Anshika Varma

The photographer wins for her initiative to make history more inclusive of women

When Anshika’s college professor asked the class to write a story about their mothers, it made her understand that we see our mothers (and women in general) as the role they play in our lives instead of the individuals that they are. Now, she has taken that realisation a step forward with a collaboration with the page @theirregulartimes, asking audiences to send in pictures of women in their lives, and their stories.

‘Her’story

Titled ‘Herstory’, the idea behind the collaboration is to learn about the women in your life, especially your mother. “Her role is quite defined—grow up, get married, take care of the house, but what did she dream of?” Anshika says.

History is told by the important, and in our patriarchal society that’s men.

“So, I thought why not ask people to tell stories not just of women alone, but also individuals who identify with womanhood,” says Anshika. “We need to acknowledge the world we exist in, the world created through a range of voices that identify with different genders, castes, classes, beliefs.”

It’s too broad a topic to tackle in one open call, Anshika admits. But it’s a start.

Prism effect

Anshika started this project in college and by now she’s had years of asking people to tell stories about the women in their lives. “Sadly, in our retelling of our mothers’

“WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORLD WE EXIST IN, THE WORLD CREATED THROUGH A RANGE OF VOICES THAT IDENTIFY WITH DIFFERENT GENDERS, CASTES, CLASSES, BELIEFS” —ANSHIKA VARMA

To access additional stories, columns and pages, scan the QR code below stories we subconsciously end up looking at them through the same patriarchal prism,” she says. “It becomes about how a woman is amazing because despite the odds, she took care of her family.”

But in doing this exercise, maybe then we ourselves can remember things we have forgotten to value. “Like how when it comes to women, even the capacity to dream or feel joy or fight for something is decided by someone else,” she concludes.

karishma.kuenzang@hindustantimes.com Follow @kkuenzang on Twitter and Instagram

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“Nobody can hurt you without your sanction.”

Cavatina, which opened in January 2013, is a boutique artis Anshika Varma’s project aims to help people learn about the women in their lives