In the middle of nowhere, I found everything...

During my journey in this world, I came across a beautiful day that will be part of my experience as long as I live. In February 2012, I visited Dhaka, Bangladesh. I tried to capture every moment the way I was seeing things around me to keep them alive during my whole lifetime. I heard about a saying once, 'I am what we are!' I couldn't understand the proper meaning until I reach that country and the kids on the streets explained it to me. Then, I realized how beautiful Life can be, in the middle of nowhere we can find everything.

My journey started on the famous tricycle (Riksha), they drive in every corner of the city like the colorful ants and often stop to say 'Hi' to their friends or for a nice tea. These people are not so muscular, if only you could see how fast these legs were going up and down, sometimes carrying more than 3 people.

(Photography by Muzammil)

"On your Tricycle,

Everyday, it's the same Cycle,

It's the way to make your Live

Because you want to Survive..."

(Photography by Muzammil)

I didn't have much time to explore other places, but the few hours I got to walk around this area was enough to write a nice book. Few people understand the feeling of others, but these people they don't have comfort but still they accept the way it is, they are making a happy life out of nothing.

(Photography by Muzammil)

Everybody was so friendly and welcoming. I reached the market, a nice place to pop in for some fresh fruits, vegetables, ready made rice, hot colorful curries and fresh fried baked breads from the hot pan half filled with oil. When I went out through the side door, I was surprised to see the textile area where people were working in the open air area on their sewing machines. It reminded me of the people who are always complaining of lack of comfort in their office. Over there, everybody was happy joking around and that's how they are getting their bread everyday - with whom can they complain anyway!

(Photography By Muzammil)

"Every Man is born with a skill, 

Most of them get so busy admiring others,

They forget about their own talents, 

While others don't have the opportunity to prove it to the world,

But only a few make it to their goals, 

Whether it was  a big dream or a small one,

With our head high in the sky,

We will walk proudly, 

As long as we are not stealing anyone..."

(Photography by Muzammil)

I stopped at in a corner of the street, enjoyed a nice cup of tea with the locals. I saw a very old man sitting by himself, enjoying a deep fried bread cake. With every bite, he was smiling. Unfortunately, I couldn't communicate with, he couldn't understand English Language. But one of the guy asked him for me, why was he smiling with the food?

'I have been working so hard all my life so that someday when I sit down I can enjoy nice foods and today I'm happy, whether it's a small piece of bread or a big plate of rice, I have something to fill my stomach...When we are the owner nobody can snatch it from us!'

(Photography by Muzammil)

I was surprised when I got to know that some of these people never got an opportunity to have their picture shot. When i took their pictures, they were so happy to look at themselves they called their friends and showed them the camera. Sometimes, we don't take time to understand people, we simply judge them badly. These non-educated people never mean that they cannot be part of this world. If only we could learn from them, they are experienced more than we are. I felt lucky to get the opportunity to walk among them for a day in my life.

(Photography by Muzammil)

I crossed the river with a water taxi with the ladies to go on the other side of the city. It was even worst, the little metal and wooden houses were so closed to each other. As I walked among the hot metal sheets, I had to move the hanging dry clothes to find my way where the hen, cats and dogs were living in harmony. I could hear the sound of the grinding stones, from the houses, they were grinding rice. Some places I could smell the nice curries, where the little boy was being fed by his mother's hand.

(Photography by Muzammil)

This place was amazing, the people were welcoming - normally they don't often see foreigners around their house. I could see the pure innocent faces of the lovely little girls, their future was already written, they'll get married at an early age. They were so photogenic, they got nice skin tones, beautiful features, only if somebody would tell them that they are very beautiful, I wonder if they ever got that chance in their life before I told them. 

(Photography by Muzammil)

That was my journey in this beautiful city. I heard there was nothing much to do there, only when I arrived I noticed that it was true, because there is no famous brand shopping mall, it is a poor city. There is air conditioned taxi, only riksha every where and the foods don't look clean. But, if only they would give some attention to the locals, talk to them and walk among them, then they could have felt the string positive energy flowing in these people veins. I walked among them and I felt blessed. 

I can never forget that little boy who followed me all the way, when i bought him some cakes, he shared everything with his little friends, he told me he cannot be happy if his friends are not!

"I am what we are..."

Only then I realized that this place is amazing, I had to walk more, explore more, come back with the experience and share it to the world. I took loads of pictures, I uploaded only a few where I strongly believe you felt the energy that existed in this place. I pray that the blessing of God never leave the heart of these people.

(Photography by Muzammil)

"People complain about their Luxury Life,

You don't have anything, 

But still you are happy with a piece of dry bread,

If the world is rejecting you,

God is in your heart,

Some among us believe in your potentials,

You kept me smiling,

It's not a Bye from me,

I'll surely come back to see you again..."

Muzammil

Oh children of the next generation...

They say emotion and happiness cannot be described, yet they are so strong that sometimes we react in weird way, where we don't care about what people think about us in happy moments.


"Happiness appears in different form, let them fly around us. I welcome sorrow in my life, without sadness, happiness will never arrive...I'm patient, the more I cry, the more ill be happy later! I know I'll be given a chance someday to go to that world where everybody is talking about love." 


Im looking at the sky, reminding me of these kids, every time they see an aircraft over their houses, they wave their hand to say 'bye!'

Surely we all know what I'm talking about. But these kids, they think the passengers can see and waving at them back. Some of them are simply talking to the aircraft itself. While the rest think their family who left the country few days, weeks or years ago are in that aircraft. Life is beautiful, full of happiness when we were a kid - we didn't have any responsibility, no stress, we ruled our thought.

(Photographed by Muzammil in Ghana)

When I'm driving around the old villages, kids run after my car and scream, the rich man is here. It keeps me thinking, what are their expectations from me...yeah, they want some gifts or they want to sit in my lap or they want to sit in the car because they never got an opportunity. The car looks like a toy for them, running after the car will make them happy. They don't care what I'll think about them, running after my car is a game. They were all after my car with different ideas, until they will grow up and realize this man was not rich, I can buy a car as well someday.

And when we grow up, we don't talk to the flying plane anymore, we don't run after that beautiful car anymore, because we gave birth to ego. Then the world looks different...

(Photographed by Muzammil in Bangladesh)

"oh children of the next generation,

Every time you see something that pleases you,

With your little thought you make it work the way you want,

When you talk to the aircraft,

When you dance barefoot on the roads,

When you swim in the dirty river,

When you run after the rich man car,

Sometimes I Think if I should copy you,

But the older you get,

You'll become like me,

Then, will you copy the kids?

The kids of the next generation?"

Muzammil