Pictures shine a light on LGBT life in India

Photographer Charan Singh’s series ‘Kothis, Hijras, Giriyas and Others’, which exhibited in London earlier this month, is an illuminating look at homosexuality in India, a country where it is still illegal and a major taboo subject in civil society.

His photographs capture underprivileged homosexual men (Kothis), eunuchs – what the Western world would call male-to-female transgender people or effeminate homosexuals (Hijiras) and partners of both these groups (Giriyas).

Charan’s work with HIV activism groups in India allowed him to explore this world and document it in his unique collection which he labels a ‘marriage’ of his activism and photography.

“I started thinking about how I could tell these stories, without being constrained by the law,” said Charan in an interview with UCA. “We could only focus on the HIV work, and not on the other parts of their lives. We can’t talk about their sexuality, about what they want to be, or the other aspects of their lives.  When I started with the photography, I realised that this could be how I can talk about these people – it marries my HIV and activism work with art and photography.”

Although his work is no longer on display in London, the entire series of 27 pictures is going to be displayed at “I am a Camera”, Fotofest in Houston, USA from July 9 – August 29.

To see more of Charan’s work, visit his website here.