Nilesh Kumar (b.1998) is a documentary photographer and visual storyteller based in Ranchi, Jharkhand. His practice centres on the indigenous communities of Jharkhand, exploring the intersections of memory, ritual, land, and identity through long-term visual engagement.
Recognised as a GUP Magazine Fresh Eye x Hungry Eye Vol. II (2026) talent and a recipient of the Sahapedia Photography Grant (2020) for his project on local coal mining communities, Nilesh did his diploma in Photography from SACAC, Delhi and recently participated in Resting Academy III at the Pathshala South Asian Media Institute in Dhaka. Balancing his documentary inquiries with commercial practice, he has also taught photography at Hamstech College of Creative Education in Hyderabad for 2.5 years. His work moves between observational archive and conceptual storytelling to examine how traditional belief systems endure amidst rapid social change.