The images by Mustafa Quraishi of the Indian Maoist war could be straight out of our own insurgency from 1996-2006. The vegetation and red earth of rural Andhra Pradesh could be Dang Valley, the women guerrillas could be Tharu, the casual way in which firearms are carried
by female fighters handling babies or walking in the forest are images familiar to us in Nepal.
The images are hung along the middle of the hall with the Frames of War exhibition of the Nepal conflict along the walls. Having them together forces one to look for the similarities, and how the Indian state seems to view the insurgency just as our own government and security forces did back then.
Here is a picture by Mustafa Quraishi of a woman guerrilla in Orissa holding a baby in a village. Compare with Kiyoko Ogura's photograph from Rolpa of a Nepali Maoist woman fighter also holding a baby.
This one is of Indian Maoists and villagers preparing for a meal in a village in Andhra Pradesh, compare with photograph of Nepali Maoists taken in Udaypur in Nepal in 2005 by Brian Sokol.
Another one by Mustafa Quraishi of an Indian fighter next to the famous photograph of Juna Rai on sentry duty in Bhojpur in 2006 taken by Sagar Shrestha.
Here are some of Quraishi’s images which are on display at the Shanti Sangralaya in Patan Dhoka till the end of April. Opening times: 11 am – 4pm, except Tuesdays. Call:5549948.
http://www.madanpuraskar.org
www.apeoplewar.com