THE POWER OF PHOTOGRAPH

Prasanta Patnaik

i would like to dedicate the photographs of phanas punji with sister-in-law 14 yar old Banita who was sold for Rs 40,00 (rupees forty only ) to feed her starving children. This photograph had forced the then prime minister of india to come down to the doors of phanas punji at amalapali village in Kalahandi district.

I am thankful to former MLA Kapil Narayan  Tiwari of Khariar who gave us the first information about this while I was covering the draught situation in western Odisha with few media friends.

Banita was sold to Bayadhar Podh a handicapped person.The marriage failed to get social recognition as the poor couple was not able to feed the villagers with feasts and offer clothes to the villagers. They were socially boycotted and Bayadhar andSabita were forced to carry the body of bayadhar’s father to the cremation ground.