Portrait of Amma, Home, shot on 120mm film
Home, The Ongoing
The Images were made in collaboration with my mother at my childhood home. Bama's evocative text unearths memories that resonate deeply with the lived experiences of a Dalit female. In a landscape where dignified representations of our community, practices, and customs are rare, Bama's seminal work, 'Karukku,' holds a special place in my heart, profoundly impacting not only me but also deeply moving my mother.
The process of making these images was a meditative journey. Staging Images and photographing together was an act of acknowledgment and celebration of our identity. Through this work, we not only honor the unique contours of our own lives but also pay tribute to the collective experiences of Dalit women. "Home" is a tribute to the power of representation.
Excerpts from Karukku by Bama (Published 1992) | Bookshelf, Home, Shot on 120mm film
Amma & me, Home, shot on 120mm film
Amma & me, Home, shot on 120mm film
Amma with flowers, Shot on 120mm Film
Amma praying, Home, shot on 120mm film | Excerpts from Karukku by Bama (Published 1992)
Amma & me, Home, shot on 120mm film
Amma with flowers, Shot on 120mm Film
Amma picking lice, Home, shot on 120mm | Excerpts from Karukku (Published 1992)
Amma with her office Handbag, Home, Shot on 120mm film
Amma with her Bible, Home, Shot on 120mm film
Portrait of Amma, Home, Shot on 120mm film
Calendar, Home, Shot on 120mm film
Amma and me, Home, Shot on 120mm film
Bama at Dalit Kalai Vizha |Photo by Jaisingh Nageshwaran for Dalit Murasu Archives.
Bama Faustina Soosaira is a Tamil Dalit feminist, teacher, and novelist. Born in 1958, Bama gained recognition with her autobiographical novel "Karukku" (1992), offering insights into the joys and sorrows experienced by Dalit Christian women in Tamil Nadu. After spending seven years as a nun, Bama left the convent and turned to writing. Her debut novel, "Karukku," based on her childhood experiences, faced backlash from her village, leading to her ostracism for seven months. Despite this, the novel received critical acclaim and won the Crossword Book Award in 2000. Bama continued her literary journey with subsequent works like "Sangati" and "Kusumbukkaran."
Bama views her writing as a means to share her experiences and advocate for the rights of the underprivileged. Her narratives reflect self-reflection and inner strength, communicated through the language of the oppressed—incorporating oral traditions such as turns of phrases, proverbs, folk songs, and ritual songs. Notably, her writing serves as a powerful tool in the fight for justice.