The War Is Not Over Yet Cyanotype Print, Film and Digital Photography Exhibition Time – From 2015 to ongoing

After the partition of Bengal in 1947, the independence war of Bangladesh was the first instance when India, Pakistan and Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) encounter each other all together. After nine months of full-blown war, Bangladesh was born as a free new country. People who fought in this war were not only fighting for their freedom but also for the ownership of their motherland and their mother language. Freedom fighters have received maximum respect, financial support and awards to honor their efforts in the war. However the women who have fought in this war alongside men taking up weapons or carried out the role of spies and weapon smugglers have not received enough recognition that is even close to what the freedom fighters deserve. On records, the number of awarded female freedom fighters is only 3 while the number of total awarded freedom fighters is 677. The role of women in the “books and cinema” was more stereotypically expressed in emotional ordeal of mothers sending their sons to war and wives waiting for their husband to return alive. The role of fighter was left to men and men alone. Only one out of a significant number of women who smuggled weapon and got captured working as a spy to get information from the Pakistan camps, KakonBibi, was awarded “BirProtik”. The title Birangona or “war heroine” was for the women raped in the battle but between giving men rewards to marry them and their new husbands leaving them after they received the rewards, the noble intention of this initiative got lost. The war is not over yet. It’s still going on for all the women across the countries that are living with this stigma every day. They and their future generations are getting unished for a in they did not commit. This is an act of ignorance, of deliberate “censoring” and an acknowledgment of the position where women of this country still have to fight for their basic rights as a human. This war will not be over until the women who have fought in the war be compensated for their sacrifices. This is a war declared by the patriarchal society on women who have lost their identity or the shred of selfhood that they sacrificed to get independence for their country. They gave their verything to be able to contribute for the freedom of this country now it’s about time the country starts paying them back. Female freedom fighters must be acknowledged and honored just as they deserve to be. My generation and many generations to come will never experience the independence war but they must have the knowledge of the undeniable significance of women on their independence. “The War Is Not Over Yet” is an ongoing art-based research project. I have been trying to Interpret the individual selves of the women into photographs and trying to put together an installation to create a safe space. The major medium of the project is photography and videography. I have also Collected materials such as letters, old photographs from the family album and oral history with the participatory documentary approach since 2016.

Artist Statement:

Embarking on a journey of self-discovery, my artistic exploration reflects a deep connection to the intricate tapestry of time, weaving together echoes of the past and pulses of the present. Themes of South Asian colonial history and complex political issues serve as the backdrop to my current artistic practice, venturing into photography, video, and archived materials. My inspiration stems from the belief that stories transcend cultural and temporal boundaries. Captivated by narratives embedded in human experiences—conveying love, hate, and wars driven by cultural elements and politics—I aim to illuminate shared human qualities fueling our pursuit of social cohesion, understanding, and empathy. My artistic process is introspective and reflective, drawing inspiration from diverse sources like music, literature, personal experiences, and internal reflections. This creative journey involves a dynamic interplay of text, color, shape, and form—enabling me to pose questions, challenge norms, and explore free will’s strength.