– Ronita Torcato

Students from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and state-aided schools enrolled in Salaam Bombay Foundation’s photography programme marked World Photography Day with images captured across Mumbai, including the iconic Gateway of India and Mani Bhavan where Mahatma Gandhi lived.

The photographs are the result of an ongoing collaboration between the Foundation and Cityflo, an urban transit bus service, under which the students received photography training and access to various locations.

The initiative is part of a longer-running collaboration between the two organisations, aimed at giving BMC and government school students access to experiences and skills beyond the classroom.

A selection of the images will be showcased across Cityflo platforms over the coming weeks, giving the students’ work an audience beyond their schools.

Sankalp Kelshikar, Cityflo co-founder & IIT Mumbai alumnus said, “These photographs are a reminder of how differently young people see their city. We are sharing this body of work so even more people get to see Mumbai from a unique lens.”

Savio Pashana, from Salaam Bombay Foundation said, “We are grateful to Cityflo for taking our students to some of Mumbai’s most iconic locations, and giving them the chance to photograph the city. Photography has given our students a new way to engage with their city, and the confidence to share their perspective.”

Harshraj Sahani, a student said he had “seen photos of the Gateway of India before, but seeing it in real life and clicking it myself was really fun. ”

Komal Sutar enthused, “It felt like going on a picnic. I loved visiting different places in Mumbai and getting the opportunity click their pictures. ”

Student Prithvi Zende said, “I like taking photos and I used to click them on my dad’s mobile. Through Salaam Bombay Foundation, I got a chance to learn photography. They came to our school and taught us how to take pictures. I am very happy that I got the chance to travel around Mumbai and photograph different places”.

Yet another student, Taushef Mansoori said, “For me, photography is about clicking things that I like and making them a memory. I really enjoyed taking pictures during this trip and I want to learn more and take better photos. ”

Established in 2002, Salaam Bombay Foundation works with adolescents from low-income communities in Mumbai to help them stay in school. The Foundation’s vocational and skill-building initiatives also prepare students for part-time income opportunities and long-term employability.

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