uma bista
ARTIST
ARTIST
Uma Bista is a photographer based in Nepal. She works on visual narratives that focus on issues of gender inequality. She studied International Photography Program at Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Bangladesh. Uma was named in British Journal of Photography’s annual “Ones to Watch 2019”. She is a mentee of Women Photograph 2020. She is a Magnum Foundation Photography and Social Justice Fellow 2020. Her works have been widely published and exhibited nationally and internationally. She has worked as a photojournalist for the national daily newspaper in Nepal.
Our life our journey is the life story of Gauri from the Doti, the hilly dis-trict of the far-west and Rekha from the Terai district, Sarlahi. It is their battle for establishing women’s rights in the society, while building their own identities. Through the mediums of photography, audio and poetry, we can compare their lived experiences with ours.
Due to the covid-19 pandemic, our conversations started through phone calls while we were based in Kathmandu. We later got the opportunity to meet Rekha and observe her life closely while the conversation continued over phone calls with Gauri. Despite being from two places with varied geography, their struggles for their own identities are comparable.
Gauri’s life experiences have many difficult dimensions. Losing her loved one and facing the contempt from society caused her to lose her hopes and love for life. But she gathered herself, thinking of her family and society. She is working for the sisters in the society with pride, while building a name for herself. Her courage and confidence can be an inspiration for just about anybody.
Rekha gathers women, organizing rallies and conventions to advocate against the practices of ghumto and child marriage to ensure women’s rights. The support from her children and husband enables her work. Her determination to continuously work for the rights of her sisters, as long as she has her life inspires us too.
Different stories have some common experiences in them - experiences of inequality, of oppression, of surveillance, of struggles, of power, of energy, of support, of self-confidence.
As she strides towards the office of Brahmapuri Gaunpalika, her dignified face framed by the edge of her bright sari covering half her head, Rekha leaves an impression of a a distinctive individual. The officers know her as a self-made woman.
Rekha is an executive member at the Brahmapuri Gaunpalika, situated a half-hour from Mangalwa, headquarters of the Sarlahi district. She has devoted her life to social work since a young age. She never tires as she begins to speak in her booming voice. Since her husband supports her with the household duties and farming, she is able to help her fellow sisters in society without worrying about the time of day. She has three daughters and a son. She was seen as among the bright students in school. She would step up and solve problems among friends then too.
She expresses her struggles after marriage in a single breath. The society, neighbors used to gossip about how Rekha gathers the womenfolk. It was not easy with her family life either. She started poultry and cattle farming, along with a shop to take care of the family finances as she raised her children. Rekha remembers forming a group with her friends and gradually saving money. She also worked in organizations. Today, she is an executive member at the Brahmapuri Gaunpalika. With the money she earned as an executive member, she has built a home of cement and brick.
Rekha says that with courage and self-confidence, there is nothing one cannot do. She wishes for her children to also work for society. Basking in the bright light from the window of her sturdy home, she proudly shows us the certificates and letters of appreciation she has received- how her work is appreciated, regardless of scale, drives her to keep moving forward. She says, “Whether I have this position or not, I will keep working for my sisters, my society and my family.”
Our Lives Our Journey | Rekha 2021
Material: Photography (below)
Size: variable
With Gauri, after our first conversation over the phone, I had a difficult time emotionally for a few days. Her statement, ma hindirahe, hindirahe - I walked and walked - kept running in my head. The courage with which she gathered herself and decided to keep walking struck me. She managed to create a sense of solidarity in her own community where she established herself in an organization, found a way to be happy, engaged in many forms of work while negotiating motherhood and the responsibility for her children. When she needed to be more stable for her children, the people around her helped her switch her job from fieldwork to office hours. Her mother has helped to take care of the children.
Over time, she has managed tocreate her own identity as Gauri Bista. She transformed from someone who peopledid not listen to, to someone who can create change. Even within her ownfamily, she shares with such pride that she was able to convince her mother tonot force her little sister into marriage. She did not want her mother torepeat the same mistake.
Our Lives Our Journey | Gauri 2021
Media: Multimedia; video and photos in four parts (below)
Size: Variable
Struggle
I am Gauri
Earphone
Srijanalaya, UN Women, LACC, Gauri Bista, Rekha Devi Yadav, Sharareh Bajracharya, Nasala Chitrakar, Sanjeev Maharjan, Mamata Malla, Laxmi Singh, Sanju Yadav.
