Have you ever had the experience of meeting a young person with an old soul and been struck by their wisdom and compassion? That’s how I felt when I met Thomas James Parrish, the creative genius behind Oh India a photobook documenting some of his experiences in the north of India in 2016.
Oh India is a passion project. It emerged from the deep impact of a profoundly mind-broadening experience for (then) 22 year-old Thomas. The impact caused him to turn his back on a successful music career and realise his passion for creative storytelling with a desire to inspire positive change.
The Oh India project’s objective was to support a remote education program in West Bengal. Thomas stumbled upon this program through a chance meeting in a café in Darjeeling with another son of the Northern Beaches, Michael Symonds, founder of Cobra and Mongoose Charity Group. This chance encounter led Thomas to visit Kaikala Chetana, a volunteer-run, community-based education program for India’s rural poor.
Sales of Thomas’ artworks and his photobook provide much needed funds to keep Kaikala Chetana going. That financial support is even more needed after Cyclone Amphan struck West Bengal and destroyed crops and agricultural equipment that the Kaikala village depends.
Photographically, Oh India contains 50 images spanning the beauty of rainforests in West Bengal to the mountains and monasteries of the Nubra Valley in Jammu Kashmir. The images of people going about their daily life are among my favourites.
I’ve not been to India. My knowledge of it visually has been shaped by films such as Passage to India, Ghandi, Lion and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel but none of those images compare to what Thomas has captured in Oh India. Looking at these images makes you feel like you were behind the camera experiencing the chaos, vibrancy, nature, tranquillity and wonder Thomas has so beautifully captured.
I am constantly astounded by the creative talent under our noses in the Northern Beaches. Thomas grew up in Manly, went to St Luke’s Dee Why and loved music and acting – with the former taking precedence for a few years. Just as his music career was taking him to festivals in the UK and Europe, he decided that being in front of an audience was not his passion. He wanted to tell stories in a different way. The trip to India was just the intervention he needed.
Thomas’ work is now featured in international photographic publications. Through his work he’s raised money for Amazon Watch and for AfghanAid. His passion for exposing and championing environmental and humanitarian issues and raising funds, largely by foregoing gaining a commercial benefit from his own work is inspiring. That said he still needs to eat, and you’ll find him at Manly Picture Framers on Belgrave Street in Manly where he works part-time.
You can buy a copy of Oh India at State of Mind, at The Bower. Or order a copy from Thomas’ website. It also has a brief video with Thomas talking about the project and you can see many of the images.
All proceeds from the book and 5% of print sales are donated to Kaikala Chetana. Visit thomasjamesparrish.com/oh-india