K.N. Wasif, a renowned Indian photographer, who has worked in a number of leading newspapers back home, has become the first non-resident Indian (NRI) to present an aesthetic work of art in an exhibition entitled India's Architectural Heritage that Ambassador Talmiz Ahmed opened in Riyadh, Wednesday. The exhibition displayed over 150 photographs that Wasif has captured over the past several years. Wasif arrived in Saudi Arabia in 1993 and worked with Riyadh-based Albenaa Magazine, that specializes in the publication of pictures of Saudi landmarks and other architectural buildings. Wasif, a freelance contributor to Saudi Gazette, said his association with Albeena magazine was an inspiration for what has become an ongoing project documenting Medieval Indian architecture renowned for its exquisite beauty and fine workmanship. He said the photographs of 19 Indian monuments with their architectural details took him 10 years to complete. “Taking photographs of centuries-old Indian architectural marvels was an ongoing mission that I undertook each time I visited India on my annual vacation,” Wasif remarked, adding that he would continue to add new monuments to the project as and when he could. The Federation of Indian Photographs, Andhra Pradesh Photography Society and the AP Photographic Academy have also recognized Wasif, who has won several national and international awards. Ambassador Ahmed said that the exhibition of these photographs in various cities of the Kingdom will not only refresh the memories of those who have visited these sites, but will also contribute in familiarizing young Indian expatriate children with India's glorious architectural heritage and encourage our Saudi friends to visit India to see these architectural wonders for themselves”. “K.N. Wasif is not only a noted Urdu journalist and essayist but is also an eminent photographer,” said Ahmed while addressing members of the Indian community at the auditorium of the International Indian School, Riyadh (IISR), venue of the three-day exhibition. According to Wasif, his photographic project failed to invite any recognition from the Dubai-based India Tourism Board, despite approaching the officials of the board on their visit to Saudi Arabia at least two times in the recent past. Ahmed, after inaugurating India's Architectural Heritage exhibition released a brochure that contains some information about Wasif's photographs. The envoy also honored the artist by presenting a memento to him on the occasion. The envoy said India's architectural legacy is a living narrative of its cultural history. He said the well-planned houses and cities of the Indus Valley civilization, Buddhist stupas, magnificent Hindu temples and Indo-Islamic monuments from the Mughal period all manifest the wealth and variety of Indian architecture. In his inaugural speech, Ahmed praised Wasif's efforts to capture India's unique architectural legacy through his camera. “As we go through this exhibition and even as we celebrate the achievements of our ancestors who worked together to create (these) items of lasting beaut,y we will also see the eye of the artist, who captured a moment in time and gave us double joy when we see this picture in front of us,” he said. Wasif's photographs on Indian historical monuments that every tourist should visit include the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri (Agra), Jama Masjid (Old Delhi), Humayun's Tomb (New Delhi), Amber Palace and Hawa Mahal (Jaipur), Osmania University, Golconda Fort, Qutub Shahi Tombs, Makkah Masjid, Charminar, (Hyderabad), Vidhana Soudha (Karnataka), Maharaja's Palace (Mysore), Daulathjabad Fort (Aurangabad), Gol Gumbad (Bijapur). just to name a few.
