New Delhi, 11 September 2018 – An eyewitness to pivotal moments in history, Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Nick Ut tells his story for the first time in New Delhi, India. Third to be inducted by the Leica Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to photojournalism, Nick Ut: My Story was presented at UNESCO House on 10th September 2018. Ut recounted The Terror of War (a.k.a. the ‘Napalm Girl’) – his iconic photograph depicting children in flight from napalm bombing. The culturally and historically significant event organised by Leica and YES BANK-YES Global Institute saw an overwhelming response from the wide audience present at the occasion.
It’s an image you cannot forget, and shouldn’t try to. The ‘Napalm Girl’ remains — and always will be — the most searing image of the Vietnam War. The photograph was awarded the World Press Photo of the Year in 1973, notably believed to have assisted the change in course of conflict towards liberation in April 1975. Over 45 years after it appeared on front pages and won every major photographic award, it continues to spark debate, indignation and emotion. But while The Terror of War has, along with Malcolm Browne’s Burning Monk and Eddie Adams’ Saigon Execution, taken on a life of its own, become cultural shorthand for war’s collateral damage, it is only one photo among thousands that he took.
8 June, 1972: that fateful day when South Vietnamese planes dropped napalm on dusty Trang Bang village and a 9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc, with her bare skin covered in third-degree burns, ran wailing out of the burning clouds was just one of many fateful days Ut had already spent documenting the Vietnam War. Born in 1951, he had been thrust into the role of combat photographer six years earlier, in 1966, shortly after the untimely death of his older brother, a noted actor and Associated Press photojournalist. On deciding to follow in his brother’s footsteps, the 16-year-old brazenly requested two Leicas — a camera he deeply admired — and quickly took to his new role.
There were lucky escapes and near misses. Between 1966-1973, the period when US involvement in the Vietnam War peaked and ignominiously waned, some of Ut’s colleagues died and he himself was wounded. But throughout those years he remained dedicated to his work — and wedded to his Leicas. Whatever he witnessed amid the fog of war, they witnessed. And so we can still see the full panoply of industrial-scale carnage and human struggle unfurling before us: refugees fleeing for their lives; displaced villagers amid bomb-scarred countryside; soldiers nervously advancing, retreating or holding their ground; the burning clouds, silent screams and indiscriminate pain of modern warfare.
Today, Ut has a distinguished career as an Associated Press photojournalist and a huge body of work behind him, but his Vietnam War photographs remain as potent and as relevant as ever. And for him, personally, there significance cannot be understated too. Ut’s photos didn’t just shape our understanding and our opinion of that prolonged and painful war — they have also shaped him.
Present at the occasion were Mr. Sunil Kaul, MD, Leica Camera Asia Pacific and Dr. Subi Chaturvedi, President, YES BANK-YES Global Institute who felicitated Nick Ut. Moderating the conversation were Vineet Vohra, Leica Ambassador and famous street photographer along with Dr. Subi Chaturvedi, President, YES BANK-YES Global Institute, where Nick Ut shared his exhilarating experience as a photojournalist and a war photographer.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sunil Kaul, MD, Leica Camera Asia Pacific said, “Leica is world-renown for outstanding photographic moments throughout history. As a brand that lives, breathes and facilitates photographic passion it is therefore a great honour for us to host Pulitzer Prize-winning photo journalist Nick Ut at Leica India with his story and showcase pictures that have captivated generations.”.
Dr. Subi Chaturvedi, President, YES BANK said, “YES BANK-YES Global Institute is proud to host Nick Ut on our YES Arts & Culture Networking India platform. We firmly believe that arts and culture has the power to transcend boundaries and create a global impact. Nick Ut is a legendary photographer whose powerful imagery has changed the course of history and shaped lives. YES BANK, believes in bringing global thought leaders from visual arts, photography, culture, journalism, cinema, media, & curation to share their and journeys and tell their stories with an engaged Indian audience. Through the YES Global Institute, using knowledge and technology, narratives and oral history, backed by research, we will continue to foster these collaborations and creative spaces taking forward the India first vision of our MD & CEO Mr. Rana Kapoor.”
The event was a huge success with the attendees captivated with Nick UT’s experience.
About Leica Camera
Leica Camera AG is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of excellence in the construction of lenses. And today, in combination with innovative technologies, Leica products continue to guarantee better pictures in all situations in the worlds of visualisation and perception. Leica Camera AG has its headquarters in Wetzlar, in the state of Hesse in Germany, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The company operates branch offices in Australia, China, France, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, UK and the USA. New and innovative products have been the driving force behind the company’s positive development in recent years.
The 107-year-old brand is known to be held by renowned photographers and celebrities worldwide. Leica a pioneer in camera and optics for decades and aims at bringing in a class apart photographic experience with their first store in the heart of the capital at Connaught Place, New Delhi in India.
About YES Arts & Culture – YES Global Institute.
YES Arts & Culture, the cultural arm of YES BANK is housed within the think tank of the Bank, YES Global Institute. It is dedicated to the promotion, development and conservation of India’s cultural heritage and is working to drive inclusive socio-economic development. YES Arts & Culture collaborates with diverse players in the cultural field such as government, industry and academia to foster a sense of exchange between different stakeholders. On ground initiatives focus on public engagement with heritage sites to promote the need for conservation, facilitate cluster development programmes at grassroots in the crafts sector for sustainable development as well as develop entrepreneurship through traditional knowledge systems in culinary arts. It also promotes research on cultural issues and policies through convening forums around these issues.
About YES BANK
YES BANK, India’s fourth largest private sector Bank with a pan India presence across all 29 states and 7 Union Territories of India, headquartered in the Lower Parel Innovation District (LPID) of Mumbai, is the outcome of the professional & entrepreneurial commitment of its Founder Rana Kapoor and its Top Management team, to establish a high quality, customer centric, service driven, private Indian Bank catering to the future businesses of India.
YES BANK has adopted international best practices, the highest standards of service quality and operational excellence, and offers comprehensive banking and financial solutions to all its valued customers.
YES BANK has a knowledge driven approach to banking, and offers a superior customer experience for its retail, corporate and emerging corporate banking clients. YES BANK is steadily evolving as the Professionals’ Bank of India with the long term mission of “BUILDING INDIA’s FINEST QUALITY LARGE BANK by 2020”.