Tollywood gears up for epic show on Vrindavan's resilient widows
Over the years numerous women have been compelled to leave their homes following their husbands' deaths, seeking solace as widows in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh—a practice often viewed as a shameful social pariah. Capturing the essence of their journeys, a photography exhibition titled "Lest We Forget - A Sisterhood Called White" is poised to open at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity on January 13.
The idea behind the photography show
Curated by Oiendrila Ray Kapur, the photographs, through the eyes of visual storyteller Kounteya Sinha, will be on display until January 19. "The show intends to celebrate white - a color that had become their prison. The show has 35 photos, all black and white - most intimate, most powerful," says Sinha who had spent weeks with the widows to understand their daily lives.
Widows today lead a much more dignified life
Earlier, the widows would beg and sing bhajans for just Rs. 3 with no food, clothing, or shelter. Now, their food, healthcare, and clothing are all taken care of with utmost dignity. Several of them now even have an identity with Aadhaar and PAN cards. This photography show claims to be the first ever to document the nuances of their changed lives.
Life inside the ashrams from Sinha's perspective
"A lot has changed over the years for the better. However, not everyone has been touched by that change. A lot of widows still need that helping hand," says Sinha. "But a lot of them have benefitted - better quality of life, nutritious food, warm clothing, dignity. That's the story I wanted to tell after seeing it with my own eyes," he added.
'Not all widows in Vrindavan are there against their will'
"Contrary to common belief, not all widows in Vrindavan are there against their will, kicked out of their own homes by family members. Several of them are there by choice, choosing a life of faith, prayer and peace over the humdrum of city life. I spent weeks with the widows along with my fellow photographer Rana Pandey to tell this story," explained Sinha.
Oldest widow from Vrindavan will fly down to Kolkata
Interestingly, Sinha is also bringing India's oldest widow from Vrindavan to Kolkata as a guest of honor. Renu Ma, as she is popularly called, originally belongs to Belgharia in West Bengal but has been living in Vrindavan's widow ashrams since 2014. She recently turned 106 years old, just two days before the show. "I wanted Kolkata to cut her cake," Sinha says.
Inaugural event promises a constellation of dignitaries gracing the occasion
The event will be graced by the Governor of West Bengal C. V. Ananda Bose, United Nations Chief of East Timor Nishtha Satyam and Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter Tara Gandhi Bhattacharya. Additionally, Tollywood celebrities including actors Koel Mallick, Sauraseni Mitra, Parno Mittra, director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, and music sensation Anupam Roy are also expected to show solidarity with the widows by opening the show.
What the exhibition aims
This repertoire of work will allow art connoisseurs to revel in the sheer magic of the most powerful and insightful storytelling of Vrindavan that has been home to thousands of widows - for decades - ostracised and forgotten. Sinha was introduced to this world by renowned humanitarian Winnie Singh who has been working on uplifting Vrindavan's widows for years through her organization Maitri.
