What can be common between photography and relations with a country. Lots indeed. It was the Maldives National Day on July 26 & the right time as Maldives President Ibrahim Solih visits India in the first week of August 2022. A photo exhibition of Maldives and its various aspects was on display which saw the presence of the Maldivian Envoy to India, Hussain Niyaz, two former Foreign Secretaries Shyam Saran and Harsh Shringla. The exhibition depicted a vast range of life, culture and society of Maldives through the lens of Dr Dnyaneshwar Muley.
A diplomat turned amateur photographer who has won awards for his photography, Dr Dnyaneshwar Muley, wears many caps at the same time. He has not only served as the High Commissioner to Maldives (2009-2013), he is also known as the Passport Man of India and has a documentary made on him that has international audience. He is the founder of the organization REDIO (Rescue Every Distressed Indian Overseas).
Dr Muley captures the everyday ordinary lives of Maldivians with an extremely artistic lens, call it mobile photography. The pictures were taken by an ordinary Samsung mobile during his tenure at the island nation ten years back. The exhibition was named ‘Not Just Beaches’.
Maldives, which is visited majorly by tourists, is one of the most advanced SAARC countries with a highest GDP. It has 1192 islands in an area of 92000 sq km out of which 2300 sq km is land.
India Maldives relations have seen its ups and downs in history. India confers special friendly status to Maldives as per its Neighbourhood First policy as also because Maldives, even though being a small island in the Arabian Sea, holds a very important strategic place for the region.
Speaking on the occasion Maldives HC Hussain Niyaz said….Listen in…..
On what India means to Maldives Niyaz said, ‘Our policy is based on India First which means that we always can count on India and we work very closely with India on daily basis. Even right now we have number of projects undergoing that are impacting our livelihood & at community level. Also the connectivity projects particularly Greater Male. Even during any disaster India is always help us.’
Congratulating Dr Muley, former Foreign Secretary, Harsh Shringla, called the pictures extraordinary. This is what he said…….
Earlier he said, ‘Our relationship with Maldives is a close one, a dynamic one. And today that relationship is one that reflects our warmth & closeness between the 2 countries. Today we are working with Maldives on an extraordinary number of projects. Greater Male connectivity is one of them, most ambitious project taken up anywhere in the world. And that is going to change the landscape of Maldives. There are so many other projects that change the life of people like parks, community projects. We have worked with Maldives in the international forum & we have been very sensitive on any issue that involves them. When there was shortage of onions and export was banned from our country we made sure that Maldives was exempt. Because Maldives always had a special relationship.’
Former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said, Dr Muley’s photographs reflect the day to day life. Hear Saran on Dr Muley’s photographs……..
Dr Sadhna Shankar IRS, his wife, was instrumental in showcasing the pictures. She said these pictures are a treasure of 10 years and were waiting to see the light of the day. Listen in…:
What made Dr Muley, from a diplomat to an amateur photographer and Why Maldives! Listen in from him…..
Tags: #DrDnyaneshwarMuley, #PhotoExhibition #Maldives #IndiaMaldivesrelations #HarshShringla #ShyamSaran #DrSadhnaShankar #Maldivesphotos #AmbassadorHussainNiyaz
