Photography Trust : 2020 Highlights
In 2020 we supported powerful photo projects that shared the voices of people often ignored — including informal workers,
prisoners, and Beed district farmers drought conditions.Through photo grants and special features in our magazine Samyak Drishti,
we brought attention to real issues like caste, gender, and rural struggles.
We hosted live talks, panel discussions, and workshops that connected experienced photographers with learners and communities.
Our workshops gave young people hands-on training and helped them tell stories from their own lives and surroundings.
Samyak Drishti grew as a strong platform for documentary photography, sharing inspiring work from across India and beyond.
Conversation with Ian Willms — Indian Photo Festival Winner
Samyak Drishti hosted an insightful Facebook Live session with Ian
Willms, winner of the Indian Photo Festival Open Call. In conversation
with Aniruddha Cheoolkar and Nileshh Gawde, Ian shared his
photography journey, contributions to National Geographic, TIME, The
New York Times, and discussed his award-winning documentary work.
A Unique Discussion on Documentary Photography
Samyak Drishti hosted a dynamic Facebook Live session bringing
photographers and enthusiasts together to explore the art, ethics, and
power of documentary storytelling. The interactive session inspired
participants to view photography as a tool for social change and
community impact.
Representation of Marginalised Voices in Photography
During the Indian Photo Festival, a special Zoom panel was held
featuring Sudharak Olwe, Prof. Y. S. Alone, and S. Santhosh. The
discussion focused on inclusive representation, systemic exclusion, and
visual justice in photography and media.
Samyak Drishti — Special Issue Launch
Samyak Drishti launched a special issue during the Indian Photo Festival
– Hyderabad. The issue featured stories from around the world focused
on documentary photography, art, and films.
Register to receive free monthly issues:
https://samyakdrishti.co/contact-us/
H.M. Reddy: A Trailblazer Remembered
A featured article by film theorist Amrit Gangar paid tribute to H.M.
Reddy, the pioneering Telugu director who made India’s first multilingual
sound film. The story celebrated Reddy’s bold departure from policing
to pursue cinema as a tool of cultural resistance.
Sumitra Gagrai: Stories of Change
Sumitra Gagrai, CII Woman Exemplar Awardee and grassroots health
worker with Ekjut India, shared her inspiring journey supporting tribal
mothers and children. She was one of 25+ women trained by PPT in
visual storytelling to document community health initiatives.
@ekjutindia @photographypromotiontrust @samyakdrishti.official
Misfortune: Stories Behind Bars
This emotional photo series by Abhijeet Gujjar, supported by the Samyak Drishti & Photo South Asia Grant,
explored the lives of inmates during family reunions in Kolhapur Central Jail. The series highlighted prison
reform, emotional resilience, and the human side of incarceration.
Randeep Maddoke: Exposing Injustice in Punjab
Randeep Maddoke, a grant recipient, documented caste-based violence and social exclusion of Dalit landless
labourers in Punjab during the pandemic. His photographs o ered a raw portrayal of systemic oppression
and resistance in rural India.
Taniya Sarkar: Documenting Informal Workers in Crisis
Taniya Sarkar’s project exposed the economic and emotional toll faced
by informal workers during the COVID-19 lockdown. Her work, also
supported by the Samyak Drishti & Photo South Asia Grant,
documented survival, gender disparity, and invisible labour through
photographs and interviews.
Grant Winners Announced
Samyak Drishti & Photo South Asia Grant winners were announced
live, highlighting impactful documentary projects on incarceration,
caste, gender, and labour during the pandemic.
Celebrating Our Second Issue with Jay Ullal
To mark the release of Samyak Drishti’s second issue, a live event featured iconic
photographer Jay Ullal in conversation with special guests like Raghu Rai, Milind
Deora, and others. Jay shared reflections from his career, including work with the
Gandhis, the Dalai Lama, and Nargis Dutt.
Invisible–Visible: Uncovering Hidden Realities
This powerful photo-essay by Sudharak Olwe, in conversation with Prof. Y.S.
Alone, examined caste, labour, and the unseen realities of life in India. Rooted in
Ambedkarite thought, the project used photography as a tool to challenge
dominant representations and expose normative oppression.
Other Field Engagements
Karjat Workshop –need to check drive one more time( Student work
preserved, no formal records.)
Social Documentary Photography Workshop – Karjat
On 15th and 16th February, we hosted a two-day Social Documentary
Photography workshop at Dharap Agro Farm, Karjat. Guided by
mentors Sudharak Olwe, Indrajit Khambe, and Nilesh Gawde, the
workshop focused on the fundamentals of visual storytelling rooted in
real-life social contexts.
Participants engaged in fieldwork, received expert reviews, and
explored the ethics and impact of documentary photography. Set in
the peaceful surroundings of Karjat, the workshop o ered a powerful
blend of practice, reflection, and creative learning.
Photography on Wheels – In 2020, Beed district in Maharashtra faced a severe
drought. Over 600 villages depended on water tankers as wells and reservoirs dried
up. Poor rainfall led to widespread crop failures in cotton, soybean, and tur, causing
financial distress among farmers. Farmer suicides remained high due to rising debt.
Despite hardships, some locals created water solutions by digging wells. Photography
Promotion Trust highlighted the urgent need for long-term water conservation and
sustainable farming practices.
(Beed – Covered drought situations.)
PPT Mumbai Program – We collbrated with BMC for creation of ART CENTER in
BMC schools.Providing opportunities for young people from disadvantaged and
marginalized sections of society to learn photography and other arts and to use this
media to help them in identifying and collectively addressing problems in their
respective social and natural environments and empower them.
Activity Summary – 2020
Live Talks / Panel Discussions: 6+
Ian Willms conversation
Documentary photography panel
Representation of Marginalised Voices
Special Issue Launch
Jay Ullal live session
Grant announcement + community stories
Photography Projects / Articles Published: 7+
Misfortune (Abhijeet Gujjar)
Taniya Sarkar (Informal Workers)
Randeep Maddoke (Dalit Farmers)
Sumitra Gagrai (Health Worker)
H.M. Reddy (Film Tribute)
Invisible–Visible (Sudharak Olwe)
Samyak Drishti Issues
Workshops / Field Engagements : 3 Documented
Karjat Student Workshop
Photography on Wheels – Beed
Mumbai city engagement
Photo Grants Awarded: 3 (Publicly Highlighted)
Abhijeet Gujjar
Taniya Sarkar
Randeep Maddoke
