Women in conflict

All the 49 photographs displayed in the ongoing exhibition, titled The Vignettes of Resilience: Armed Conflict and Women in North East India, at Alliance Française reflect the torture, trauma and tribulations forced upon the women of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.

All the 49 photographs displayed in the ongoing exhibition, titled The Vignettes of Resilience: Armed Conflict and Women in North East India, at Alliance Française reflect the torture, trauma and tribulations forced upon the women of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.

HT Image

And, it is young photographer and researcher, Kausiki Sarma, who deserves the credit for bringing alive and sharing with the world the sordid story of these women — each of whom is a mother, wife, sister or daughter of the men killed in the strife torn region for no fault of theirs, while they remain the ultimate sufferers.

At the very sight, these women might even remind one of many others who face the aftermath of similar carnages that occur in other parts of the country.
Kausiki was born in Assam and educated in Delhi, and holds a master’s degree in operational research.

She discloses that this compilation of photographs is a product of two separate study projects based in the North East and shot across Kokrajhar, Dhemaji and Sibsagar districts of Assam and Peren, Kohima and Tuensang regions of Nagaland. Kausiki identifies some of the women, a Mrs Amino, Ms Hiniya of Chessore, Chitralekah, Amiya Gogio, Renuka Moren and many more — all of whom seem to be sitting pensively in a long wait, hoping against hope for the return of their bread earners.

The exhibition is on till September 24, at Alliance Française, Sector 36, Chandigarh