundation and my experiences with it through the links below, as well as through a simple search within this blog.

Halim Ina Photography

Nirvanavan Foundation

Young Boy, Paint, Mursi Community, Mago National Park, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, March, 2010

While most of the portraits are in black/white, a sizable minority of images from my trip to Ethiopia have color parallels. It seemed both natural and important for me to do so, since the color spectrum was already almost duotone in presentation.

When the time came to do so, the film backs of the camera were exchanged and color images made. It was pretty simple actually, and the people cooperated fully for the most part. We stayed in a small town just outside of the park system, since staying within was forbidden. Every time we entered the park system we would need to take with us an armed park ranger, usually a member of the very tribe we wished to visit.

Before visiting this community I was told about the difficulties some have faced, the aggressive nature of the park's inhabitants. Stories of trucks being approached by large groups of people, products being thrown upon the tourists for purchase without choice. The reality was much different, and the communities accepted us with kindness. While they did approach me with lip discs and baskets for sale, they did so with respect and humor. They allowed us to set up the equipment without hassle and with the simplest of negotiations.

There were times when we would ask of them something different, for example to have their children stand on the bumper of the truck. They never disagreed with us and made it a most amicable environment. The older men helped us with the children, and the women stood at a distance watching all of this unfold in front of them.

The young boy above was photographed in both color and black/white. Most of the boys wore necklaces with white and black beads. Their faces were painted in various patterns of white, and sometimes this extended to their torsos. The white of their eyes was rarely white, the environment having much to do with this. They live a most difficult life, with scars on their skin as evidence.

What struck me about the color images was the sky. While I wanted so much for it to be clear, the various cloud formations proved to be quite beautiful. This, coupled with the importance the sky plays in the religious beliefs of this community, has made these images supremely important to me.

According to Wikipedia:

Like many agro-pastoralists in East Africa, the Mursi experience a force greater than themselves, which they call Tumwi.This is usually located in the Sky, although sometimes Tumwi manifests itself as a thing of the sky (ahi a tumwin), such as a rainbow or a bird. The principal religious and ritual office in the society is that of Kômoru, or Priest. This is an inherited office, unlike the more informal political role of the Jalaba. The Priest embodies in his person the well-being of the group as a whole and acts as a means of communication between the community and God (Tumwi), especially when it is threatened by such events as drought, crop pests and disease. His role is characterized by the performance of public rituals to bring rain, to protect men, cattle and crops from disease, to ward off threatened attacks from other tribes, to safeguard the fertility of the soil, of men and of the cattle. Ideally, in order to preserve this link between the people and God, the Priest should not leave Mursiland or even his local group (bhuran). One clan in particular, Komortê, is considered to be, par excellence, the priestly clan, but there are priestly families in two other clans, namely Garikuli and Bumai.

I plan to return to this land in the near future, but need to attend to another part of Africa until then. However when I do return the work will hopefully manifest itself differently, with more sensitivity for the daily routines of the communities being photographed. A fuller picture of these incredible people is the desire.

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad analog system.

Mursi Boy, The 23rd Roll, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, February 13, 2010

In the remote Lower Omo Valley of Ethiopia twelve expressions were recorded on film of a young boy from the Mursi Community. Spoken language was unavailable to us, so we exchanged expressions for words and exposed frames of film like clockwork for perhaps one minute or less. Behind me was his community, talking to him and helping him feel at ease in front of the camera. Like children everywhere the reactions are quite familiar and have proven to me the interconnectivity that binds us all regardless of cultural, religious or political differences.

With this small community I spent the majority of my three weeks in Ethiopia, and was almost unable to break free from this collaboration to pursue the next community on our short list. We stayed at a local village less than two hours away, a distance normally traveled in perhaps thirty minutes under different road conditions. The two locations were split by a mountain range that ended up being quite dangerous, and always entailed us heading in and out during times of minimal sunlight. Looking back perhaps our decisions could have been made differently. Then again I look at these twelve expressions and am glad to have made a few mistakes on the way.

While the place is remote, these communities are very familiar with the tourist industry. Their faces are plastered on the walls of the tourism offices all over the country, although most Ethiopians have themselves never visited. As a matter of fact the only Ethiopians encountered on my travels outside of those living in the area were either drivers or guides making a substantial living from tourism. On countless occasions our driver would slow down to say hello to one of his friends going in the other direction in an air-conditioned SUV carrying usually three to four passengers. Most vehicles were either for construction or for tourism, with very few carrying private Ethiopian citizens.

Our truck happened to be a beautiful, vintage Toyota Land Cruiser, without the usual conveniences. On our way into the territory we were advised to purchase all of our water and food in advance. This meant that all of the water would travel with us, heated to the outside temperatures and hot enough to make tea on most occasions. We were of course fortunate in that most in the area lacked such clean water, were unable to even purchase a single bottle and saw these bottles as wonderful storage containers for their day to day use.

On a few occasions the truck gave our driver his share of headaches, from battery problems to petrol issues. What amazed me most about this man, even though we had our share of disagreements during our three weeks, was his ability to fix almost anything with the most humble of tool kits. He was most resilient, and treated his vehicle with a gentle hand. He worked for someone else, and was paid for his time rather than anything else. Any petrol over the agreed upon amount would have to come out of his pocket. This was the source of most of the conflict, until we spoke with the boss during our time with the Mursi Community.

At the motel waiting for the next day we ended up making a call to Europe where the manager of the operation was living at the time. He was most sincere and very diplomatic, allowing us to veer off of our planned course in order to achieve our photographic work, without penalizing either the driver nor the guide. While the danger of the route still worried everyone, at least we were now free to stay as long as necessary to document the area. The above images are the result of this conversation, for they would have been impossible otherwise.

I hope to return in a year or less to do much more.

halim.ina@gmail.com
Halim Ina Photography

The World of Prostitution, Nat Community, Nirvanavan Foundation, November 15, 2009

According to R.C. Swarankar in 'Traditional Female Sex Workers of Rajasthan, India: An Ethnographic Study of Nat Community.'

'A girl in a Nat family is distinguished from an early age. Initially during socialization, a girl who is to lead a married life is prepared for domestic chores. She is made to observe social restrictions like high Hindu castes, while a girl who is to be inducted into prostitution is trained by a retired FSW (patelan) about the dhandha and its secrets. Such a girl comes in closer contact with retired FSWs and eventually with the clients and their activities. The environment and `demonstration effect' mentally prepare these immature girls. These girls either willingly accept dhandha or are brainwashed by retired FSWs to accept the same for the economic and perceived traditional reasons.'

'Nath Utrai has been a prominent ritual in the Nat community and is celebrated as a custom. Nath is the nose ring, a Nat girl wears, which is removed symbolically by her first client. Amongst the clients, one who pays the highest amount performs the custom of Nath Utrai. The needy parents' or guardians' first priority is to procure the maximum possible amount for Nath Utrai. This amount usually ranges from Rs10,000 to Rs25,000 or even more depending upon the age and beauty of the girl. The client gets the right to initiate sex with the virgin girl, who is dressed up like a Hindu high-caste bride. He is considered her husband and is given priority over other clients on future visits. Once the deal has been struck, offerings are made to a deity, followed by a feast for kith, kin and the community. After such a ritual, a girl is inducted and the community socially permits her to pursue dhandha. Dhandha, therefore, has a community sanction, and the control of Nat caste Panchayat. The norms of dhandha, amongst others, include sex as an occupation, in which a minimum time essential for intercourse should be spent with clients, sentimental attachment with clients is forbidden and no Nat male can be the client of a Nat FSW. These are part of the induction process.'

'The Nat perceive a girl to be sexually mature soon after the onset of menstruation. Tradition, economic, and family structure are the factors responsible for induction of a girl child into prostitution. Clients' preference for sex with a girl child for sexual pleasure, and curing an STD via sex with a virgin are the other reasons child prostitution is practiced in the villages in this study.'

In my limited time with the foundation and in these villages, I have seen young girls sit alongside the highway with a male family member next to them for the sake of negotiation. Usually a mirror hangs in order to help maintain appearances. In the meantime the children are running around like children everywhere do, playing games and doing what children do universally.

While the foundation did its best to shield me from the horrors associated with even one moment of this life, the signs were all around me. As I walked around to find the best spots for photography I would almost always step on a remnant of a transaction... all the while the girls would laugh at my reaction, displaying their hardened lives.

One time we asked a young girl, what do you think of your future? Without blinking nor pausing, she went on to tell us that this has been chosen for her and she is to follow in her aunt's footsteps. Her voice was without color nor emotion, understandably so in such a cruel world.

The good people of Nirvanavan Foundation are doing their best to help expand the choices available. They have initiated schools in ten of these villages, and have helped make the transition from a lack of schooling to enrollment in government schools. In spite of incredible hardships they push forward and have my sincere admiration.

halim.ina@gmail.com
Halim Ina Photography
Nirvanavan Foundation

Child and Strip, Banjara Community, Humana People to People, Rajasthan, India, November 21, 2009

On the morning of November 21st of 2009 we arrived at a tiny group of houses just a small distance from the main road. We set off looking to photograph the Banjara Community and thought we'd find the children playing nearby. The good people of Humana People to People India guided me to this area and helped me even though this was outside of our pre-arranged schedule.

Instead of finding the children near the homes, we saw a small bus taking the children to school. On this day it so happened that they went into the nearby town for classes, instead of working on the streets. I was of course happy to see this, even though my intent was to photograph them. We talked to the only adult in our presence for a little bit until he felt comfortable enough with our intentions.

A group of perhaps six children came along and sat on a thin strip for their portraits. The sun by this time had reached an uncomfortable angle and we did our best to get the children to laugh, the best way to get the eyes to relax in the sunlight. We photographed for less than thirty minutes and then set out to find a couple of government schools in which to work.

The Banjara Community has affected me deeply since my first visit to Rajasthan almost seven years ago. Their independence from the local communities is clearly visible even for a visitor such as myself. They keep to themselves and seem content doing so. At a local bus stop they chat amongst themselves, laughing wonderfully and presenting themselves much less formally than the others sitting around the tea shop.

Their children are incredibly beautiful, and wear the most gorgeous outfits. The patterns range from floral to space age, always abstract and colorful. The skirts are tightly pleated while the shirts fit so tightly against their small torsos. I will return year after year to photograph them, and hopefully build a larger portfolio than the one presently in my possession.

halim.ina@gmail.com
Halim Ina Photography