The Travel Diary: Dreamy days in Bangladesh
- Text by Conor Rollins
- Photography by Conor Rollins
Arriving in Asia for the first time is like a loud punch to the face. Your senses are disoriented, and once you step into a taxi your adrenaline is flowing. You quickly establish that whoever is fastest and loudest wins. It’s like Battle Royale – but instead of kids in school uniforms, it’s Indian men in yellow cars.
After travelling through Kolkata and Kharagpur for a few days, I headed to my real destination of Bangladesh. I was going to Sreepur, an NGO run project, that for the last 27 years has helped destitute woman and children of the country. It provides them with accommodation, nutrition, healthcare and the opportunity to learn new skills to be able to find a job and become self-sufficient.
While there, I met with Pat Kerr – a woman who in 1981 took unpaid leave to volunteer and subsequently dedicate her life to live and work at Sreepur. Over the next few days, I found her to be somewhat of an enigma. My thoughts of her would change with each conversation. The only thing she ever made clear was her determination to not leave the project.
Over the next few days, I became accustomed to the way of life and the people that lived there. I used the camera to interact when language would fail, I woke at 4 am to hear the distant chants of morning prayers, and became entranced by the morning and evening light. It was a deeply calming and tranquil place that at times could erupt with 10 kids jumping on you and not understanding why they couldn’t see the photo after I’d taken it on my film camera.
My last day that I spent there was a sports day. The games were unusual and so were the prizes. The boys ran with their hands tied behind their back and rummaged for toys in a huge pile of flour. The girls, on the other hand, dealt with sewing needles. Running to the “thread point”, the winner was the first one to thread their needle (no kids were injured during the games, it’s worth mentioning).
The excitement, fun and dedication to create this sports festival from each and every one of them, really summed up what it was like there. I feel humbled to have briefly been a part of their community.
See more of Conor Rollins’ work on his official website.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
In the ’60s and ’70s, Greenwich Village was the musical heart of New York
Talkin’ Greenwich Village — Author David Browne’s new book takes readers into the neighbourhood’s creative heyday, where a generation of artists and poets including Bob Dylan, Billie Holliday and Dave Van Ronk cut their teeth.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai
How Labour Activism changed the landscape of post-war USA
American Job — A new exhibition revisits over 70 years of working class solidarity and struggle, its radical legacy, and the central role of photography throughout.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Analogue Appreciation: Emma-Jean Thackray
Weirdo — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, multi-instrumentalist and Brownswood affiliate Emma-Jean Thackray.
Written by: Emma-Jean Thackray
Meet the shop cats of Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan district
Feline good — Traditionally adopted to keep away rats from expensive produce, the feline guardians have become part of the central neighbourhood’s fabric. Erica’s online series captures the local celebrities.
Written by: Isaac Muk
How trans rights activism and sex workers’ solidarity emerged in the ’70s and ’80s
Shoulder to Shoulder — In this extract from writer Jake Hall’s new book, which deep dives into the history of queer activism and coalition, they explore how anti-TERF and anti-SWERF campaigning developed from the same cloth.
Written by: Jake Hall
A behind the scenes look at the atomic wedgie community
Stretched out — Benjamin Fredrickson’s new project and photobook ‘Wedgies’ queers a time-old bullying act by exploring its erotic, extreme potential.
Written by: Isaac Muk