Afsan Chowdhury in conversation with Sophia Balagamwala

Oak Fellow Afsan Chowdhury Afsan Chowdhury was born in 1954. He has had a parallel career in development work and the media. He has been active in multi-disciplinary research, media relations, journalism, and program development for two decades, and is one of the editors of an authoritative work on Bangladesh’s War of Independence. He held a high position in UNICEF, but left to become a freelancer and social activist. He was also the BBC’s correspondent in Bangladesh but left to concentrate on development-related work. In 1994, he established, HASAB, a funding nonprofit for organizations working in the area of HIV, STDs, and AIDS.He was Contributing Producer for a number of BBC World Service series, and is the author of four novels. Afsan has compiled an extensive set of audio interviews of ordinary Bangladeshis as well as high profile people in Bangladesh and India on their experiences of 1971.

Sophia Balagamwala is the Director of Interactive Projects at the Citizens Archive of Pakistan, a non profit organization dedicated to Cultural and Historic Preservation. She is responsible for conceptualizing and curating exhibitions  that exhibit oral histories, video, photography, and other archival material with the aim to to engage and educate the community and foster an awareness of Pakistan’s true history. She recently curated State of Being so Divided, an exhibition commemorating the transformation of the subcontinent, and fortieth anniversary of the creation of the state of Bangladesh.

The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) is a non profit organization dedicated to Cultural and Historic Preservation.

CAP has focused its attention on the tradition of oral story-telling in Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of such narratives in a dialogue on national identity. Our organization has three main goals: to preserve and provide access to the archive, to build and support educational programs, and to develop educational products based on the testimonies collected.

Afsan and Sophia will participate in a short discussion during the launch of the 1971 archives at the National Press Club on the 12th February 2012. The programme can be seen online at drik.tv from 11:00 am Bangladesh Standard Time (GMT +6)

Related Articles:

 Songs of a Wounded Image
Archiving 1971

 

by Shahidul Alam Posted on February 12, 2012
Posted in 1971, Bangladesh | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pathshala tutor brutally killed

Pathshala mourns the death of Sagar, a well loved teacher at the Multimedia Department of Pathshala South Asian Media Academy and his journalist wife Meherun Runi who were killed in mysterious circumstances on early Saturday morning the 11th February 2012. Sagar was the news editor of Masranga Television and also worked with Deutsche Welle Bangla Service, Ittefaq, Jugantor and Sangbad. Runi was a senior reporter in ATN Bangla Television. While there are many speculations, it is not known why or who killed the journalist couple. The exact time or the circumstances leading to their death has not been confirmed either.

Mahi Sarwar Megh, their five year old son discovered the bodies of his parents in the morning and called his grandmother. Both had apparently been repeatedly stabbed in their  fourth-floor flat of a five storied building (58/A/2) in West Rajabazar.

Sagar and Runi

The first namaz-e-janaza of Sarwar and Runi was held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity office at Segunbagicha in the capital.

They couple will be buried later at Azimpur graveyard after two more namaz-e-janazas at Maasranga and ATN offices.

 

by Shahidul Alam Posted on February 11, 2012
Posted in Bangladesh, Killings, media | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Exposed: US press ‘freedom’

Middle East
Nov 22, 2011
THE ROVING EYE

By Pepe Escobar

Last week, independent journalist Sam Husseini went to a news conference by Prince Turki al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia at Washington’s National Press Club – where Husseini is a member.

Then he did something that is alien to United States corporate media culture. He behaved as an actual journalist and asked a tough, pertinent, no-holds-barred question. Here it is, as relayed by Husseini’s blog:

I want to know what legitimacy your regime has, sir. You come before us, representative of one of the most autocratic, misogynistic regimes on the face of the earth. Human Rights Watch and other reports of torture, detention of activists, you squelched the democratic uprising in Bahrain, you tried to overturn the democratic uprising in Egypt and indeed you continue to oppress your own people. What legitimacy does your regime have – other than billions of dollars and weapons? [1]

Prince Turki, former Saudi intelligence supremo, former pal of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, former Saudi ambassador to the US, reacted by changing the subject. [2]

Continue reading →

by Shahidul Alam Posted on February 11, 2012
Posted in Democracy, Human rights, media, Media issues, politics, USA | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Israel, Suppressed Story Verified

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 | Posted by 
Photo Accurate, Israel Lied Says French News Agency

AFP confirms veracity of debated Israeli abuse story

Agence France- Presse

Editor’s Note:  Israel Caught Lying About Apartheid Abuse:

“Following the surfacing of the photos, the Israeli Embassy in Washington had asked all American newspapers “to consider ceasing to publish the photographs of Hazem Bader,” claiming both the caption and the photo of the injured worker were untrue and “perhaps staged.”

AFP (Agence France-Presse) agency responded to criticism over a Jan. 25 photo showing an Israeli Army soldier driving a truck over the leg of an injured Palestinian construction worker, saying both the story and photo were valid.

A recent press release by the news agency said “after several days of thorough research [...] AFP wishes to confirm the veracity of both the picture and the accompanying photo caption.”

Confirmed as Accurate, Evidence of Criminal Assault Continue reading →
by Shahidul Alam Posted on February 11, 2012
Posted in Colonialism, exploitation, Global Issues, Governance, Human rights, Islam, Media issues, Military, Occupation, Photography, Photojournalism, politics, Resistance, World | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wearing her ghoonghat a few inches higher

Image and text contributed by Sreenivasan Jain, Mumbai

Some text is paraphrased from a recent Book – Civil Disobedience, Sreenivasan’s father Late. Shri LC Jain, noted economist and Gandhian.

Chameli Devi Jain and her husband Phool Chand shortly after they were married. Photographer unknown

This image was photographed in Delhi, shortly after my Paternal grandparents Chameli and Phool Chand, got married. She was 14 and he was 16. It was unusual for couples in our family to be photographed, especially holding hands, which turned out to be an indication of the unconventional direction their lives would take. They were both Gandhians and Freedom fighters. Continue reading →

by Shahidul Alam Posted on February 10, 2012
Posted in Colonialism, culture, Democracy, Governance, Human rights, Imperialism, Law, Occupation, Photography, politics, Resistance, South Asia | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Songs of a Wounded Image

(Editor’s introduction to “Birth Pangs of a Nation” produced to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the birth of Bangladesh and the 60 anniversary of the establishment of UNHCR.)

The Bangladeshi War of Liberation, like all other wars, has a contested history. The number killed, the number raped, the number displaced, are all figures that change depending upon who tells the story.

Photo © Raghu Rai

But in our attempt to be on the ‘right side’ of history, we often forget those who ended up on the wrong side. Those who have gone, those who were permanently scarred, mentally, physically, socially, don’t really care about our statistics. The eyes that stare into empty space, knowing not what they are searching, the frail legs, numbed by fatigue, drained by exhaustion, yet willed on by desperation, the wrinkled hands, seeking a familiar touch, a momentary shelter, longing for rest, do not care about the realpolitik of posturing superpowers.

Photo © Don McCullin

Is a 40th anniversary more than a convenient round number in a never-ending cycle of the displacement of the weak? Is a 60th anniversary more than a celebration of a milestone amongst many, where brave men and women have stood by those in need, but watched in silence as the perpetrators of injustice continued in their violent ways, leaving them to deal with the fallout?

Photo © Begart Institute

Continue reading →

by Shahidul Alam Posted on February 10, 2012
Posted in 1971, Bangladesh, Colonialism, Democracy, Genocide, Global Issues, Governance, Human rights, Killings, Law, Military, Occupation, Photography, Photojournalism, politics, Shahidul Alam | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Tapas Paul shortlisted in Sony World Photography Awards 2012

Pathshala student Tapas Paul was shortlisted in the Professional category under Nature and Wildlife

On Thursday 2 February, the World Photography Organisation announced the shortlist for the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards.  Billed as the global photographic event of the year, the Sony World Photography Awards celebrate the very best in photography from around the world, from the next generation of emerging photographers through to the established masters of the art.

The 2012 competition has garnered increased worldwide interest with over 112,000 entries from 171 countries, with the shortlisted images depicting the stories of extraordinary lives from around the world.

This year the honorary jury found the quality of work exceptionally strong across all categories, discovering many photographers new to the Sony World Photography Awards roster.

In being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards, photographers can now look forward to the invaluable support of the World Photography Organisation, which includes having their work exhibited at a major exhibition at London’s Somerset House, to coincide with the award ceremony in April 2012.

 

Artistic Statement by Tapas Paul

A pause to breathe…

My photo story is based on Dhaka zoological garden which is a unique place for recreation. It is located in a pleasant natural landscape 16KM away from center of the city. It was established in 1974 and the zoo was opened in June 23, 1974 for visitors. About 3 million visitors visit this zoo every year. The environment of the zoo attracts people who get relief from the bustle and monotony of urban life.

The animals are in cages that are too small and conditions are inhospitable and the food supply is generally inadequate; visitors often throw junk food into the trash-strewn pens. The cages are small, dirty, and otherwise poorly maintained, but the zoo remains enormously popular among the Bangladeshi people and the ticket price is cheap. Though conditions seem to be improving in the country’s urban zoo, the progress is slow. 

It is ongoing project. My photo series is made up of a set of photos and tries to capture the loneliness of that space, animals and humans, make a triangular relationship with love. When I started working on the zoo it is seemed impossible to relate to it, but I spent lots of time in that place. I tried to just feel love for the animals, the space and then allowed that love into my photography.

I try to capture how this place makes a profound impression on millions of visitors to make a connection with animals and to be inspired by them to care about it.

 

 

by Shahidul Alam Posted on February 9, 2012
Posted in Bangladesh, Pathshala, Photography, South Asia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Archiving 1971

Date & Time: 12 February, 2012 from 11am to 1pm

Venue: Jatiya Press Club, Dhaka (Conference Room)

The programme will also be online live at www.drik.tv

History, at least in its initial form is generally written by the victor. But who is the victor in a war? How does one value a memory? What purpose does an artifact serve? Each archive is unique; its character shaped on those who set it up, and those who use it. From a photographer’s perspective, the war of 1971 was unique in other ways too. The events leading up to it were documented almost entirely by local photographers. They were themselves caught up in the struggles they were recording. It was not a story that international media neither knew nor was interested in. As such, the immediate aftermath of the crackdown on the 25th March was hardly recorded. For local photographers it was much too dangerous to be out there with a camera. Many of the foreign journalists were locked up in Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka. It was only the few who managed to sneak out, or film through hotel windows that had tangible records of that fateful night. Others, who recorded those moments, were amateurs who took phenomenal risks in preserving the only visual records of the atrocities. Missing are the subtle nuanced observations. Ordinary people, trying to survive. The euphoria and hope of an expectant nation being replaced overnight by the terror of living under occupation, was a transformation that went unrecorded.

Continue reading →

by Shahidul Alam Posted on February 9, 2012
Posted in 1971, Bangladesh, Democracy, Education, Film, Genocide, Governance, Military, Photography, Photojournalism, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Happy February!

We are in the middle of a very stimulating workshop with 14 Bangladeshi, Nepali and Norwegian students and award winning photographer Philip Blenkinsop. The workshop is the beginning of an extended exchange program where participating students will produce an in-depth photo reportage project.

Philip Blenkinsop conducting a workshop in Drik Studio in Dhaka. Photo Wahid Adnan/DrikNews

Philip Blenkinsop has been described as “one of the most essential photographers of his generation” (Christian Caujolle). He is adamant that the photographer should never censor scenes through the camera. “Photographers are both witnesses and messengers. Our responsibility must always lie with the people we focus on, and with the accurate depiction of their plight, regardless of how unpalatable this might be for magazine readers.” His work, published in international arenas, has been the catalyst for much discussion and amongst other accolades was awarded Amnesty International’s Photojournalism prize for excellence in human rights journalism. Continue reading →

by Shahidul Alam Posted on February 8, 2012
Posted in Bangladesh, culture, Pathshala, Photography, Photojournalism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment