Storytelling in a disaster – the Nepal Earthquake
I caught up with freelance photographer and videographer Suraj Shakya over tea. We made a short film together in 2016 about the devastating Nepal Earthquake.
“I wasn’t grabbing my camera. I was grabbing my loved ones.”
When the Nepal Earthquake struck in 2015, Suraj was surrounded by rubble, dust, and confusion.
“I could see dead bodies being carried away. Then it hit me that this is for real. My city that used to be so vibrant, my city that used to be filled with people, suddenly was silent.”
Thankfully Suraj’s family members were all safe. As soon as he could, he took his camera and started to visit different areas of the country to capture what was happening. That was the point when he began to understand the scale of the disaster.
“I went to Bhaktapur first, one of the historic areas of Nepal. The houses there are old and made of bricks and mud so you can imagine how ruined they were. People were trying to rescue survivors, if there were any. When I started taking pictures of the damaged houses, I felt so helpless.”
Documenting what was happening so the world could see provided Suraj with an important role. His experience as a storyteller helped him connect with people in some of their most difficult moments and capture the emotion of the situation.
“There was a landslide and a whole village was washed into the river. A dog would sit by the river every day. I asked people if they knew why. They told me it was the exact spot where the dog’s owner’s house used to be. The owner didn’t survive the earthquake. I captured this moment with my camera and whenever I look at that photo, I feel sad.”
Suraj’s photo of the dog by the river bank
The role of a storyteller is complex and sensitive, especially in situations where people have experienced trauma.
“I never want people to think I am taking advantage of their story or situation. I speak the native language so after the earthquake and in other sensitive situations, I can talk openly with people and explain why I am there. I only take photos and footage once I have their consent and they are happy.”
There’s one thing that is universally enjoyed – a hot drink. Tea is one of my own daily must-haves. Suraj describes how a simple hot drink can help build important personal connections.
“It is the nature of Nepali people that they invite you for tea. I always drink tea or have food with people as a way to be together instead of just going to interview them. I also carry chocolate for the kids. Those things help you get to know people so the conversation feels natural and friendly. If you take the earthquake as an example, because I also survived it, it was easy to relate to people.”
Suraj is part of the Sattya Media Arts Collective, which takes a pop-up cinema into communities where documentaries have been made. Many people in Nepal don't have cinemas or internet, so this provides them with the chance to see their story and ask any questions.
“Normally we try to show the documentaries over two or three days so that people don't miss out. The first time I went to screen a documentary I saw a lot of men on day one. Then on days two and three, a lot of women came. In the villages, women often do all of the domestic work, but they told us that their husbands were at home preparing the food so that they could come and watch the documentary.”
The pop-up cinema provides people with the space to come to terms with things that have happened, like the earthquake. It also provides space for people to explore issues like menstruation or women’s rights, which might never have been openly discussed amongst the community.
“Stories inspire people to explore new ideas, make a change or support a cause. Humanitarian stories are really needed.”
Watch the film Suraj and I made about Bhawani, a Restless Development young leader who collected vital information to help rebuild lives after the 2015 earthquake.
