Through the lens deeply

The dangerous terrain and breathtaking pictures of Kargil and Ladakh are captured in Dr. Ravi Kumar’s camera

An image by Dr. Ravi Kumar

HYDERABAD: When a six-year-old Ravi Kumar was ‘missing’ at home, no one would worry. They knew he would be wandering around with a small Nikon camera, capturing scenery or some beautiful image. Now, four decades later Dr. Ravi Kumar still goes missing, but now, he has technologically advanced lenses and an upgraded Nikon for a travel companion. On some occasions, he also has friends and family joining him in search of delicate yet powerful testimonies of nature. In 2015, his road trip from Kashmir to Kargil and Ladakh included his wife and two daughters and he captured the wonders of nature for posterity.

The 75 images out of the 3000 photographs taken from that trip was displayed at State Art Gallery at an exhibition titled ‘Shikara - The Summit.’ The exhibition is a tribute to the bravehearts of Kargil heroes.

Dr. Ravi Kumar is a consultant oncologist with Global Hospital but makes use of the weekends to pursue his different hobbies. He is also an artist and a tabla player; in fact, he was the last disciple of tabla legend Ustad Shaik Dawood. “We musicians, as a group, organise a programme in his memory during his anniversary,” he states.

Adventurous journey Speaking about Shikara, he recalls how the family prepared much in advance for the road trip from Srinagar. “One encounters breathtaking sights all through but it is not an easy journey. The Zojila pass to Kargil is opened by the army during the middle of May. The significant feature is the way scenery changes every minute during summer. Srinagar looks green with trees. When one gets into Zojila pass, one can see snow at a distance and from Kargil onwards, it is all snow. One can spot a few hamlets and villages and human inhabitation is in the form of army trucks and bunkers,” he reminisces.

The challenges were many. Braving cold weather — zero degrees to be precise — and clicking pictures on a bumpy road made for an exhilarating experience, he points out. Dr. Ravi admires the Ladakhis who drive and provide the shuttle service. “Others might fear for their lives because of militancy. These people carry on; it is their bread and butter,” he observes.

Dr. Ravi explains how his hobbies keep him recharged all through the week. “In Oncology, there is high morbidity and mortality and some patients come during their terminal illness. It is vital for the practitioner to take the mind off it and pursue an activity. It is a stress buster and keeps us energised,” he explains.

Dr. Ravi is enthusiastic about continuing his creative pursuits and hopes to capture the North east region in his camera, in future.