India, July 28 -- More than 20 years ago, photographer Prabir Purkayastha of Ladakh fame started capturing his village in Assam. Verdant virgin forests shimmered under the monsoon clouds, the sun rays sometimes glistening like an age-old green velvet lining in a jewellery box - the forests in his village had vanishing sounds coupled with a simple lifestyle.

Prabir reminisces, "In 2004, I visited my mother's village Rampur, Assam, after almost 40 years. I was amazed by the unique tapestry of life that I witnessed and was a part of. As a child, I had heard my mother's 'fairy-tale' stories of her village and of my ancestors who had founded Rampur almost 200 years ago. Sadly, I realised that this ancient and secluded way of life was slowly, ...