Bozai Hasan (1 results)

Soft cover. Condition: Fair. Bozai, Hasan (illustrator). Original b/w photo illustrated card wraps 28x22cm. Printed by International Press, Karachi. (28)pp b/w photo essay with English text, (5)pp adverts, with related pilgrim ship Eid Mubarak card laid in. Wraps fair, creased with staining to the front fore-edge. Interiors good, lightly creased and tanned, staples rusting with centre section loose. Extremely rare, unrecorded on Worldcat and Library Hub. An online search located a copy at NED University in Karachi. Hasan Ali Khan Bozai (1932-2022) is remembered as one of Pakistan's finest photojournalists. In the 1950s-60s he worked for Pakistan's Dawn and other newspapers, and during the 1970s-90s for Dubai's Khaleej Times and Gulf News, for agencies including the United Nations and AP, and accompanied Zulfikar Ali Bhutto overseas. His book is undated, but advertiser codes suggest 1976/77, which is consistent with freelance correspondent Tom Hussain's reference to him preparing a photo book based on his Hajj in 1976, made possible by rare permission from the Saudi Government. Bozai appears to have prepared this for a wider audience. His title "O Lord, here I come to you" translates from the pilgrim's chant "Labbaik Alla Humma Labbaik", symbolising the Hajji's joyful response to Allah's call. Opening photos show Hajjis crowding around and boarding the Pan-Islamic Steamship Company's famous pilgrim ship Safina-E-Hujjaj (1976 would be its last year in service), and views of Jeddah and its approach. There follow photos of Tawaf at the Masjid Al-Haram, Sai at Safa and Marwa, scenes and rituals at Mina, Muzdalifa, and Arafat including intimate photos of various family groups or friends relaxing over food or with a hookah. Bozai continued on to Medina, with scenes of the city, Janat-ul-Baqi cemetery, and Masjid-i-Haram. His text describes the locations and rituals, and explains their significance. The advertisers are the National Bank of Pakistan, PIA, Habib Bank, Pakistan Shipping Corporation (with photo of a ship's captain with a Hajji in Ihram clothing), and Saudia (with photos of the Mosques at Mecca and Medina during Hajj). CARD: 15x11cm with b/w photo of the Safina-e-Hujjaj to the front panel. This opens to reveal a message in Urdu "Eid Mubarak from Pan-Islamic Steamship Company Limited", with their flag. Undated, possibly 1960s. Very good, lightly bumped to the corners, and unused. (References: Various tributes and obituaries online including Tom Hussain's post on LinkedIn, Dawn, and Desi News).