Rodin Rahman, from Assam, our final year student from the 3 years integrated photography program always walks the extra-mile when pursuing his passion – photography. He used his vacation break photo-documenting a tea estate in his home State.
Assam is the second largest producer of tea in the world after China. Tea, which grows wild was first commercially introduced in 1823 by Charles Alexander Bruce a Scottish adventurer, who is called the father of Indian tea. There are 765 tea estates and one smaller garden that together produce 550 millions kgs of tea a year. The first Indian tea produced in Assam was sent to the United Kingdom for public sale in 1838.
There are seven steps involved in the making of fresh tea namely Plucking, Withering, Fixing, Oxidation, Rolling, Drying, and Ageing.
These photographs are of the Phulbari Tea Estate, District Sonitpur which was established in 1890. Phulbari produces 1 million and 590 thousand kgs of tea a year which is sold to England and Ireland via the Gauhati Tea Auction Centre.
To see more of Rodin’s work follow him on Instagram @rodinrahmanphotographer
Assam has around 750 tea estates plus over a lakh small growers and produces around 550 millions kg. This is a view of the Phulbari T.E.
The tea leaves are plucked by hand by the labourers or Adivasi tea tribe who were brought from Orissa and Northern Andhra Pradesh by the British.
Charles Alexander Bruce whose gravestone lies in a cemetery in Tezpur, District Sonitpur, Assam, India. A bust has been erected in his memory.
The garden Manager in his office instructing his staff about the day’s work or ‘Kamjaari’ as its is called.
A factory worker keeping track of the amount of green leaf coming in to be weighted.
The ‘Withering’ process being started where the moisture of the fresh leaves are reduced.
The ‘Rolling’ of the tea leaves which involves shaping them into a tight form.
The final product after the ‘Drying’ process. The tea will be packed and sent to the Gauhati Tea Auction Centre to be sold in England and Ireland.
Factory Assistant’s office. He overlooks the manufacture of tea in the factory.
Different grades of tea waiting to be tasted.
Different grades of tea waiting to be tasted.
This tea garden bungalow is in Balipara and has been turned into a heritage home called ‘Wild Masheer’. The final product, a cup of Assam Chai served in a very elegant tea set.
