Thomas James Parrish

‘Oh India’ is a fundraising travel photography project which developed through my desire to give back to the country that gave so much to me: India.

I spent 6 months travelling the far reaches of Northern India, from the rainforests and tea stops of Singalila National Park in West Bengal, to the mountains and monasteries of the Nubra Valley in Ladakh. The work explores the relationships between people and their environments and the ever-pressing influence of globalisation and climate change.

The images transpired out of adoration and intrigue for what I witnessed. Combining the country’s tenderness and tranquillity with its unrelenting vibrancy and chaos, they offer an honest insight into India’s individuality, and I hope they encourage an appreciation and understanding of lives so very different from our own. Upon my travels, I had the fortune to visit Kaikala Chetana, a community-run, volunteer-based education program in the rural Hooghly District of West Bengal, 50kms from Kolkata. Founded in 1996 by local man Somnath, who turned his family home into a centre for learning, the program now offers free education to over 800 children across 24 locations. Inspired by Somnath’s inclusive vision and witnessing first-hand the communal value of his work, the ‘Oh India’ project was created to raise money through photography to support Kaikala Chetana.

Tragically, amidst the Corona Virus pandemic - offering unique challenges of its own to the vulnerable village – West Bengal was hit by cyclone ‘Amphan’ , destroying houses, crops, and agricultural resources upon which the village depends. As a result of this devastating event, the ‘Oh India’ photobook has been created to aid in the recovery of the village and to ensure the continuation of the education program. All proceeds from the books and 5% of print sales will be donated to Kaikala Chetana.

The project was first revealed as an exhibition in Sydney and raised over $5000 AUD for Kaikala Chetana, funding the program for the next 2 years.

The book was launched alongside a photography exhibition at Abstract Thoughts Gallery in Darlinghurst, Sydney which raised a further $5000AUD for the program.