13/04/2026
Since 1894, the area of Jharia, Dhanbad, has been well known for its large coal fields. According to official sources, this part of India has the largest coal reserves in the country. Despite all the international agreements, mining activity is not ceasing here. The landscape has been radically changed , and local communities have found their ways of living in close symbiosis with coal. Despite the official prohibition, men, women, young and old alike have learned how to make their living through the manual extraction of coal, later sold on the black markets. This long-term project of mine offers a glimpse into the daily life of locals living in unimaginable conditions.