Birds and Buffaloes
About Karamat Ali
Karamat Ali is from the Van Gujjar community in Tumdiya Khata, Uttarakhand, located near the buffer zone of Jim Corbett National Park. Growing up in the forests, his life has always been closely connected with nature and the traditional lifestyle of the Van Gujjar community. Despite having only completed the eighth grade, Karamat’s passion for storytelling and learning led him to join GreenHub, where he developed his filmmaking skills.
Karamat chose filmmaking because he believes it is an effective way to document and share the story of the Van Gujjar community, their culture, challenges, and the need for change. His deep connection to his community and its struggles has inspired him to pursue filmmaking as a way to amplify their voices. Earlier, Karamat was involved in farming and livestock rearing, not engaged in any camera work or social activities. From a young age, he dreamed of using a camera to help his community move forward and gain the recognition they deserve. Karamat’s recent project follows two young Van Gujjar men, Taufeek and Karamat, whose lives reflect the changing paths of their community. Taufeek embraces a settled life, while Karamat remains deeply connected to the wilderness, continuing the traditional Van Gujjar way of life.