Photographic Stories, Uttar pradesh
Published on 17/07/2022
Comments 91

Silent Poems From My Ancestral Village; A Photographic Tribute

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These images come from my village. Right here where my grandmother sits peeling potatoes, there i was born. But left within three months as I was told. The hand you see on the wall comes on Indian walls when a daughter leaves the house after marriage.

This home also witnessed my earliest phase when I first started making photographs with our only family Kodak Film camera KB10. These are some of the Earliest images from my village home and probably the only time I could photograph my grandmother, peeling potatoes.

Made in 2005.


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Thank you.


If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste


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I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly;

As a co-traveller, will take you through the Ten Lessons I learnt from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara.

Also read: Top 9 Most Read Posts of 2022


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You might also like to know about My Little School Project. If you wish to come over for a visit someday, that you must, you will be heartily welcome here

If you would like to contribute to my travels, you can please do so here


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If you have anything to share, or feel like saying a hello, please feel free to write to me at nara@road-to-nara.com

To visit other long-term photographic works, please visit here.


To follow my walks through the rural Indian Subcontinent, find me at 
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter


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by

Hi, I am Narayan Kaudinya. And i welcome you on this journey, the Road to Nara ! I am an Ethnographer and a practicing Indologist. I did my masters in History and further learnt Sanskrit, Yoga and Nerve-therapy. At 24, pushing most academic sounding, office sitting works away, i felt compelled to know and understand the world and my country, Bharat/India. I travelled, and as it happened i took up teaching in Kashmir and further up in the remote villages of Baltistan in the foothills of Karakoram Ranges. For around three years and many states later there came a time when i felt that it was only while teaching i learnt how to laugh, to see, feel, breathe, love and cry -with children, and mostly resource-less parents in the harshest-freezing border conditions. I write, and work as a documentary photographer and Filmmaker, with numerous published, exhibited and some awarded stories. In my travels and life i have let nature lead me, the divine mother, and as a Yogin, my resolve here is to share my experiences and thoughts as honestly, and through them to blossom in everyone the power and possibility in pursuing your breath, that you seek your true nature with courage and curiosity. Here, on this road i will share my spirit, my love for nature, the elements of life that are us. And in doing so, i'll be happy to see you along.

91 Comments

  3. elianatobias says

    Thank you for sharing your photos. I wasn’t aware of the fact that a woman’s handprints are left on the wall when she leaves her family home. Is this a cultural tradition or a familial one?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. gabychops says

    This photographic tribute to the village where Narayan was born is a document of the friendliness and the assured hospitality of the people portrayed here. The images tug at our hearts of the happy, playing children, the beautiful, slender people, his much-loved grandmother, the open houses with colorful decorations on the walls, the elaborate ornaments on women’s feet, and even a lovely water pump.
    This portrayal is one of Narayan’s wonderful aims to show the fascinating diversity and beauty, not only of the landscape, nature, culture, and rituals but also the special, unique character of the people of his beloved Bharat.
    In book form, it will be read all over the world and his pathway there is already gaining momentum.
    Thank you, Narayan, for today’s installment and we are all eagerly awaiting more of your tributes to my favorite country – India.

    Joanna
    PS. As I could not leave twice my comment as WordPress log me out, I have left a message that you need to remove it, please. Just the message somewhere and of course not my comments here1

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Dearest Joanna, thank you for your gracious and extraordinary comment. It makes me happy that you so closely observed everything. Even though I was little apprehensive before sharing it. But Your words made all the difference. I thank you again.

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      • gabychops says

        It is the descriptive power of your writing, Narayan, that makes it so memorable and of course, your professional filmmaker’s eye that creates the photos that stay in our memory forever. I love this post and cannot wait to read the next installment of your Ode to India!

        Joanna

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        • Narayan Kaudinya says

          Dearest Joanna, Your kind words always uplift me like none other. As promised I will soon start writing that post on India. And I will make it certain that it doesn’t disappoint you.

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          • gabychops says

            Thank you! I know for sure, Narayan, that knowing the greatness of your talent and your overwhelming love for India, I will always be elated to read it, and I am speaking from a professional stand.

            Joanna

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply
  11. Ana Daksina says

    Proving that one does not require fancy equipment to bring art which touches people deeply with it’s beauty…

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  14. anne leueen says

    What a wonderful photographic essay on your village. Such marvelous faces and sights. And your Grandmother . 💕

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  16. Chaya Sheela says

    Beautiful photos, Narayan. They say more than any descriptive words!
    The first photo is fabulous! The lady’s smile and eyes are so expressive. I love the shy little one in the second last picture.
    Artistically captured.
    Best wishes.

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  20. I. J. Khanewala says

    Beautiful photos, I like the way the low-light interiors have come out. There is something special about the photo of your grandmother doing her daily chores in a houseful of memories. Beautiful evocation of the memories through the hand-prints on the wall.

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    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Thanks so much for writing I.J
      I think I can attribute some of it to the Film camera I had at that time and now the age. Its almost 16 years ago I made some of these photographs.

      Thank you so much for coming over with your affectionate comment.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  21. C.A. Post says

    Besides the amazing scenery, I was most struck by the beauty of the woman in the first photo and the handsomeness of the young men dressed for school.
    ❤️&🙏, c.a.

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    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Dearest C.A hope you have been well and travelling around kindly? Thank you for your happy comment. I will certainly pass on how she is slowly becoming popular here 🙂 Thanks for coming along C.a

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  22. Michael Graeme says

    So evocative of time and place, Narayan. Along with Yetismith, I also like the black and white portrait – it’s so expressive.

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    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Dearest Michael, thank you for coming to my village. You know now a part of my extended family and this village. Happy that it carried you and brought your warmth in words.

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    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Dear Alison, thank you for such an affectionate comment. It is so personally mine this village and I am happy that you could come. Hope you two are resting well. My Hi to Don.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  29. Cindy Georgakas says

    A picture says 1,000 words and these are spectacular. Love your grandma’s picture and the wonderful hand prints Nara and tradition. I love traditions like these!
    💖

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  35. Dawn Minott says

    Very lovely photo journey. Pix do speak a thousand words!! The image of hand prints of women who’ve left the home in marriage is powerful. 🙏🏽

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    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Lovely to find your kindling comment Dawn. The hand print is a century old tradition in Indian homes. Still practised.

      Thank you for writing.

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      Reply

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