The red light district at Calcutta, India, is one of places where Indian women and girls are forced to work as prostitutes. They are sold by their own family. It’s a business family. Dads and brothers act as the seller and negotiate with the customers at their living room. While the women/girls serve “the guests” at their own house. Sadly to say that, they are feeding the girls/women with the best food they have–even fresh meats, and dressing them in best clothes and lots of jewelry, just so the girls/women are attractive enough to the customers.

The prostitution has been a culture in most families in 300 regions of India. It’s spread into the north and middle part of India, such as Bedia, Banchara, Nat, and Kanjar. In those places, the prostitution culture for having money has been going on for hundreds of years. It began when the south of Bedia and Middle India rapidly changed from prestigious regions to prostitution districts after they had suffered many lost in wars. Even the nomadic lifestyle of Kanjar tribe which initially depended on gardening and land ownerships, had changed. Since the women made more money from the prostitution business, the men were getting lack of their working ability. As for the Nat in the north region and the Banchara in the Middle India, there is a myth about women who gave their body in exchange for the generousness of the local men. That’s why the prostitution remains in the community.
Back to the red light district at Calcutta. There is a true story of a group consists of 9 children who’s very eager to learn how to use camera since they met Zana, the photographer from New York. Zana ‘auntie’–as the children called her, teach them photography and that’s the beginning of the freedom the children has been longing for. They captured everything in their neighbourhood, they pictured everything in every place they visited with Zana. They want to be educated, they want to be free from the brothels they were born into. They are all talented, and the pictures are fascinating. It’s just how they see the world. And from it, we can see their world. Pictures in this post are all taken by the children.

The documentary of those children (in the movie only 8 children included), the emotionally journey of Zana and her ‘class’ to reach the better living for them has gorgeously recorded in a documentary film called BORN INTO BROTHELS. Rich of colours, interesting story flow and lovely songs (I love the fact that they put some original Indian songs, the typical bollywood songs ^^). This documentary has won more than 30 major awards, and it’s an ACADEMY AWARD WINNER of BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE 2004.
Left to Right : Puja-the silly one, Suchitra-the quiet girl, Kochi-the shy one and also the very intelligent girl, Avijit-the very exceptionally talented among all, Tapasi-the brave girl, Gour-the sweet boy and is Puja best friend, Manik-the funny boy, and Shanti-manik’s big sister.
When you see the story, you’ll emerge to their life and you’ll feel that you know them well. The film is full of beautiful scenes, either sad or happy scenes. The feeling is so hard to describe… The emotion is so intense, you can cry and laugh along the story.
It just like they’ve been saying. It’s uplifting, inspring, and it’s truely a remarkable story about the power of art to transform lives. I sleep very peace after I watch the movie. The story makes me feel that I also can do the best for my life just like them.
After she finally able to help those children, Zana Briski–the angelic women, established the “Kids With Cameras”, a non-profit organization that teaches the art of photography to marginalized children in communities around the world.
We use photography to capture the imaginations of children, to empower them, building confidence, self-esteem and hope. We share their vision and voices with the world through exhibitions, books, websites and film. By linking with local organizations, we work to strengthen the children’s education and general well-being, providing financial support through sales of their prints or by developing our own homes with a focus on leadership and the arts (Kids with Cameras’ mission).
We can help them by buying their pictures. The organization now has expanded to help children in Haiti, Jerusalem, and Cairo. You can see and buy their pictures in the official website below.

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