INDIA0640/ " meet APPU "
Appu is unique in that he has no lower or upper members.
It is very rare to see such a congenital deformity in the West & I agree, but for the wrong reasons.
In the West it would appear shocking to see someone "like this" on the streets.
The West hides its imperfections, sometimes cosmetically, medicinally, surgically, and other times inside places like institutions for "the disabled."
Western society would be offended by APPU. They would not accept that someone like APPU could be free to live as he wants on or off the streets;
to be mobile, to be able to talk, smoke, laugh, joke, pray, eat, sleep or make friends on the streets of New York or Berlin.
He would be the center of attention,
&
a shock to many and would not be welcomed.
India the worlds largest democracy does not hide its imperfections. Everything happens out in the streets in front of your eyes.
APPU, in Mumbai was a pleasure to meet and talk with through an interpreter. He can go as he pleases.
Some ignoramouses berate me for shooting the deformed.
That it is a form of mockery and offensive.
The folks who say this are IMHO, the ones who are ‘offensive’.
I have heard “ this man should be in a hospital, hidden from society, what if children see this?,!!!!!!
“ this man should have been aborted “, "that’s disgusting, horrible,” " I can't look at that"!
So, in essence...... APPU becomes a that!
not human, stripped of his dignity and respect, a blemish and should be stripped of his civil rights……………… merely for existing.
Most Westerners are frightened folks, isolated, arrogant, insular, parochial, protected, privileged and pretty much ignorant about the rest of the world.
anyway my point is:
When American soldiers first saw what HITLER had done to the JEWS who would have believed it or cared at all if photographers weren't there on the scene to document how cruel MEN can be towards other MEN?
The HOLOCAUST is an almost unbelievable event in human history yet, it happened and cannot be ignored.
Photography is essential.
It is one of the most important inventions of mankind.
My aim in shooting painful things is to educate not to ridicule.
Appu bleeds, he cries, he loves his god, has children, sings, jokes, in essence is worthy of all dignity bestowed upon him.
as far as APPU is concerned
I have not seen him in years, but i keep looking for him....
in
MumBai...
Photography’s new conscience
INDIA0640/ " meet APPU "
Appu is unique in that he has no lower or upper members.
It is very rare to see such a congenital deformity in the West & I agree, but for the wrong reasons.
In the West it would appear shocking to see someone "like this" on the streets.
The West hides its imperfections, sometimes cosmetically, medicinally, surgically, and other times inside places like institutions for "the disabled."
Western society would be offended by APPU. They would not accept that someone like APPU could be free to live as he wants on or off the streets;
to be mobile, to be able to talk, smoke, laugh, joke, pray, eat, sleep or make friends on the streets of New York or Berlin.
He would be the center of attention,
&
a shock to many and would not be welcomed.
India the worlds largest democracy does not hide its imperfections. Everything happens out in the streets in front of your eyes.
APPU, in Mumbai was a pleasure to meet and talk with through an interpreter. He can go as he pleases.
Some ignoramouses berate me for shooting the deformed.
That it is a form of mockery and offensive.
The folks who say this are IMHO, the ones who are ‘offensive’.
I have heard “ this man should be in a hospital, hidden from society, what if children see this?,!!!!!!
“ this man should have been aborted “, "that’s disgusting, horrible,” " I can't look at that"!
So, in essence...... APPU becomes a that!
not human, stripped of his dignity and respect, a blemish and should be stripped of his civil rights……………… merely for existing.
Most Westerners are frightened folks, isolated, arrogant, insular, parochial, protected, privileged and pretty much ignorant about the rest of the world.
anyway my point is:
When American soldiers first saw what HITLER had done to the JEWS who would have believed it or cared at all if photographers weren't there on the scene to document how cruel MEN can be towards other MEN?
The HOLOCAUST is an almost unbelievable event in human history yet, it happened and cannot be ignored.
Photography is essential.
It is one of the most important inventions of mankind.
My aim in shooting painful things is to educate not to ridicule.
Appu bleeds, he cries, he loves his god, has children, sings, jokes, in essence is worthy of all dignity bestowed upon him.
as far as APPU is concerned
I have not seen him in years, but i keep looking for him....
in
MumBai...
Photography’s new conscience