Audio-video installation

I was born into a family that was directly involved in an armed rebellion, which has had a long and chequered history since the late 1970s in Assam. This biographical detail has provided me with a unique perspective on the history of insurgency in our region. I have witnessed how power dynamics and state narratives can shape the ways in which histories are told and remembered. Through my work, I aim to challenge these dominant narratives and bring to light the stories of those who have been marginalised and silenced.

At its core, the project aspires to explore the depth of collective memory, unearthing the narratives of those who have resided in the detention camps designated for ex-ULFA members. Through my research, I had the opportunity to hear stories that have never been shared. These stories, told from a variety of perspectives, offer a nuanced and complex understanding of the insurgency and its impact on individuals and communities throughout the region.

The installation at Khoj complicates my long-standing inquiry by mounting it on the vexed fulcrum of this particular site—Delhi—and its others. Here, it was my intention to explore how this project can look back at the audience in ways that cause discomfort, evoke familiarity, or generate empathy, depending on where it is being shown. You, the audience, are in the spotlight—if you wish to truly see, you must move from the centre to the edge