Category Archives: Misr Memoir

Dr. Basma Moussa : The Wonder Woman

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Portrait of Dr. Basma Moussa- Baha'i Activist

“Hi, I have heard about your contribution toward Baha’i community in Egypt and I am doing a photographic project on that. Can we meet and talk about it?” , I asked. She made some adjustments with schedule and said, “Do you know the Cairo Opera House?”. “Well, I don’t know exactly but I do have google map in my phone and I can surely find it.”, I replied.

 That’s how our first conversation started and with time we became wonderful friends. She, with her strong yet charming personality, with her hospitality and her vast knowledge about everything(!) earned my respect in no time. But what amazed me most, was her dedication to her society, nation and mankind as a whole! I couldn’t help asking her once, “Is your day made of 48 hours?”

I won’t be exaggerating, if I say, she made my first attempt with the project and stay at Egypt worthwhile. I have been quite busy after coming back from Egypt and it’s high time to pay respect to the one that I owe most. This post is to convey that I feel honoured to meet her. And I hope to visit her again, soon. And, of course, I am eagerly waiting to see her mother & daughter as well. These three are three wonders from three generations.

This is a link to her blog where she has been writing for last 6 years. It’s practically an Encyclopaedia- not only about Baha’i faith but also about life and humanity as a whole.

All my Baha’i friends in Egypt whether senior or junior were the people who were the reason behind me going on with this project and having a decent start. Mr. Abdel Baset & his family, Mr. Bahaa Abdel Rahman, my friend Bahaa & his family, Osama & his family- they accepted me as their dear ones and it’s been a great honor to be with you all. Alaa Sami – buddy will see you soon too and of course Shady Samir for being a wonderful help. Ciao.

Misr Memoir: Cairo Streets

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First few days in Cairo were hectic. New country, unknown language, everything in exaggerated size ( i mean food of course) and what not! But as the days passed, we learnt what to do and what not to do. This is during that transition phase while we tried to get used to the streets of Cairo. This is the first outcome of the workshop or I may say “the warm up”s edited by our workshop instructors Philip Blenkinsop & Max Pam.

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Misr Memoir: Workshop Habibi-s

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During the workshop which was being organized at Cairo, Egypt by the collective effort of CIC (Contemporary Image Collective)-Egypt, OUC (Oslo University College)- Norway and Pathshala- South Asian Media Institute- Bangladesh 30 enthusiast photographers from different school of thought emerged in one common platform and shared their views and ideas.

I planned to take everyones photos in the form of a typological portrait series and put them in my blog. So, this is for my photomates of the workshop, for those HABIBIs.

P.S. : The photos have been arranged in alphabetical order of the names. Photos are from different films (Kodak Gold 400, Kodak Ektar 100 & Kodak Portra NC 400) & have been developed from different places, mostly from Egypt. Hence the difference in color tone.
 

Misr Memoir: Workshop- Behind the scenes

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Misr! Misr! A fascinating country to visit, but too tough to work on the streets. Along the five  days of workshop by Philip Blenkinsop & Max Pam– people laughed, got confused, got beaten by strangers, made wonderful friends, some kept sleeping and some emerged into the nostalgia of the Nile. What a wonderful life!!!

 

Update (May 24, 2013) :

By the way, this set of photos have been published in the wonderful site that our Norwegian friends made, titled “May be tomorrow project”. Its updates are available at their facebook page as well. It’s surely worth the time.