Last December, the city of Chennai played host to a unique and innovative photo exhibition titled Tamil Nadu: Through My Lens. The exhibition was part of the Navy Day celebrations and showcased the perspectives of twenty talented deaf artists, providing a platform for them to share their creative vision with the world. It featured a stunning collection of photographs carefully curated by Srivatsan Sankaran, Founder, Madras Photo Bloggers and Rangoli Dhingra, President, Navy Welfare & Wellness Association (Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry). The event, which began with the Navy’s traditional Sunset Ceremony, was attended by several dignitaries, including Chief Justice Sriram and the Governor of Tamil Nadu R.N. Ravi.
Each photograph told a unique story about Tamil Nadu’s rich culture, vibrant landscapes, and resilient people. From the sun-kissed beaches of the Marina to the majestic temples of Mahabalipuram, the pictures on display captured the essence of Tamil Nadu’s diverse heritage. The exhibit was a testament to the talent and creativity of deaf artists. Ms. Roja, a skilled, sign-language interpreter, played a crucial role in ensuring that the event was inclusive and accessible to all participants.
Madras Photo Bloggers was the organisation behind this collaboration with the Indian Navy. The group aims to promote photography as a passion and give a space for photographers, bloggers and history enthusiasts to share their work and ideas. Madras Photo Bloggers is also home to the Deaf Artists NIFT Collective, an initiative that seeks to empower deaf artists and photographers.
Speaking about the exhibition, Rangoli said, “As part of the At Home for Navy Day celebrations in Chennai, every year we endeavour to showcase some part of the local culture. This year, we decided to take a happy step towards inclusion.”
Said Srivatsan, “Rangoli and I discussed the importance of showcasing the talents of deaf photographers through images that emphasise themes such as Tamil Nadu’s culture, people, landscapes, and temples. Given the vastness of the subject, this proved to be quite challenging. This has truly been a collaborative effort, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Rangoli for providing this brilliant platform to bring our vision to life.”
“Not everyone knows much about the thriving deaf community in the city and that we have a large number of very talented youngsters who are part of it,” shared Rangoli. “With the idea of bridging the gap and providing a platform for our young talented artists to showcase their talent, we decided to curate a Photo Exhibition especially for the Navy Day celebrations in Chennai.” She said that given Srivatsan’s passion for helping the community, Madras Phoro Bloggers were the obvious choice for the Navy to collaborate with.
The photographs were chosen through a meticulous analysis of the works of various deaf photographers. “We were overwhelmed by the number of photographs that we had to choose from, but it is here
that Srivatsan’s experience helped,” said Rangoli. “He painstakingly shortlisted the 20 photographs that were finally on display.”
“The process took us two weeks to identify the best pieces, and the rest gradually fell into place,” smiled Srivatsan. He explained that inclusion in the art space goes beyond mere representation – it is about amplifying voices and stories that have often gone unheard.
“This exhibition exemplifies an inclusive art environment, rooted in our belief that everyone is equal and talented,” said Srivatsan. “Accessibility is a fundamental right that should be afforded to all.”
Expanding on the subject, Rangoli said, “We are all happy to talk about diversity, but diversity without inclusion is meaningless. It is my personal view that every individual contributes immeasurably towards building a cohesive society. Those who are challenged in one aspect of life are often supremely gifted in every other way. And it is here that mutual learning happens.”