The second edition of the Delhi Photo Festival starts from September 27. How have you graduated from the first?
In 2011, we had about 600 submissions. This year, 2,349 bodies of work have been submitted from 90 countries. It'll have panel discussions, screenings, portfolio reviews and gallery walks.
You wanted to host a festival where photography transcends genre?
There are festivals that focus on education, political activism, street photography—we wanted to celebrate photography in all its forms.
Prabuddha Dasgupta had said it's a festival for and by photographers?
Anyone interested in the art could submit their projects. This is mainly to break hierarchies.
What would be special about the partner gallery exhibitions?
We wanted a city carnival, so some Delhi galleries will mount 20-23 partner exhibitions.
And the idea was to have a public, non-commercial platform for your venture?
We wanted everyone to have access, so the Habitat Centre came as a natural choice.
What would be the highlights of the fest?
Exhibitions, intellectual discussions and a retrospective on Prabuddha Dasgupta's work.
Will this festival act as a spur for other photo ventures in India?
Despite good photographers, India never had a photo fest. Now, there are fests in Mumbai and Madurai. We want similar initiatives to start.
You've been a photojournalist for 18 years. Which are among your best works?
King, Commoner, Citizen, which encapsulates my journalistic experience of 18 years, Ayodhya and Pan India: A Shared Habitat.
Your favourite photographers?
Cartier-Bresson, Raghu Rai, Raghubir Singh, Kishor Parekh, even younger photographers.
Other interests?
Films, music, food. Basically, the good life.
