The Kashmiri Shias And Ghame Hussain Ashura Delhi 2013, a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr.
I have been fascinated with the Kashmiri Shias and their emotive poetic nature of pain , their nohas , their gestures the texture and quality of their sorrow sadness mourning hits you instantly ,, and I shot the Kashmiri Shia migrant of Yakub Gully in Mumbai , than I shot the Kashmiri Shias in Kolkatta , and I got first hand of their sensitivity their love of Imam Hussain at Hussain Tekri Jaorah, it was so hard hitting that I grabbed a short sword from a surprised Shia Kashmiri and leaping into the air cracked my head open,, this is Kashmiri pain , and who cares for AIDS ,,,HIV using the same dagger he was using , when you mourn for Hussain mortality takes back seat , and Ido not glorify blood letting but I shoot it ,.. much before Moharam , when the sacrificial goat bleeds during Bakra Eid I know .. the seasom of our pain is close at hand .. call us what you like every feast in Islam comes goes but Moharam never ends the pain of living being persecuted being killed .. even mocks Death.. And I am educated , somewhat cultured , I once may have been scared of cutting my head spoiling my blonde dread locks but once Hussain entered my soul..I never looked back, I shoot all religion , I shoot Hinduism, Sufism , Christianity but now I hardly shoot Moharam , as sometimes I was bullied by the bigots of my own community in Mumbai , so I shoot the pain of Shias in different city and showcase their angst , their fervor , I cut my head with them for one moment become a Hyderabdi , a Delhiwala a Chennai Shia ..no I am sorry I cant be a Mumbaikar Shia .. not anymore ,,,
And the Kashmiri Shia for me is a lantern ,, leading me away from darkness and spiritual chaos ,,,I am what I am am I chose to be what I am..and I decided to get away from congregational commotions of my reclusive soul I became a Malang ,,,
