2019

WOMEN OF INDIA – Photos by Deepti Asthana

From 16 May to 2 June, 2019 in the Photobastei Zürich, www.photobastei.ch
Opening with the photographer on 16 May at 18.00

Deepti Asthana: „I’m on a mission to bring attention to the stories of women in rural India. Stories which are not seen in our social circles or social media. Stories that tell not only of the constant struggle to survive, but also of celebration of life, culture. Stories of a woman’s strength to persevere in the most difficult of circumstances.“

Economic and social progress has changed life in India in a lasting way, and this progress has improved the quality of life for many women living in urban centres. They have been able to, at least partially, break free of the traditional corset; they study, work and live in a more independent and emancipated fashion than their mothers.
Economic and social progress has changed life in India in a lasting way, and this progress has improved the quality of life for many women living in urban centres. They have been able to, at least partially, break free of the traditional corset; they study, work and live in a more independent and emancipated fashion than their mothers. However, the situation is rather different for women in rural regions where life has not changed much for centuries. India continues to be one of the most misogynistic countries in the world. If they aren’t killed shortly after their births, girls are frequently faced with a life consisting of child labour, early marriage, poverty, violence and exploitation at the hands of men and their families. The young women rarely have the opportunity to transform their dreams into reality.

Deepti Asthana’s photos focus on the fate of these girls and women. The stories she tells give us a glimpse into the harsh realities of their daily lives. But the images also show their joy and strength, whether it’s while bathing in a river with friends or going about their domestic duties with their children.

The photographer wants to give these women a voice and in so doing to prompt a discussion about emancipation and women’s rights in India. Deepti Asthana is convinced that this is the only way that change for the better can occur.

Deepti Asthana is a young photographer who lives in Mumbai. Like the subjects of her photos, she grew up in rural India. Unlike these women, however, she had a mother who insisted that she receive a solid education, something that many girls growing up in rural areas still do not acquire. Deepti Asthana studied engineering.

Her commitment to photography developed a few years later after she received a camera of her own as a present. In the meantime she travels (primarily within her native India and at times on assignments for travel magazines) to portray people living in an array of life situations and environments. She spends a lot of time with the women and girls that she wants to photograph, first listening to their stories and only then pressing the shutter button. This emotional closeness to her subjects lends an exceptional degree of intimacy and compassion to her photos.

Deepti Asthana has won awards and grants in India and abroad. Her photos have been featured in numerous magazines and exhibitions in India and other countries. You can find more information at www.deeptiasthana.com