Working
with Nirvana and his wonderful team at Nirvanavan Foundation has
provided me insight otherwise unattainable.
Through their good works I have been introduced to a world otherwise
unbelievable. In these villages exists the world of the sex trade
unlike any other, where the girls are sold in the open by their
families... and the only crop grown is that of the flesh.
Over
a span of three years we worked diligently, documenting almost
every single child under their supervision in roughly a dozen
villages. The foundation has done well to introduce itself and the
idea of education to the adults in these villages, and the
communities have come to accept them wholeheartedly. In some
they have provided shelter for the classes, while in others sessions
are held under the shade of a tree.
Because
of my association with Nirvanavan Foundation, the villagers allowed
me to photograph their girls, risking the possibility of media
exposure in the meantime. They permitted us to work at our own
leisure, never once interrupting our sessions. As they became more
familiar with the work, some of the older women presented themselves
as well.
In
this village we entered for the first time with the idea of
photography. Nirvana and his team spoke with the villagers and all
agreed in a kind manner to allow our work. It was the early afternoon
and we needed to wait a bit before beginning. The open courtyard was
perfect and contained one white wall, as well as some paneling for
the color images.
As
the sun set, we were about to begin when a group of officials
strolled into our space. To my untrained eye they were police
officers, with official uniforms. To those more familiar with the
scene, they were participants in the transaction, checking out the
guests and making sure that any activity is within their circle of
knowledge.
They
talked with the adults for a little bit, asked a few questions about
the camera, and walked away as smoothly as they crept in. To my
dismay they failed to notice the red light on top of the video
camera, and the entire conversation was recorded.
I
look back at these times and wish that I had done certain things
differently, but hope that one day soon I may return to help document
the work in another manner. I admire these young girls, for they are
able to survive in the midst of the sex trade. They see their sisters
being sold, their uncles negotiating the prices in the open. At the
same time the fire within each and every single one has never been
put out.
My
imagination fails to provide me with a picture of the darker times.
My experiences cannot prepare me for such. I try to imagine this
young girl's future, when she turns a certain age and is groomed for
an endless line of men. All around me during my time with these
villages were the older versions of this beautiful girl, all engaged
in the world of prostitution. Never a single one of them let her
guard down, nor did a single one show me one sign of weakness, of
sadness.
I
will never know this world from their viewpoint, but hope that one
day the men of this world will wake up and realize the wrongs
perpetuated over generations on the feminine half. Only when that day
comes will the need for such girls be extinguished. I know that I
will never see this day, and am impressed even more so by the
resolute path this foundation has taken. They have seen much more
than I have yet they move forward without flinching. I salute them
and their good works, and hope to continue my association with
Nirvanavan Foundation.
Halim Ina Photography
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