From WWII and the partition of Hindustan to Indira Gandhi's Operation Blue Star, Variam has seen it all - the glory of the 300,000 Sikhs who fought alongside the Allies and the trials and tribulations of the Punjab independence movement.
Tucked away in the Pakistani equivalent of the Grand Canyon, Hinglaj Mandir is located in Balochistan, 250 km north-west of Karachi. Much to the dismay of locals, Balochistan has evolved into a hotbed for religious extremists. But Hinglaj endures within this nucleus of dogmatism. A shining beacon of racial tolerance, it stands as proof of the Baloch Muslims’ religious secularity towards Hindu pilgrims. The Muslims help to clean the praying areas, leaving flowers behind and ushering lost pilgrims.
The region has been fighting for separation from Pakistan since the division of Hindustan, with alleged help from India. Besides the Baloch insurgency, the region also houses the Afghan Taliban and countless Indian spooks - yet Hinglaj, although small, preserves its sanity.
The tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah was the first in India to be built entirely from white marble. It is known for the pietra dura (stone inlay) depicting cypresses, wine glasses and a wonderful variety of geometrical arabesque.
A veritable forerunner of the Taj Mahal, this tranquil, small tomb inspired the construction of the Taj with its profusion of intricate carvings and beautiful marble screens.
The Maldives is sinking. Its topography suffers from a combination of high surface erosion and rising sea levels. This has become a critical issue for a country where the highest point is a paltry 2.3 metres above sea level.
On a typical Maldivian island, a 'Katheeb' is in charge of the day-to-day affairs. Hassan is Keyodhoo island's Katheeb.
It is precisely because of times like this that I still shoot in film. This was shot on the Nikon F3 with Fuji Provia 400x.
Four minarets frame the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, one at each corner of the plinth facing the chamfered corners. They were used by the muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. At the top is a balcony crowned by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the tomb - a lotus topped by a gilded finial.
The Taj was designed in accordance with the continuous flow of the Yamuna against its northern wall. There are fears that the drying up of the Yamuna - on whose banks the Taj was built - will lead to a sinking of this northern minaret.
Shot on the Yashica Electro 35 GSN with Fuji Provia 100.