Frames on fire

Coinciding with the Fire Safety Week, observed by the Fire Brigade from April 14 to 20, 2006, press photographer Rashid D. Bamanbehram held a three-day exhibition of his photographs at the Fort Fire Station in memory of the 66 firemen who lost their lives in the Dock Explosion in 1944. Inaugurated by Bombay’s chief fire officer Amarjit Jhandwal and Government of Maha­rashtra’s fire advisor M. V. Deshmukh, on April 18, the exhibition aimed to create awareness among the public on the importance of playing safe in life. In appreciation of Bamanbehram’s "lifetime contribution and unstinted photography during fires, house collapses and other emergencies” he was conferred a certificate of appreciation for selfless association by the Mumbai Fire Brigade on the last day of his exhibition, April 20.

On the occasion Bamanbehram was interviewed by the Zee Marathi channel. As noted Umesh Kashikar, public relations officer at Bombay’s Raj Bhavan in a personal letter, "I was overcome with mixed emotions to see your masterly exhibition…While photographs of rescue of people, property and birds by our brave fire officers and firemen under the most trying circumstances made me proud of them, seeing the photos of innocent people dying in gory accidents and fires made me sad. The job of a photographer is to bring forth the life as it is, irrespective of the emotions involved. This you have done fearlessly and in a most professional manner…”

Other members of the Bamanbehram household are into photography too. Rashid’s wife Armaity, reportedly the first Parsi lady to shoot videos at weddings/navjotes, is celebrating her 25th year in the profession, and now their daughter Nazneen too is following her parents’ footsteps.