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Capturing the dark world of child labour on camera

`ADULT TERRORISM': A photo taken from the documentary film `History Expedition'

To capture the dark world of child labour that they once belonged to, 15 children armed with their cameras began a cycling expedition from Bangalore and travelled nearly 4,000 km across the States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Goa.

The five-week-long journey of these children from Bornfree Art School International in Bangalore that began in February last year has now culminated in a documentary film called "History Expedition" that was premiered at India International Centre in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Those who undertook this expedition were themselves street children at one point in time, working as rag pickers and domestic servants till they joined Bornfree Art School where they are encouraged to be creative and taught painting, music and drama. The children were armed with a still camera, while the Institute's art director John Devaraj moved around with a video camera. Together they recorded what they called "adult terrorism" in these States, where adults have enslaved little children and shackled them to labour.

The children took some 25,000 photographs of toiling children and 32 hours of film footage that was further edited to 156 minutes. "All the characters and names in the film are real. Children are working everywhere, in cities, villages, posh offices, religious centres, open fields among sheep and cattle. Child labour should become a part of the school syllabus. This issue should feature in the manifesto of political parties. Only then can the country be rid of this problem," said Mr. Devaraj, the director and screenplay writer of the film. "History Expedition" will now be screened in Bangalore on June 15. -- Parul Sharma

-- Parul Sharma

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