Unsung

UNSUNG is a tribute to ordinary Indian citizens who have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of people around them. Their inner resources – vision, will, commitment, energy – compensate for their lack of financial resources. They operate in the shadows, away from the glare of and glitz of fame and fortune. Their stories are inspirational. They teach us how can we beat all odds if we harness and channel our inner resources. UNSUNG was published in 2007 in the form of a book. It tells the stories of seemingly ordinary people who have made extraordinary contributions to society against great personal odds. It was about five years in the making and, like many of the stories it chronicles, it was produced against many odds. The book features evocative black and white images by photographer Mahesh Bhat and text by the well-known journalist Anita Pratap.

A second book in the series ‘UNSUNG-Extraordinary Lives’ was published in 2016. It features stories of another seven Unsung Heroes from across India. Some of India’s top photographers, Amit Mehra, Dinesh Khanna, Jyothi Karat, Namas Bhojani and Prashant Panjiar have collaborated with Mahesh Bhat to produce the book. Social scientist Amita Baviskar, Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director of Tibet House- Cultural Center of H.H the Dalai Lama, Social Activist Madhu Malhotra, Journalists Saritha Rai, Radhika Bordia and Sugata Srinivasa Raju have written essays. The great organic farmer Masanobu Fukuoka’s estate has given permission to use a chapter from his book ‘One Straw Revolution’ in the second volume.