What Happens When You Give 40 Underprivileged Children The Opportunity To Explore Photography

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Initiated by Mumbai Press Club, ‘Kaun Banega Press Photographer?’ is a project led by seven of the city’s best photojournalists - Bipin Kokate, Rizwan Mithawala, Sakshi Kapoor, Sanjay Hadkar, Sudharak Olwe, Suresh KK and Uma Kadam. It is an initiative to inspire and motivate young children from underprivileged sections of society to explore photography as a medium of expression and eventually, a potential career path. The idea was to bring together 40 children from different slums across the city over two weekends and give them a rudimentary understanding of the art of photography.

The first weekend involved the children learning the fundamentals of using a camera within their own communities and closer to their homes and the workshop culminated at the Borivali Nation Park with all the groups getting together for a joint session. This project received immense support from a lot of people and organizations – with Nikon even providing basis entry-level cameras, and Yes Bank Foundation sponsored the session at the National Park.

Additionally, Mumbai police commissioner, Rakesh Maria, also announced his department’s support for the training of these children and even joked that “The police department fears reporters and photographers the most for what they threaten to reveal,” but was quick to throw in words of encouragement as well.

”The photographs clicked by you are great and you have much potential,” he said. “Do not give up and In my personal capacity, if any of you need any help to go to a professional photography course, I am here to help you.”

At a time when information is free flowing for those of us who are privileged enough to be at the receiving end of it, initiatives like this are more necessary than ever to even the playing ground. As far as acquisitions of new skills go, every child has a right to such opportunities, or at least, they should.

Here are some of our favourite picks from the childrens’ photographs from the day...