This picture was taken in the temporary shelters at Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India, three months after the place was hit by the tsunami on 26 December 2004. I was studying the people who had lost their homes and family members. I wanted to find out the magnitude of the continuing trauma.
Vedavalli lost her granddaughter and daughter-in-law. Asked about her family, she came outside with the photograph of her grandchild, 10-year-old Prashanti, who was playing in the back yard when she was swept away, along with her mother, by the killer waves. Vedavalli was very much connected to her and used to play with her during leisure time. Now, in her sleep, she regularly hears Prashanti’s cries. The emotion on Vedavalli’s face says it all.
Presently I am working with the EyePress photo agency in Hong Kong. I have received a media fellowship from the National Foundation for India for my long-term photographic project on Indian coalminers.
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Voices from the margins:
Multimedia: video, podcasts, and more.
- Poetry Slam in Zimbabwe
- The House of Hunger poetry slam held in Zimbabwe in 2006, and organised by the Pamberi Trust, showcased young artists performing inspirational work on issues from corporate power to child soldiers. The video features four of the poets.
Published by Pambazuka News.
- Iranian women speak out
- 3 March 2007, London. Women's rights activists marched through the English capital last week to celebrate International Women's Day with a protest against the misogyny of the Islamic regime in Iran and the threat of invasion by the US. Hear the voices of Iranian feminists Azar and Leila Parnian and the sounds of the demonstration as it passed through the heart of the city. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
Produced by Heidi Bachram.
- Raised Voices audio:
- Benny from West Papua on Corporate Power
- Vinayan from India on agriculture
