Why “INDIA” : A Journey from Passion to Purpose

"To Be India" by Roshani Shah

There was a time when I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life. I’d studied management and finance, worked a corporate job, and followed the usual path. But somewhere along the way, I felt disconnected like something essential was missing.

That’s when "Photography" found me in 2014. It started with small shooting product, portraits, covering events. But in 2017,

I picked up my camera and stepped into the crowd for the first time, during the Ganpati festival in Mumbai. Soon after, I travelled to Pushkar to document people and culture and that’s where something shifted.

I saw how photography could be more than a skill, it could be a way of life. A way to understand, observe, and connect with the world around me.

Over the years, my camera became my compass. It gave me purpose. It taught me to see differently, to pay attention, to care about the stories that often go unnoticed.

Two years ago, I also started reading photography books deeply, and that took the experience to another level. Holding a printed photo, feeling the texture of paper it made me value photography in a more tangible, lasting form. That’s when the dream of creating my own book truly began.

Today, I’m humbled to share that my first photo book is globally launched and available for pre-order

(https://www.roshanishah.com/single-project)

And I knew from the very beginning: the title had to include India.

If someone picks up this book anywhere in the world, I want them to know what it stands for. It stands for India. For its beauty, complexity, and soul and for a journey that turned passion into purpose.

This country has given me everything my stories, my subjects, my lens, my roots. I’ve travelled through its cities, towns, villages documenting daily life, people, and culture. And while this is just the beginning, this book holds all the places I’ve photographed till now. I know I’ve only scratched the surface barely of what India holds and I honestly can’t wait to discover more. There’s so much left to see, to feel, and to capture.

My camera and I are just getting started :)