How silent is my Valley

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At the ongoing exhibition Kashmir by independent photographer Amit Mehra, it’s not the usual complex political narratives of the separatist movement or the breathtaking scenic beauty that you will see. What the photographer has captured is — in his own worlds — indirect sublime, metaphoric, silent and cold body of work.

From the tiny lanes, tea shops, a dog roaming over graves to Chinar trees. The photos challenge the way you remember Kashmir, he says. “The separatist movement and the insurgency that followed can be intriguing. The beauty of the place can enthral any cameraperson but I wanted to look beyond all this,” says Amit.
To discover if it was possible to make a different kind of photograph that were introspective and not illustrative Amit decided to leave his camera at his home in Delhi, when visiting the state in 2008. It was then, he says, he saw the real Kashmir, glimpses of which can be seen in his exhibition.
The streetscapes and landscapes are devoid of drama and imbued with stillness and silence. The photographer says that he has tried to capture the silence in Kashmir, which is eerie rather than peaceful. Most of his photographs show hurried streets and people engrossed in their thoughts.
Talking about one of his photos of a Chinar tree, he says, “I was fascinated at how the tree stood naked after shedding its leaves; just like Kashmir. And just like Kashmir its roots were very deep and strong.” Another photo shows a dog roaming over graves. Amit explains, “In other cities, there is a community centre in every locality for celebrations. But in Kashmir, every community has its own graveyard.”
There are many such photos that bring out the anguish and pain of two decades. For this series, Amit visited Kashmir 25 times between 2006 and 2011. A book Kashmir, printed by Penguin, will be released this month. Amit is currently working on his next project, Sufis: Messengers of Peace.