Photography is an art form that involves capturing images using a camera. And women have played a significant role in the history of photography, both as subjects and photographers. Women have made significant contributions to the field, from early pioneers like Julia Margaret Cameron to contemporary photographers like Cindy Sherman and Annie Leibovitz.
As subjects, women have been photographed in a variety of ways throughout the history of photography. In the medium’s early days, women were often depicted in traditional roles as wives, mothers, and homemakers. However, as photography evolved, women began to be represented in more diverse and complex ways, challenging traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
Today, women continue to contribute to photography as photographers and subjects significantly. In recent years, there has been a growing movement to increase the representation of women and other marginalized groups in the field, with organizations like Women Photograph supporting and promoting women photographers’ work worldwide.
While these were the testimony of how women broke the ceiling globally, contributing to the field of photography, here is the story of – Sipra Das from Delhi-NCR, India. The 70-year-old photographer and photojournalist started her journey in 1980, and recently was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Photography Awards given by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
Born to a lower-middle-class Bengali family in the pockets of South Kolkata, West Bengal, Sipra Das’s journey has never been a cakewalk. In my recent tryst with the veteran, we deliberated on her journey thus far.
When inquired of her parents, Sipra smurkly responded, “They must be happy today” as far as I remember, they hailed from the side of north Bengal.
“My childhood years were tough and will remain an etched memory. Poverty is a condition of severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, water, shelter, healthcare, and education. Living a poverty-laden life can have profound and long-lasting effects on individuals and communities. And it was no exception for me. People living in poverty often face significant challenges, including inadequate housing, poor nutrition, limited access to healthcare, and lower levels of education. These challenges can lead to poor physical and mental health outcomes, higher rates of disease and disability, and reduced life expectancy,” Sipra expressed.
“Addressing poverty, I feel contained all of it couldn’t slow me down. By addressing the root causes of poverty and investing in programs and policies that support individuals and communities living in poverty, I feel we can work to create a more just and equitable society,” Sipra further added.
In her initial starting days, Sipra used to draft stories, features, and radio-related work such as scripts and dubbing to earn a living while standing by her family. Her interest in photography emerged when a patriarchy-led system refrained from assigning someone to click photos for her feature pieces.
The young girl, Sipra (then), thought to ace the art of photography, making herself self-sufficient to run her work-related deliverables. Since then, Sipra has continued to shoot and to date. She further delineates how some of the seniors of her time helped her learn this art through lenses. Curiously, when inquired about her first camera, Sipra shared merrily – it was an – Agfa Isoly-II Vintage.
The veteran, today, feels that there are loads for her left to contribute to the journalistic fraternity of India. Some of her significant life assignments include the Kargil war, Hindu Temples in the Kashmir valley allegedly destroyed by the JKLF militants, covering IPKF withdrawal from Sri Lanka, Babri masjid issue in Ayodhya, Op-Rhino: against ULFA militants in the Assam region and many more if requested a jog to her mind.
A B.Sc. graduate, Sipra pursued a degree in M.A on Islamic history. In contrast, her professional degree as a photographer is validated by being an – Associate of the Royal Photography Society, London, in 1997. She has extensively contributed to the Indian and International PRESS at large.
When asked what the challenges are, she feels that compared to an advanced and digitized world in the present, she expressed, – “There is no end to photojournalism.” I don’t see anywhere falling short of taking the race with the young generation, even though they are more equipped and keep a digitized mindset.
“This Lifetime award – I am treating it as my second innings. It is too early for me to think of retirement”, Sipra added. While our conversation touched upon some facets of the daring and seasoned soul, I was inquisitive about her feelings for the non-fulfilments in her life.
In conclusion to our heart-to-heart conversation, Sipra expressed with no sense of complaint, “I worked in a male-dominated profession. On top of it, the economic condition didn’t prompt me to afford full film rolls at that point in time. I used to rag-pick the film spools, which the male seniors (then) threw away in the dustbins. At times, I used to secure a couple of shots from one, and if it was a lucky day for me, three shots out of one. Seniors used to look down, which was evident for them, as they used to feel – how come a female be a duty photojournalist? Unsure of the outcomes of the harsh and tough news assignments.”
Since 1989 Sipra Das has been covering the Parliament sessions, and the veteran continues to do so. Laughingly, when I asked about her love life as a woman and why she chose to be a lone woman and not marry a man, she intensely replied – Who says I am unmarried? I am very much married. “I am married to my camera.” Wearing a smile between her sunken cheeks, that’s Sipra Das for you all.
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