Faces of tragedy that spoke to millions

Mumbai: In 2015, the picture of a three-year-old Syrian toddler who washed up dead on a beach went viral and sparked outrage across the globe over the migrant crisis. Up until then, there had been thousands of news stories on the devastation, death and displacement the crisis was causing but all it took was one picture for the world to wake up and notice the stark reality and horror refugees were facing. One can safely say that while the adage ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ still holds ground, some pictures speak more than words can ever express and become symbols of events that have changed the course of history.

Brussels attacks

The twin blasts in Brussels airport shook the world and sent world leaders in a huddle. Meanwhile, this picture of India’s Nidhi Chauphekar who was injured in the explosions went viral on the social media.

Eyewitnesses spoke of how Brussels airport resembled a battlefield with blood and chaos everywhere. And the first picture to give the world a glimpse into the bloody aftermath of the explosion was of this woman in a yellow jacket, torn to shreds, with blood dripping on her dust-wrapped face as another woman sitting beside her was seen speaking on a cell phone, with blood stained wrists.  The woman in the torn jacket identified as Nidhi Chauphekar is a jet airways flight attendant who is a resident of Mumbai and a mother of two. The hashtag #PrayForNidhi trended on social media as people from all parts of the world hoped for her speedy recovery.

Europe’s Refugee Crisis

The lifeless body of three-year-old Syrian refugee Aylan Kurdi was found by the Turkish police. He had drowned along with the five-year-old brother Ghalib after the two fell off an illegal boat filled with refugees trying to escape from Syria.

The powerful picture angered millions as people started sharing it widely, expressing their shock and horror over the tragic end to a young life. The public outrage also put some pressure on world leaders to react to the situation with more resolve as Germany and other European countries opened their doors for refugees, even if it was reluctantly.

2002 Gujarat riots

Often described as the worst carnage in the modern history of India, the 2002 Gujarat riots saw widespread communal violence as Hindus and Muslims massacred each other and there was open loot in the state.

The picture of a Muslim tailor called Qutubuddin Ansari was the most powerful picture that emerged during the riots. The image captured Ansari standing in a narrow veranda, with his hands folded, like he is begging for mercy, his blood stained shirt and teary eyes communicating the fear he is filled with. The photo symbolised the helplessness the victims of the riots felt, the terror and insecurity that filled them in their own home as the next knock could bring them death.

Ansari was stranded in his house and was begging the Rapid Action Force personnel to save him from an alleged Hindu mob.

Bhopal gas tragedy

It has been decades since the poisonous gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal killed over 3500 people. But thousands continue to live with its consequence to this day and this picture from December 1984 refuses to die from the memories of those who have seen it.

This iconic picture drilled home the true horror of the devastating deaths caused by the gas leak. Raghu Rai took the black and white photo of this little dead child that almost looks unreal and eerily tragic. Another photographer went on to win the 1984 World Press Photo of the Year for a similar photo.

The Afghan girl and the plight of women

The striking green eyes of the Afghan Girl, in the 1984 photograph by National Geographic‘s Steve McCurry are probably the most iconic eyes ever. The portrait has something haunting about it and drew the world’s attention to the plight of refugees living under harsh conditions along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

The girl was an orphan and yet took pride in whatever she had, despite her poverty. The popularity of the photo eventually prompted National Geographic to set up a fund for Afghan Children.

Horrors of the Vietnam War

Kim Phuc became a living symbol of the horrors of Vietnam War after she was pictured in this heart-rending photograph, stark naked, because she had ripped off her own clothes that were beginning to pierce into her skin, after a napalm attack. Soldiers of the south-Vietnamese force can be seen following the terrified children.

The wailing girl running in agony towards the camera survived the war and now is famously known as the ‘napalm girl’ due to the photo.

“My heart was full of hatred, I hated my life," Phuc was quoted in an interview, her words reflecting how war destroys the lives of even those who survive its vagaries.

The Great Depression

The years between 1929 and 1939 were easily the worst in terms of economy for North America and Europe and the period is more famously known as the ‘Great Depression’. It began in the United States, whose economy was severely crippled after the stock market crash, although economists still cannot pin it down to one cause. While what really caused the Great Depression is a matter of great debate, there is one fact that cannot be challenged – life was suddenly very hard for many people.

This picture of a melancholic migrant mother surrounded by her two children became a symbol of resilience. She had moved with her children in hope for new work and with hope of making her plight better at a time when thousands were forced to sell their houses and were being reduced to penury. People were unemployed, knee deep in debt. For those who lived through that dark decade, there was one great lesson to be learnt – stick to cash and avoid debt.