Neither saree nor orthodoxy halt Vyarawalla to become 'Dalda 13'

Dalda 13, cycled in saree throughout the capital with her Maneckshaw’s Rollieflex camera strapped to her back. She clicked and developed her own films in a dark bathroom. Homai Vyarawalla is known as the actual woman behind Dalda 13, India's first female photojournalist. Her career began during the Second World War, various black and white pictures of her started appearing in the ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India’ magazine. But all her early photos were published in the name of Manekshaw Vyrawalla Homai's husband because photojournalist career was unacceptable by the public.

Though Vyarawalla dreamt of becoming a doctor, she was not supported by her mother, as she thought her daughter would have to 'burn the midnight oil'."Little did she realize that press photography would be far worse!” said Homai Vyarawalla. Manekshaw Vyrawalla was a freelance photographer and was a coach to Homai at Sir J. J. School of Art. Later they became Mr. and Mrs Vyarawalla and formulated a team around 1930's, this way Homai commenced as photographer.

Maneckshaw’s Rollieflex focused primarily on everyday life in Bombay, capturing the day-to-day activities of urban women. She captured the essence of the emotions of her subjects in a manner no one else did. She is best known for documenting the country's transition from a British colony to a newly independent nation, to the funerals of Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. She also took candid, close-up photographs of celebrities, most commonly Zhou Enlai, Ho Chi Minh, Queen Elizabeth II and John F Kennedy.

However, none were as captivating to her photographer’s eye as Pandit Nehru. Capturing many phases of his life, from him playing with children he adored, to intimate moments shared with Indira Gandhi, to a moving photograph of him on his death bed while Indira gazed at him – Homai was there to document it all. One of Pandit Nehru’s most iconic pictures was of him lighting a cigarette for the British High Commissioner’s wife, while one dangles from his own mouth. While very few knew that he was a chain smoker, Homai was not only invited into his personal life with such ease, she earned his trust enough to be allowed to capture even his unguarded moments. Nehru was her most Favorite subject of all time. She said in an interview that when Mr Nehru died she "cried, hiding my face from other photographers., 'I felt like I've lost my Toy'."

Dalda13 being an iconic photographer did not achieve a long or well paid or publicly honored career but the passion for photography reflects on her work. Vyarawalla’s work life was full of adventure. She traveled in an Army truck in Sikkim, took photographs from the Bhakra Dam, trekked through the jungles of Manipur and drove through the Kumbh Mela in a fire engine. While taking a photograph, she fell from a height and crushed her feet. But nothing stopped her to be what she is now, Vyarawalla was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2011 and she was also bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the I&B Ministry in 2010.

In today’s technological age ,when everyone has smartphones, high quality cameras, Instagram filters, editing apps,it is hard to imagine how Homai developed her technical craft. During her time being a woman the survival in a male dominant field is all the more significant because it inspires most women even today. The great lady did not become legendary in her lifetime but her work today has turned the spiraling photographer into a legend and an inspiration for many women who might follow her footsteps.
Credits: Moumita Roy, Niloy Ghosh, Riya Nemo, Nisha Nath and Nurnahar Biswas