SC Shekar began his career as a photojournalist in the late 1970s and then specialised in editorial and architectural photography. Although trained as a lawyer, this self-taught photographer has concentrated on socio-documentary photography projects worldwide over the past three decades.

He has focused on indigenous Malaysian communities (orang asli in Malay), creating an unparalleled portfolio of pictures of their life and struggles. Shekar’s work has appeared in many solo exhibitions, notably at Malaysia’s National Art Gallery and “Sacred Currents” at Harta Space, Kuala Lumpur, in 2024.

He has published more than two dozen photography books, covering themes as diverse as architecture, food culture, portraiture, Indigenous people’s lives, and crafts. His most recent major project is “Grit & Grace: The Grandeur of Monochrome Malaysia”, a stunning collection of photos of Malaysia’s topography and communities—an initiative proudly supported by Khazanah in 2018.

Shekar is working on a project documenting Southeast Asia from the air. The award-winning Shekar is the official photographer of The Datai Pledge, contributing pro bono. Many of his images are used in this Impact Report. In addition, he will be collaborating with The Datai Pledge to highlight the plight of Malaysia’s orang asli.