CHHATTISGARH

It’s a venture to document the day to day life and untold realities of undeveloped remote areas and areas where an extremist movement is omnipresent, of the states that lie on central belt of India.
This project aims to document the day to day life and untold realities of some of the most of the poorest district in the country in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Rationshop. 2022
lower primary (1&2 std) students of Gollapalli Government Kanya Ashram High School. This school is located in Mariaguda because of the possible presence of Naxals in Golapalli area.
Students of level 11, in a class room in the same premises of Golapalli Ashram High school. It is a 'mixed gender' class room with Malathi being the only girl studying in it. She is from Gollapalli village.
Village promoters talking at a meeting held in Korra village. 2022
Madvi Mukka died at District Government Hospital in Sukma. He was ailing from diseases caused by prolonged drinking. His body was being taken to native, Polampalli village, near Dornapal, which is 55 kilometers from the hospital.
Taken from Polampalli village.
Taken from Polampalli village.
Taken from Polampalli village.
Taken from Polampalli village.
Taken from Polampalli village.
A newly wed woman being taken to her husband's village.
A recently married woman is being taken to her husband's village. This was supposed to happen few days after the marriage. But, due to an unexpected rain which lasted for more than a week, the water level in the rivers had raised. Thus the villagers had to wait for almost a month before they could take the bride to their village.
The one standing is Subhashini. On the left of her, it’s her brother’s wife and child. On the right, her mother who didn’t want to be in the photograph. Taken from Mariaguda, on the way to Golapalli village, where we still find the presence of Naxals. These villages share borders with Telangana.
Taken from Maroki village. Gadiras tehsil, Sukma District
Gangi Sodi with her elder daughter Nande and her baby, who is yet to be named. Bhima Mandvi, Gangi's husband is a farmer and owns few cows as well. Taken from Maroki village. Gadiras tehsil, Sukma District
Sukma is one of the least developed districts in the country. This girl, from a village in the district, is working in the kitchen in a hotel here. There are only a few hotels in this town. (The girl wants to remain unnamed.)
This girl works in the room cleaning service at a hotel in Sukma.
This photograph was taken in a hotel in Sukma by Rishab, a 19 year old boy, who wanted to try few clicks with a DSLR. Gyanendra Singh, the man in the photograph, and Rishabh are from Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh.
Deepthi with her younger brother. She studies in 6th level. Taken from Ramaram village, Sukma district.
Madkam Bhime and her daughter Madkam Mangi. Mangi (the one sleeping on the couch) is 13 years old and does not go to school. Taken from Karimgudam village, Konta Tehsil.
Annuradapal, a health worker, had gone to the Primary Government school in the remote vilage of Kuchcharass to distribute mosquito nets to the students. But the teachers and other staff had gone on strike that day. So, only few students were present in the school. Annuradapal and Ravina Sodi, an Anganwadi helper, asked some of the them to go to the village and bring the other students. Gadiras tehsil.
Teachers and Government staffs are on strike. Aug/2022
On July 4, 2022, Handa Ram Madvi was killed in police firing. He was accused of being a suspected Naxalite. A meeting was held in the village of Muleri to discuss about Madvi's killing. Villagers preparing lunch for the participants. This is a forest village and more than 30 kilometres inside from the road. Muleri, Dantewada dist
On July 4, 2022, Handa Ram Madvi was killed in police firing. He was accused of being a suspected Naxalite. A meeting was held in the village of Muleri to discuss about Madvi's killing. Muleri, Dantewada dist
A meeting was held in the village of Muleri to discuss about Madvi's killing. As the meeting progressed, a snake sneaked into the courtyard where the villagers had assembled. A villager gently guided the snake back into the woods. Muleri, Dantewada dist
Handa Ram Madvi’s wife, Madavi Pojhe and children Muleri, Dantewada dist.
Students of 8th level in Golapalli Ashram school, which is located in Mariaguda.
A meeting was held in the village of Muleri to discuss about Madvi's killing. Muleri, Dantewada dist
Handa Ram Madvi’s wife, Madavi Pojhe and children in front their house. Muleri, Dantewada dist, Chhattisgarh.
Students of Kanya Ashram school in Polampalli going to the near by river on a holiday to wash their clothes. Dornapal, Sukma dist.
Tati Deva and Sodi Masa from Rangaiguda village, Dornapal, in Chhattisgarh are on their way to Undragunda market in Malkangiri, Odisha to buy cows. Rangaiguda, 20 kilometres off the state highway, doesn’t have roads. The three men in the background are also from the same village. They tagged along with Deva and Masa because they too have plans to buy five or six cows and want to know more about the market. They have to walk 70 kilometres to reach Undragunda. It will take them a day to reach there. The next day, after buying the cows, they will walk back. The return journey will take three or four days. The average price of a cow is between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000. 2. Sabari river at Dornapal. Here, this river divides Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
A woman who recently became a mother takes the responsibility of looking after other kids of the village while the rest of the villagers are at work in the paddy fields. Chinthagupha village is 30 kilometers away from Dornapal. Sukma district. Chhattisgarh.
Hostel of Golapalli ashram school, which is located in Mariaguda.
A coin seller ( antique and foreign) who has an interest in horoscope too. Take from Raipur
A mine worker in Kusumunda mine
A drunkard is having a nap on the Varanda and a cow is peeping out from the house. Take from a village in the periphery of Raipur.
Cows are considered as a holy symbol among the Hindu people.
A road side market
Husband and wife recently shaved their heads, part of a ritual. Take from Jhelum village, near Raipur
Take from Mandrum village, almost 25 KM away from Raipur.
The day was January 26, Republic Day of India. Boy who recently started his nursery was tirelessly playing with mother and so exited about the Gandhi cap got from school. Take from Jhelum village, 25 KM away from Raipur, on 26th January
After daily wage work, an woman going back with her child. Some how she manage to keep son with her all the day; sometimes letting him play alone, sometime making him sleep and sometimes watching him crying. Take from a construction site near New Raipur
A woman lives in Kurba Basti, near Korba.
Heera Tondon, sweeper at Medishine Hospital in Amledi
An evening in Jhulem village, 25 KM away from Raipur.
Polio Vaccination.
A road side market near Rail way station in Raipur
Kusumunda coal mine in korba (Under Government)
Cows are considered as a trustful income by many of the families in Indian villages. Men drinking and exchanging talk on the way back after delivering milk. Take from an outer villages of Raipur.
A vendor selling dried peanuts in Gavra road near Korba. Kusumunda mine, second largest goverment mining project in India is near to this place.
Kuraba Basti is a village near to Kusumunda Mine, Government controlling mine in Korba. Famine and undevelopment are wide spread in many of the villages in Chattisgarh.
A vegetable seller. Take from a road side market, near Raipur railway station
Woman carrying desiccated dung.
Sirpur is a famous place for its archaeological monuments and temples. A woman selling coconut for the devotees.
Washing vegetables and herbs before sending to market.
Take from Sirpur, 78 KM from Raipur, well known place for its archaeological monuments
Take from Raipur.