© Taniya Sarkar, *When I Dive into the Realm of Your Endlessness*

Written by Trip Avis

Taniya Sarkar, a photographer based in Kolkata, West Bengal, is on a quest to bring respect and understanding to the lives, experiences, and identities of the Baul-Fakir women. When I Dive into the Realm of Your Endlessness, the ongoing project by Sarkar seeks “to uncover the grassroots perspectives, philosophy, contemplation, and artistic expressions” of the women practitioners of Baul, a mystic folk group commonly regarded as troubadours or performers, that subverts and challenges many hierarchical and cultural facets of Indian society. Baul society holds women to be superior to men, a striking contrast to the rigid patriarchal structure of rural Bengal, the region these women call home. The shift of Baul culture away from traditional agricultural-egalitarian roots has compromised the livelihoods of these performers. During this challenging, transitory period, Sarkar’s camera assists these women in asserting and celebrating their identities amidst a changing cultural narrative.

In addition to documenting the nuances of the Baul-Fakir women’s way of life, Sarkar’s project captures what it means to be a woman—on an even broader scale, a human being. In one image, Sarkar portrays the regality of an older woman shrouded in draping white fabric, the traditional style of the ‘saffron- or white-clad mystics’ of the Baulism. Her face bent forward, eyes closed in contemplation, Sarkar welcomes us into this quiet, intimate moment. The woman appears to be communing with nature or her inner sense of self. Peace and wisdom come with age as we begin to know ourselves intimately and without judgment, which brings us out of opposition and into greater union with the world around us.

In another of Sarkar’s photographs, a woman rests her head on the shoulder of another woman, embracing her tenderly. While the relationship between the two subjects is ambiguous, the image is a sweet testament to female connection—maternal, sororal, romantic, mentorial, or friendship. Leaning on someone is an integral aspect of human connection, whether as a means of comforting, showing a need for comfort, or merely affirming that connection. One image depicts a woman in a state of movement. There is a frenetic poetry to the image; she tosses her long, flowing hair back, clutching herself while gesturing upward in what appears to be a dance move. The image's composition places the woman in crisp detail in the foreground while verdant water floats hazily behind her. Despite the muted quality of the water, the surrounding trees reflect against the surface. In this portrait, Sarkar captures a life in medias res, a potent sense of immediacy and vigor pouring forth from the image.

When I Dive into the Realm of Your Endlessness illuminates the experiences of these majestic women against the tide of cultural change. As the lives they know are invariably altered by outside forces, their inner light remains bright and consistent, and just gazing upon these images reminds us of the spirit and humanity that burns in all of us.