Kashi: Chronicles of Eternity by Dipanjan Chakraborty is an immersive visual and emotional journey into one of the world’s oldest living cities, captured with a sensitivity that is both intimate and timeless. Rather than approaching Kashi as a photographer documenting a destination, Chakraborty approaches it as someone who has built a lifelong relationship with the city—one that is tender, contemplative, and deeply personal. This relationship radiates from every page, making the book feel less like a collection of images and more like a quiet conversation between the author and the soul of Kashi.
What immediately stands out in this work is the author’s unique way of seeing. He does not rely on grand, dramatic scenes to convey the spirit of the city. Instead, he gravitates towards the ordinary moments that hold extraordinary depth: a fleeting glance, a pause between breaths, a shadow falling gently on a weathered step, a lone figure standing by the river with more questions than answers. These subtle moments often go unnoticed in everyday life, yet Chakraborty recognizes their significance and allows them to speak with incredible emotional clarity.
The visual narrative is not constructed to impress; it is crafted to reveal. The photographs guide the reader through Kashi’s diverse moods—serene mornings, contemplative afternoons, and silent yet powerful nights. The stillness in some images feels almost sacred, as if the city is offering a quiet space for reflection. At times, the images evoke a sense of longing; at other times, they offer comfort, reminding us that even in the chaos of life, there are places where time seems to pause in gentle respect.
Accompanying the photographs are the author’s reflections, which elevate the entire experience. Chakraborty writes with remarkable sincerity. His words do not try to explain Kashi, nor do they attempt to define its essence. Instead, he shares how the city shapes him, challenges him, and continues to guide him emotionally and spiritually. The writing is soft yet powerful, revealing inner questions, personal revelations, and a deep gratitude for the city that has embraced him for more than thirty years.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is its emotional authenticity. The author does not present Kashi as a place of perfection or glamour. He presents it as it is—layered, complex, and endlessly evolving. The photographs capture the city’s contradictions: the coexistence of silence and sound, ritual and routine, permanence and impermanence. This honest portrayal allows the reader to feel the city rather than merely observe it.
Through his lens, Chakraborty opens a window into the human experience embedded in Kashi. Faces of strangers appear carrying their own stories, each framed with dignity and thoughtfulness. There is a sensitivity in the way he photographs people—not as subjects, but as living participants in a city that holds thousands of journeys simultaneously. The emotions captured on these faces—peace, fatigue, devotion, curiosity—create a deep connection between the viewer and the city’s inhabitants.
Another remarkable aspect is the pace at which the book moves. There is no rush. There is no urgency. Every page encourages the reader to slow down, breathe, and reflect. This gentle pacing mirrors the author’s philosophy: that understanding a place as profound as Kashi requires patience, surrender, and openness. The pauses between images are just as meaningful as the visuals themselves. They invite the reader to absorb the moment and engage with it not just visually but emotionally.
Chakraborty’s decades-long connection with the city becomes one of the most compelling components of the book. His familiarity with its rhythms allows him to look beyond the obvious. He finds poetry in routine, beauty in simplicity, and divinity in human presence. This ability to observe quietly and feel deeply transforms the narrative into a meditative experience for the reader. The more one progresses through the pages, the more the city begins to feel like a companion—one that listens, understands, and speaks in silence.
The book also succeeds in presenting Kashi not as a static monument to the past but as a living, breathing presence. Its ghats, alleys, and people are shown not as relics of history but as active participants in the ongoing story of the city. There is a sense of continuity, an unbroken line connecting the experiences of generations. Yet the book never loses its emotional intimacy. Even in crowded frames, the storytelling feels personal, as if the author is sharing something known only to him but graciously offering it to the reader.
By the time the final pages arrive, the impact of the book is unmistakable. It leaves behind a sense of calm, introspection, and wonder. It also leaves a feeling of companionship—between the reader and the author, between the reader and the city, and perhaps most importantly, between the reader and their own inner world. This ability to evoke such emotional resonance is what makes Kashi: Chronicles of Eternity more than a photographic work; it becomes a spiritual dialogue.
Dipanjan Chakraborty has created a masterpiece that blends art, memory, and inner reflection. It is a book that does not demand admiration; it simply invites you to witness, feel, and remember. And long after closing the final page, one carries with them the quiet humility and eternal presence that define both Kashi and this extraordinary work.
