Rashmi Rekha Das, OP
Model-cum-social worker Kuhu Pattnayak disseminates thoughtful messages on feminism and gender violence through her photographs based on a wide variety of themes
Today’s youths love taking selfies and the social media is a narcissistic playground where they post their pictures expressing nothing in particular that, surprisingly, everybody likes. 21-year-old model-cum-social worker Kuhu Pattnayak is an exception in this regard. Hailing from Balasore and settled in Bhubaneswar, Kuhu does photoshoots for a reason. Every photo clicked by her is aimed to convey a social message.
A true believer in the saying ‘A photo speaks louder than words’, Kuhu feels human society all over the world is dogged by various forms of exploitative practices against women. Being a freelance model, she gave it a thought to reform society in her own way. And the idea of a photoshoot with a social message came to her mind.
“Apart from doing something for society, I always wanted to be in fashion. Since childhood, the idea of doing something good for the people always excited me. Being a hardcore feminist, I thought to disseminate thoughtful messages through my photos to people and did photoshoots on themes concerning women like dowry torture, single motherhood, child sexual abuse, feminism, homosexuality, on the theme that a woman’s body is not a public space, rehabilitation of sex workers, being proud of period, female foetus and acid attack,” she said.
Do you think these photoshoots will have impact on society and will bring about change in the mindset of people? To this query, Kuhu replied: “It will take time to change the mindset of people but yes it’ll work for sure. Social media is important in changing people’s perceptions and photography has always had a vital role in society.”
A die-hard fan and follower of Priyanka Chopra, Malala Yousafzai and Michelle Obama, Kuhu’s message for women is “Raise your voice and stand for yourself. Stand for your rights.”
“I find most men support gender equality but they find the word ‘feminism’ off-putting and negative. It’s time you need to be clear what feminism stands for: equality and freedom of choice, irrespective of gender, sexuality or race,” she said.
Dwelling on her aim, the daughter of government servants Sujata Pattnayak and Chandra Kumar Pattnayak, said: “First of all, I want to be a good human being. My aim is to be treated equally and fairly. I am also keen to help others in my own way,” she said.
