Union Minister Arun Jaitley today lauded photographers for doing "not an easy" job and capturing "moments of history" as he referred to Dandi March saying many have forgotten the yatra, but it is the images of Mahatma Gandhi walking with stick which reminds all of the event.
"There are indeed several visuals which we remember really by the photographic visual and not by deep content of what the event was. Have we not repeatedly seen Gandhiji with a stick in his hand walking?
"Many of us today have forgotten the Dandi yatra itself, but that imprint of the great photograph of the moment which found a place in history which really reminds us of what the historical events were," he said.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Jaitley made the remark during Fifth National Photography Awards ceremony held here. The ceremony was also attended by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
Jaitley termed the job of lensmen as "complicated art," especially of those working in the media, who he added, are "always on their feet".
During his speech, he also joked that photographers are "humorously" referred to as "dictators" for they can ask the President or Prime Minister to "stand up or sit down" until they get the "right photo".
"They are dedicated people. They also excel in 'disturbing' many functions till they get their right photographs. Some are humorously referred to as living dictators because they can ask the President of India to re-do or stand there for some time or they can ask the Prime Minister to sit down or stand up once again for photograph," he added.
Delhi-based senior photo journalist Bhawan Singh was honoured with 'Life-time Achievement Award' during the event for his contribution in the field.
Javed Ahmed Dar, photojournalist based out of Srinagar, was given 'professional photographer of the year' award.
Delhi's Himashu Thakur was given award in the 'amateur photographers' category.
The Minister handed over 'special mention awards' in professional category to Arun Sreedhar, Bindu Arora, Pattabi Raman, Shrikant Shimpi and Sibu Bhavanendran.
Mukesh Srivastava, Prashanth Swaminathan, Santosh Rajgharia, Rishabh Mittal and Subir Gupta were given 'special mention awards' in amateur category.
The winners were short listed by a jury comprising noted lensmen Ashok Dilwali (chairman), Sudharak Olwe, K Madhavan Pillai, H Satish, Gurinder Osan and Sanjiv Misra.
