Portfolio

Media

I have worked with visual and print media both. When I worked with visual media my job was basically to do research, find suitable characters and schedule appointment for interviews. Sometimes I did interview translation as well. My work with print media was also same- local assistant and translator.

• CBC – worked as local assistant for documentary named Myths & Might (India Reborn series)
• MTV Italia & LA7- worked as local assistant for documentary named The Camminando
• Comparing Countries Compassion: It was a documentary about sex work and sex workers in India. I did local assistant and translation. I was one of the characters also for the documentary.
• Financial Times- worked with Mr. Jospeh Johnshon, South Asia Bureau Chief, Financial Times, as his local assistant and translator for an article called Midnight’s Children
• Pennguin Group, USA- worked with Mr. Michael Blanding, writer of the book called Coke Machine, as translator
• Worked with Mr. Bart Speleers, a journalist from Holland. He was writing an article about Coke issue in India I worked as his local assistant and translator in Varanasi.

Photography

• Worked with Nadia Kamil, a photographer from Singapore, on her project named Child of Ganga which was a photo documentary about the relationship between people of Benares and Ganga.
• Worked with Tom Pietrasik, a British photographer. He just wanted to photograph life along the river Ganga in Benares.
• Worked with Jane Becker, a photographer from Canada. She wanted to photograph hospices, widow ashramas and Akhadas in Benares.
• Worked with Prof. Oh Soon-Hwa working at Nanyan Technological University, Singapore. She wanted to photograph general life of Varanasi but was mostly interested in Hindu-Muslim unity in Varanasi.

Non-Profit Organizations

I have worked with many local and international Non-Profit organizations. I am still part of a foreign NGO as Indian agent and have established my own NGO as well in Varanasi.

• India Resource Center, San Fransisco, USA
• Chance India Association, Hungry
• Aidsvideos.org, USA
• Lok Samiti, Varanasi, India
• Sanjeevani Booti, Varanasi, India

Research Assistance

• Krista Bywater, Ph.D. student, University of California, Santa Barbara. Research about globalization and water privatization in India.
• Lane Rasberry, Graduate student, University of Washington. Research about possibility of bringing researches to India.
• Tyler Gillard, Graduate Law student, University of London. Research about Coca-Cola in Varanasi.
• Amanda Ciafone, Ph.D. student, Yale University. Research about history of Coca-Cola in India.
• Sophia Siebert, M.A. student, University of Berlin. Research about dieing in Varanasi.
• Adam Sargent, Ph.D. student, University of Chicago. Research about laborers at construction sites in Varanasi.
• Irene De Piccolo, M.A. student, University of Venice. Research about widows in Varanasi.
• I am associated with Ca’ Foscari University of Venice’s Varanasi study center. I work there as research assistant and translator and sometimes as Hindi teacher. I give walking classes.

Research

Apart from working with researchers and students, I have done my own research as well. My researches were not recognized by any institution but it was for my personal betterment.

• HIV & AIDS education in Varanasi
• History of gay culture in India
• Hijras
• Ethical and moral issues with sex workers
• Ethical and moral issues with gay community in India
• Current education system in Uttar Pradesh
• Exorcism
• Cultural diversity of Varanasi
• Hindu religion

Tourism

I have worked with many tourists in Varanasi as I am a government approved tour guide for North India. I have attended training of 16 weeks organized by Archeological Survey of India and Ministry of Tourism for Government of India. Click here to see my legal recognition as a tour guide. I work with different travel agencies but I always like to work freelance. I have designed a few tours, including walking tours, of Varanasi.

I have founded a guest house named GroovyGanges guest house in Varanasi which is a registered guest house by government of Uttar Pradesh. Since my guest house is usually full, I have started a new business of arranging family stay in Varanasi. I have hired many rooms at different places in Varanasi, have trained the families owning it and now I sublet them to the people to want to stay in Varanasi.

Other projects

World Through Music: Worked with a musician named Josh Massad from California, USA on his project named World Through Music. This project was about teaching music, music instruments and geography to the school kids in Benares and I was responsible to organize this whole project and do interpretation. (Feb. 2010)