Sheikh, Fazal. Ladli by Fazal Sheikh.

Steidl, 2007. 1st edition. Hardcover with dust jacket. Finely printed photographs about growing up female in India. [Born in New York City in 1965, Fazal Sheikh, a Princeton University graduate, is a MacArthur Fellow and Guggenheim Fellow who specializes in photographing marginalized and displaced communities. He has published more than a dozen books since 1996 (A Sense of Common Ground) and has had numerous exhibits in prestigious museums.] Fine in cloth with very good dust jacket that has a small indentation near front of spine and a bit of wear at top of spine. 

Fazal Sheikh (born 1965) is an acclaimed American documentary photographer internationally recognized for his deeply empathetic, long-term portrait projects documenting displaced persons, refugees, and marginalized communities across East Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. Born in New York City to an American mother and a Pakistani father, Sheikh earned a degree in art from Princeton University and subsequently pursued documentary fieldwork using traditional black-and-white photography to honor the individual humanity of his subjects rather than reducing them to statistics of crisis. His foundational monographs—such as The Victor Weeps (1998), focusing on Afghan refugees in Pakistan, A Sense of Common Ground (1996), examining Mozambican refugees in Kenya, and Moussa Sow (2009)—integrate oral histories, personal testimonies, and intimate portraits that prioritize collaboration and dignity between the photographer and the communities he depicts. A recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the prestigious Henri Cartier-Bresson International Award, Sheikh distributes his publications freely to humanitarian organizations, researchers, and affected populations, cementing his legacy as a powerful voice at the intersection of documentary photography and human rights advocacy.

Ladli (published by Steidl in 2007) is a powerful, urgent monograph by American photographer Fazal Sheikh. The book explores the widespread, systemic subjugation and abuse of young women and girls in India, tackling deeply entrenched social issues like female infanticide, child labor, forced marriage, dowry violence, and sex trafficking.

The title Ladli—a Hindi term of endearment meaning "beloved daughter"—is used deliberately to contrast the affection the word implies with the harsh, lived realities of many girls across the country.

Key Elements of the Monograph

• The Intersection of Image and Testimony: Like Sheikh's previous human rights projects, Ladli relies heavily on a collaborative documentary approach. The black-and-white portraits are intricately woven together with extensive text, including personal testimonies, legal case studies, and interviews with victims, activists, and community elders.

• A Quiet, Dignified Visual Approach: Sheikh avoids sensationalism or exploiting his subjects' trauma. Using natural light and a respectful, formal framing, he captures the girls and women with profound dignity, allowing their direct gazes to challenge the viewer and reclaim their personal agency.

• Exposing Systemic Patriarchy: The book serves as an activist tool that maps out how patriarchal traditions impact a woman's entire life cycle. It tracks the vulnerabilities girls face from birth, through forced adolescence, and into adulthood, where an inability to pay a dowry or bear a male heir can lead to severe violence or abandonment.

• Voices of Resilience and Change: While the monograph exposes immense tragedy, it also highlights hope and resistance. Sheikh prominently features the work of Indian grassroots organizations, human rights advocates, and the resilient young women who are actively fighting to break the cycle of abuse and educate their communities.

Summary

Ladli is a monumental work of ethical documentary photography and social activism. By combining intimate portraiture with raw oral histories, Fazal Sheikh gives a vital, undeniable voice to India's most vulnerable and marginalized daughters, creating an international call to action against gender-based violence.