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We Cry In Silence

Smita Sharma

“We Cry In Silence” is a decade-long photographic and investigative project by Smita Sharma that documents the cross-border trafficking and the lives and challenges of vulnerable women across India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Through her work, Sharma explores the social, economic, and cultural conditions shaping these communities, aiming to encourage dialogue and action toward long-term solutions.

After three years of independently working on this deeply personal project, Sharma was commissioned by National Geographic Magazine to continue her investigation. The resulting 26-page story was published globally in the October 2020 issue under the title “Stolen Lives.” In 2022, the project culminated in a multilingual photo book published by FotoEvidence, combining powerful imagery, illustrations, and educational resources to raise awareness.

The book is part of a broader campaign that includes exhibitions, community outreach events, and the free distribution of a 12-page zine in Bengali, Hindi, and English. These zines have been shared widely with schools, colleges in India, and anti-trafficking organisations across South Asia, contributing to greater empathy, reflection, and positive action.


POS SS 657 2The promise of marriagePOS SS 657 2
POS SS 657 3Simran and Sakina POS SS 657 3
POS SS 657 4Rekha and DeepaPOS SS 657 4
POS SS 657 5School CommutePOS SS 657 5
POS SS 657 6From Darkness to Hope: M's Journey of SurvivalPOS SS 657 6
POS SS 657 7IllustrationPOS SS 657 7
POS SS 657 8Tricked by Love: M's Escape from ExploitationPOS SS 657 8
POS SS 657 9Trapped by LovePOS SS 657 9
POS SS 657 10The Unsolved Case of S. from West BengalPOS SS 657 10
POS SS 657 11Shiuli’s StrugglePOS SS 657 11
POS SS 657 12The red light district of Kalighat in KolkataPOS SS 657 12
POS SS 657 13IllustrationPOS SS 657 13
POS SS 657 14The Hidden Network POS SS 657 14
POS SS 657 15Ranchi Railway Police StationPOS SS 657 15
POS SS 657 16Trafficker Farak Ali Gayen POS SS 657 16
POS SS 657 17A New HomePOS SS 657 17
POS SS 657 18IllustrationPOS SS 657 18
POS SS 657 19The promise of a jobPOS SS 657 19
POS SS 657 20Smuggled from Bangladesh to IndiaPOS SS 657 20
POS SS 657 21IllustrationPOS SS 657 21
POS SS 657 22Lucky EscapePOS SS 657 22
POS SS 657 23Sayeda's Journey from Trafficking to Untimely DeathPOS SS 657 23
POS SS 657 24Welcome KitPOS SS 657 24
POS SS 657 25BondingPOS SS 657 25
POS SS 657 26 M's Ordeal: From Deception to RescuePOS SS 657 26