How would you react if I were to tell you that a person
committed suicide within 4 months of winning the highest prize in his
profession? Sounds Unbelievable, I know. Let me share with you the tragic end
of Pulitzer Price Winner Kevin Carter, a photo journalist. Carter won this
prize in April 1994 and committed suicide on 27-07-94. Carter was awarded this
prize for the famous picture “The Vulture and The Dying Girl also known as The
Struggling girl” which was clicked during coverage of Sudan Famine in March
1993.
When this picture got published in New York Times on
26/03/93, the whole world got riled up to see the critical situation where
people were dying of hunger and diseases. This picture helped the UN to gather
more support for helping Sudan people. However, lot of people started
criticising Carter for clicking the picture and leaving that child to die. The
news paper office was flooded with queries to know the plight of that little
girl, who was crawling on ground and vulture in the foreground. People started
questioning the ethics and values of Carter who gave preference to clicking the
picture rather than taking the girl to nearest UN food station, which was only
2 miles away. Apparently, these accusations and criticism became the reason of
guilt and when it became unbearable, Carter decided to end his life at the
tender age of 33. He was haunted by the image of dying children and developed a
guilt conscience.
I know, you might have also formed some opinion about Carter
and people like him. But I would like to give you some more facts about him so
that you form an informed opinion rather than jumping to conclusion.
Kevin Carter was born in 1960 in South Africa. It was the
time when South Africa was suffering heavily due to racial discrimination and
infighting. Constant rioting was a normal affair. Kevan never liked it and
always wanted to do something about it.
Kevin joined South Africa Defence Force to serve his country
but had to quit the force as he was seen as Pro Black people by his fellow
white people. He even attempted suicide at the age of 23 after being sacked
from a job. Later, while working at a camera shop he developed the interest in
photography.
He became a photojournalist because he felt he needed to document
the sickening treatment not only of blacks by whites but between black ethnic
groups as well, like those between Xhosas and Zulus.
Joining ranks with only a few other photojournalists, Carter would
step right into the action to get the best shot. A South African newspaper
nicknamed the group the Bang-Bang Club. At that time, photographers used the
term “bang-bang” to refer to the act of going out to the South African
townships to cover the extreme violence happening there.
Emotional
detachment allowed Carter and other photojournalists to witness countless
tragedies and continue the job. The world’s intense reactions to the vulture
photo appeared to be punishment for this necessary trait. Later, it became
painfully clear that he hadn’t been detached at all. He had been deeply and
fatally affected by the horrors he had witnessed.
By the way, in
2011, the parents of that “Struggling girl” in picture informed the world that
the child in picture was actually their boy, Kon Nyong, who had survived by
reaching the UN food station and succumbed to fever in 2007.
So, what is your
opinion now? I would like to leave you with following questions?
1.
Was Carter an irresponsible and selfish photographer?
2.
Who or what is responsible for his untimely death?
3. Are we justified in passing judgments about anyone and
everyone? What business or credentials do we have to judge someone?
4.
Did Carter’s picture help in saving more lives and brought
more help from worldwide?
5.
Should we be more careful in passing comments, especially in
criticising other?
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