Vrindavan, an ancient town in India, is often referred to as the "City of Widows." This moniker stems from the large population of widows who reside there, many of whom have been abandoned by their families following the deaths of their husbands. These women are often marginalized and live in difficult circumstances. They are forgotten souls, deemed Zero, their voices muted, their presence null.
Click to watch video: THE FORGOTTEN ONES
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Photo series commisioned by Smile Train India for their Annual Exhibition 2024 in New Delhi.
“In celebration of National Cleft Day 2024, I wanted to capture a series of intimate portraits for Smile Train. When I say "intimate," I mean that the individuals I am photographing are sharing parts of themselves with me— an honour and responsibility I take seriously. They entrust me with their pain, joy, hopes, emotions, and aspirations. My goal was to encapsulate as much of this as possible. I wanted these portraits to be raw—where raw signifies real, and real far surpasses perfection. Beauty takes on diverse forms, and true beauty lies in authenticity. That's the essence I aimed to capture— a portrait that not only exudes beauty but resonates with genuine soul.”
- Komal
ABOUT SMILE TRAIN: Smile Train is the world’s largest cleft-focused NGO that empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally.
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