Documenting the Bastar way of life

It was in 2002, when photographer Manoj Kumar Jain along with a friend, made his first visit to Bastar to shoot promotional material for the Chattisgarh Tourism Board. Fascinated by the tribals and their lives there, he started documenting them for keepsake. But, even after returning to the city, Jain’s curiosity got better of him and he made several trips to the district to photograph the locals and their way of life.

“Coming from a place like Delhi, where we have easy access to basic amenities as well as modern facilities, I was surprised to be in Bastar where barter system still prevailed,” Jain says, recollecting his first trip. He adds that he saw a certain amount of honesty and humbleness in the people of Bastar, which “kept inviting” him.

His repeated visits between 2002 and 2008, spanning across roughly 150 days, came alive in the form of a coffee-table book titled The Forgotten Frames (2014); 52 monochromatic images from which are currently exhibited in the capital.

“Bastar is either known for Naxalism or the bell metal art. Its culture and way of life is still unknown to a lot of people. Through these images, I have tried to highlight this other side which shows its people, their simplicity and their way of life,” he tells Metrolife, adding that the people there live in perfect harmony with the nature.

Jain, who has documented the people belonging to the Maria, Muria and the Hill Maria tribe, says he felt that the title ‘The Forgotten Frames’ reflected his and idea work perfectly as he feels “their culture is in a transitional phase and might get lost in the future”.

“I can see many changes since my first visit to Bastar. Now, schools and roads have come up exposing these people to newer ways of life. I feel all this might erode their traditional way of living - which might end up being forgotten,” he adds.

The photographer says that during his trips his only aim was to “get one good photograph a day” and he used to leave his accommodation at around 5.30 am without a plan in mind.

“My driver, a local guide and I used to step out early in the morning with packed lunches and water. We just went ahead without a specific plan. However, we used to make it a point to return at sundown as it could get dangerous in the night. But, there were times when we used to get late and I have spend nights curled up inside the car,” he says.

On asking him about the local’s reaction to him and his equipments, Jain says that he came across all kinds of behaviours. “There were some who used to look at me straight in the eyes, while others simply used to run away thinking I was an alien,” he laughs, adding “There was another set of people who were indifferent to my presence around them and continued doing their chores.”

While sharing his experiences, Jain admits to having being “comfortable” in their environment over the period of time, saying “at times I felt like I was one of them”. He goes on to say that the experience helped him grow as an artist.

“Apart from that, on a personal level, I think I became more humble and respectful towards people and nature. And that one thing about the people of Bastar that stayed with me is their innocence and purity,” he says. The Forgotten Frames is on at the All India Fine Arts & Craft Society (AIFACS) until November 3.