Salt water tears
Golpata collectors settled in the middle of the river near Sunderban after a long day of work. They remain away from their family for months in a row to collect Golpata. Increased salinity caused by shrimp cultivation forced more people to depend on Sunderban for their livelihood in this region. Sunderban, Sathkhira.
Salt water tears
One of many collectors drag freshly cut Golpata back to the boat. Men are forced to go deeper into the Mangrove forest in search of Golpata risking their lives. Sunderban, Sathkhira.
Salt water tears
Aiyub Ali (65) gets up very early for his morning prayers to start his day. Getting up early assures a longer day to load the boat with Golpata. Sunderban, Sathkhira.
Salt water tears
A film of fog masks the dangers for the trio (son, his father and his uncle) as they cast their net to catch fish at dawn. One of the fishermen fell prey to a Royal Bengal Tiger five days after this picture was taken. Sunderban, Sathkhira.
Salt water tears
Cows paddle through water in search of pasture. For Kishori Bala (55) it is almost incomprehensible: "In my youth, grass used to grow knee high and cows were everywhere. Now, all you see is miles after miles of shrimp farms without a tint of green." Bolabaria, Sathkhira.
Salt water tears
Rippling sea waves, dried river skeletons and endless fields. Water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. Each family needs about six pitchers of water a day, and they have to walk seven miles to get it. Ignoring knee-deep mud in rainy season, braving the biting cold of winter.
Salt water tears
A woman collects drinking water from a pond. This pond is located two miles away from her home. It takes two hours to walk to and from her home to collect water. She has to do it twice a day to fulfill the family requirements everyday. Bolabaria, Sathkhira.
Salt water tears
The land bears the footprints of each of the women journeying for water. Patrakhola, Satkhira.
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