‘A Better Tomorrow: Poonam’s Tale of Hope in Bhopal’ will soon be made official. Please be patient, much more will be available on this blog in the next few months.
I invite you to subscribe to Poonam’s Facebook Page, and receive regular updates as both this blog and Poonam’s life in Bhopal, develop further.
Poonam Jatev is a lively 8-year-old girl from Bhopal, India. Born ‘unlucky’, with a tiny sixth toe on each foot, her father superstitiously believed she brought misfortune upon the entire family. She desires to become a teacher, like the ones who practice in her new school. With a sweet cheeky smile and sometimes mischievous attitude, her wide shiny eyes reveal hope and trust for the future.
Poonam, 8, is portrayed in the front-yard of her newly built home in Bhopal, India, near the abandoned Union Carbide (now DOW Chemical) industrial complex. Copyright: Alex Masi - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Poonam, 8, is sitting in the arms of her mother, Sangita Jatev, 38, in their newly built home in Bhopal, India, near the abandoned Union Carbide (now DOW Chemical) industrial complex. Copyright: Alex Masi
I first photographed Poonam in April 2009, during the production of an in-depth reportage on water pollution in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, shot for the 25th anniversary of the infamous 1984 industrial disaster. The killer gas-leak was caused by the persistent negligence of the American corporation Union Carbide.
Clouds are rising over the abandoned Union Carbide (now DOW Chemial) factory in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, site of the infamous 1984 gas disaster. Copyright: Alex Masi - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
(2009) Poonam, now 8, is refreshing under the late monsoon rain in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, near the abandoned Union Carbide (now DOW Chemical) industrial complex. Copyright: Alex Masi
Poonam is the subject of the above image, which was shot during the scorching afternoon hours on August 25, 2009. My body of work in Bhopal attracted the attention of many people, who remembered the 1984 disaster, but were surprised, and deeply touched, to find out the grim reality and its consequences a quarter of a century later.
Many people felt the injustice experience by the people of Bhopal, and recognized the responsibility DOW Chemical, the full owner of Union Carbide since 2001, should assume in cleaning the industrial site and its surroundings, and in remedying the undeniable long-lasting damage to the people of Bhopal.
At least 8000 people died during the immediate aftermath of the disaster, and close to 200.000 have suffered various injuries with recurring health problems.
Almost three decades later, left buried in numerous spots around the abandoned industrial complex, which still stands today, are tons of toxic waste dumped by Union Carbide throughout its years of operation in Bhopal. The poisonous chemicals are relentlessly penetrating and contaminating the area’s underground water reservoirs, causing severe, degrading neurological and physical disorders to the children of Bhopal.
Rohit, 12, a young boy with a severe neurological disorder is bathing inside his home in the impoverished Oriya Basti colony in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, near the abandoned Union Carbide (now DOW Chemical) industrial complex. Copyright: Alex Masi - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - alex@alexmasi.co.uk
Children with disabilities are sitting on the floor of Chingari Trust, a local NGO sponsored in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. Copyright: Alex Masi - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - alex@alexmasi.co.uk
Read more on the current water pollution crises in Bhopal.
Luckily, in areas of Poonam’s colony, Oriya Basti, the local government is now providing pipelines and water tanks on a fairly regular basis. This is meant to be ‘clean’, potable water devoid of any harmful chemicals. Nevertheless, I do hope to see some qualitative tests conducted in the interest of security for the people living in the area.
The job of providing drinkable water is far from complete, considering the nineteen colonies affected by the contamination. Furthermore, temporary water tanks cannot be considered a ‘final solution’ to Bhopal’s ongoing contamination.
Poonam, 8, is standing in front of her newly built home in Bhopal, India. Copyright: Alex Masi
In April 2011, The Photographers Giving Back Awards in Sweden, offered me a grant of 5000 USD to create and implement a plan for Poonam’s wellbeing with a careful approach, and to also help her family overcome extreme poverty .
In collaboration with Neelam, my good friend and trusted translator living in Bhopal, I have followed the improvement of Poonam’s family life over the past few months. Poonam, 8, her sister Jyoti, 9, and Ravi, 10, their brother, are all attending classes at a small private school near their home. They are all studying in Year 2 and my aim is to support their education until Year 12, and hopefully beyond.
Find out more about the children’s education and the approach.
Poonam, 8, (left) her sister Jyoti, 9, (centre) and their brother Ravi, 10, (right) are about to start their first day in their new school in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. Copyright: Alex Masi - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Publications and details about my work in Bhopal can be found in the Press section on this blog.
My engagement with Poonam, her family, and with Bhopal’s call for justice has evolved into a commitment to return to this city in the years to come, with my next visit planned for April 2012.
I have already collected many hours of footage, which i plan to publish in the Video section, as segments first, and later as a multimedia piece.
In the future, I also intend to produce a full-length documentary and a book about Poonam, her family, and their community.
I hope you will enjoy exploring Poonam’s world with me. Thank you for reading on.
To get in touch, please write to: alex@alexmasi.co.uk