Ashok Kochhar –
From Hastinapur to Shahjahanabad, and Dilli to New Delhi, this is the Capital of a majestic Country for over 5000 years.
Presently divided into two, New Delhi and Old Delhi, the former is the pulse and the latter the soul of the world’s largest democracy.
At first glance, the place looks like a crowded, totally unhygienic, claustrophobic place. But when you really enter its soul, you find warmth – lots of it.
There is a sense of respect, a revered belonging to the place, with people still preserving the heritage, culture, religious values and most importantly, they continue to connect soulfully with each other, as humans first.
Parade of eras
One gets a whiff of the eras gone by, and can only wonder about the tales this part of the city has to tell. It is said that there were water passages, designed in a unique manner, which made the entire city light up on a Full Moon night, and hence was fondly named ‘Chandni Chowk.’
This place has witnessed many rise and then fall; it is the city that stood still during slaughters and love Affairs, and yet kept its calm.
It still has a charm unmatched by any other place and a culture of its own, from the food to the shops, from the way business is carried out in these narrow lanes, to the way relationships blossom, out of love and mutual respect.
Defining people
Like any other place in the world, it is the people that define a place.
In Old Delhi, the chaos and the hustle for space, the crowd and the noises all seem to highlight the way of life here. Its people are vibrant, bustling with energy and somehow, everything works out just fine.
There is no code to be followed, no process to do things here, and yet everything seems to be in place, once you become a part of the surroundings.
During my various visits to the place, I made many friends.
They are tea sellers, beggers, sweepers, newspaper vendors and many.
There is a long story to every picture but I would like to introduce them in their real environment, so that you also feel the warmth of it.
Delhi may account for one of the highest density of population in the world, but people are really soulful. This is the only place in the world with so much of economic, social, religious diversity. They live in total harmony, which is worth admiring.
| The Place
The warmth to be embraced Food of narrow lanes to be relished Get lost in the maddening crowd Make friends on every corner Listen to the laughter of a simple living Visit a bungalow of three feet by six feet Touch, feel and absorb the heritage and lineage of our yesteryears Ye Hai Hamari Purani Dilli! (This is our Old Delhi) |
About Ashok Kochhar
Ashok Kochhar is an artist, a visual expert and an esoteric personified. While his images leave the spectators gasping, his thought and expression stir the deepest emotions and cast a spell of magnificence hard to explain in words.
It is often said that only a painter in a photographer can create wondrous and exotic visuals. In about two decades (he started only in the late 1980s), Kochhar has worked for almost all major corporates in India. His engineering qualifications and background in Engineering brings into focus accuracy and sharp vision, both important attributes to photography.
Throughout his career, Kochhar has worked on high quality equipment, matching international standards. He is stated to be among a handful of photographers who use the best technology and techniques available globally.
