Photo Feature

Photo Feature

Shantanu Das is a renowned photojournalist from Mumbai with more than 20 years’ experience. As a child, he liked a prehistoric 120-format Agfa click 3 camera owned by his uncle. As a little boy, Shantanu was never allowed to touch the camera, which only sparked his curiosity about the machine. Years later as a freelance photographer, his work has been exhibited in prominent Indian and international exhibitions. He got various awards like Lalit Kala Academy Lucknow on Covid Warriors photo subject in 2021,Kuwait International Photography Contest in 2016, National Geographic Traveler Photography Award, MFI National Press Photo Award and Young portfolio award from Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts, Japan in 2007. Shantanu Das has many Solo Photography exhibitions like “Parsi a timeless legacy” at Tao art gallery, Mumbai in 2019. “Udvada – A Parsi Village” at the IIC Annex Gallery, Delhi April 2016. Glimpses of Mongolia, at Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai, November 2014. “Borders in and out”, April 2013 in Mumbai “Udvada – A Parsi Village” at Tao Art Gallery in Mumbai in April 2012. “The Land of the Rising Sun” was on display at Tao Art Gallery in Mumbai and “That Vision Thing” at the Bombay Press Club in 2006. he has published a coffee table book “UDVADA”.

HIS AMBITIOUS ONGOING ‘PARSI PROJECT’

The Parsis are a lively and devout community, both progressive and deeply traditional. Historically, Parsi
families have made an immense contribution to India’s arts, culture and development. They are known for being a uniformly well-educated community admired for their integrity, forward thinking and laughter at themselves. He took the opportunity to spread the unique culture, rituals and traditions of these people to a wider population. His passion is preserving and documenting the philosophy, character, and spirit of an ethnic community that is sadly and surely diminishing. He has documented these works over six years and it is still a work-in-progress.

Jawa & Bawa! The iconic Parsi-owned motorcycle with a sidecar is seen raising the dust in Udvada as a priest rides his son and a friend home one evening
Jawa & Bawa! The iconic Parsi-owned motorcycle with a sidecar is seen raising the dust in Udvada as a priest rides his son and a friend home one evening
It’s rehearsals first for Bollywood actor Boman Irani who has no time for tea, biscuits and the Udvada high priest Khurshed Dastoor, as he rehearses over his speech for the opening ceremony of the Udvada Utsav in December 2015
It’s rehearsals first for Bollywood actor Boman Irani who has no time for tea, biscuits and the Udvada high priest Khurshed Dastoor, as he rehearses over his speech for the opening ceremony of the Udvada Utsav in December 2015
Teatime gossip in Udvada on Sunday afternoon as four sisters read Gujarati newspaper. Notice the English pendulum regulator clock on the wall?
Teatime gossip in Udvada on Sunday afternoon as four sisters read Gujarati newspaper. Notice the English pendulum regulator clock on the wall?
Coming to Tata’s rescue! Industrialist Ratan Tata gets help dressing up in the traditional Parsi Dugli as he prepares for the Udvada Utsav 2015
Coming to Tata’s rescue! Industrialist Ratan Tata gets help dressing up in the traditional Parsi Dugli as he prepares for the Udvada Utsav 2015
Evenings in Udvada are either meant to put your feet up or have a swinging time as these senior citizens on the veranda of their cottage know
Evenings in Udvada are either meant to put your feet up or have a swinging time as these senior citizens on the veranda of their cottage know
A couple exchanged wedding rings to mark an end to wedding rituals. Blooming hues of red and white set the tone for a Parsi wedding, far away from the flashy and OTT wedding spirit of a grand Indian wedding affair. Steeped in Zoroastrian culture, the simplicity of a Parsi wedding is almost mesmerising
A couple exchanged wedding rings to mark an end to wedding rituals. Blooming hues of red and white set the tone for a Parsi wedding, far away from the flashy and OTT wedding spirit of a grand Indian wedding affair. Steeped in Zoroastrian culture, the simplicity of a Parsi wedding is almost mesmerising
Mobeds (young Parsi priests in the making) of all sizes at the Dadar Athornan Institute
Mobeds (young Parsi priests in the making) of all sizes at the Dadar Athornan Institute
CELEBRATION WITH PRECAUTION : Two Parsi priests praying well at the Ratanbai Chinoy Agyari during Navroze. The Ratanbai Chinoy Agyari celebrated its Navroze (New year ) by conducting a Jashan ceremony. However only four people were allowed to be present at the Agiary at a time. Zoroastrain Parsis cooperated with the guidelines for preventing Coronavirus. People greeted from a distance and some even wore masks while entering the Fire Temple
CELEBRATION WITH PRECAUTION : Two Parsi priests praying well at the Ratanbai Chinoy Agyari during Navroze. The Ratanbai Chinoy Agyari celebrated its Navroze (New year ) by conducting a Jashan ceremony. However only four people were allowed to be present at the Agiary at a time. Zoroastrain Parsis cooperated with the guidelines for preventing Coronavirus. People greeted from a distance and some even wore masks while entering the Fire Temple
Parsi women in Gara saree in a wedding. The Gara saree is a unique member in the exhaustive variety of crafts found in the country. Predominantly worn by the Parsi community during weddings and special occasions
Parsi women in Gara saree in a wedding. The Gara saree is a unique member in the exhaustive variety of crafts found in the country. Predominantly worn by the Parsi community during weddings and special occasions
Wassup bro? That’s what these Parsi men seem to be saying as they catch up at an ancestral home in Navsari for a gupshup session
Wassup bro? That’s what these Parsi men seem to be saying as they catch up at an ancestral home in Navsari for a gupshup session
The road to Udvada has all kinds of traffic including a vintage Parsiowned motor car that takes the lead over a Parsi-made Tata truck
The road to Udvada has all kinds of traffic including a vintage Parsiowned motor car that takes the lead over a Parsi-made Tata truck
The Jashan ceremony on Sanjan Day (November 17) and the Sanjan Stambh memorial column in Gujarat that commemorates the arrival of the Zoroastrians there centuries ago
The Jashan ceremony on Sanjan Day (November 17) and the Sanjan Stambh memorial column in Gujarat that commemorates the arrival of the Zoroastrians there centuries ago
Two rounds of discussion are underway at the Kolkata Parsi Club – between the City of Joy’s resident Parsi members and some inquisitive crows
Two rounds of discussion are underway at the Kolkata Parsi Club – between the City of Joy’s resident Parsi members and some inquisitive crows
Bound by Faith! A Parsi man devoutly performs the Kusti prayers in the morning as he prepares to face another day
Bound by Faith! A Parsi man devoutly performs the Kusti prayers in the morning as he prepares to face another day
Parsi women at worship beside the sea at Radio Club in Mumbai on Ava Roj
Parsi women at worship beside the sea at Radio Club in Mumbai on Ava Roj
Some youngsters watch curiously as a Parsi couple step down to the Arabian Sea on Marine Drive in Mumbai to worship the water as an element of creation on Ava Roj in March
Some youngsters watch curiously as a Parsi couple step down to the Arabian Sea on Marine Drive in Mumbai to worship the water as an element of creation on Ava Roj in March
Pretty young Parsi girls, looking like budding air hostesses for Iran Air, outside the Iranshah Atash Behram in Udvada
Pretty young Parsi girls, looking like budding air hostesses for Iran Air, outside the Iranshah Atash Behram in Udvada
The magnificent and awe-inspiring entrance to the Iranshah Atash Behram guarded by two Gayomards (the sculpture with the body of a bull, the face of a man, and the wings of a supernatural being) in Udvada
The magnificent and awe-inspiring entrance to the Iranshah Atash Behram guarded by two Gayomards (the sculpture with the body of a bull, the face of a man, and the wings of a supernatural being) in Udvada
A Parsi bows in worship to the water deity, the angel Ava Aradvisur, at a well inside the Iranshah Atash Behram in Udvada
A Parsi bows in worship to the water deity, the angel Ava Aradvisur, at a well inside the Iranshah Atash Behram in Udvada
Two Parsi priests at work in a trust office in Udvada
Two Parsi priests at work in a trust office in Udvada
Sloping tiled roofs still dominate the Udvada skyline
Sloping tiled roofs still dominate the Udvada skyline
The young and the old at a workshop for Ervads, Ostas and Behdin Pasbans in Navsari of the Boi Ceremony at the Atash Dadgah Saheb
The young and the old at a workshop for Ervads, Ostas and Behdin Pasbans in Navsari of the Boi Ceremony at the Atash Dadgah Saheb
This is the way we braid our hair! A Bengali maid oils and braids an elderly Parsi woman’s hair at a Parsi Colony residence in Kolkata
This is the way we braid our hair! A Bengali maid oils and braids an elderly Parsi woman’s hair at a Parsi Colony residence in Kolkata
What is it about Parsis and bikes? If you don’t have a vintage model, get a superbike! A son shines his father’s monstrous Triumph at their modern high-rise apartment block in Mumbai
What is it about Parsis and bikes? If you don’t have a vintage model, get a superbike! A son shines his father’s monstrous Triumph at their modern high-rise apartment block in Mumbai

Shantanu Das

Shantanu Das is a renowned photojournalist from Mumbai with more than 20 years’ experience. As a child, he liked a prehistoric 120-format Agfa click 3 camera owned by his uncle. As a little boy, Shantanu was never allowed to touch the camera, which only sparked his curiosity about the machine. Years later as a freelance photographer, his work has been exhibited in prominent Indian and international exhibitions. he got various awards like Lalit Kala Academy Lucknow on Covid Warriors photo subject in 2021, Kuwait International Photography Contest in 2016, National Geographic Traveler Photography Award, MFI National Press Photo Award and Young portfolio award from Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts, Japan in 2007.

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