My name is Ashok Gupta now a school teacher in Abacus Montessori School, teaching class 11 & 12. I am known as a serious listener of Hindustani Classical Music, Jazz and an avid world cinema buff.

From a very early age I have been interested in photography and was an active member of the photography club in school where we had a dark room and did develop and printing. I was on the committee of a film club and have had the good fortune to see some great images from extremely talented cinematographers on film.

The first Chennai Photo Biennale was truly a treat, some excellent moving, forceful real images were displayed all over Chennai and an additional bonus was to hear and interact with the photographers whose images said plenty. This was a first for Chennai and it enriched this city even more as it was a completely new experience and the excitement it generated was palpable . It added to the music festival and the film festival season as well. On display were experiences of the photographers from all over the world in images and words!

I look forward to the 2nd Chennai Photo Biennale as it is not just photography but opening up the mind and imagination to the immense possibilities of creating images. I am sure as more people see the displays and interact it will only benefit the individual who will then benefit the city and the world.

Today photography has exploded across our country with mobile phones and DSLR camera's being the norm. All of us use photography in everyday life to express ourselves and share our images on social media. Its high time we have a massive event like the CPB and make it world famous.

I fell in love with the Chennai Photo Biennale concept and decided to do something about it.

When the folks at CPB approached me and told me about what they had in mind, it sounded like a wonderful idea to put India and Chennai on the world map. If a country has to grow, we need to embrace photography and art as over time the culture of a country will reflect on the innovations and attitude of the people. This campaign of mine is about helping and being a part of this wonderful initiative. Over the years, the event will recognize talent, create a positivity around photography as a career, add to the image of Chennai and its people and will help contribute to broadening the scope of contemporary visual arts in various ways.

Am raising INR 50000 to help the initiative get to their overall goal of raising INR 300L and creating a world-class spectacle. The CPB will impact the citizens of Chennai and change their attitudes to art and culture. Over a period of time, it will definitely grow into a movement that will impact those in the south, then in India. Please do fund this campaign of mine and lets together put India and Chennai on the world photography map.