“Vartalaap”, a photobook was made out of personal anecdotes, interactions and observations from multiple visits to the Bulandshehar Jail, its surrounding areas, along with the city dwellers and a few prisoners who once were placed within the now disbanded prison, bringing together history, legacy, and the contemporary importance of the jail in Bulandshahar. The site of the jail emerges as a site where frictions between conservation, preservation, memorialization, musealization of historical spaces become apparent. Bulandshahar was an essential site in the revolt of 1857, and the priosners at the jail broke out several times, forming a crucial part of the force. They were then executed in a mass hanging at the Katl-e-aam chowk post defeat. The jail was functional until the 1970s and was marked for demolition until recently.
The book was in the language Hindi, the vernacular in Uttar Pradesh, and some local dialectic words were also incorporated within the book to provoke responses from the local audience.
The book, along with the counterparts “Chashmadeed” and “Sateh” were displayed at key sites as part of the Bulandshehar Festival; at The Ghat, Bulandshehar Jail, Kaal-E-Aam Chowk, and the Bulndshehar public library. "Vartalaap" was installed at the site of the jail, just outside the entrance of the main gate of the Jail.
"वार्तालाप", Hardbound Photobook, 128 pages on Acid-free paper. 2022. Displayed at Bulandshehar legacy festival, in front of the Bulandhsehar Jail main gate.
Excerpts from "वार्तालाप"
Excerpts from "वार्तालाप"
Excerpts from "वार्तालाप"
Excerpts from "वार्तालाप"
The Bulandshehar Legacy Festival was organized In Bulandshehar, Uttar Pradesh, India, in 2023 as part of the drive to save Bulandshehar Jail, which was due for demolition to create a shopping mall. Bulandshahar was one of the key sites in the revolt of 1857, India's first revolt against colonial British rule, and the Jail housed significant people who later became part of the forces in 1857.
Display at India Art Fair, 2023
