Oral History Interview : Gautam Bose

Content Description

The 81 minutes interview documents the career of a media practitioner who joined CENDIT in 1983 after working as a still photographer. With no formal training in video, he learned camera operation, sound recording, and editing through hands-on fieldwork. His early work included documenting cooperative-building efforts in villages near Gurgaon, followed by assignments related to major social and political events such as the 1984 Delhi riots and the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. He also traveled with a small team to Cambodia to make the film *Cambodia Lives Again* during a period of political transition and instability. He describes CENDIT as a largely egalitarian, non-bureaucratic organization where people shared physical labour, learned by doing, and discovered their strengths over time. The conversation highlights his reflections on video as a tool for consciousness-building, trust-based field interaction, and the formative influence of CENDIT on his technical practice and understanding of media’s social role.

Condition Description

This oral history interview is recorded in WAV format and spans a total duration of 81 minutes. The audio is clear, with consistent volume and no environmental interference. The speaker’s voice is distinct and intelligible throughout, with no overlapping speech or background noise. The interview is being made into summary for reference.

Accession Date

2026-01-27

Disposition

The recording has been retained fully as part of the oral history collection due to its siginificant documentation of community narratives and underrepresented voices. No materials have been removed or reassigned from this accession. Consent forms have been signed by the interviewees and handed over to AMP.

Acquisition Type

Gift

Provenance

These interview was conducted and compiled by Surajit Sarkar in 2025. It was created by the PAST grantee (AMP) in order to document oral histories of AV technical staff from the Delhi region.

Retention Rule

This preserves the less heard voices of people involved in the Audio Visual world from 1970s to 2000. Digital files are being stored in an external Hard Disk HDD at AMP and on the google cloud. The digital files will be permanently housed at Archives at NCBS, with access governed by project policy. Copies will also be shared with the donor.

Language of Description

English

Script of Description

Latin

Restrictions Apply

Yes

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for access unless mentioned in specific folders of the finding aid.

Use Restrictions

Copyright may not have been assigned to Archives at NCBS. Permission for reproduction or distribution must be obtained in writing from the Archives at NCBS (archives@ncbs.res.in). See access guidelines for more information (https://archives.ncbs.res.in/access). The Archives at NCBS makes no representation that it is the copyright owner in all of its collections. The user must obtain all necessary rights and clearances before use of material and material may only be reproduced for academic and non-commercial use.