In our journey from Kargil to Padum (Zanskar, India), we took a night break at the only guest house, managed by J&K Tourism at village Parkachik. It’s a region, nested in the fertile valley of Nun-Kun mountain, a mile from the majestic ice mass, called the Parkachik glacier. The villagers are of Balti origin, a tribe from Skardu (Baltistan) region, which now lies in Pakistan.
The facilities at the guest house were minimal but far exceeded our expectation. After a long journey, as we sat outside the guest house, sipping the freshly brewed Kashmiri Kahwa (Tea), we became an object of curiosity for a Balti father and his daughter, who peered at us through the fence.
Sheer beauty of the child was captivating and the father’s eyes bore an equally interesting testimony of passage of time. As the duo stared at us through the fence, it reminded of the transition from innocence of childhood to the piercing impressions of old age, an experience to be lived within the restrictions created by the “FENCE” of destiny.
Photo : A Balti child at Parkachik village.
Photo : A Balti father at Parkachik village.
Comments(21)
Aniruddha Deshpande says:
September 2, 2014 at 12:58 PMHaunting. Very cool.
Charu says:
September 2, 2014 at 1:08 PMBeautiful – this girl’s photo, particularly eyes are riveting. You will be giving Steve McCurry a run for his money!
Atul Todi says:
September 2, 2014 at 1:12 PMWow!! Thats awesome!! Hope to see ur work on National Geographic frontpage
Harawant Singh says:
September 2, 2014 at 1:22 PMBeautiful shots.
Alas there are the beautiful eyes but there is also a cataract eye. The wonders of Wahuguruji.
Mohindra Chadha says:
September 2, 2014 at 3:53 PMExcellent Photographs of a girl with such beautiful eyes and her aging father in the remote area of Zanskar!
troy says:
September 2, 2014 at 3:56 PMamazing contrast blend with the unique essence of each soul!
adarsh goindi says:
September 2, 2014 at 5:55 PMWow, indeed its a beautiful picture of a beautiful child, innocence in her eyes, is what I see, and hope is what I read on her father’s face ….its the fence, that explains other aspects……Very appreciative, as always.
Salman Rashid says:
September 2, 2014 at 6:37 PMBeautiful limpid eyes of the child. Amardeep, I can see you in the child’s eyes! These two are a very fine mix of Tibetan and Shina (Aryan) blood – so typical of Balti people.
Milton D'Silva says:
September 2, 2014 at 7:02 PMCaptivating, indeed!
M Bugi Bugi says:
September 2, 2014 at 7:47 PMWonderful areas. Wonderful Capture. Thanks for the Image.
Ravi Shankar Nagraj says:
September 2, 2014 at 10:55 PMAmardeep ! A Similar Photo appeared about a Afghani Girl who had vanished for years and was finally found only becoz of her eyes, that picture has been doing the rounds on internet for years!! I have that pic also in my archive!
Arnab Saha says:
September 3, 2014 at 4:32 AMCaptivating!
Harbhaksh Grewal says:
September 3, 2014 at 4:33 AMEchoes of Steve McCurry.
yogi says:
September 3, 2014 at 10:25 AMGrt photography!
Wonders of DNA. A feature on that aspect would be grt!
Dhruv Jolly says:
September 3, 2014 at 10:40 AMJust Beautiful … Dada … The Eyes … Haunting …
Surupa Chatterjee says:
September 3, 2014 at 1:47 PMThe language of the eyes….curious,captivating and beautiful ….
Dhaval Deshpande says:
September 3, 2014 at 2:35 PMBeautiful captivating and innocent eyes totally ignorant about the future hardships and turmoils it may face due to tensions between the two neighbouring countries.inspite of it the eyes reflects a ray of hope for brighter and peaceful future!!!
amarjeet kaur says:
September 3, 2014 at 6:33 PMVery fine captures.I can actually see your image in child’s eyes.Secondly there are innocence,stranger thinking,differences between social appearance and the most looking QUESTIONS in both’s ( girl and father’ eyes) …………very impressive eyes …GOD gave them to take shots by you only.
Harpreet Singh says:
September 3, 2014 at 6:48 PMSuper cool
Karamjeet Singh says:
September 4, 2014 at 12:56 AMNice pictures supported by a nice thought on father and daughter destiny.But one thing is common to both ‘Curiosity’ could be you,could be the lens.Best thing is you captured the expression at the right moment.Good Luck!
kishore kumar biswas says:
September 5, 2014 at 1:35 AMEyes speak soul. here the child’s eyes speak the purity of her soul.There is unfathomable expression. To read those eyes one needs to be near nature and folk-life,which we lack generally. The girl belongs to a tribe which lives a life in a traditional way that is beyond the changes occurred in present human society. It depends upon more on nature than on gadgets. machine dose not yet dominate their life. They are still the children of earth.they remind us what we lost for ever , the natural innocence.
Amardeep being compassionate to human life brought the intricate beauty of it in front of us through his mesmerizing photograph.
Thanks to him.