1 day Ago By Dinesh Khanna
A fortnight ago, my friend Idris Ahmed messaged saying that the Jumma Namaz the following day would be an interesting time to visit Jama Masjid as being the month of Ramzan, a lot of people would congregate. This was the catalyst I needed. Faith has been one of my abiding muses over the years and I find it fascinating to observe people and photograph them in moments of communion with the higher power.
While walking around, I noticed this group of four-five young boys clambering onto the central platform and posing for photos, as has become the universal practice of everyone, everywhere, since the advent of phone cameras. They were obviously enjoying themselves, oblivious to the sanctity of the occasion. I was more concerned with the colours and composition of the frame than its context.
This made me wonder, as I often do, about how someone who is viewing the image might interpret it. I decided to ask my daughter Myra, a yoga and expressive arts practitioner, what she saw and felt. Here is her reading of the image: If we stood close enough, could our dreams and hopes cross the boundaries of our bodies and spill into one another? Some would say our young hearts know so little — innocent hearts that don’t have the slightest clue of what makes this world spin today.
If we held each other tight enough, would we stay and not fall off this furiously spinning world? We may not have seen too much of this world, but our intrinsic nature has drawn us towards each other for comfort. Then why, may we ask, are you all building tall walls to keep each other out? Will our thinking also become like yours when we no longer have young hearts? If we stood close enough, could we savour this companionship? This feels like home, this feels like celebration. As we look upon this large symbol of faith, with belief in our eyes and belonging flooding our hearts — we ask you, what do you belong to? Our limbs may not have grown long enough to embrace wholly, yet we stand close enough, drawn to each other by something greater.
Have you ever felt that pull, have you ever longed for an embrace? Then pull down these boundaries and melt these shackles, there lies an entire world beyond what you believe. Expand your beliefs and make room for your heart to grow young again. If we continue to stand close enough, your heart here will be safe.
— Khanna is a Delhi-based photographer.
