Chinky Shukla: When Buddha Stopped Smiling

What happens to a community long after a nuclear test is over?

Documentary photographer and National Geographic Explorer Chinky Shukla takes us into the villages of India where the story didn’t end when the nuclear bombs were detonated. Through her long-term projects in Jadugoda and Pokhran, she documents the lives of people living close to uranium mines and nuclear test sites — places where the consequences of history continue to shape everyday life.

We also talk about her journey into photography, her background growing up in Delhi, nominations for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, Joop Swart Masterclass and the hopeful side of her work: photography workshops with children in Pokhran who are learning to tell their own stories through the camera.  We talk about train travel across India, cooking, and the small everyday moments that remind us that even in the most serious stories, life — and sometimes laughter — continues.

Grab a coffee, settle in, and join us for this wonderful conversation with Chinky Shukla.

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📸 See more of Chinky's work:

https://www.chinkyshukla.in/

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