iCreateMyOwnWorld: The Boy Who Sees His World Through The Lens

Vicky Roy, 29, tells stories through his pictures. But the photographs never reveal Vicky’s true story, of how he ran away from home (Purulia, West Bengal), when he was only 11 to escape the beatings, and landed in Delhi. He spent his childhood doing odd jobs, sometimes as a ragpicker and at other times as a dishwasher. Until one day when he fell in love with a camera and the glamorous world of photography beckoned him. That day Vicky realized that he had the power to shape his destiny and create his own world.

i Create

When Vicky found himself lonely and confused in a city he didn’t know, he was taken to Salaam Balak Trust where he found shelter till he turned 18. He was enrolled in a school, but soon realized that he wasn’t academically inclined, and as a result he scored badly every year. But opportunity knocked on his door in 2004, when an encounter with Dixie Benjamin, British filmmaker, led him to realise that he wanted to create his own world through the camera. Even though he didn’t understand instructions in English too well, the camera beckoned him to trust his eye. His persistence and dedication earned him an internship with portrait photographer Anay Mann. Vicky decided that, even though his choices till now had led him nowhere, he would continue on this path to rewrite his destiny.

i Travel

He held his first exhibition – Street Dreams, documenting the lives of street children – in 2007. The exhibition traveled to South Africa and London as well. Since then he has been on a roll. He won the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for documenting the WTC rebuilding and this year he found mention in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 (Arts), Asia. In his words, “fate cannot hold you back, you can always create your own world where you turn your disadvantages to advantages”. His ambition is to be known in the world of photography.

Now a frequent flier, Vicky travels to varied corners of the world with his work. His tours give him an opportunity to incorporate fresh perspectives in his own world. He turns people, landscapes and objects into his muses through his lens. According to him, “There are no limits, you can start from zero and reach infinity”. He likens himself to cricketers on the field when it comes to passion and dedication.

i Dream

You’ll often find him addressing TED events or INK talks, using the stage to not only tell people about how he creates his own world but also showing them the way to create theirs.

“Rang”, a community supported by Vicky, supports the work of young and independent artists. The photographer has already donated more than 500 books to the Rang library so that others can benefit from his experiences and learning.

Brought to you in association with i Create—a unique personalization experience by Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza.