In Nagas’ land

I spent my early years exploring various regions of India. Thanks to the Festival of India, I had the unique opportunity to visit Nagaland for a shoot in 1984. I was barely 24, and this assignment marked the beginning of my self-funded exploratory assignment and visual documentation of one of the remotest states in India, which spanned over six years. Subsequently, I read many books and accounts of early travellers, and the works of anthropologist Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf, which inspired my further explorations.

These journeys to Nagaland were my self-imposed breaks from the hectic assignments in the world of advertising and corporate photography. They provided me with the opportunity to recharge. Creative recharging is such an important process! It involves finding new inspiration, giving oneself time to relax by engaging in activities that spark one’s imagination.

In the analog days of photography, travelling with film and multiple camera bodies presented its own challenges. Most of the interiors of these beautiful homes were dimly lit, requiring me to carry small portable flashlights powered by wet batteries that needed frequent recharging. This meant planning trips to towns with electricity.

In essence, photographs go beyond mere images; they are narratives that invite us to reflect, remember, and engage with the world around us. I firmly believe that photographers have a very important role as visual historians of the time they live in.

— Arya is a Delhi-based photographer and founder-director of the Museo Camera Centre for the Photographic Arts