Shaun Ho / The Collegian
Elephant rides. Temples. Colorful saris.
These were just some of the traditions that a group of Fresno State students, alumni and community members experienced on a study tour in northern India.
Most college students are too swamped by school, work and tuition fees to consider traveling that far.
Fortunately, that doesn̢۪t mean that they can̢۪t see the sights of faraway places.
Students can stop by the President̢۪s Gallery in the Thomas Administration Building for a glimpse into another world.
“India,â€Â a photograph exhibit by Fresno State art professor Joan K. Sharma, is on display at the President’s Gallery on campus until Oct. 17.
The photographs were taken during the study tour from Dec. 25, 2006 to Jan. 6 of this year.
Additional photos came from a trip to India that Sharma went on this past June for a family wedding.
A one-hour documentary of the trip, narrated by Sharma, is available for viewing along with the photographs.
Sharma said that she wanted people viewing her work to see that the Indian people are ordinary people just like everyone else, despite differences in dress and culture.
“Even though it’s another part of the world, there’s a way for people to be connected to people in another region,â€Â she said.
Sharma̢۪s photographs, culled from about 3,000 pictures taken during her two trips, capture Indian lifestyle, architecture, culture and people.
The lively and colorful images depict everything from elephants and giant statues, to giggling school girls and a sari-clad woman on an electric scooter.
Although Sharma can see a good photograph in the making with an artist̢۪s trained eye, many of her photographs were taken through a much more organic process.
Sometimes she was inspired by a moment, a scene or other things that happened around her that she hadn’t planned on.
“It’s almost like a meditation,â€Â Sharma said. “It’s a mysterious process in some ways… kind of an alignment in that moment of who I am and what I’m looking at and who the people are. It’s an amazing experience.â€Â
Cntributed by Joan K. Sharma
One of Sharma̢۪s favorite photographs in the exhibit, although it was difficult for her to pick just one, is of an Indian girl sitting at a village vegetable stand.
She likes it because of the way the girl̢۪s face draws attention, anchoring the photograph.
“I was walking along… I looked up and I saw her and it just stopped me,â€Â Sharma said. “After I took this picture there was a man from the village. He just walked by and said, ‘Nice picture.’ He also felt it.â€Â
Sharma and her Indian-born husband, Brijesh Sharma, CEO of India Traveller LLC, led the study tour.
The group visited museums, temples, palaces and villages.
It was the first trip to India sponsored by Fresno State.
On top of that, the students that were able to go also received class credit for their travels.
While there are currently no concrete plans for a second study tour to India, Sharma hopes to organize one for next year.
“I would like to recommend that if any student has the opportunity to travel to another country, another culture as a part of their educational experience… to take advantage of it,â€Â she said. “It really expands one’s understanding of the world we live in and it’s important.â€Â
Stacy Auredt • Sep 14, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Indian culture sucks. I’ve been to temples. I’ve eaten the food. You think Taco Bell is bad for your system?
Stacy Auredt • Sep 14, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Indian culture sucks. I’ve been to temples. I’ve eaten the food. You think Taco Bell is bad for your system?
Craziest, ignorant & arrogant comment • Sep 14, 2007 at 11:08 am
This is the craziest, most ignorant and arrogant comment that I have ever read about India.
India is the world’s largest democratic country. Its democracy may not be perfect, none are. However India’s democracy is functional and has led the country on the path to prosperity. Today more than 350 million (about a third of its population) are in the economic middle class. This number is greater than the entire population of the United States. Companies in the ‘developed world’ are flocking to this gigantic and growing market place. Powerful political leaders have been removed from office through elections when they were considered corrupt or undemocratic.
There is more freedom of press in India than in many other developed and developing countries of the world. There is active and unrestricted dialogue on all aspects of life in India. One can express and read views critical of government and opposition political parties.
Indian culture and civilization is one of oldest in the world along with China, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Indian culture is unique because it has absorbed trends and influences of various foreign people who invaded, migrated and eventually assimilated into the fabric of Indian society. This diversity makes it one of the most fascinating cultures of the world. India has some of the world̢۪s oldest and most developed visual and performing art forms. There is a wide variety of religious and secular architecture and a flourishing tradition in literature in some of the oldest languages of the world. Sanskrit, the language of ancient India, is considered one of oldest and most developed among the Indo-European group of languages.
Craziest, ignorant & arrog • Sep 14, 2007 at 6:08 pm
This is the craziest, most ignorant and arrogant comment that I have ever read about India.
India is the world’s largest democratic country. Its democracy may not be perfect, none are. However India’s democracy is functional and has led the country on the path to prosperity. Today more than 350 million (about a third of its population) are in the economic middle class. This number is greater than the entire population of the United States. Companies in the ‘developed world’ are flocking to this gigantic and growing market place. Powerful political leaders have been removed from office through elections when they were considered corrupt or undemocratic.
There is more freedom of press in India than in many other developed and developing countries of the world. There is active and unrestricted dialogue on all aspects of life in India. One can express and read views critical of government and opposition political parties.
Indian culture and civilization is one of oldest in the world along with China, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Indian culture is unique because it has absorbed trends and influences of various foreign people who invaded, migrated and eventually assimilated into the fabric of Indian society. This diversity makes it one of the most fascinating cultures of the world. India has some of the world’s oldest and most developed visual and performing art forms. There is a wide variety of religious and secular architecture and a flourishing tradition in literature in some of the oldest languages of the world. Sanskrit, the language of ancient India, is considered one of oldest and most developed among the Indo-European group of languages.
Blumpkin Flynt • Sep 14, 2007 at 4:09 pm
elephant walks? No thanks. I’ll just join Sigma Nu.
India is seriously THE craziest place in the world. Government policy, citizen interactions, culture—–insane.
Blumpkin Flynt • Sep 14, 2007 at 9:09 am
elephant walks? No thanks. I’ll just join Sigma Nu.
India is seriously THE craziest place in the world. Government policy, citizen interactions, culture—–insane.