In Tamil Nadu, a group of young students aged 13 to 17 are using photography to shed light on the lives of India's labourers. As part of an educational initiative by the Tamil Nadu School Education Department, these students have been learning various art forms, including photography, with guidance from experts. Their efforts culminated in a recent exhibition at the Egmore Museum in Chennai, titled "The Unseen Perspective," which featured poignant images of labourers at work.
Jayaraj S, one of the young photographers, captured a powerful image of his mother, Pazhaniammal, as she toiled as a brick maker. Meanwhile, Gopika Lakshmi M turned her lens towards her father, Muthukrishnan, who sells goods from an old van. Despite his health challenges, including the need for dialysis twice a week due to losing a kidney two years ago, Muthukrishnan continues to work long hours. He starts his day at 3 am and works until noon, takes a short break, and resumes work from 3 pm to 7 pm.
"He drives to nearby villages to sell goods despite being on dialysis," – Gopika Lakshmi M
Mukesh K devoted four days to documenting his father's life in a quarry. His father faces harsh conditions, working under the scorching sun and sleeping on empty cardboard boxes due to the lack of basic amenities.
"There are no beds or mattresses in their room. My father sleeps on empty cardboard boxes in the quarry," – Mukesh K
"My father stays here and comes home only once a week," – Mukesh K
"He suffered a sunstroke last year because he was working under the hot sun," – Mukesh K
Keerthi focused her project on her mother, Muthulakshmi, who owns a small shop in front of their home. Her mother juggles running the shop and managing household responsibilities.
"Dad is not well, so mum looks after both the shop and the house," – Keerthi
Rashmitha T documented the lives of her neighbours engaged in making traditional Indian cigarettes called beedis. These workers face serious health risks such as lung damage and tuberculosis due to their hazardous work environment.
"No-one knows about their work. Their untold stories need to be told," – Rashmitha T
The students underwent months of training to master the use of professional cameras. Through their lenses, they captured not only images but also the stories and struggles of the working individuals around them.
"They documented the working people around them. Understanding their lives is the beginning of social change," – Muthamizh Kalaivizhi
The initiative aims to foster social responsibility among students by encouraging them to understand and portray the realities of everyday labourers.
"The idea is to make students socially responsible," – Muthamizh Kalaivizhi