A Critical Study of Nepali Photography: People’s Mass Movement from 1990–2006

Abstract

A Critical Study of Nepali Photography: People’s Mass Movement from 1990 to 2006manifests the change in Nepali photography with the premises that the art of photography has served the elite classes by masking and moulding reality and yet,it has served the commoners by exposing the reality and arousing mass consciousness. Similarly it has greatly helped in the democratic process, democratization and overall development of the people’s consciousness. This paperhas made that though Nepali photography has started with the aim of magnifying the ego of the Rana and Shah rulers, it slowly lent itself onto the hands of the upper classes, then middle classes and then to the commoners. Thus it turned into a common tool, and a means of generating and feeding mass awareness, as it was seen in the circulation of photographic images during the mass movements in the country. It also suggests that photography conceals the truth and reality. The take nsnapshots during the Mass Movement testify to this fact. One can see the common people agitating, pelting stones against the security forces, and donning anti-establishment slogans and catchphrases in big banners. This heightened level of public consciousness can be accounted for the development of journalism and photojournalism, specifically speaking and visualizing. It also has a detailed study of the historical development of Nepali Photography, its critical review, women photojournalism and their challenges, some visual images and their critical readings, a historical backdrop of Mass Movement of 1990 to 2006, as well as some gruesome moments and encouraging snapshots. It has illuminated various dynamics of the Nepalese photography and has viewed from the vantage point of the revisionist new historical perspective.