Beauty of the Hijab, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

125,534 items / 899,521 views

the beauty
of the hijab
lies in the eyes
of the beholder
its true
but it disturbs
the peace of mind
of those that dont wear it
becomes a global issue
coming to blows
to have it banned
they argue
a garment of modesty
adding to a
Muslim woman's virtue
worthy of its spiritual value
but the hijab
gives sleepless nights
to heads of state
hate on it they spew
ignoring good governance
fighting for just causes
its the hijab as diatribe
they pursue
the veil the burqa
call it what you may
will live long
after you are
dead and gone
give the hijab
its due
stop
considering it
a taboo
what really
bugs you guys
its the only garment
blessed by god
you cant see through
the hijab a woman's
second flesh
blood muscle sinew

I Complete 125000 Photo Blogs at Flickr, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

125,009 items / 880,833 views

I don't think I could have ever reached this far without my friends both at Flickr Twitter and Facebook..and Google Image search , Yahoo image search, and honestly most of my readers and viewers according to my Flickr blog stats come to see the Hijras their pictures that I have collected over the years , and let me confess they were not easy to come by , I faced opposition I faced hardships but I continued shooting them .

I wrote hijra poems and bought home the hijra as a human being.

And because of financial constrains I could not go to shoot the Koovagam Eunuch festival, this broke my heart but I took it in my stride.. each year I say next time and next time has never come..even Ajmer becomes difficult but Gharib Nawaz calls me even if it is for 3 days.


So this is a big thanks to all of you out there , yes I am a street photographer and a photo blogger pedestrian poet of sorts ..


And the picture is of a slum child , who show me their world living on the edge but with confidence and hope twinkling in their eyes ..

They all have dreams to rise fly and these are the versatile future of my country..and yes they count..and I show you their zeal their passion and joy through my pictures .

Happy Easter To One And All, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

122,481 items / 840,512 views

peace hope harmony
to fill your lives above all
happy easter to the rich
the poor on the roads
the mighty and the small
to those who have not
heard his call
i am the life and the resurrection
says the writing on the wall
humility the hope of humanity
vanity pride arrrogance
cause of its downfall

Shah Ast Hussain..Moharam in Hyderabad 2009 Ashura, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

107,875 items / 702,792 views

I start a new intense series at Flickr , Moharam in Hyderabad 2009.

I have cut my head in most of the cities of India , but Hyderabad is a city I will never forget , as a Shia and as a photographer blogging pain.

I arrived barefeet in Hyderabad on 8 Moharam .. I stayed for a single day at Hotel Charminar , at Dewan Deodhi close to the Bargah of Hazrat Abbas.

I left the hotel the same day a friend Naqi bhai put me up in his house as it is close to the other Dargah of Hazrat Abbas called Choti Bargah..where I have a lot of dear friends well wishers , specially the kids who were there taking care of my simple needs tea and water..

I must mention no cooking takes place in a Shia Darga or at a persons house for 10 days food comes as Niyaz and there is far too much of it it is spread around.


I met my dear patron Nawab Shariyar Saab and his family at Shariyar Palace and tasted the Hazri here ..this on 8 Moharam morning too..

I shot 8 Moharam at Hussaini Kothi in memory of the soul of dear departed Nawab Rashid Ali Khan Saab the patriarch who passed away.

Hussaini Kothi is another memorable experience of old time Shia Nawabi charm Adab and Tehzeeb..and these are all blue blooded Nawabs, but they bend and salute each person that comes to their majlis ..I shot their kids ding this Adab a part of their Nawabi Tehzeeb and salutation..found also among the Nawabs of Lucknow and Mehmoodabad

I had to abort the Hussaini Kothi shoot my battery and charger failed ..I had to go buy a new battery at the Kothi market the same day.. but I had shot quite a bit of footage.

I had also carried my film camera F100 just in case..



On 8 Moharam night I shot both the Dargahs when the Alams are taken into the crowd and put to rest.

On 9 Moharam I shot a majlis of Iqbal bhai a unique house majlis capture..

On 9 Moharam late night I shot the procession at the Shia cemetery called Mir Mousavi Deira ..I had never shot this before ..when I had shot Moharam in Hyderabad 2003 both Ashura and Chelum.. I was back here after six years.

On Ashura I shot the entire proceedings from Baragh.. I cut my head but the blade was not effective..

I went to shoot the Bibi ka Alam when it had passed Charminar, this is the greatest moment of Shia pain, in every area the Alam arrives on elephant , the residents cut their heads like raw onions, scourge their backs and the quintessential Hyderabadi blade matam.

I took a dagger during this procession with my Nikon dangling round my neck leapt into the air and with several blows had cut my head , the picture I asked a bystander to shoot after my kama matam.

A little ahead I hit my head again with my hands to start the bleeding allover and did the Tandav on the Soul of Shimr on the streets of Hyderabad.

I aborted this procession , I had lost lot of blood could barely walk back to the Choti Bargah and at 8.30 pm again walked in the same condition to a Shia enclave for Shamey Ghariba ..this was in total darkness and flash was not allowed..

The tabaruk was the best here rice and curry and puddi.. made of dahi and chillies.

this trip I did not shoot the Imam Bargahs but connected with Sadik Bhai the Irani group head who with other Iranis feeds the poor and the devotees at Hussain Tekri Jaorah..this was at Darbare Hussain the Irani Shia strong hold in Hyderabad old city.


The only crazy incident that happened here was at the Choti Bargah, I was shooting some street urchins when a man out of the blues pulled my camera luckily it was around my neck before I could respond he had my neck in a vicious grip and continued strangling me , my other hand being useless and I was carrying a satchel that had the Nikon 80- 200 lens and my F 100 - I tried to bear it out rather than resist and damage my cameras ..he was biting my hand too, luckily my host and other Shia youth came to my help.. it turned out he was a mad man under drugs..the cops as usual arrived late and I refused to press charges..

This is the flip side of street photography and it can happen to the most street savvy person..

This is a set of 3500 pictures or more, the blood had seeped into my camera lens so see it as is where is ..

And God willingly I will shoot the Hyderabad Chehlum, with my American friend Dr Glenn Losack MD from New York Manhattan.


I have shot a family of tribal thieves, sorcerers Hindus who have converted with their entire community to Shiasm..

I shot a guy Rajesh from Latur a devout Hindu who comes to serve at the Choti Bargah ..he is a cobbler by profession , and takes care of the devotees shes and slippers , now hear this whatever he earns he buys food to the poor , and I am crying as I dont think anyone could be more poorer than him , yes this is Maharashtrian humility making me proud of my roots as a Mumbaikar in Hyderabad.

On Ashura he had cut his head too he wears only black clothes does matam on the streets at Civil Court , Chatta Bazar where the dargah is situated

I do not wish to bore you with text.. and I will avoid it ..only where it is necessary..

Read this as an Introduction to my set Moharam in Hyderabad 2009

Scrounging for food, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

mans fall
pictorially previewed
man and his karma
always at feud
by misfortune
always pursued
clothes on his body
his soul totally nude
on the streets of despair
scrounging for food
beneath his feet
leftovers of life
bemoaning bestrewed
an optical illusion
innocent and shrewd
worthless often
overvalued
man a mirage
totally misconstrued
from his loins of hate
posterity
needs to be rescued
a verdict of war
on the soul of humanity
that he has issued
reneging religiosity
among his brood
man a dying product
of his mood


dedicated to ray framroze
my childhood friend since 50 years...

The Shooter of Pain, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,743 items / 628,303 views

scourging the soul
cutting the scalp
in memory of hussain
a camera that holds
part of his brain
at the back
of the viewfinder
the shooter of pain
molten tears
on the soul
of karbala
in every grain
cutting raw flesh
sawing
the sinew of chains
a river flowing
through every membrane
he gave his head
but not his hand
for a spiritual domain
the power of yazidiyat
the power of humanity
could not restrain
he came he saw
martyred
won a major campaign
the pillars of truth justice
he did regain
scriptured sorrow
reflected remorse
in a blood stain
hussainiyat
a metaphoric moment
we did attain

Happy Birthday Maheshwariji, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,720 items / 622,124 views

Beneath your Lotus Feet
Lies this photographers
poetic destiny..
what was hidden
you made him see
footprints
on the sands of time
as pictures
for posterity
unlocking a world
without a key
a holistic science
that touches and heals
we call it photography

The Final March, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,713 items / 616,120 views

in days of old
nationalism
the spirit of freedom
was a torch
held high
service sacrifice
for the country
was the only cry
every man
for the nation
willing to die
things have changed
as time went by
now selling off the nation
is the politicians reply
mega bucks in kick backs
telgi scam every kind of con
by the next guy
towers reaching
god in the sky
the poor man
living in a pigsty
divide and rule
as they their trade
of hate bigotry ply
religion in the hands
of brokers who
hateful means apply
brother against brother
no outcry
while the nation bleeds
the defeated soul
lets out a sigh

Street Photography and God, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,713 items / 616,718 views

This was shot last evening from a moving rickshah that was taking me to Juhu to shoot the Chhat Puja 2009..I saw this as fast as fast can be,, and call it rapid reflex, I had her in my camera power ,entrapped forever.. a fleeting moment frozen as street photography.

I shoot as is were is basis, I will get a picture , a picture too has its own destiny..if I was destined to shoot it..

About Chhat Puja , I dont know if I was really in a mood of mind to shoot it , I was under terrible stress , I am relocating my shop , and nothing was falling in place, everything was against me , and my slow recovery due to viral fever, but I left it to the Almighty whose travel brochures I shoot free of charge..I promote his universal spirituality , I promote the diverse culture of my country..without seeking gain or profit or a room with a view in Heaven..and God does take care of me in more ways than one..

This one was for God..

Mr Sanjay Nirupam and Me At Chhat Puja 2009, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,348 items / 615,278 views

I start a new set at my Flickr photo stream, Chhat Puja 2009 ..I shot it this evening, barefeet dressed like a tiger cub no pun intended...the latest flavor and statement post election in Maharashtra.

I shot from end of the beach to another,Mr Sanjay Nirupams podium was very grand and awesome, the entire crowd was watching the song recital from the beach, I met him took a few frames and left..

I have been shooting the Chhat Puja Festival from the time Mr Sanjay Nirupam placed it on the festival map of Mumbai in a very big way.

I have tried never to miss this festival , and today I was in real bad shape I have not recovered from my viral fever but I made it to the beach...overriding all odds.

About Chhat Puja from Wikipedia

Chhath (Hindi: छठ, also called Dala Chhath) is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Surya, the chief solar deity, unique to Bihar, Jharkhand and the Terai[1]. This major festival is also celebrated in the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Chhattisgarh. Even in Tamil Nadu, the migrants from the north celebrate Chhath. Hymns praying to the sun can be found in the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. Practiced in different parts of India, the worship of the sun has been described in the Rigveda.


The word chhath denotes the number 6 in Hindi [2]and the festival begins on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, which corresponds to months of October and November in the Gregorian calendar (a week after Diwali). Chhath is the holiest Hindu festival of Bihar & eastern UP. It extends to four days.


The ancient Sanskrit epic Mahābhārata has references to Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, worshipping the sun, which was believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and ensure longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. In addition, it is believed that Chhath was started by Karna, the son of Surya, who became a great warrior and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War.

This is the only holy festival which has no involvement of any priest (Pandit). People celebrates this festival by thier own.

It is celebrated twice a year: once in the summers (May-July), called the Chaiti Chhath, and once in the winter (September-November) around a week after Deepawali, called the Kartik Chhath. The latter is more popular because winters are the usual festive season in North India, and Chhath, being an arduous observance, requiring the worshippers to fast without water for more than 24 hours, is easier to undertake in the Indian winters.

Chhath is mainly a Bihari festival, and so it is celebrated wherever people from Bihar have migrated. This is a ritual bathing festival that follows a period of abstinence and ritual segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes ritual purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. The main worshipers, called Parvaitin (from Sanskrit parv, meaning 'occasion' or 'festival'), are usually women. However, a large number of men also observe this festival. The parvaitin pray for the well-being of their family, for prosperity and offspring. They can only perform Chhath if it is passed on to them from their older generation. However, once they decide to do it, it becomes their duty to perform it every year. The festival is skipped only if there happens to be a death in the family that year.

On the eve of Chhath, houses and surroundings are scrupulously cleaned. One the first day of the festival, the worshiper cooks a traditional vegetarian meal and offers it to the Sun God. This day is called Naha-Kha (literally, 'Bathe and eat'!). The worshiper allows herself/himself only one meal on this day.

On the second day, a special ritual, called Kharna, is performed in the evening after Sun down. On this day also, the worshiper eats his/her only meal from the offerings (Prashad) made to the Sun God in this ritual. Friends and family are invited to the household on this day to share the prashad of the ritual. From this day onwards, for the next 36 hours, the worshiper goes on a fast without water.

The evening of the next day, the entire household accompanies the worshiper to a ritual bathing and worship of the Sun God, usually on the bank of a river, or a common large water body. The occasion is almost a carnival. Besides the main worshiper, there are friends and family, and numerous participants and onlookers, all willing to help and receive the blessings of the worshipper. Ritual rendition of regional folk songs, carried on through oral transmission from mothers and mothers-in-law to daughters and daughters-in-law, are sung on this occasion. The same bathing ritual is repeated on the following day at the crack of dawn. This is when the worshipper breaks his/her fast and finishes the ritual. Chhath being celebrated at the crack of the dawn on a river bank is a beautiful, elating spiritual experience connecting the modern Indian to his ancient cultural roots.

The folk songs sung on the eve of Chhath mirror the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Nowadays, modern Chhath songs, largely Bollywood film remixes have caught on, but the old tradition still goes strong with a great degree of sanctity. The three main linguistic regions of Bihar: the Maithili, the Magadhi, and the Bhojpuri, and all the various dialects associated with these, have different folk songs; but have an underlying unity in their dedicated to Chhath. The minor nuances of the Chhath rituals, such as in the Kharna ritual, vary from region to region, and also across families, but still there is a fundamental similarity.
[edit] Yogic Viewpoint

As per the yogic view point word Chhath is a compound of two words; Chah means 6 stages and Hath refers to the science of Hath Yog (austerity). The word Chhath refers to the process of consciously obtaining the solar energy through 6 stages involving the methods similar to Hath Yog. Hath here refers to the austerities like fasting, standing in water, etc. This entire process has been termed by the yogis as a Conscious Photoenergization Process having 6 stages.

Stage 1: Fasting and the discipline of cleanliness leads to detoxification of the body and mind. This stage prepares the body and mind of the Vratti (devotee) to receive the cosmic solar energy.

Stage 2: Standing in a water body with half the body (navel deep) in the water minimizes the leak of energy and helps the prana (psychic energy) to move up the sushumna (psychic channel in the spine).

Stage 3: Cosmic Solar Energy enters the Vratti’s pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands (Triveni complex) through retina and optic nerves.

Stage 4: Activation of Triveni (tri-glandular complex) Pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus

Stage 5: A kind of Polarization of happens in the spine, which results in the Vratti’s gross and subtle bodies getting transformed into a cosmic powerhouse. This can also lead to the awakening of the latent psychic energy popularly known as the Kundalini Shakti.

Stage 6: The body of Vratti (devotee) becomes a channel, which conducts, recycles and transmits the energy into the entire universe.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath

http://www.flickr.com/photos/firozeshakir/4039306459/
Add a caption
Mr Sanjay Nirupam and Me At Chhat Puja 2009 100,348 items / 615,278 views I start a new set at my Flickr photo stream, Chhat Puja 2009 ..I shot it this evening, barefeet dressed like a tiger cub no pun intended...the latest flavor and statement post election in Maharashtra. I shot from end of the beach to another,Mr Sanjay Nirupams podium was very grand and awesome, the entire crowd was watching the song recital from the beach, I met him took a few frames and left.. I have been shooting the Chhat Puja Festival from the time Mr Sanjay Nirupam placed it on the festival map of Mumbai in a very big way. I have tried never to miss this festival , and today I was in real bad shape I have not recovered from my viral fever but I made it to the beach...overriding all odds. About Chhat Puja from Wikipedia Chhath (Hindi: छठ, also called Dala Chhath) is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Surya, the chief solar deity, unique to Bihar, Jharkhand and the Terai[1]. This major festival is also celebrated in the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Chhattisgarh. Even in Tamil Nadu, the migrants from the north celebrate Chhath. Hymns praying to the sun can be found in the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. Practiced in different parts of India, the worship of the sun has been described in the Rigveda. The word chhath denotes the number 6 in Hindi [2]and the festival begins on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, which corresponds to months of October and November in the Gregorian calendar (a week after Diwali). Chhath is the holiest Hindu festival of Bihar & eastern UP. It extends to four days. The ancient Sanskrit epic Mahābhārata has references to Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, worshipping the sun, which was believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and ensure longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. In addition, it is believed that Chhath was started by Karna, the son of Surya, who became a great warrior and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. This is the only holy festival which has no involvement of any priest (Pandit). People celebrates this festival by thier own. It is celebrated twice a year: once in the summers (May-July), called the Chaiti Chhath, and once in the winter (September-November) around a week after Deepawali, called the Kartik Chhath. The latter is more popular because winters are the usual festive season in North India, and Chhath, being an arduous observance, requiring the worshippers to fast without water for more than 24 hours, is easier to undertake in the Indian winters. Chhath is mainly a Bihari festival, and so it is celebrated wherever people from Bihar have migrated. This is a ritual bathing festival that follows a period of abstinence and ritual segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes ritual purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. The main worshipers, called Parvaitin (from Sanskrit parv, meaning 'occasion' or 'festival'), are usually women. However, a large number of men also observe this festival. The parvaitin pray for the well-being of their family, for prosperity and offspring. They can only perform Chhath if it is passed on to them from their older generation. However, once they decide to do it, it becomes their duty to perform it every year. The festival is skipped only if there happens to be a death in the family that year. On the eve of Chhath, houses and surroundings are scrupulously cleaned. One the first day of the festival, the worshiper cooks a traditional vegetarian meal and offers it to the Sun God. This day is called Naha-Kha (literally, 'Bathe and eat'!). The worshiper allows herself/himself only one meal on this day. On the second day, a special ritual, called Kharna, is performed in the evening after Sun down. On this day also, the worshiper eats his/her only meal from the offerings (Prashad) made to the Sun God in this ritual. Friends and family are invited to the household on this day to share the prashad of the ritual. From this day onwards, for the next 36 hours, the worshiper goes on a fast without water. The evening of the next day, the entire household accompanies the worshiper to a ritual bathing and worship of the Sun God, usually on the bank of a river, or a common large water body. The occasion is almost a carnival. Besides the main worshiper, there are friends and family, and numerous participants and onlookers, all willing to help and receive the blessings of the worshipper. Ritual rendition of regional folk songs, carried on through oral transmission from mothers and mothers-in-law to daughters and daughters-in-law, are sung on this occasion. The same bathing ritual is repeated on the following day at the crack of dawn. This is when the worshipper breaks his/her fast and finishes the ritual. Chhath being celebrated at the crack of the dawn on a river bank is a beautiful, elating spiritual experience connecting the modern Indian to his ancient cultural roots. The folk songs sung on the eve of Chhath mirror the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Nowadays, modern Chhath songs, largely Bollywood film remixes have caught on, but the old tradition still goes strong with a great degree of sanctity. The three main linguistic regions of Bihar: the Maithili, the Magadhi, and the Bhojpuri, and all the various dialects associated with these, have different folk songs; but have an underlying unity in their dedicated to Chhath. The minor nuances of the Chhath rituals, such as in the Kharna ritual, vary from region to region, and also across families, but still there is a fundamental similarity. [edit] Yogic Viewpoint As per the yogic view point word Chhath is a compound of two words; Chah means 6 stages and Hath refers to the science of Hath Yog (austerity). The word Chhath refers to the process of consciously obtaining the solar energy through 6 stages involving the methods similar to Hath Yog. Hath here refers to the austerities like fasting, standing in water, etc. This entire process has been termed by the yogis as a Conscious Photoenergization Process having 6 stages. Stage 1: Fasting and the discipline of cleanliness leads to detoxification of the body and mind. This stage prepares the body and mind of the Vratti (devotee) to receive the cosmic solar energy. Stage 2: Standing in a water body with half the body (navel deep) in the water minimizes the leak of energy and helps the prana (psychic energy) to move up the sushumna (psychic channel in the spine). Stage 3: Cosmic Solar Energy enters the Vratti’s pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands (Triveni complex) through retina and optic nerves. Stage 4: Activation of Triveni (tri-glandular complex) Pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus Stage 5: A kind of Polarization of happens in the spine, which results in the Vratti’s gross and subtle bodies getting transformed into a cosmic powerhouse. This can also lead to the awakening of the latent psychic energy popularly known as the Kundalini Shakti. Stage 6: The body of Vratti (devotee) becomes a channel, which conducts, recycles and transmits the energy into the entire universe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath

Thank You Ya Khuda - Break Dance of Democracy Ends, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,345 items / 614,282 views

Mr Baba Siddiqui erstwhile sitting MLA Mumbai Congress I/ NCP combine , won from the Vandre Constituency with a very slender margin defeating Advocate Ashish Shelar , since the results were announced there was some inter party skirmishes but the immediate arrival of the Mumbai Police saw calm and a greater calm prevailed at Bandra Bazar Road..basically it is vested interest bent on disturbing the canvas of peace of Bandra the Queen of Suburbs.

I did not shoot any pictures and thanks to the presence of the cops who were near my shop, there was a total ban on bursting of crackers..so the Congress Party NCP are back at the helm..let them bring constructive hope and solve the grievances of all concerned.

I met Advocate Ashish Shelar BJP who thanked me for shooting his rally..and hoped better luck in the next hustings and had the best regards for the winning candidate..

Now my poem

Ya Khuda
Break Dance
of Democracy ends
with your blessings
with your grace
the voter
the winner
to the Vidhan Sabha
sends ..
the loud mouthed losers
totally quiet
into the darkness blend
they have other jobs
to tend
choked
on the political
river bend
so many
fences to mend
for the sake
of the populace
their supporters
their friends
time to shake hands
make amends
the city
more important
than self on
good governance
good law and order
depends
please think
of the voters
in the hot sun
old poor very poor
who voted for you
some with their backs bent
some who never got their
voters cards were hellbent
the healing hand
is back in power
the homeless dont
torment
breaking their shanties
their tents
fires of divide and rule
dont foment
be kind to the north indians
treat them as
your own brother
without any evil intent
a new order
of peace hope and harmony
you must invent
thank them
with a nice Diwali present

Big Boss Are You Listening, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,344 items / 614,262 views

Its High Time they bought Laxmi Narayan Tripathi to the Big Bosses House bad memories erase ..She is Adab, Tehzeeb Deportment Charm and God given Grace..Beauty Brains and a Beautiful Face ..Hijda Goddess Queen of her Race ...She gives the other gender ample space , on national TV - respect culture she would showcase..
Beyond caste color or creed this human phenomenon people from all over the world will eagerly embrace..give her a chance the rest of the bunch she will outrace..and outpace..

Shot By Marziya On The Nikon D80, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,342 items / 611,433 views

Marziya Shakir is my 23 month old grand daughter ,she is aware of the camera, as she has seen me take her pictures since she was 2 days old, Marziya is a camera child, the camera has been bringing her life's story to all of you.

Marziya can hold the Nikon D 80 ..she holds it like a professional assisted by me , than she bends her head into the viewfinder , I help her press the trigger..

The exercise here is not just about making her a photographer , it is to instill in her the power of the camera the greatest instrument of Peace.


The only instrument that shoots and you live forever.

The camera that holistically heals all human souls.

Marziya is my first and last student , she has watched me shoot perched on my waist, shooting into crowds at Bandra, at a few religious events save Moharam.

She has yet not been exposed to the blood shedding rituals of my Faith..

She has seen street kids , the poor umbrella lady who sits at Bandra Reclamation or Appu the limbless guy at Mahim.

She has given them money her first baby steps towards charity.

Marziya knows how to put the memory card into the camera , she knows how to put the card into the card holder and will place it into the computer monitor accordingly..

I could make her shooting easy by placing the camera on the tripod and allowing her access to the trigger , but I have not done it as yet..I have just this camera so I am not taking any chances , assisting her makes my task easier.

Only time will tell how good a photographer Marziya Shakir will be a few years from now.

I was down with viral fever and flu and have just added text to the blank space of this post
Even Marziya was not well thanks to the endless bursting of crackers that went on till the wee hours of the morning, she has recovered ..

Waiting For Good Days To Come, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,342 items / 611,433 views

strings of silence
we strum
following
a silhouette
within
a poem
of good days
elusive
playing
hide and seek
as our
respective
soul goes numb
bollywoods most wanted
exiled
from filmdom
an eternity
of sartorial
dilemma
ad naseum
the call of uhuru
death
of individual
freedom
beyond
the mind
beyond
the flesh
a matrix
of confusion
unsolved
problem
waiting
for flowers
that wont blossom
waiting
impatiently
holding
a drowning straw
of good days
to come


dedicated to nabila khanam

The Cat's Tragic Diwali Tale, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,299 items / 610,695 views

lighting the path
all over bazar road
nobody heard his wail
crackers tied
to his tail
the human
festive season
to regale
his soul
with extreme
cruelty
they did nail
smoke fire to inhale
happy diwali
to you and yours
after a few
hits views
this pedestrian story
will soon become stale
this is his calm
his patience
in detail
as he sits
dreading
the next diwali
the cat
with a lizards
cut tail
pain
overblown
from a thumbnail

I saw this cat in the morning near my shop, as the lady who feeds cats pointed out his misery to me, I called for my camera and shot a few frames.

The Hijra's Second Chance, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,298 items / 610,577 views

on shards of glass
on embers of coal
they dance
wanting society
to accept them
as humans
they deserve
a second chance
man loving man
ardh nari nareshwar
a spiritual romance
a few coins
thrown at their face
not even
a kindly glance
miscarriage of birth
karma in a trance
a beggars bowl
no advance
a deadwood future
the state wont finance


dedicated to Kalki Subramaniam.. my facebook friend..activist and a lot more..

Hijra The Missing Link, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,298 items / 610,577 views

two parallel lines
on the brink
hijra the
missing link
no voter rights
neither man nor woman
a system
to hoodwink
a finger
without ink
into the depths
of depravity
they sink
begging alms
prostituting
their androgynous souls
a poison
day in day out
they drink
the filth
the stench
the stink
like the aravanis
of Tamil Nadu
blessed by God
and the State
Maharashtra
mai baap
at sachivalya
too must rethink
better opportunities
jobs in sync
the hijras are human
ghungroos on their feet
on the soul of androgyny
as they clink
basic rights that shrink
broken headlights
that blink
born a man
he chose the color
pink


a link sent by Stephe Androgyne online

Daily News & Analysis, India
www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_eunuch-seeks-right-to-vote...

Eunuch seeks right to vote in Maharashtra Assembly polls

PTI

Sunday, September 13, 2009 11:53 IST

Mumbai: An eunuch has moved the Maharashtra State Human Rights
Commission (SHRC) seeking the right to vote for his community and
transgenders in the forthcoming state Assembly polls.

In the four-page complaint, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi termed the denial
of Right to vote as gross violation of Human Rights in the state.

Supported by a group of four law students, Tripathi demanded that the
state government should extend the fundamental right of voting to
eunuchs and transgenders.

"There is a gross violation of the human rights of eunuchs in
Maharashtra. We are not provided with ration cards and not permitted
to vote," the complaint said.

The SHRC has issued notices to the chief secretary of the state
government with a direction to ensure that departments concerned with
ration cards and voter ID cards file their reply to the complaint by
November 4.

The commission has also directed the state government to suggest in
their reply affidavit steps being taken or to be taken with this
regard.

"Tamil Nadu government has already issued ration cards to the eunuchs
of that state. It is the only state to have recognised eunuchs as a
different sex," said the complaint.

Tripathi further said that eunuchs in Maharashtra are deprived of
life, liberty and dignity.

"If we (eunuchs) are not given a chance to lead a normal life then we
are left with the ultimate choice of begging or prostitution to earn
money," the complaint states.

The commission had directed the state government to file its reply to
the complaint by August 24 but the government failed to do so
following which they have been given time till November 4.

The students -- Niraj Marjadi, Dharampal Dave, Jay Vakil and Kushal
Mehta -- had earlier this year, filed an RTI application before the
Maharashtra State Election Commission seeking to know the rights
accorded to eunuchs in the state.

"However, the election commission returned the RTI application back
saying that they cannot reply to such applications," Dave said.


Dedicated to the spirit of gutsy Laxmi Narayan Tripathi my erstwhile Hijra Guru..

Sweet Memories of Childhood, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,295 items / 609,961 views


Sweet Memories
of childhood
a time very good
touch wood
innocence
a path
to truth
never
misunderstood
childhood
as saintly
as spiritual
as sainthood
childhood
the best
passage of our life
under the grace
protective shadow
serenity
of godhood

Diya Jale, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,288 items / 609,630 views

somewhere far away
someone has something
to say through
the silence of her soul
lighting the darkness
on the way like
a little
diya made of clay
roshni de aur khud jale
stream lighting
hope without word play
of lost moments gone astray
in the wilderness of a lonely mind
searching for happiness everyday

Happy Diwali Happy New Year To All Of You, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,274 items / 609,005 views

To all my friends , readers well wishers , fellow bloggers , photographers , poets
at Flickr, Facebook, Twitter , Wordpress , Blogspot, Orkut, Live Journal, Vox,Tumbler, Fotothing, Webshots, Scribd, Posterous.

A VERY HAPPY DIWALI A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR..

Marziya and The Little Man of Bandra, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

marziya
watches the
flip side of life
as it unfolds
first appu
the limbless man
now hyder khan
short and bold
flexible mold
out on the streets
living in the cold
distributing
shop pamphlets
of discount sale
on hill road
or used by the politicians
as a human clown
to entertain the
young and old
break dance
of democracy
a path
potholed


to glenn losack

Colors of Mutual Hope and Harmony, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,271 items / 607,363 views

different hues
different shades
different colors
side by side
living in peace
why cant we
black white
indigenous brown
fighting
with each other
creating
chaos
disharmony
racism
like a hateful
stream
running
within our blood
silently
blood
that god gave
as single
color
to you and me




to randall der joel
my Canadian brother in Peace

Russian Roulette, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,225 items / 607,208 views

1. A stunt in which one spins the cylinder of a revolver loaded with only one bullet, aims the muzzle at one's head, and pulls the trigger.
2. An act of reckless bravado.

Russian Roulette
pictures
within
pictures
stories
from my head
words
encrypted
decoded
in the spiders net
google searching
for Marziya
on the internet
at Flickr
a story board a set
a two day old baby
her journey
you wont forget
changing
the course of my life
forever in her debt
no tear of regret

Raped In Her Sleep, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

does anyone care
her life her misery
her despair her agony
drunk asleep
a tragic comedy
one comes
pushes himself
into her warmth
goes away happily
than comes the druggie
pushes into her forcefully
while her child
watches haplessly
this is the dark side
of mans ignominy
casting his evil spell
to be or not to be
seminal words
re echoing a sordid
soliloquy
a film reel
that goes on and on
entirely

Marziya Votes For Peace, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,225 items / 607,208 views

When I came home after casting my Vote , my 23 month old grand daughter Marziya was fascinated with the ink mark on my finger , so to please her I applied one on her finger too with a felt pan.

She kept showing this too everyone proudly , and Marziya has been a part of this process , following me to various rallies, she knew the candidates save Baba Siddiki.,.who is inaccessible ,heavily guarded and protected by his staunch supporters..some politicians dont like inter acting with kids.. its straight to business ,canvas , garner votes take a short cut away from the weeping gutters and open drainage, that is the tragedy of Bandra Bazar Road , a market which is the filthiest, someone or the other in this area is down with typhoid or malaria.

Mosquitoes live her fornicate and grow from strength to strength..but the local MP or the local MLA will never see this .. they stay at Pali Hill and Joggers Park a safe distance from sickness disease and a health hazard..

Ashish Shelar and Rahebar Khan were her two favorites as she knows them since a very long time both are from this area where she stays.

The only person who has done anything for this area which did not get flooded this year is Rahebar Khan , and he personally supervised the work of changing the gutter pipes , he was there getting drains cleaned , and this is what endeared him to the locals of this area most of them hardcore Congress I believers , but they were all batting for Rahebar as I saw it..but this is an election that covers not just Bandra but Khar and Santa Cruz too so it is a steep climb for our local hero..

The Muslims of Bandra Bazar Road, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,187 items / 606,876 views

The Muslims of Bazar Road voted in great numbers , and this mother and daughter had just come from the polling booth..The Muslims of Bandra Bazar Road are very peaceful people living amicably with their Hindu neighbors, there is no ill will despite each belonging to another political party..The Muslims of this area were totally with the local candidate Rahebar Khan, and yet a similar large number supported Baba Siddiki of Congress Party.

Advocate Ashish Shelar BJP candidate too hails from this area, his supporters had various counters at Jain Mandir, Bazar Road,Bandra Reclamation..

These were the only areas I covered , some Muslims were reluctant to have their pictures taken but over all it was a political awareness day , though the turnout here in Bandra they say was about 42 %.

Most of the people I met did not have their names on the Voter list, some did not have Pan cards, others simply did not care or bother to vote.

Zeeshan Siddiki , good looking son of Baba Siddiki came to thank the volunteers of Congress I .
This area from the Bazar Chicken Market to Highland Court had the greatest number of counters , women , children kids, were all assisting the voter to reach their respective polling booth.No other area had such a strong counter base in Bandra as Bandra Bazar Road.


Most of the counters were belonging to Rahebar Khan Independent candidate.


Most of the volunteers were given delicious biryani mineral water and Vada Pav..most of the local guys who organize all this are paid handsomely by their respective parties I am told..Money is what matters and elections is about money power too..


Till the end there was a mad rush in this area , people running helter skelter to cast their vote.

Old feeble men and women wee being taken to the polling booth by various social activists and party members.,