When Arvind Kejriwal recently likened the AAP and his newly minted Delhi cabinet to ‘Shivji ki baraat’, his reference to the world of weddings had me smiling. It now makes it much easier for me to convince you, dear reader, that the work I have been doing for the past year — photographing election campaigns across India — isn’t that different or challenging from my regular job as a wedding photographer.
When you think about it, Indian weddings and Indian election campaigns hold striking similarities. Take any text on Indian weddings and substitute the words ‘wedding’ for ‘election’ and ‘candidate’ for ‘bride’ or ‘groom’, and the narrative will still hold true.
They both reek of machismo and chauvinism. Vulgar displays of wealth are another common denominator. Everyone must look happy, whether they are feeling it or not. Alcohol flows freely. These are incredibly loud, colourful pageants that spill out on to our streets, maidans, markets and parks. We love them, but we also love to hate them.
Through my pictures, I want to make you laugh. I take special delight in mocking the ridiculous demands the Indian electoral process makes both on its netas and the unsuspecting masses. Humour, after all, is the best antidote to disappointment — as the Indian public knows all too well.
Having finished with the Delhi campaign, where I tailed leaders and crowds, I have now packed my bags for Bihar, where more pageantry surely awaits.
( Nitya Raois an independent documentary photographer based in Boston, US. She is currently documenting election campaigns across India )