Kaveri

I was born and have spent all my thirty-four years near this river. After five years of formal education in fine arts and fifteen years of studying artistic creation and history, I began my career as a photographer with this project—a deliberate and deeply personal choice.

Tolstoy suggests that to understand the course of history, we must use it as a backdrop, adding humans for scale and movement. Similarly, this project serves as a lens through which I can explore my origins and cultural position. It is a way to understand not only my place within this landscape but also the state of the country and how I can situate myself within it as an artist.

Standing on a 3.8-billion-year-old hillock—older than the Himalayas—near my hometown, I view the river as poets of the Sangam period (circa 4th century BCE), Chola kings (3rd to 12th century), Kalabhras, Badami Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Sultans, Marathas, Nayaks, and British colonials did over the last two millennia. This place has been a silent witness to cycles of change, from ancient rulers to modern life, Now in the pseudo Nationalism.

The myths, monuments, and people connected to this river form a metaphorical tapestry that reflects the essence of India and Indianness in the 21st century. By studying the river, I am examining our relationship with her over centuries—what we have received and what we have given in return.

This inquiry concerns not only the river’s state but also our own. Through this project, I aim to understand how history, culture, and nature intersect to shape who we are today and where we are headed.