Born on March 19, 1966, Sudharak Olwe, at twenty, with an urge to be divergent realized that photography was his calling. For past 16 years Olwe has published cutting edge photo essays in India’s leading publications while working for the Times of India in Bombay. He has drawn immense admiration and awe in the Indian subcontinent for revealing the naked reality of life’s tragicomic social theatre.

He has exhibited work on various social issues from India to Bangladesh, Sweden, Portugal, Holland, United States and Japan. In 1999-2000 he was the recipient of the National Foundation Media Fellowship. The following year, the World Press Photo chose him as the only photographer from India to be invited to exhibit at ‘World Press Photo Exhibition held in Amsterdam for his stories on gender and the environment. In 2004 he published his first book, Spirited Souls: Winning Women of Mumbai’ (Samay Books) and last year he was honored with the prestigious All Roads Photographers Award from National Geographic which included an exhibition of his work on street workers of Mumbai in Los Angeles, California and Washington DC.

He is currently heading the Photography Promotion Trust (PPT), a registered public charitable trust based in Mumbai, India. PPT aims to support, showcase and encourage the use of photography as a powerful tool for social change. Presently documenting NGOs work for national foundation for India,