Shillong, Dec 4: A special three-day exhibition titled, ‘Em No Nahi’ to celebrate the life, work and enduring legacy of renowned activist and image maker Tarun Bhartiya, will be held at St. Anthony’s College, here from December 10-12.
The event, which was first showcased as part of the National Photography Festival 2025 at the Navjivan Trust, Ahmedabad, will feature a powerful collection of photographs documenting stories of resistance in the Khasi Hills, centred on the iconic struggle of Kong Spility Lyngdoh Langrin—the Khasi elder who steadfastly refused to sell her uranium-rich land despite immense pressure. Bhartiya’s images capture not only her resolve but also the larger spirit of ecological and political resistance in the region.
A key highlight of the event will be the release of Bhartiya’s first photobook ‘Em No Nahi’, published by Yaarbal Books, which expands on the themes of land, identity, and resistance that have shaped his decades-long practice.
In addition to the exhibition and book release, the event will feature daily film screenings, showcasing Tarun Bhartiya’s extensive body of work in documentary filmmaking. These screenings will offer visitors a deeper understanding of the issues, movements, and communities that Bhartiya has engaged with throughout his career.
Students, scholars, artists, activists, and the public are invited to experience Bhartiya’s work in its full breadth—an artistic and political archive that continues to resonate deeply in the Northeast and beyond.
The exhibition is being organised in collaboration with the Department of Mass Media and the North East India AV Archive, St Anthony’s College, Shillong.
