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    Rural Roots in Southern India

    India

    There are [10] photos and [2] stories about India

    “Balancing with Nature”. The role of nature and people’s responsibility towards it is still unclear it seems in many parts of southern India. This river runs along the edge of Saraguru and while it is revered (a temple can be seen in the middle of the river) and valued for its role in agricultural irrigation and domestic uses, certain practices such as washing clothes along the bank introduces soaps and toxins into the water. This is affecting some of the fish populations and degrading the health of the ecosystem. Without the proper infrastructure to change those practices though, it is a hard battle to fight. by: jbatryn Views[871] “Fresh meat”. Another shop keeper was weighing and sorting fish when we passed by. Like the other shop keepers we met, he was eager to share his work with us. When we stopped to see what he was doing, he told us to wait and he would show us how he cleans and prepares the fish. His skilled hands didn’t hesitate as he peeled back the scales, pulled the head off and cut the meat into pieces to be sold. by: jbatryn Views[1605] “Eager to share”. While wandering through the shop-lined streets in Saraguru, we stopped to ask some of the shopkeepers if we could take pictures of their colorful shops. The language barrier was overcome with gestures and smiles, and when they saw that we were interested in their shops and their work, they were more than happy to open up to us and share about their livelihoods. They proudly showed their large piles of cotton outside and then motioned for us to follow them to another building where they had a large pile of lentil-like grain, which they again proudly showcased. So much can be said sometimes without understanding a single word. by: jbatryn Views[997] “Cotton a trap”. Cotton is grown near Saraguru and it is fairly common to see trucks overloaded with large bags of cotton passing through the narrow streets. Cotton is a very labor intensive crop and one of the local men said that many parents do not want their children to continue in farming. Instead, the children are encouraged to become doctors or engineers, where they can enjoy an easier life. Partly due to this, more and more people are moving away from the rural areas to find work in those fields and farm owners are finding it increasingly harder to find labor to help run the farms. by: jbatryn Views[1086] “Main Street”. The village of Saraguru is located in southern India and is a mix of old and new. Many people have cell phones but lack reliable electricity or plumbing and the road is shared between overloaded trucks, bicycles, and people and livestock walking. Life is simpler, but it is a welcome alternative to the fast paced hustle and bustle of city life for many. by: jbatryn Views[1537]
     
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    A 'place' I have visited

    Friday, 5 Jul 2013 | Photo Gallery | Scholarship Entry

    In school, I study mechanical engineering, but my real passions are with travel and photography. I love being immersed in the unknown, seeing everything with fresh eyes, and of course trying to capture everything with photography –from nature and animals ... Read more >
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    Tags: Travel Photography Scholarship 2013

    Photos: My Scholarship entry - Rural roots in Southern India

    Monday, 14 Jan 2013 | Photo Gallery | Scholarship Entry

    In school, I study mechanical engineering, but my real passions are with travel and photography. I love being immersed in the unknown, seeing everything with fresh eyes, and of course trying to capture everything with photography –from nature and animals ... Read more >
    See all 5 photos >>
     

    Tags: travel photography scholarship 2012

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