Monisha Ajgaonkar would use a Nokia 6600 to take pictures in college. But it was then itself that she knew her calling lay in photography. And she was thrilled when she got into the JJ College of Arts. She remembers shooting a music concert to impress a girl. She found her way to freelancing for the Midday and Bombay Times. Slowly, she ventured into fashion photography, musical events, and began her own The Photo Diary, which is five years old now.
Image Credit: Instagram
Apart from her photography, Monisha also has made some short films, that portray her fight for equality for the LGBTQ. She also recently did a project called ‘L for Love’ which won an award at the 2018 DMA Asia ECHO Awards.
She says, “The community might have legal rights now, but it is not going to be the same for us till each individual accepts his or her own reality. Gays and transgenders have begun coming out of the closet, but girls are still scared to come out in the open to accept that they are lesbians. And I strongly believe that I can support this community through my art. The projects that I have done so far like ‘L for Love’ and ‘Love, No Boundaries’ is just to show that lesbians feel emotions like any ordinary person. They love stories are just like normal couples.”
Even if Section 377 has been decriminalised, this does not mean things will change overnight. Monisha says, “Even this law went through ups and downs. It was repealed in a high court, then rejected again, and then Supreme Court upheld the repeal. Everything will take time. First of all, it is important for them to accept their reality. I know so many married women, who are scared to accept that they are lesbians, and they are living claustrophobic lives now. Lesbians are scared to come out of the closet for the fear of society. And while financial independence can help you to come out, as you wont be dependent on anybody, it is not the only thing. It is basis acceptance that I will not be forced to do things that I don’t want to do.”
The journey has not been easy for Monisha. She says, “Often when I post my work and views on social media, some clients back out. But I am very happy to lose clients who do not accept my reality. I want to work with people who understand me and my choices.”
Right now, Monisha wants to concentrate on growing her company. She says, “I want to eventually settle in Canada. I want a settled life too, where I marry, maybe even have some pet dogs. But I don’t see that happening in India.”
