MIRPUR (Kashmir English): Belgian renowned photojournalist Cedric Gerbehaye’s book on Kashmir, “Kashmir: Wait and See,” was presented at “International Festival of Photography and Journalism” held in Perpignan, France, it was officially stated by the host organization.
“Many Europeans paid special attention and interest in the book on Kashmir during the festival which is also called “Visa pour l’Image”, says a message released to the media on Saturday.
The message continued that the book, which took eight years to produce, reveals the current realities, history, and culture of Indian-occupied Kashmir, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan through photographs.
Along with images, detailed descriptions are provided to help people understand Jammu and Kashmir.
Photojournalist Cedric Gerbehaye also briefed the festival participants on the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir through his photographs. Specifically, he shared images of people injured by pellet guns used by Indian troops in Indian-occupied Kashmir and those wounded by Indian military firing in villages of Azad Kashmir along the Line of Control.
During the book launch event at the festival, Chairman of the Kashmir Council EU, Ali Raza Syed, and Kashmiri leader Sardar Sadiq Khan participated while representing the Kashmiri people.
Struggle of Kashmiri people
Senior Hungarian journalist Andre Barcs also attended the event. Speaking on the occasion, Ali Raza Syed stated that such global festivals play a vital role in conveying the struggle of the Kashmiri people to the world.
He emphasized that when words fall short, images speak volumes in their own language, conveying what speech or writing cannot.
He said that displaying this pictorial book on Jammu and Kashmir at the global festival is an important means of stirring the conscience of the international community, according to the message.
He added that the exhibition of this book is a significant part of public diplomacy and has achieved what politics and conventional diplomacy perhaps could not.
A picture is a silent witness that transcends borders to convey the cries of the oppressed and leaves a profound impact on the world.
The visual narrative of Indian-occupied Kashmir in this book reminds us that life there is not merely about passing time but a daily struggle—sometimes for survival, sometimes for preserving identity, and sometimes for freedom.
Ali Raza Syed mentioned that in the next phases, book launch events will be held in Paris, London, Geneva, Islamabad, Lahore, Muzaffarabad, and Mirpur.
The book will also be sent to universities, research centers, policy-making institutions, and relevant authorities, the message said.
Senior Kashmiri leader Sardar Sadiq Khan, who resides in Belgium and participated in the festival in France, stated that the Kashmir Council EU, established under the patronage of its chairman Ali Raza Syed, provided full support to the Belgian photojournalist during the preparation of this book.
He further added that the exhibition of this book at the international festival in France would have a deep impact.
It is worth noting that this year, photojournalists and artists from over 120 countries across all seven continents participated in the France’s international festival.
Their cameras unveiled the realities of corners of the world that often remain hidden from mainstream news, the press message concluded.
