Talk: Speaking Stones: Unveiling the Rock Art of Ladakh

By author and photographer Ahtushi Deshpande

Thursday, October 03, 2024

Tea at 5.30 pm and Talk at 6 pm 

The talk will explore the fascinating narratives etched in ancient petroglyphs, reflecting humanity’s profound connection with nature and the origins of early belief systems. These rock engravings, found in the hidden galleries of Ladakh, provide a window into our shared history, illustrating themes of resilience, memory, and the passage of time. Her book, titled Speaking Stones, published in 2024, features over 260 colour photographs that offer a glimpse into Ladakh's rock art and is available for purchase at the BDL Museum Shop.

Ahtushi Deshpande is a travel journalist and photographer whose work has been published in Outlook Traveller and other publications. She is a finalist for the 2024 Banff Mountain Book Award in the Image category for her book, Speaking Stones: Rock Art of Ladakh. In 2022, she was recognized by the India Photo Archive Foundation as one of India's Top 80 photographers, featured in a book and exhibition titled Drishti. Her work will be showcased at Pratap in Kalaghoda, Mumbai, starting September 29. The exhibition will also travel to Paris in November 2024, where it will be hosted at the Edmond Rostand Media Gallery.

The talk will be held at the Education Center in the BDL Museum Plaza, which can be accessed via the OUT gate of the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo. For any queries contact us at education@bdlmuseum.org or 022 23 741234.