Jain Spirit 2003 10 No 16

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

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where you can choose from the complete collection then receive the images as digital or analogue duplications. Dinodia exemplifies a new spirit among the Indian business community - a quality of service, which always tries to fulfil the requirements of the client as patiently, quickly and politely as possible.
Of medium height, wearing outsized spectacles which give him a boyish look and with a smile on his face, Jagdish Agarwal moves around his desk to shake hands. Significantly, this managing director chooses to share his office with five others. His manner is warm and engaging as we exchange pleasantries, though a hint of sadness flickers in his eyes when talk turns to his present photographic projects, "Sadly, I just don't get time for photography at the moment, but I will return to it." So the creative impulse is on hold for now. "Before I picked up a camera, I painted and wrote poetry, then photography took over completely, I even had my darkroom next to my bedroom!" Like Ansel Adams, whose work he so enjoys, Jagdish believes that photography can be a spiritual practice. "I can break it down into three parts: the searching, through a jungle, up a hill, down a street, wherever, until the subject is found; the meditation on the light, on how I wish the print to look; then the exultation or joy when all the elements are right and you press the shutter, what Cartier Bresson called 'the decisive moment. Throughout this process, I am in a state of complete concentration. My wife always claims that if she accompanies me when I am shooting, I appear unaware of her
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the decisive
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Jain Spirit September November 2003
Creative Inspiration
existence."
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Photography is a powerful tool for altering people's perceptions. However, for the photographer of conscience it can also present conundrums. "The cliché a picture is worth a thousand words' is wholly true. Therefore we have to take responsibility for our work. In my career, I've seen poverty, corruption, negligence and violence. Do I put down my camera and try to help then and there or do I take the photograph which may prove to be more beneficial in the long run? It can be a cruel choice."
Both Jagdish and Tushar are veterans of meditation, and pooja is always offered at the start of each day. "I've tried various practices within different philosophies, all of them being facets of the one. They play a profound part in my life and that of the Dinodia," Jagdish explained to me. Although it is impossible to measure, it is a fact that Dinodia remains at the top of the tree in its homeland. Agarwal perceives his work as being a pleasurable duty to both his personal and extended family of photographers and all those that work for the company. For me perhaps the best illustration of the ethos of Jagdish Agarwal and Dinodia is when in Mumbai recently, I was having problems with my cameras. They offered unconditional advice and support in these matters despite the fact that, short term, it could only prove detrimental to their income. In doing so Jagdish made something more important than money, a friend.
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James Maturin-Baird is a photographer, a designer and the Photo Editor of Jain Spirit. He has just curated a photo exhibition for the magazine which toured in the U.S.A. He'd like to extend his thanks to Biren Shah and Dhara Kothari for all their help whilst he was in Mumbai.
Jagdish Agarwal's book 'Bombay to Mumbai' is available from Wilco Publishers. Either telephone 00 91 22 2204 1420 or email wilcos@vsnl.com
the author x 2.
Graphics and Photos: James Maturin-Baird except: Courtesy of Dinodia