By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 5: A Tibetan photojournalist working at The Indian Express has been announced among this year’s winners of the national award for excellence in journalism 2015.
The Press Council of India (PCI) on Wednesday announced the list of winners which included Tashi Topgyal, a Tibetan photographer, in the ‘photo feature category’ to be awarded the prestigious honor by President Pranab Mukerjee on the National Press day on Nov. 16.
Tashi who has been in the profession for the past nine years describes his job simply as “something akin to religion” and has completed many well received photo features such as the ‘Inside the Death Valley, The Kedarnath Massacre’, ‘The Inside Story: Rat hole Coal Mining in the Jaintia Hills and ‘Reporting via Panorama’among others.
The Special Photographer for The Indian Express has little inhibitions about what his job entails and what it could transpire into when heeded by decision makers. Speaking to Phayul, he says, “It gives you immense sense of joy when your work can actually translate into changing people’s lives. I have covered many assignments and have come across numerous human tragedies”. His 12 day coverage of the 2014 Kashmir floods has earned him the National Award.
Tashi hails from Sonada, Darjeeling and studied at the St. Joseph North Point School. After his schooling, he joined the Aligarh Muslim University.
“It is recognition for me and I am happy as anyone would for receiving such an honor. I hope that this will inspire Tibetan youngsters as well as youths in Darjeeling,” he says.
His blog, ‘The shutter speed journal’ accounts for all his work and establishes a unique brand of storytelling, where he writes, “At the end, all that remains is stories”.
