I visited a small Hindu temple of Shiva in Pokhara, Nepal, where I met three boys who spoke a little English. I learnt that they were orphans living and studying at the temple. I was glad that the caretakers had taken the effort to teach them English. They show me around the temple using whatever words they knew to share with me about lord Shiva. I decided to stay longer and snapped their pictures; I think I wanted to entertain them – maybe entertain myself too. I decided to ask for their address so that I could send them the images but they wrote their names instead. On hindsight, it was even better. At least now I know who I spent my afternoon with.
When I started photography years ago, I wanted to travel because I wanted nice images. But I began to realise that most of the award-winning images were sad. I told myself not to shoot beggars, orphans, poverty and misery (newspapers and documentaries cover those stories). Yet I was shooting orphans in a temple. I was very happy there; they did not ask me for money, they did not ask me for candy, they just wanted to show me their world through whatever English they knew. They tried their best to introduce me the deities of the temple and explain the different areas. The place was so small, I did not even think of getting great pictures there. Their joy at meeting the rare visitor made me feel welcome and happy here. Their command of the English language was far better than those kids I’d met on the streets, so I was sure they would have a bright future ahead. They believe their lord Shiva will protect them and I pray my God will bless them.
I teach photography at a school and often remind my students that it is not a picture that you remember but why you took it: the conversations, the hand gestures, the smiles and the romance. I miss the boys – Pragat, Omana and Manen – more than the beautiful scenery of Nepal