‘Light from the Cosmos’ by Imran Firdaus underway

Photographer-filmmaker Imran Firdaus’ month-long solo photography exhibition titled Light from the Cosmos is underway at Begum Restaurant and Gallery, Dhaka. Renowned artist Ronni Ahmmed is the curator of the show.

The exhibition sheds light on Sufi saint Khalek Dewan, who was a renowned folk singer. The artiste is no more with us. He left for the eternity on March 14, 2003. Every year, on his birthday, a number of his fans and followers gather for Urosh, a holy congregation at the residence of mystic bard. The showcased images are taken from such a congregation of Sufis on the occasion of Khalek Dewan’s 90th birth anniversary in 2016.

The show, inaugurated by musician Sheikh Monirul Alam Tipu on June 22, has been dedicated to Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Hasan (R.). Opening daily from 11 am to 8:30 pm, the exhibition will continue till July 22. 

In his curatorial note, artist Ronni Ahmmed writes, “Imran Firdaus is a visionary photographer, filmmaker, writer, cultural activist. A bohemian soul wandering like wind and fire, as his earthly existence drives him from a cosmic plan. In our cultural field, he is a silent and selfless contributor, and had a true heart to explore the secret gems around the country. This photo exhibition is about Sufi Shadhok Khalek Dewan. He has captured the spiritual essence of his Majar during the urosh time in 2016.”

According to Ronni, Bangladesh is a country of Sufi saints or Awulias. They are eternal and alive, and helping people to survive and reinvigorate their dedication towards Allah. There are also many living Sufi saints and practitioners around the country serving people and spreading Allah’s order within a divine path. Imran is working on them from the last few years. This exhibition is a very important initiative by Imran Firdaus, as it is a step to explore the divine cosmic light of the great Sufi lineage in Bengal.

Shadhok Baul Abdul Khalek Dewan is one of the most veteran devotees of the mystical world of Bengal. He was born in the Bamunsur village of Keraniganj in 1910. Through his father Alfu Dewan, the Dewan school or gharana of mystical music was born in Bengal. The Sufi devotee or shadhok Hazrat Alef Chan Shah, also known as Alfu Dewan (1246-1336) was a practitioner of mysticism.

Imran Firdaus is pursuing his PhD from the Department of Media Arts and Production, The University of Technology Sydney, Australia.