One Billion Indians

It is obviously provocative and somewhat pretentious to call a book of photographs 'One Billion Indians'. No one can claim to cover the full diversity of a country this size. Many things are missing: entire provinces, different religions or ethnic groups, social representations. But there are reasons to entitle it so. The first one is that 'One Billion Indians' is the most important factor in understanding the country. It is what determines its physical aspect, its architecture, its logistics, its public transportation, and therefore shapes the impression one has when observing it. It lies at the core of politics and religious beliefs, and it is magnified by the rapid urban growth of the country. The second reason is linked to Pellizzari's peculiar photographic style. The title relates to his panoramic eye, to the idea of showing one billion details, one billion attitudes, one billion feelings - harmony within complexity. This book is essentially a compilation of scenes of ordinary life, taking pl