Clicks that capture changing cityscape

For archives

In moments of silence their mind commands the hands to press the camera button and capture the spectacular frame that lies in front of them. Their beloved city becomes their canvas and its monolithic tombstones with historical significance, their subject. Yet the work of these lensmen is worth millions, for such documentation is not even being attempted by the authorities.

“A lot of monuments have already disappeared and when I took up photography seriously, I too realised that my work will serve as an archive for future” says Aadil Jamal.
An advertising professional, Jamal has been capturing monuments of Delhi for a decade now. In fact, many like him in the city, who though involved with another profession for livelihood, have kept their passion for photography alive by clicking the rich heritage of our city – Delhi’s monuments.

“Delhi is a treasure trove of monuments,” says Jamal who can often be spotted taking pictures of his favourite Humayun’s Tomb during different times of the day. His ongoing photography exhibition ‘Kal Ke Kuch Pal’ at India Habitat Centre is a perfect example of how his work will enrich the archives, when pulled out in future.

 “Earlier, I used to be the only one in the precincts of the tomb but after the monument has been renovated, the footfall has increased and I have to wait in a queue to buy the ticket to go in. The reason could be a rise in interest of Delhiites and tourists for its historic relevance but the widespread use of digital photography can’t be ignored.”   

Running an IT consultancy for livelihood, Jagdev Singh was also inspired by the energy of the National Capital. Therefore when he decided to revive his creative interest in photography, he chose his city as his muse.

“There is so much happening on Delhi’s streets. I wanted to bridge a connection with people though my photographs,” says Singh admitting that “the story of Delhi is
incomplete without its monuments.”

Singh has photographed the iconic India Gate, Safdarjung Tomb, Jantar Mantar and Purana Quila to name a few, but with his peculiar vision. Singh shares, “I have even clicked few high rise buildings in Connaught Place and some flyovers which have become visible as crucial part of the city. It is interesting to see how these have changed the way Delhi looks now when compared to the past.”  

An area of the city that has borne the lashes of time and yet retained its flavour is Old Delhi. In his recent exhibition ‘Old Delhi: A Vibrant Heritage’, ace lensman Hemant J Khendilwal presented his childhood spent in Old Delhi through sepia tone. He is one of the very few professional photographers who captures Delhi’s heritage.

“The exhibition was just a part of the entire project that I did early this year. But ever since I moved out Old Delhi to settle in south Delhi, I wanted to shoot the place for its unique character,” says Khendilwal, disclosing his fond memories of the place.

Be it the grandeur of the Jama Masjid or the narrow lanes present everywhere, Khendilwal managed to capture the “hidden architecture that has remained like this since a hundred years, and is still thriving. The sad part is people living in Old Delhi are oblivious of the fine architecture amidst which they live.”   

For that matter, a lot of us don’t regard the heritage around as something significant to be documented. Even the government bodies don’t provide any aid/assistance to photographers who want to work in this respect. Don’t we need to document all this to show our future generations how Delhi was and is?