Photography: The Photographic Society of Madras, capturing images for 150 years

I was traveling and missed the photography extravaganza, All India Salon of Photography – 2008. The event was held at the Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai, from September 17 to 21 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Photographic Society of Madras (PSM). About 2500 photographs by 1500 cameramen including renowned professionals and promising amateurs were on display.

What is a photograph? It is a moment in time, an event in life, captured forever. When this is done with imagination, the resulting image rises above a mundane record to a work of art. Padma Shri Raghu Rai, the doyen of Indian photographers who was the Chief Guest at the valedictory function of the Salon said that the preserved photographic treasures enrich viewers on how photography has grown as an art form.

The PSM was started in 1857 by Dr. Alexander Hunter and the Honorable Walter Elliot. It survived the vicissitudes of time and is a premier organization that promotes photography in the country. During its one and a half centuries of existence the PSM developed affiliations with photographic communities all over the world. These include the Royal Photographic Society, London and the Photographic Society of America.

Says KO Isaac, President of the PSM, “As part of our commemorative programs celebrating 150 years of our Society's contributions to photography and fellowship, we have once again brought together hundreds of photographers together from across the length and breadth of our country, showcasing exemplary talent, unique perspectives and proving that an art such as photography unites people irrespective of caste, creed or religion; everyone coming together in celebration of their passion of photography.”

The PSM holds over thirty programs every year. These include discussions, guest lectures, expositions, travel, workshops, family fellowships and training sessions. There are special schemes for students. For details about the PSM, please visit http://www.photomadras.org/index.html

Incidentally, KO Isaac, the President of PSM, is an excellent photographer. Many of his creations have appeared on this blog. Some of them are reproduced here. Click on them for enlarged view. The copyright is reserved.

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Death of a nurse

I am back at my native village, Olavipe. The news that greeted me on arrival on the 23^rd of this month was a sad one. Nurse Elizabeth of the nearby Community Health Center had died at the age of 52. She had been in good health apparently, but suddenly developed some discomfort and breathed her last in a hospital the next day.

Everybody here has only nice things to say about Elizabeth. Many households in the village had benefited from the healing touch of this kindhearted lady. She was available to provide medical aid to the needy any time of the night or day. And she never took money for the humane service she rendered.

When Ammachi (Oru Desathinte Amma.) was sick, in 1995, Elizabeth was of much assistance. We gratefully remember her help.

She will be greatly missed by the entire village. The general expectation is that Elizabeth’s daughter who would be completing her nursing studies in a few months would step into her mother’s shoes.

A good nurse, I should think, is as much a product of formal studies as aptitude. She would have an inherent inner quality from which comes compassion and dedication.

A great nurse, Mother Teresa, used to distribute to her visitors an yellow slip printed with the following words:

“The fruit of Silence is Prayer

The fruit of Prayer is Faith

The fruit of Faith is Love

The fruit of Love is Service

The fruit of Service is Peace.”

May Elizabeth’s soul rest in peace.

Ends.

Note: The source of the anecdote about Mother Teresa is FAITH AND COMPASSION, The Life and Work of Mother Teresa. Raghu Rai & Navin Chawla. Element Books, Shaftsbury, Dorset. 1996.

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