On December 5, 2024, Centre for Science and Environment Director General Sunita Narain inaugurated a unique exhibition at The Art Gallery in Delhi’s India International Centre on Lodhi Road. The subject was the spirit and ethos of the people from the northern part of Bihar.
North Bihar’s plains are the first stop for mighty Himalayan rivers which make their way down from the mountains and Terai of Nepal. Every year, the southwest monsoon dumps copious amounts of water on Nepal and the resulting runoff travels to north Bihar and usually ravages the land, causing devastating floods.
The exhibition, titled Portraits of Persistence, and Enduring Communities of North Bihar is part of the Visual Kathã series by Eklavya Prasad from Megh Pyne Abhiyan (MPA). The MPA is a grassroots initiative focused on drinking water and sanitation through participatory groundwater management in flood-prone areas of north Bihar, and later in Jharkhand.
The photographs by Prasad, who has led MPA since 2005, document the immediate impacts on daily life, as homes, farmlands, and infrastructure yield to the force of water.
The collection also reflects the long-lasting impacts of these floods, seen in the transformations of rural society, the reimagining of livelihoods, and the generational imprints on people’s lives.
However, as Prasad notes, the people of the region adapt to survive remarkably in the face of this annual cyclical devastation through adaptive coping mechanisms and community innovations developed to meet critical needs.
“At its essence, this exhibition celebrates the resilience and indomitable spirit of North Bihar’s rural communities, who persistently face and adapt to the relentless cycle of flooding. Each photograph reveals their remarkable strength, resourcefulness, and determination as they prepare for, recover from, and endure the impacts of these natural forces. This visual narrative captures the intricate relationship between humanity and nature, showcasing a journey of survival and adaptation in the face of adversity. This is a tribute to their enduring spirit,” according to Prasad.
This is not the first time that Prasad has taken on such a topic. A social development professional and a photographer, he has captured and narrated the complexities of rural landscapes and communities confronting environmental adversity.
His photographs chronicle the harsh realities and the indomitable spirit of communities living amidst frequent natural and humanmade disasters and water scarcity. Prasad’s work documents resilient practices like rainwater harvesting, sustainable sanitation, and traditional water management systems, often blending narrative and visual media to illuminate the depth of these issues.
Prasad says his dual role as an advocate and artist uniquely positions him to effect meaningful change, crafting a narrative that humanizes environmental issues and makes them accessible to policymakers, civil society, and the global audience alike.
The Visual Kathã series sheds light on the lives of people affected by floods, illustrating their challenges and innovative community-driven alternative solutions.
The exhibition will be on from December 6-12 from 11 am to 7 pm.