Legendary Photographer Raghu Rai Picks Finance Student’s Photographs Capturing Ahmedabad’s Invisible Economies for One of His Final Projects

When Himani Priyamwada entered Ahmedabad’s Sunday market near the Riverfront with her camera, she was drawn not to the hustle and bustle of the streets, but to the everyday dignity of work often overlooked. Street vendors, their children, and small traders became the subjects of her photographic compositions, through which she chose to tell stories of resilience, contribution, and invisible economies.

Himani was not interested in merely capturing an image, but the hidden meaning beneath it. “The picture should speak for itself,” says Himani. “One should be able to see it and feel something without being offered any explanation.”

That thought process led to two of her photographs being selected for a prestigious upcoming book project by the Indian National Habitat Forum. Her images were shortlisted for inclusion in a forthcoming Routledge publication titled City Economies in the Global South: Growth, Inclusion and Sustainability. Adding to the achievement, her photograph, Bicycle Wheels, was among only seven images personally selected by the late Raghu Rai, a legendary photographer.

Upon receiving the recognition, Himani, who is about to graduate and is preparing for her master’s, said, “I did not realise my full potential, but this recognition made me feel that if I try harder, the results can completely change. It gave me confidence to continue in this field alongside my studies.”

Her photographs were a natural fit for the project’s theme. The competition sought visual narratives around economic justice, urban transformation, resilience, and everyday life in the Global South. Himani’s images of vendors’ children selling broomsticks and a bicycle wheel seller did exactly that by highlighting people whose labour sustains local economies. Her compositions bring forth a rarely documented dimension, adding authenticity and emotional depth while transforming ordinary moments into social commentary.

Himani’s journey into photography began almost by chance. As part of Ahmedabad University’s interdisciplinary curriculum, students are encouraged to take courses beyond their major. A BBA (Hons)  Accounting and Finance student, she chose a photography course simply because she owned a DSLR camera that had been lying unused. What began as curiosity soon turned into a creative pursuit.

The course introduced her not only to camera settings and technique, but also to storytelling through light, composition, and realism. Field visits across the city sharpened her ability to observe people, spaces, and emotion. “It was just one course, and it changed my whole perspective,” she reflects.

For Himani, Ahmedabad University’s interdisciplinary approach helped reveal a side of herself she had not fully explored. “It is not only about being good at studies. You must find your talent within you through these courses,” she says. “They help in character building and give you the confidence to show your talent to the world.” Her achievement is a reminder that education is at its most powerful when it goes beyond silos and can open a new lens on life itself.