Reverbating 'resistance'

Struggle along the Brahmaputra, Assam: Swapan Nayak

Some recent examples include: "World Press Photo" exhibition (which, until the other day, was limited to the developed world participation); three International Photography Fairs through almost individual initiative, along with "Drik," each continuing for more than a month and participated and visited by numerous local and internationally reputed photographers.

These activities have tremendous importance in introducing the emerging Bangladesh to the world. All these have resulted in steady growth of local photographers' performance. Photography has adapted with the changing concept of globalisation and it is expected to continue with its success.

"Chobimela III" is a unique publication documenting the recent International Photographic exhibition. Its contents include the experience of the photographers of both developed and developing worlds, while providing descriptions of some extra-ordinary photo documentations. The theme of last year's exhibition was "Resistance"; and the publication is based on that broad idea. Who among us is not acquainted with the word resistance? Resistance is everywhereÊ-- indoor, outdoor, here and there. The nature of resistance varies with circumstances; it can range from individual to a collective phenomenon. This diversity of resistance is aptly represented in "ChobimelaÊIII" through the language of photography.

The book contains rare documentation of the imposed war of dominance on Iraq by the US-UK military; the landless Palestinians who have been exiled out in the desert for over 50 years, their hardship and struggle for survival; a victim of the Iraq-Iran war who has been in coma for 19 years and the relentless care by his parents. In this world of struggle, the father of the comatose son realises: "Life is a war". There are also pictures of the 1984 gas explosion in Bhopal,Ê India; conflicts in the Monipur state leading to endangered livelihood; the struggle for survival by the Assamese along the Brahmaputra river, among other depictions of struggle.

The contribution of local photographers is by no means inadequate. The combined voice of a bunch of young photographers' says: "We challenge the social norms by focussing the camera on our surroundings. We want to talk about our problems through photographs. We learnt photography in order to let our voices to be heard." The photo journalism of our country delineates, "the end of British rule in 1947, the language movement of 1952, the war of liberation in 1971, the resistance against the prolonged military dictatorship. All these have still not seen the end of the struggle for democracy."

In the present pseudo-democratic regime, the journalists themselves are victims of torture and oppression by the law enforcement authority and others. One fact unknown to many is the courageous movement in 1970 by several lady Nokshal comrades against the class system and their photographs documenting the historical events are an integral part of this publication.

No one can deny the sufferings and distress of the dwellers of the century old "Shakhari Bazaar". However, life still goes on. Every morning, the dwellers start their struggle to continue the occupation of their forefathers. Among all the hardships, they dream of a better life, celebrate and worship heartily. Tittering between life and death, a housewife expresses her feeling, "We are always worried about the collapse of our houses; but where else will we go? We were born here, and here we will die."

The afore-mentioned publication is important for various different reasons. It is rich with the experience and contribution of photographers from both the developed as well as developing courtiers. It is possible to have an essence of the world-wide struggle through the documentaries depicting society and lifestyles, and the aesthetics.

Jahangir Selim is Photographer, CIRDAP