Celebrated photographer Raghu Rai’s visual history of the birth of Bangladesh gets a decorated homecoming
By MWB Desk
On May 10th, 2024, the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF), in collaboration with the Raghu Rai Foundation, launched the highly anticipated book Rise of a Nation featuring captivating photographs of the 1971 Liberation War by Raghu Rai.
The book launch took place at the Osman Jamal Auditorium, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka. Notably, an exhibition bearing the same name has been ongoing at the Zainul Gallery, Faculty of Fine Art, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
The book Rise of a Nation is a photographic marvel. Co-published by the Raghu Rai Foundation and the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation, it contains unpublished and rare photographs from Raghu Rai’s 1971 series on the War of Liberation. This publication represents a collaborative effort aimed at becoming an invaluable archival treasure for future generations, preserving the memory of this historic event.
At the book launch, renowned actor and theatre director Ramendu Majumdar graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Notable figures such as freedom fighter and film director Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu, esteemed advisory board members Ms Rubana Huq, freedom fighter Mr Anjan Chowdhury, and Barrister Amir-Ul Islam honored the event as Special Guests. The event was presided over by Mr Durjoy Rahman, the founder of Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF). The presence of Raghu Rai, the distinguished photographer himself, heightened the significance of the book’s launch, as he shared invaluable stories and personal experiences from the time of the Liberation War.
A selection of photographs from the 1971 Liberation War, captured through the lens of Raghu Rai, were also up on exhibition at the at the Zainul Gallery, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Faculty of Fine Art. In collaboration with the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF), the exhibition titled “Rise of a Nation” was curated by artist Zihan Karim.
In the words of the curator: “Raghu Rai, a pre-eminent Indian photographer, documented the Bangladesh War with profound sensitivity. His lens captured not only the violence and destruction but also the profound human stories etched on the faces of refugees. The transitory moment becomes enduring.
The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War resulted in one of the largest and swiftest refugee exoduses in history. Over ten million Bangladeshis fled to neighboring India to escape the brutal violence perpetrated by the Pakistani military. Rai’s photographs document the desperate plight of these refugees, crammed into makeshift camps with limited resources. They depict the harrowing journeys undertaken on foot and by boat, the struggle for necessities, and the yearning for a return to normalcy.
‘Rise of a Nation’ presents a selection of photographs by Raghu Rai, capturing the human cost of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. While specifically focused on this pivotal moment in South Asian history, the universal themes of displacement, resilience, and the yearning for home resonate with the ongoing global refugee crisis. Today, the world faces an unprecedented displacement crisis, with over 82 million people forcibly displaced according to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. In those wartorn regions that are experiencing political upheaval and climate change, millions are forced to flee their homes, facing uncertain futures. By showcasing his work and connecting it to the contemporary global refugee crisis, this exhibition aims to evoke empathy and inspire action.”
As the co-publisher of the book, Durjoy Rahman provided a collector’s perspective on the launch and the accompanying exhibition, saying “Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF) presents ‘Rise of a Nation,’ a collection of photographs from Raghu Rai’s archive documenting the untold suffering and the plight of ordinary people during the long war for independence. I felt a sense of obligation to get involved to have a publication and acquire a large series of Raghu Rai’s 1971 Bangladesh work as these are important archival records for our nation’s DNA.
The theme of this photography exhibition is not only about the freedom and struggle of our own but also a response to the ongoing genocide in Myanmar and Palestine. The traumas during 1971 are embedded in our nation’s memories, and these important photographs have been conceptualized in a versatile manner to present the past suffering to the new generation who will experience the exhibition.
Future generations of our country must remember the price of freedom. Wherever and whenever war breaks out, death, destruction, displacement, despair, and dishonor are universal. Peace is the only battle worth waging.”
The exhibition was inaugurated on May 5, 2024 by AKM Mozammel Haque, the Honorable Minister for Liberation War Affairs of Bangladesh. Dr Sarwar Ali, the founding trustee of the Liberation War Museum, was present as a special guest, along with Dr Rubana Huq, Honorable Vice-Chancellor of Asian University for Women, Anjan Chowdhury, Director of Square Group, and Durjoy Rahman, Founder of Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF). The event was presided over by Professor Dr Sitesh Chandra Bachar, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) of Dhaka University.
The exhibition was open to the public from May 5-19.
