Mohammad Abu Bakar, Photojournalist of the valley in deep furrows
Mohammad Abu Bakar, a 24-years-old photojournalist from Sopore: Apple town of Kashmir'
It is said Childhood memories never leave the scar they once have made. Abu Bakar has witnessed such horrible scenes as a child of the conflict zone.
Being a witness of the 2012 Sopore encounter, in which he lost his dear friend, between the armed forces and militants was too much for a 16-years-old boy then, Abu Bakar, it has left a long impression on his mind. He was not happy how the media carried the news of his dear friend.
To overcome his childhood memory, he thought to be a voice to voiceless people and do his part of telling the truth to everyone, this urge to not let the people suffer in silence motivated him to be a Photojournalist.
In 2015, Abu Bakar got admission to Baramulla Degree College in the department of Journalism.
During his college graduation, he worked tirelessly and made his mark in one of the toughest professions in Kashmir 'journalism'. The turning point of Abu Bakar's life came in the year 2016 when he was able to capture the uprising against the killing of the Hizbul commander, Burhan Wani.
Journalists are caught between deep and devil in Kashmir where Armed forces accuse them, of harbouring militants, and civilians blame them for selling pictures to arms officials.
Abu Bakar is among the few young photojournalists in Kashmir, who remained continuously active ground zero during the uprising of 2016. He was even put behind bars for doing what a journalist is supposed to do, speak the truth. He never stiffed back from the ample hurdles he had to face.
No Amount of negativity stopped Abu Bakar from doing his work professionally and fearlessly.
Abu Bakar has always been passionate and creative in his work. He wants to see the world through his camera lens and serve the people with the regular daily doses of reality.
Abu Bakar has worked for a local newspaper, Kashmir Life, Greater Kashmir and international media such as BBC and Al Jazeera. Abu Bakar is presently pursuing his majors in Media Education Research Center, Kashmir University.
The photojournalist caught between the quagmire of beauty and the battle, young Abu Bakar is quite an in dilemma about his future