I didn't want my memories to stay in my head, says Cop Shiva about his latest project
Photographer Cop Shiva steps in front of the camera to relive his childhood with his mother in his latest project called 'No Longer A Memory'. For most people, childhood memories and heritage are stored in family albums and stories passed down to several generations.
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But Shiva never had a single photograph with his mother. In this project, he is attempting to fill that absence. 'I didn't want my memories to just stay in my head. I wanted to create something visual—to make sure they're no longer just memories', he says.
'The seeds of this project were always there'
'Everyone around me had family albums—photos with their parents, vacations, childhood memories. I didn't have even one. I'd see all these perfectly archived family moments in people's homes, and I realised I had nothing like that, and it stayed with me for a long time. In 2018, I decided to change that. I used to play so many roles as a child—God, goddess, police, robber. Growing up near Ramnagar, where
Sholay
was filmed, I was constantly surrounded by the energy of theatre and the magic of storytelling.
Those memories never left me. The pandemic gave me the time to slow down, sit with my memories, and write them down. That's when I began to think about what I wanted to bring to life. I started recreating those missing memories with my mother. It turned into this fun, ongoing project—a way to build the photo album we never had,' explains Shiva.
I've always hunted for happy humour, and it runs throughout my work. Today, more than ever, we need humour. The world is getting too serious—with wars, accidents and tragedies
Cop Shiva
'My mom is my biggest supporter'
For Shiva, this project is more than just recreating his memories; it is also about making people think about their memories with their mothers.
'When I first told my mom about the project, she just laughed and went along with it. She thought I was just having fun; she didn't realise it would become serious work. Without her energy, this project wouldn't have happened. I saw a whole new side of her—not just as my mom, but as my co-actor and collaborator.
My mom is everything for me—my friend, my mentor, my biggest supporter,' he says.
When I started photography, I became interested in masquerades, in people living as different characters. Those projects became workshops for me. When you want to place yourself as a character, you need preparation, dedication, and a deep connection to history, culture, and roots. I had all that from my grandfather
Cop Shiva
'Without photographs, we lose those stories'
Photography is not about capturing moments, it's about preserving life, believes Shiva. 'Growing up, I had just one photo of my grandfather,' he says. 'I don't have a single picture of him performing as an actor. I missed the chance to document his life. That's why I feel photography is so important. Even one old photo can spark a hundred stories and bring up questions you never thought to ask. Photos take you back to your family, your past, your village.
They help you reconnect. Without photographs, we lose those stories,' he shares.
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