Blind Boys » Archive » Growing Old Together by Akshay Mahajan

Once upon a time there was a couple called Rajender and Veena. After a lifetime spent working hard and bringing up their children, Rajender got a watch when he retired from the Air-force and they finally realized their Indian middle-class dream or so they thought: a little house in New Dehli, Vasant Enclave.

This is their life.

Urbanisation seems to have made life a shade drabber for the aged, left alone while the rest of the family members chase their insatiable need for self aggrandizement. And having to live with uncertainty as to where they would be palmed off next

Veena, is stopping at Vasant Vihar market because it’s on her way home from my physical therapy appointment. Rajender waits in the car insaitable and plays with the gear lock of his maruti 800. She was out of Advil. Her knees ached as she walked slower than usual. A few months ago her doctor referred to her knees as arthritic.She usually goes no-where without her advil. Shopping done, they return home.

The newpaper cries to a story man and his wife locking his 68-year-old mother out of the home with food and water for the day. She was let in only when they returned from work in the evening. These are everyday realities of growing old in urban India. The bell rings, a society notice arrives. Rajender makes an attempt at finding his reading glasses but Veena snatches is out of his hands and reads it. She read it aloud at the dining table, as Rajender adjusts his hearing aid. Society gates 7 and 8 will be manned 24hours post day-light robbery of a money-changer in Vasant Enclave. Three assailants made – cash to day ago – two days ago. Veena and Rajender draft their own policy and decide the main gate will be locked at all times.

The new Indian urban-scape is filled with many uncertainties but atleast Veena and Rajender have each other or atleast for now.

Vidya

Thanks, Akshay, for the heads up on this blog – from what I’ve browsed, I very much like what I see.

The tones here are perfect. Picture # 19 echoes your closing thought perfectly, though # 12 is certainly my favorite!

Jun 15, 2009 @ 7:10 am

A fan

I’ve seen better work by you, Akshay. While the theme and choice of subject was good I thought you over did the post processing. The photos look absolutely B&W with no shades of gray. Contrast does heighten the drama a bit but at the price of texture and gradient, it makes it look too… plasticy, in my honest opinion. Dont get me wrong, I’m a big fan of your work but I just think the greys in any B&W make more impact than the true contrast and noise removal.

Cheers

Jun 15, 2009 @ 10:36 am

kaurwakee

Love the story. Its shot in monochome but has way too many shades.I like the way you have weaved things together. Mishmash of wires. Lone streetlight. A Maruti 800. Birds on the hi wire and single bird visible in the sky.

Some messages are subtle and yet shout out! The man sitting on chair is shot twice( once he is watching TV). The old man’s presence is subtle yet the almost bare walls somehow shout out!
I like the steel and glass utensils( together) on the dining table. superb messaging

Love the shot of the Old man having an ice cream. Only shot that brought a smile to my face.

I dont know if you kept some pictures intentionally V dark in color. But it took a bit of strain to view them

looking fwd to more pics.

Jun 16, 2009 @ 4:56 am

nidhi dhingra

very touching..

Jun 17, 2009 @ 12:42 am

Akshay

Vidya, glad you liked the images. The tones as a-fan pointed out not perfect but hopefully my pictures captured a certain a mood I was hoping for.

A-fan, I agree with. Kapil mentioned this earlier. I’m very lazy with my edit and usually plays spoil sport on the end result. You are right – I over did it here. Thanks for pointing it your criticism is appreciated.

Kaurwakee, Glad you like the images. Some the images are a little to dark – that would one of my editing faults.

Thanks, Niddhi

Jun 18, 2009 @ 4:08 am

Karen

i think you work very well with little light, you know how to use it to ur advantage, the post processing is a little difficult on the eyes. but ur subjects are brilliant. picture 10 is beautiful…interspersing visuals of the building and the cables adds to the coldness of the situation.

Jun 24, 2009 @ 4:21 am

Penelope Gan

Thanks Akshay for the invite … sorry I took this long to respond!

Nice work here – hope to see more.

Jun 25, 2009 @ 7:56 am

Abhijit Dharmadhikari

Nice images and the story!

Aug 17, 2009 @ 10:37 pm

Vijay Basrur

Hi Akshay,

I happened to come here on passing and this post pretty much made my day. It is a brilliant photo essay.

Thanks so much.

Best,

Vijay

Sep 02, 2009 @ 4:31 am

Sangeeta Mall

These are great and moving pictures. Although it’s hard to look after the very old and the very young while earning a living. I don’t think people are cruel by choice, and I don’t think seeking material fulfillment is necessarily a bad thing. But balancing care and comfort is a tough one, all over the world!

Sep 09, 2009 @ 4:29 am