Photographs as Memory Triggers
Photographs have proven to be interesting tools to get people to open up about themselves and share memories of their past. For instance, the photo of Anwar posing at Phasi Ghar (execution point) not only got him talking about the monument that no longer stands, but also reminded him of his childhood spent dressing up and posing for photographs at various locations in Mehrauli, Delhi.
Mesha Murali: Bus stand se aage. Kahan?
Kishanpal: Aap Dadabari Jain mandir, kabhi aaye ho idher se? Mahatma Budh (Mahavir) ki murti dekhi hai?
Mesha Murali: Haan vo jo ahinsa sthal hai?
Kishanpal: Haan, uss se thodi si aage dekhna yahi scene hoga. Kam hoga… Thoda bhut toh hoga. Itna, itna nahi hoga, thoda bhut toh hoga.
The above excerpt from an interview with Kishanpal another resident of Mehrauli (in his late 40s) tells us how it was used to start a conversation about the changing look of the landscape of Mehrauli and various heritage sites in the neighbourhood that they used to visit as kids.
Mesha Murali: Beyond the bus stand? Where?
Kishanpal: Have you ever come (to Mehrauli) from the Dadabari Jain Temple side? Have you seen the statue of Mahavir?
Mesha Murali: Yes, are you talking about Ahinsa Sthal?
Kishanpal: Yes, just a little ahead of it you will see this structure. Though, I think, only parts of it remain today.
Ahinsa; non-violence
Photo by: Bharti Shandilya
Mehrauli
Delhi
India
