Irfan Habib joined the department of history in 1961 at Aligarh Muslim University as a lecturer at the age of 22; thus began his research career. At 91 he’s India’s most accomplished historian and has won numerous prestigious awards including a Padma Bhushan.
He currently lives in his ancestral family home in Aligarh which I had the privilege of visiting and shooting. Irfan sir donned a crisp shirt and pants for the meeting as opposed to his everyday staple kurta pajama.
Over ice cold sprite, he narrated many anecdotes of erstwhile India and his family’s past as we sat in his high ceilinged living room. My friend was sitting on a couch near the entrance and he said ‘You are sitting where Nehru once sat and demanded for a sandwich!’
I wanted to meet Irfan sir because his, is the last generation that interacted with the likes of Gandhi and other important figures during the freedom movement and conception of independent India. In a few years all we’ll have left is stories and pictures of this time. I wanted to try and add a drop to the ocean thats already raging with the accomplishments of such scholars.
These days Ifran Habib likes to spend his days reading books and working in his study. Which doubles up as a space for him to ‘gossip’ with his friends after hours.
Campaign films for YAM.
Shot on Sony FX6 printed on 16mm KODAK VISION3 250D Color Negative Film.
Films scan and printed by @monsooncolourlab
Grade - @pancham.ha_
Campaign films for YAM.
Shot on Sony FX6 printed on 16mm KODAK VISION3 250D Color Negative Film.
Films scan and printed by @monsooncolourlab
Grade - @pancham.ha_
