Happily bestowed to Mr. Rajesh Mehta of ‘V.N.Mehta & Co.’
Dedicated to ‘V.N.Mehta & Co.’ Photo Studio since 1901
Author: Sneha Sarang
Pages: 127
PREFACE
If you make a pen mark on paper you are not an artist but what makes you creative here is the creative thinking behind it. Your creativity and thoughts always come from your heart, It comes from your own words and language. And photography is the language which the whole world can understand. NID has taught me this language. The language of thinking and reading photographic images. These skills really help me to understand the collection of ‘V.N.Mehta & Co.’, the oldest photography studio in my native city, Surat.
‘I thought I will be sitting under the old roof, writing in my sketchbook, taking interview of the old man who is expressing his words with his shaking hand’. And there my imagination vanished when I took my first step into the modern air conditioned studio. I met a very young looking person Mr. Rajesh Mehta, who is the fourth generation of the ‘V.N.Mehta & Co.’ studio. He is the most charming photographer I have ever met.
Our conversation also sweetened by his welcoming attitude, he shared the journey of four generations and stories about his childhood. Stories about how he was beaten by his father when he entered the dark room without permission, how his grandfather was dealing whole day with an old transparent acrylic sheets to get a proper light for a photo shoot, how he was able to use just one lit bulb in a portrait shot in low light condition.
They have always been focusing on client’s satisfaction first. All these things made me realized their efforts and struggles. After all, the pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow. Today their strength is shining in the form of their achievements and also in the precious photography collection which they have for us. I found myself very fortunate to work on this project. For me, it is an honor to share this collection held by Mr. Rajesh Mehta.
‘I thought I will be sitting under the old roof, writing in my sketchbook, taking interview of the old man who is expressing his words with his shaking hand’. And there my imagination vanished when I took my first step into the modern air conditioned studio. I met a very young looking person Mr. Rajesh Mehta, who is the fourth generation of the ‘V.N.Mehta & Co.’ studio. He is the most charming photographer I have ever met.
Our conversation also sweetened by his welcoming attitude, he shared the journey of four generations and stories about his childhood. Stories about how he was beaten by his father when he entered the dark room without permission, how his grandfather was dealing whole day with an old transparent acrylic sheets to get a proper light for a photo shoot, how he was able to use just one lit bulb in a portrait shot in low light condition.
They have always been focusing on client’s satisfaction first. All these things made me realized their efforts and struggles. After all, the pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow. Today their strength is shining in the form of their achievements and also in the precious photography collection which they have for us. I found myself very fortunate to work on this project. For me, it is an honor to share this collection held by Mr. Rajesh Mehta.
V.N.MEHTA & CO.
‘V.N.Mehta & Co.’ photography studio was established by Vijbhukhandash Narotamdas Mehta in 1-1-1901 in Surat. This was the third photography studio in the whole of India, and has been carried forward by the next three generations.Photography and photographers are going to change with time but history stays forever. If you are coming to places like Nandurbar, Vapi, Valsad, Vyara, Navsari or any south Gujarat region and if you find any old photographs of the 3rd or 4th generation before you, It must be photographed by ‘V.N.Mehta & Co.’.
CONCLUSION
One often thinks about, what they will be remembered for? Photography is a gift where you are able to create your own remembrance and thoughts on paper.
When you look at the photography collection of ‘V.N.Mehta & Co’, you are not just looking at the photographs but you are also looking at the life of that photographer. The photographs taken by your grandfather and those which are taken by you will always be different. Our world require those photographs that really matters. It is something which will help us to identify ourself, of who we are now, and how we started before.
According to Rajesh Mehta, there is no job in this world better than photography where you can preserve the precious memories of someone’s life and can present it through photographs.
When you look at the photography collection of ‘V.N.Mehta & Co’, you are not just looking at the photographs but you are also looking at the life of that photographer. The photographs taken by your grandfather and those which are taken by you will always be different. Our world require those photographs that really matters. It is something which will help us to identify ourself, of who we are now, and how we started before.
According to Rajesh Mehta, there is no job in this world better than photography where you can preserve the precious memories of someone’s life and can present it through photographs.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Photography is not a popularity contest but it is about creating something which has meaning. I am so grateful for some people who helped me to share the meaning of this creation.
First my mother Mayaben for her love and care. She is the person who always teaches me to believe in the hidden strength within me. My father Ahsokbhai who always made me realized the value of those things which I have more than required.
My coordinator Mr. Rishi Singhal to conducting this course and Mr. Sathyanand Mohan for their accurate guidelines throughout this project.
A very special thanks to my younger brother Smit for his super encouraging relationship. My friend Nishant Julian Minj and Anil Kumar for proof reading. And certainly to Mr. Sanjay Choksy (historian) for providing me the valuable data about my city. And of course Mr.Rajesh Mehta of ‘V.N.Mehta & Co.’, without whom this project would not touch the heart of my goal.
First my mother Mayaben for her love and care. She is the person who always teaches me to believe in the hidden strength within me. My father Ahsokbhai who always made me realized the value of those things which I have more than required.
My coordinator Mr. Rishi Singhal to conducting this course and Mr. Sathyanand Mohan for their accurate guidelines throughout this project.
A very special thanks to my younger brother Smit for his super encouraging relationship. My friend Nishant Julian Minj and Anil Kumar for proof reading. And certainly to Mr. Sanjay Choksy (historian) for providing me the valuable data about my city. And of course Mr.Rajesh Mehta of ‘V.N.Mehta & Co.’, without whom this project would not touch the heart of my goal.
