Shahidul Alam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shahidul Alam
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| শহিদুল আলম | |
Shahidul Alam in 2024
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| Born | 1955 (age 69–70) |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Education | Jhenidah Cadet College, University of Liverpool |
| Alma mater | University of Liverpool (BSc) Bedford College, University of London (D.Phil) |
| Occupation | Photojournalism, teaching, social rights activism |
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| Spouse(s) | Rahnuma Ahmed |
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| Relatives | Kazi Salahuddin (cousin) Nassakh Nawab Abdul Latif |
Shahidul Alam (born 1955) is a famous Bangladeshi photojournalist, teacher, and activist. He is known for building important media organizations. He also tells stories through his photos and words.
Alam started several key organizations. These include Drik Picture Library in 1989 and Pathshala in 1998. He also founded the Chobi Mela International Photography Festival in 1999. His company Drik helped bring email to Bangladesh early on. They also created the first Bangla font for the internet.
Shahidul Alam has taken photos for over forty years. His work has been shown all over the world. This includes famous places like the MOMA and Tate Modern. He was the first Asian person to lead the jury for World Press Photo. Alam has also given talks at top universities like Oxford and Harvard.
He has received many awards for his work. In 2018, he got the Humanitarian Award from the Lucie Awards. He was also named one of Time magazine's "persons of the year" in 2018. He is an advisor for the National Geographic Society. In 2022, he received an honorary degree. He later returned it due to concerns about the university's actions regarding Palestine.
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Early Life and Learning
Shahidul Alam was born in Dacca, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1955. He grew up in the Dhanmondi area. His father, Kazi Abul Monsur, was a doctor. His mother, Anwara Monsur, was a child psychologist.
He went to a boarding school called Jhenidah Cadet College. Later, he studied at the University of Liverpool in England. There, he became interested in activism. He earned a degree in biochemistry and genetics in 1976.
Alam then moved to London for his advanced studies. He studied at Bedford College, University of London. During this time, he started to love photography. He even worked on new ways to print photos. In 1983, he won an award for one of his pictures. This made him want to become a photographer. He received his doctorate in organic chemistry that same year.
His Work and Impact
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In 1989, Shahidul Alam started Drik Picture Library. This organization helps share photos and stories. In 1998, he opened Pathshala South Asian Media Institute in Dhaka. Pathshala has taught many photographers.
Alam also founded the Chobi Mela International Photography Festival in 1999. This is a very important photography festival in Asia. He is still its director. He also created the South Asian Media Academy.
Alam has photographed many important events. He captured images of Nelson Mandela during a meeting in 2009. He has also covered natural disasters and human rights issues. His photos show important moments in Bangladesh's history.
The Crossfire Exhibition
In 2010, Alam created a photo series called Crossfire. This exhibition showed places where people had been killed by a special police force. The exhibition aimed to highlight concerns about human rights.
The exhibition was displayed at Drik Gallery in Dhaka. Before it opened, police tried to stop it. They said the photos might cause problems. However, after legal action, the exhibition was allowed to open to the public.
Speaking Out and Support
In 2018, Shahidul Alam was documenting student protests in Bangladesh. These protests were about road safety. He spoke in an interview about government actions. Soon after, he was taken from his home by police.
He was later charged under a special law. Alam told the court he had been treated poorly while in custody. The Supreme Court ordered him to a hospital.
Many groups around the world asked for his release. Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists spoke out. Famous people like Desmond Tutu and Sharon Stone also showed their support. Artists, authors, and academics from many countries joined in. They used the hashtag #FreeShahidulAlam to spread the word.
After 107 days, Alam was granted bail and released in November 2018. He has since challenged the law he was charged under.
Challenges to Freedom of Expression
In 2019, a talk by author Arundhati Roy was planned for the Chobi Mela International Photography Festival. The police tried to cancel the event. But the organizers found another place for the talk. Shahidul Alam was also part of this event.
In 2023, a photography exhibition in Germany was canceled. Shahidul Alam was involved in this event. Authorities said his social media posts were problematic. Alam stated that his criticism was of a government's actions, not of a people. He believes it is important to tell the difference between these two things.
Exhibitions
His Own Work
- 2024. Singed but not burned. Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai.
- 2019–2021. Shahidul Alam: Truth to Power. Rubin Museum of Art, New York.
- 2012, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Kerala, India.
As a Curator
- 2010, Where Three Dreams Cross at Whitechapel Gallery, London. (co-curator)
Teaching Roles
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)
- University of Sunderland
Awards and Honors
- 2014: Shilpakala Padak, Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 2018: Humanitarian Award, Lucie Awards
- 2018: Tribute Award, Frontline Club, UK for his contribution to journalism
- 2019: Special Presentation Award 2019, International Center of Photography (ICP)
- 2020: CPJ International Press Freedom Awards 2020
Images for kids
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Shahidul Alam in 2024
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Alam with the winners of the 2013 BOBs awards.
