THREAD [START]:
Photojournalism is a serious form of storytelling that has an everlasting impact on the ground situation anywhere in the world. A frame can shake or break the chain of events or even trigger much needed reaction.

Kashmir is extremely fortunate to have amazing photo professionals who have been documenting our lives tirelessly through their lens, generation after generation. They have documented everything for us and about us.

Decades long conflict that we have been enduring has been captured to a large extent by these brave professionals in addition to the written words of our writer community. Out of our huge archive of sufferings assembled, photo-documentation generated over the years is immense.

Recognition they receive over the time, individually or as a collective, has brought laurel to one and all. Our untold, hidden stories are unearthed and brought to the front and are spoken about, debated while the unjust occupation is shamed and condemned, due these works.

The hostility and risks these professionals face can be imagined by the fact that when an incident takes place, a commoner flees the epicenter but a scribe converges towards the spot, risking life, just to document the moment. Often bullets/shells whiz while they keep clicking.

Our photojournalists have been at the receiving end - few almost became news while covering/ document events. Many were injured seriously cutting short their careers. Many have been beaten, arrested, jailed and persecuted. Some even lost their lives.

Good to see youth making their way into the field and doing excellent work with objectivity under the guidance of the veterans in field even under the watchful eyes of the State. Their flair reflects in the startling work they produce, and that work is getting eyeballs rolling.

Times behaved differently for me when I tried to enter the fold of Photojournalism in Kashmir years back. Luck somehow favoured in disguise and the stint was brief. My first set of shots I filed for a noted publication were out next day and my happiness floored me.

I could gauge the insecurity among a few (who were already there since years) who didn't see me as a colleague but a serious competitor. On of them, a noted one, started passing on discouraging comments about my work of being ordinary even when they knew it was a first for me.

Another claimed he could create such photos out of a sewer, when I pointed him towards story in it, he downplayed arguments citing busy schedule and disinterest. Nobody was ready to teach or hear me except one.

I felt, either you have to be a part of their local photojournalist association or you have to be a friend, relative or an acquaintance of a noted journalist. This I realized when I was stopped by a group of photographers while covering an assignment in the heart of the city.

Thankfully I switched to what I was good at. Years later I ended up into a strategic role & was also helping new crop chiseling captions/ copies whenever they needed. I see them shining alongside while wondering that things would have been different if I would have had a mentor.

I am sure the present times are kind enough for the new generation. But there are few things that need to be pointed out here. With the advent of technology, and abundance of news sources, we tend to enter a rat race and overlook / forget the very basic ethics of the profession.

This we do in order to win the race of filing well before the fellow scribe. In doing so we sometimes not only end up compromising on quality but on the various other vital aspects. Veterans have a role to play in rendering the guidance and experience to the young.

The seniors photojournalists who have been there since decades have to trigger a debate about strengthening a collective image while upholding ethics and mutual respect about the profession especially when it comes to our Kashmir.

Youngsters bring freshness, ideas but I see them competing since day one without catching on to the learning curve. Have witnessed gossiping and mudslinging happen at will and leisure. So much to talk about. Recent discussion and instances we witnessed around were serious ones.

We have lost sense of debate on really serious issues that bring bad name not to the individuals involved but as a collective. Here seniors have a vital role to play. they have to teach and not take sides.

I recall a serious situation with a friend who happened to be an acclaimed photojournalist covering most of the wars and conflicts of the globe including ours. His story later became a case study. Extremely important, may read it below. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/photography-blog/2014/jan/23/associated-press-narciso-contreras-syria-photojournalism

The point I have been making is while it is important to bring out the best of creativity individually but not at the cost of integrity. The so called association, if it really exists, has to come into play to uphold the name and identity of Photojournalism of Kashmir.

Recognition shakes oppressor & they always try to mock us in the process. Where do we stand? Are we doing something on this?
Hope my message gets through to the right people. Photojournalist community themselves has to find a way to identify and refine these glitches for better.