Oncologist Jibak Bhattacharya captures construction workers in Kolkata on iPhone

Jibak Bhattacharya, an oncologist at Kolkata's Apollo multispeciality hospital, took the photo 'Caged' in 2024 on an iPhone 16 during a break. The image shows three construction workers on scaffolding for a new high-rise, visible through a large square glass window on a landing where Bhattacharya often seeks sunlight. He was struck by the noughts-and-crosses pattern of the workers and the metaphor of individuals trapped in small worlds. Minimal edits, mainly cropping out green bushes, enhanced the claustrophobic feel. Bhattacharya reflects on the precarious existence of Indian construction workers, recalling childhood observations of masons and acknowledging the social, financial, and logistical suffering they endure.