A hundred years, 100 tales

checks out an interesting photography project that profiles 40 centenarians from in and around Delhi

When Harbans Mody began working on an idea of taking portrait shots of Delhi's centenarians, he didn't come back with only photographs. On the contrary, this photographer, with nearly three decades of experience in advertising, came back making invaluable relationships, not just with his models but also with their families.

"The project, right from its inception, took me almost two years to complete. It showed me not just the faces of these old people but entire lives of citizens who had belonged to Hindustan," says Mody, whose exhibition was a part of the recently-concluded India International Trade Fair (IITF), 2007, New Delhi.

While people flocked to the Delhi Pavilion at the fair to take a look at his work (this interview was conducted there), Mody looked visibly relaxed, peering at the exhaustive comments in his guest book. This, even as a group of youngsters clamoured at his desk for extra booklets on the project and a septuagenarian came in to simply laud the effort.

"I'm glad my efforts paid off. Right from the time of visiting the Election Commission's office to narrowing the list to 40, locating the centenarians and convincing them to pose for the pictures, I had a dreary but challenging task," he laughs.

Apart from it being unusual as an idea, Mody's pictures of these 40 men and women are unique as the photographer lets his works do all the talking. While some of the subjects may look somewhat tired, they are far from being out. Behind their wrinkles lie the most beautiful of faces, enigmatic, full of magnetism.

Not surprisingly, Mody got a terrific response at the IITF. Though it may be too early to comment, he says his work may just be showcased in New York. "What has aroused interest is also the fact that I didn't resort to any digital photography, shooting these photos on my Hasselblad 500 cm camera," he says.

Reiterating that the experience has taught him a lot, he feels sorry that some of the centenarians photographed are no longer alive. "But some of them are still healthy because of their impeccable eating habits," he adds, citing the example of centenarian Mawasi Ram, who only drinks water from a well near his house.

Ram, in fact, told Mody about his meeting with Pt Nehru when he convinced the prime minister to abolish an extra tax on tractors. "The task, I was told, was achieved in just one week," he adds.

Then, there is Sundri Devi who, despite being old, has managed to start a school for children in her village in Rajasthan.

"They know an India that we, or our children, or our children's children, will never see. After living in the days of the British Raj and witnessing Partition, I'm amazed they still manage to relate to the changing face of India," says Mody.

For someone who dreams of seeing a community centre for senior citizens, Mody is naturally glad that his efforts ("I've spent every paisa on my own") have finally paid off.

He's hoping to meet these amazing centenarians once again, this time for a documentary. While that could take some time, for now, Mody's given us a reason to look up to some of our country's oldest and salute them.