Archive · 2 Dec 2025
Filmmaker Preserves 100-Year Family Archive of Bharatpur's Wildlife
A family in India has been taking pictures of wildlife and nature in Bharatpur for over 100 years.
The Sharma family started with Abhinandan's great-grandfather, who took photos for the king.
Over the years, each generation added to this collection, showing how the area changed.
Now, Abhinandan is working to save all these old photos by turning them into digital files.
He wants to share this history with others and help protect Bharatpur's animals and environment.
The photos show many birds and animals that are now rare or have disappeared.
By keeping these photos safe, Abhinandan hopes to teach people about the importance of nature and conservation.
The Sharma family has documented Bharatpur's wildlife for four generations, starting with Nanthan Lal Sharma in the early 1910s.
Abhinandan Sharma is currently digitizing and archiving the family's extensive collection of photographs and negatives.
The family's photographs have played a crucial role in raising awareness about Bharatpur's biodiversity and contributed to its designation as a national park in 1982.
Abhinandan's work focuses on capturing atmospheric and subtle stories, rather than dramatic action, and he believes in the power of images to connect people with nature.
Bharatpur is facing ecological decline due to a lack of fresh water, threatening the habitat of migratory birds and other species.
- Who
- Abhinandan Sharma and his family
- What
- Digitizing and preserving a 100-year family archive of Bharatpur's wildlife
- When
- Ongoing project, with historical documentation spanning from the 1910s to present
- Where
- Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
- Why
- To preserve the visual history of Bharatpur and contribute to conservation efforts
- Family Legacy
- Four generations of Sharma family documenting Bharatpur's wildlife
- Key Figures
- Nanthan Lal Sharma, Dinesh Chandra Sharma, Naveen Sharma, Abhinandan Sharma
- Notable Works
- Documentation of migratory birds, royal hunts, and changing landscapes
- Conservation Impact
- Photographs contributed to Bharatpur becoming a national park in 1982
- Current Project
- Digitizing and archiving the Sharma Studios collection
- Recognition
- National Geographic Award winner and Nikon Professional Member
- Ecological Concern
- Bharatpur's ecological decline due to lack of fresh water
- Species Documented
- Siberian Crane, Fishing Cat, and various migratory birds