Leading from darkness to light

A lensman guides Adivasi youth to self-sustenance through photography

Rajender Shinde (fourth from right) with some of the Adivasi photographers he trained.

One man’s view of life through the lens and outside it has helped many Adivasi youth make photography a successful means of livelihood. Meet Rajender Shinde, a well-known professional photographer in the backward Agency area of erstwhile united Adilabad district. The 50-year-old lanky, intermediate dropout running a photo studio in the small commercial hub of Jainoor mandal headquarters in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district has trained about 20 unemployed aboriginal youth in photography and showed them the way.

Interestingly, the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) at Utnoor had in 2005-06 provided photography and videography training and financial support to over 50 tribal unemployed youth but the latter failed to make a living out of shooting pictures. Reason? The trainees could not strike a good rapport with the customers, and could not afford to replace ill-handled equipment. But Mr. Shinde, aka Raju, did it with a difference. He mentored the youth under his wing with a personal touch throughout and stood by them as firmly as a tripod.

Raju’s inspiration? “I found Adivasis are a creative lot and was quite sure that photography will suit the youth as a means of livelihood,” he observed, familiar with the aboriginal way of life having been born and brought up in the Agency village. “And there was scope too,” he added, reflecting upon his unique endeavour since the establishment of his studio in Jainoor in 1984. The steadily increasing number of ethnic youth taking to professional photography is a proof of his belief.

The most successful of his proteges is Athram Madhav of Seetagondi village in Sirpur (U) mandal who started working with Raju in 1990. Having learnt the tricks of the trade, he ventured on his own after a couple of years and it clicked. He now employs 10 Adivasi boys.

Self-reliant

“Today, I run one photo studio at Jainoor and one at Sirpur (U) and have photography and videography equipment worth ₹15 lakh. I no longer struggle to support my 20-member family,” revealed a beaming Madhav.

Most of the aboriginal youths — mainly Raj Gonds — visit interior villages to shoot either passport photos or cover festive occasions. They are in demand especially during the Adivasi marriage season between March and May.

Raju learnt photography in a studio in Boath mandal headquarters in Adilabad district between 1982 and 1984.

“I got to learn it during the last days of the black and white reel cameras,” he recalled.

Continuous updation and professional development of his former pupils so that they do not lose out to the more resourceful professionals is Raju’s focus. “I take them even to Delhi to photo exhibitions and expos on new equipment so that they keep themselves updated,” he pointed out. That’s a real, broad vision.