“Swaroop” is a combination of 2 words “Swa” which means “Self” and “Roop” which means “form”. Together these combine, to convey the meaning of Swaroop as One’s true form.

For us, the research team at the Center for New Economics Studies, Swaroop signifies the essence of ‘form’ which may be used to describe the self-image of narrative identity, while portraying the truth.

In 2022, Swaroop will initiate its first annual edition by featuring a two-day photo exhibition of Visual Storyboard Team through its’ team lead photojournalist, digital ethnographer Jignesh Mistry’s work.

The exhibited pieces reflect the photographic brilliance of the artist, Jignesh Mistry, and are a means of creative expression for visually commemorating our research team’s fieldwork in India, depicting a concentrated focus of research on the narratives, lives and livelihoods of unsecured workers and communities.

In the two-day event, the goal of exhibiting an assortment of pictures and video essays produced from the teams’ field stories completed across India over the last two years, is to unveil the archives and experiences of those whose lives are veiled by institutional and systemic oppression.

The event shall be held on the premises of OP Jindal Global University campus in collaboration with the Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities. The sale proceeds from the exhibition will be part of an all-engaging attempt to raise funds for undertaking future fieldwork, to create more of such visual storyboards while honoring the team’s past productions.

Shram Ko Naman
2021

Pune, India- Workers heat up the sugarcane juice from one vessel to another at a Jaggery making plant at Thorat Wasti in Sahajpur village on Pune-Solapur Highway in Pune distirct on May 14, 2020. The jaggery business mostly runned by migrants has suffered due to lack of manpower in season time amid Government imposed nationwide Lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus. [Photo by Jignesh mistry]

Shram Ko Naman
2022

Shram Ko Naman
2022

Delhi, India- A waste picker walks near collapsed section of Bhalswa landfill in north Delhi on September 10, 2020. [Photo by Jignesh Mistry/PAIGAM network]

Shram Ko Naman
2021

Pune, India- A man makes a way through bamboo barricades installed in a containment zone at Yerwada area in Pune city on May 09, 2020.

Shram Ko Naman
2022

Pune, India- A devotee dance in between Physical distance marking during procession at Saint Tukaram Temple at Dehu village near Pune city on Friday, June 12, 2020.The annual pilgrimage made by foot by lakhs of warkaris(devotees) to the temple town Pandharpur carrying Palkhi(Palanquins) bearing padukas(foot prints) of saint Tukaram and Saint Dyaneshwar begins on Friday. The 800-year-old tradition of Ashadhi Wari remains cancelled and the Foot Prints will be carried by road or Air in Solapur district on June 30 amid rising cases of Corona Virus.[Photo by Jignesh Mistry]

Mazdoor Mandis
2021

Shram Ko Naman
2021

An Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker conduct door to door survey for beneficiaries in Lucknow city, India. ASHA will mobilise the community and facilitate them in accessing health and health related services available at the Anganwadi/sub-centre/primary health centers, such as immunisation, Ante Natal Check-up (ANC), Post Natal Check-up supplementary nutrition, sanitation and other services being provided by the government. [Photo by Jignesh Mistry]
Delhi, India- A local train cross Residents of Sansi Camp Shanty “Jhuggis” at Badarpur Border in Delhi on September 11, 2020

Nomadland
2022