Man'at of childless women, Bhag

Man'at of childless women, Bhag
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Via Flickr:
Women of Bhag Nari, a small town in Balochistan, who are childless come here and place these wooden toys / pieces at this place and roll over the ground. They believe that by doing so they will soon get pregnant. I find this custom very interesting but not unusual. All across the world, people belonging to different religions and sects perform certain acts which look very absurd to the outer world. Yet, those acts are part of their culture. Similar belief system is prevalent in many parts of Pakistan and one may observe them at many of the Sufi Shrines / Mazars.

Portrait: Enjoy Coca Cola

Portrait: Enjoy Coca Cola
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Woke up today at 5:12 AM for Fajr (morning prayers) and after that opened my Flickr account and received this email from Coke company:

'On behalf of The Coca-Cola Company I would to thank you for sharing your Coca-Cola photo on Flickr. We noticed that you placed it under a Creative Commons license that allows it to be used for commercial purposes, to be modified, adapted or built upon.

www.flickr.com/photos/ameerhamza/3298827999/

We wanted to let you know that we would like to use your photo in our 125th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of The Coca-Cola Company. We would like to include your photo in a montage of images to be shown in a public spectacle at the Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, during the month of May 2011 (the “Montage”). We would also like to use your photo in a video of the Montage and still images of the Montage, any of which may be displayed throughout the world in any type of electronic or digital media (including without limitation the internet and email) for commercial and public relations purposes in perpetuity. We'll be sure to provide attribution for your photo on our Facebook page related to the Montage. We’ll list your Flickr handle and a link to your photo on Flickr.

Please let us know by reply email if you agree with our usage of your photo as outlined above.

Thanks for being a loyal Fan.'

Well, instantly I replied this guy:

'Thank you for writing to me regarding my image:

www.flickr.com/photos/ameerhamza/3298827999/

If you wish to use this image for any editorial or commercial purposes, you may purchase this and other images via Getty Images, which represent me at Flickr. I don't wish to hand over my photograph for free.

Please also note that all my images are copyright and not, therefore, free to use.

I think that answers your request.

Regards,
Ameer Hamza
p.s Please do not ask for free use of images next time.'

Let us see what I get in reply.

India visit visa

India visit visa
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

I was finally awarded this beautiful Indian visa back in December 2007. I was to go to India alongwith my Dadi and Dada and my cousins and my chacha. Alas, the conditions in India weren't too good for un-married guys from Pakistan to visit. So finally only my grandparents (dadi and dada) went leaving us behind with a heavy heart.

Fish for sale, Empress market

Fish for sale, Empress market
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

I uploaded this photograph to remind myself that I now urgently need fish. I need it to save my falling hair and to get a glow to my skin. And all that. I also need to remain young for a long time, or so my neighbour at boat basin informs me. Jailer sahib, as he himself likes to called for his father was in British police, told me that he has eaten fish for breakfast since he was my age. His age now is 75 and counting; mine is 29 and counting. And he has a load of hairs to prove it. And if those aren't enough, he has a booming voice which is usually reserved for Army wallahs. This jailer sahib is also lovingly called Munna Bhai, after the famous character of an Indian movie.

But he is right. Fish saves the day for men and women alike. And certain chemicals, which are not to be had in red meat, are readily found in fish meat. So I better go and just buy a handful now.