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.
The promise of marriagePOS SS 657 1
Simran and Sakina POS SS 657 2
Rekha and DeepaPOS SS 657 3
School CommutePOS SS 657 4
From Darkness to Hope: M's Journey of SurvivalPOS SS 657 5
IllustrationPOS SS 657 6
Tricked by Love: M's Escape from ExploitationPOS SS 657 7
Trapped by LovePOS SS 657 8
The Unsolved Case of S. from West BengalPOS SS 657 9
Shiuli’s StrugglePOS SS 657 10
The red light district of Kalighat in KolkataPOS SS 657 11
IllustrationPOS SS 657 12
The Hidden Network POS SS 657 13
Ranchi Railway Police StationPOS SS 657 14
Trafficker Farak Ali Gayen POS SS 657 15
A New HomePOS SS 657 16
IllustrationPOS SS 657 17
The promise of a jobPOS SS 657 18
Smuggled from Bangladesh to IndiaPOS SS 657 19
IllustrationPOS SS 657 20
Lucky EscapePOS SS 657 21
Sayeda's Journey from Trafficking to Untimely DeathPOS SS 657 22
Welcome KitPOS SS 657 23
BondingPOS SS 657 24
M's Ordeal: From Deception to RescuePOS SS 657 25