Positive journey through life

May 5, 2009

Pavithra Srinivasan. 04 May 2009 10:57:00 PM IST

BOUNCING children play delightedly in fields. Mothers look cheerfully at the

camera; teachers, workers and farm-hands are frozen in the midst of their lives

– each second a warm, delightful appreciation of their everyday lives. One

common factor binds all these people from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra

Pradesh, Karnataka – they've all been affected by HIV/AIDS. And all lead

positive lives - in more than one sense of the word.

The occasion was the launch of `Positive Journey Through Life' by Indian Network

for People Living With HIV/AIDS (INP+), an effort to promote social acceptance

of people living with HIV/AIDS.

And the work was the result of photo-journalist Shaju 's camera: he'd

travelled across the country, capturing and documenting the social and emotional

impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in India, highlighting varied positive human

responses.

" Strengthening People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) Networks is the permanent

solution needed to reduce stigma and discrimination faced by PLHA in India. This

exhibition will boost the self-esteem of PLHA in the country, and encourage more

people to be open about their status, " explained K K Abraham, president of INP+.

S Vijay Kumar, project director, TANSACS, along with a 'positive' family from

Pudukkottai – all of whom enthusiastically signed a photograph as well –

inaugurated the event.

But the highlight, undoubtedly, was KH Pradip Kumar Singh, winner of the title

Mr Manipur, who has been tested positive. He gave a little impromptu performance

at the inauguration, and made a heartfelt speech as well. " Death is common to

everyone here - all we don't know is when or where we'll die. We need to do

something for the good of society before that, " he said in his native tongue.

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