Thé Kahata’s Story

The contribution made by the upcountry Tamil community in tea plantations to uplift the economy of this country, for over 150 years is so vast and cannot be given a mere monetary value. Sri Lanka is renowned for its world famous ‘Ceylon Tea’. Yet after all these years, the upcountry Tamil community who pluck the tea leaves, prune the tea bushes, fertilize the ground and uphold many vital aspects of the production process, have unfortunately seen no improvement in their living standards. Instead, they have to go far to achieve the position they deserve – politically, economically, and socially.

There is much literature, poems and songs written and various themes created on behalf of this fraternal community, many of which have been able to broaden the social consciousness through a sympathetic imagination for new political reform. This photographic exhibition is an attempt to give the audience a glimpse into a cross section of the lives of these upcountry Tamil communities and provide a visual narrative of the reality of their livelihoods and thereby broaden the mass consciousness on social, political, economic and cultural aspects of their lives.

The exhibition displays over 100 photographs captured by over 40 youth from four selected up-country tea estates. Youth from Hollyrood and Logy estates representing the Nuwaraeliya District, and youth from Etampitiya and Uva Highland estates representing the Badulla District, participated in this program. Through 50 + workshops, these young people learnt the technicalities and artistic aspects of photography. The workshops included capacity building to prompt discussion and social awareness among them to capture diverse angles of their real-life circumstances through photography. Thus, throughout a two year long process, they were empowered to capture the livelihoods of their communities through their own lenses. Thé Kahata is testament to the creativity, talent and courage of these young men and women from Badulla and Nuwara Eliya.

It also stands as an example of what can be achieved when over a span of time, young people are supported to reflect on their world and hone a craft that can in return help
shape our world view, to become more expansive and sensitive to the injustices around us. Telling their own stories through photography gives these young people a voice to advocate for their community, while encouraging inclusivity and creating awareness through the arts of the challenges and stigmas this community continues to encounter.

This initiative was made a success mainly with the contribution of Upcountry Tamil youth and their respective communities. This programme is particularly unique since it encapsulates a collective process of dynamic activism through visual art and storytelling.

The Centre for Policy Alternatives and Uva Shakthi Foundation, in partnership with Strengthening Reconciliation Processes in Sri Lanka (SRP), collaborated with the youth and their families and communities to bring this exhibition to life. Strengthening Reconciliation Processes in Sri Lanka (SRP) is co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office. It is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the British Council, in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka. SRP takes a holistic approach to peace building, working with 2 actors at government, NGO and grassroot level in different sectors that play key roles in national reconciliation processes.

Two well-known and accomplished photographers– Ajith Seneviratne and Nadishka Ranasinghe joined and co-ordinated with this youth community, giving them the necessary basic technical knowhow and the practical knowledge on photography, that they will use well into the future.