Modern Medicine in India
More and more patients from Western countries seek medical treatment in India. Some hospitals offer first-class medical services, top-notch doctors and advanced medical technology for “third world prices”. >>zur Datenbank
Dharavi
In the Dharavi slums in Mumbai, more than a million people are forced to live in a small area of about two square kilometers. The sanitary conditions here are desastrous: There’s only one toilet for about 1.400 people. >>zur Datenbank
Chowpatty Beach
During the day, Mumbai’s Chowpatty Beach is mainly populated be tourists and unemployed people. But at night, the beach turns into an amusement park where people from all walks of life meet and have fun. >>zur Datenbank
Koran schools
Akash also focused on the Muslim religion of his home country Bangladesh. These famous pictures were taken in a so called "Madrasa", a Koran school in Dhaka. >>zur Datenbank
Hijras in Bangladesh
The "hijras", the third gender of the Indian subcontinent, have always been a fascinating motif for photographers. Without any trace of voyeurism, G.M.B. Akash's sensitive pictures offer some unique insights into their world at the border of society. >>zur Datenbank
Stone industry in Bangladesh
Stone industry in BangladeshMore than 10,000 people work at "Bollar Ghat" at the banks of the Piyian River, among them up to 3,500 women and children. On its way from the Himalaya, the river carries thousands of tons of rocks and rubble. For about 150 Taka, equalling about 2$ a day, the workers sieve and sort the rocks which are used for construction works all over the country. >>zur Datenbank
Fistula treatment in Dhaka
More than 70.000 women in Bangaldesh suffer from fistulas which almost always cause incontinence. The victims are mostly very young and very poor girls who are left alone by their husbands and treated like outcasts by society. The Fistula Repair Centre at the Medical College Hospital in Dhaka is sponsored by the Untited Nations Population Fund. The success rate of the treatment here lies at 90%. >>zur Datenbank
Moorangs in Bangladesh
Mros or Moorangs are a tribal community with traditional rites in Bangladesh. Most of them live in the Chittagong Hills in the eastern region. Each tribe has its own dialect and lives primarily from agriculture. >>zur Datenbank
Flood victims in Bangladesh
Almost every year, the monsoon rains destroy the existence of millions of people on the Indian subcontinent. Here, an old man in Bangladesh is looking desperately at flooded shags while a young boy is trying to save his life on a float. >>zur Datenbank
Refugees from Burma in Bangladesh
Today, more than 25.000 refugess from former Burma live in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Most of them are Rohingyas, a muslim minority that is violently oppressed in Myanmar. The living condition in those camps are disastrous. There is hardly any food or clean drinking water. >>zur Datenbank
Winegrowing in India
The Grover Vineyards are located some 60 kilometres north of Bangalore. Here, in the sunny Nandi Hills some 1000m above sea level, mostly French wines are cultivated. In 2005, the renowned Decanter Magazine selected the “Grover La Reserva” as best red wine from the New World. >>zur Datenbank
Shipbreaking in Pakistan
At a shipbreaking yard in Pakistan, huge oil tankers no longer in service are picked apart by workers. In the course of their work, they come in touch with poisonous substances such as asbestos, PBC and other harmful chemicals. Pollution caused by shipbreaking is also a big prblem for the sensitive eco system of coastal regions. >>zur Datenbank
Aids Children
Almost six million people are infected with the AIDS virus in India – more than in any other country of the world. The hideous disease is spreading quickly, and in most cases the poorest of the poor are the victims. Socially banned and without medical treatment, these people hardly have a chance to survive. Anf if parents die, their children are left behind as “aids orphans”. The series by our photographer Maciej Dakowicz were taken at an orphanage near the city of Chennai. >>more...
Shelter for the Homeless
Vuyirile („Light of Life“) is a Christian welfare organization in the city of Chennai on the Southern East coast of India. It was founded by the the priest Rajkumar in 1999, whose belief in the dignity of all human life is set into practice every day in Vuyrile’s homeless shelters. Vuyrile takes care of the poorest of the poor, the elderly and disabled, with no regard to their religions and their beliefs. >>more...
Golden Temple
The famous Golden Temple in the city of Amristar is the most sacred shrine of the Sikhs, who are an important minority in India’s society. The official name of the temple is “harmandir sahib” which means “the abode of God”. It is located on a small island and surrounded by a magnificent complex that is visited by thousands of pilgrims and tourists every day. The temple is open all day and night and has four entrances: >>more...
Hijras – the third gender
They are neither man nor woman: The transsexual Hijras form a separate community within Hinduist society in India. Some of them are born hermaphrodites, others are castrated males or transsexuals, a few would call themselves females. Hijras earn their living by performing dances at celebrations, by prostitution or begging. They are ostracized by Indien society but they are also feared: >>more...
The Firewalkers of Bangalore
In many South and South Eastern Asian countries, firewalking is a traditional way of self-mortification and –purification. Especially in India, there are numerous firewalking festivals. One of the largest takes place every year in the South Indian city of Bangalore. At the onset of the monsoon time, the Tamils get together to celebrate their gods. Usually, there are up to 500 people participating in the firewalks. >>more...
Mariamma
In the rural areas of the Indian state Tamil Nadu, people celebrate the goddess Mariamma Amman, who has many followers in Southern India. Mariamma is an ancient tribal god of the Dravidians. Before the arrival of Hinduism, humans were sacrificed to appease the mighty goddess; today, a bull is the sacrifial animal with which the inhabitants beg for protection for their village. >>more...
Bull Race
Spain isn’t the only country where bulls are chased through the streets. In India, bull races also have a long tradition. In the Indian province Tamil Nadu, bull races take place on the third day of the traditional thanksgiving feast Pongal. Pongal means “to cook” and it is also the name of a special dish that is offered to the gods on this particular occasion. >>more...
Muslims in India
There are about 180 million Muslims living in India. The Islam is the second largest religion in the country, behind Hinduism. After the former British India fell apart into the Muslim state of Pakistan and the predominantly Hinduist India, violent conflicts between the followers of these two religions became part of India’s history. >>more...
Traffic in Delhi
Chandni Chowk, located in the historical part of the city, is one of the oldest shopping miles of the Indian capital New-Delhi. The street is hopelessly overcrowded, both during the day and at night. Colorful rikshas and yellow taxis wait for customers; a garbage truck is driving to the train station. >>more...
Murugan
Tamil Hindus in South India celebrate their god Murugan, the patron deity of the state Tamil Nadu. The men wear colorful clothes and flower necklaces, some show their devotion by piercing lemon fruits on needles and hooks through their skin. The devotional work of the Tamils, Thiruppugazh, characterizes Murugan or Kartikeya, as he is also known, as a benign deity: >>more...