Photographer's Note
I SHOT IT AT TOTOPARA IN JALPAIGURI DISTRICT.(WEST BENGAL,INDIA).LENS=135MM.Sorry for the loss of details cause its a scanned one..after scanning I filtered it to reduce noise....
The Toto is a primitive Indo-Bhutanese tribe residing in a small enclave called Totopara in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India. .Totopara lies 22 km from Madarihat, the entrance of the famous Jaldapara National Park. So, we can safely assume that the Totos live near the northern edges of this forest.
Anthropologists agree that the Toto culture and language is totally unique to the tribe, and is clearly distinguished from the neighbouring Rajbongshis, Koch or the Bhutanese Sharchop tribes.
Totos were nearly becoming extinct in the 1950s, but recent measures to safeguard their areas from being swamped with outsiders have helped preserved their unique heritage and also helped the population grow. In the 2001 census, they numbered about 1184 - all living in Totopara.
Totos don't generally have more than one wife living. After their wife's death, they can marry the deceased wife's younger sister, but a woman cannot marry her deceased husband's brother. On the death of a spouse, the husband or wife has to remain single for twelve months before they can remarry again. There is no custom of divorce among the Totos.
***AND ONE GOOD NEWS TO SAY THAT IN THIS YEAR ONE TOTO GIRL JUST PASSED 12TH STANDARD***
BY COURTESY;-WIKIPEDIA.
adamchewts01, japiey, qpochet, noborders, rajju, sabyasachi1212, isabela_sor, crckt, tasuray έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη
Critiques | Translate
pawelx
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 87 W: 0 N: 19]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-n.gif){kind=small}
(11) 2007-06-25 8:57
Great portrait. And the story that goes with it, very interesting. One rarely sees this part of India photographed, this makes your shot even more interesting. Would love to wander into the easter part of the country and experience the numerous tribes who live there, I have so far been in the western part of India. Regards
Pawel
qpochet
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 361 W: 56 N: 226]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(1412) 2007-06-25 9:46
Hi Subir,
Nice B&W portrait of those children. I like a lot their expressive eyes. Interesting note as well. Nice composition as well, just a pity there is that distracting thing on the left.
Nice job!
Quentin.
jcdurka1
(1950) 2007-06-25 11:09
Nice shot, for the glances captured. The picture is well constrasted. The unique little problem is the mast on the middle of the picture.
Well done,
Cheers, Jean-Claude
indoka28
(5261) 2007-06-25 14:13
Hello Subir,
Loss in detail ta cholbe ekhane..wonderful depiction of the tribe and I really appreciate your effort to get this tribe in to limelight..!!
beautiful composition..the smile of the little girl looks very genuine..and good choice of b/w for this one..!!
Regards,
Indro
sidstakes
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 48 W: 30 N: 73]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(772) 2007-06-25 14:24
Hi Subir,
Great photograph, no doubt about it. Good to see this kind of photograph. The tonal range is really helping here and its very good, a classic.
I was thinking if you wanted you could have used the girl with the baby on the right hand side of the frame as a seperate image in itself..anyways..this is good stuff.. as Prantik mentioned...Sunil Jana!
Regards,
Siddhartha
noborders
(1010) 2007-06-25 15:04
Oh, absolutely lovely this shot ! the quality of the photo does not bother me at all, it is just great like this ! Of course, I am a bit biased because of my interest for this subject, and I was also loved to read your note... My last time in India, I ventured in a remote area in a little corner of UP close to Jharkhand to visit a primary school with the 1st generation being literate, it was a sort of expedition to reach the place due to very bad roads and arriving there, I was almost as shy as they were, it was a great experience !
Many thanks to show us those such interesting subjects, TFS and bravo,
Cath.
sabyasachi1212
(19779) 2007-06-26 1:18
Hi Subir,
You must be knowing, I love this kind of shots, specially of tribals, they still have a look of innocence left in them. I think the brother-sister duo on the right would have itself made for a fantastic portrait study.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi
japiey
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1745 W: 292 N: 2671]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-n.gif){kind=small}
(10163) 2007-06-26 3:32
Subir.
Ohhhh am so happy after reading your notes...
my wishes to the girl who passed 12th level in school.
Dear friend, you have made a fantastic image, very realistic in nature, reflecting the souls of the little girls of TOTO tribe.
Genuine in looks, and my salutes to you for this sincerity and love for them.
jean paul
:)
isabela_sor
(47748) 2007-06-26 3:38
Three different expressions but they have something together:their innocence!The b&w was the perfect choice
A nice day
crisnique
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 111 W: 1 N: 56]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(857) 2007-06-26 7:28
Dear Subir,
Great BW portrait. a pity the mast invading the picture, otherwise it would have been perfect!
Well done.
Cristian
crckt
(7222) 2007-06-26 18:45
Hi Subir,
What a moment you have captured! Amazing portrait. Congratulations to the girl who passed her 12th grade exams.
Regards
Shaeri
vincz
(19113) 2007-06-27 3:56
I like this grainy rendering for this type of scene together with the black and white choice. These 2 grils have very interesting expression, very different for both. Very interesting ethonogical shot.
prumod
(8300) 2007-07-10 6:02
hi subir...
your b/w series is amazing... all photos are very subjective and conveys well... nice quality too...
greetings...
Photo Information
-
Copyright: SUBIR BASAK (photographer123)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 222 W: 177 N: 1325]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(6248) - Genre: Άνθρωποι
- Medium: Μαύρο & Ασπρο
- Date Taken: 1998-00-00
- Categories: Αποφασιστική στιγμή
- Camera: Canon EOS 40D
- Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση
- Θέμα(τα): your's favorite, Do you care about us?...., ** Noborder's favourite India photos (II) [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2007-06-25 8:21
- Αγαπημένα: 1 [view]
