KARACHI: A personal journey of belonging and acceptance was the theme of photojournalist Mobeen Ansari’s book launch at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture on Thursday.

Bringing the diverse flavours of different religious minorities in Pakistan in one volume, White in the Flag: a Promise Forgotten is Ansari’s ode to those men and women who inspired him, raised him and made him who he is today, among whom many are labelled as the ‘other’.

“This is a journey that has taken me seven-and-a-half years to finish, and seeing it come together leaves me speechless,” said Ansari.

He recalled how during his childhood, his father fell very ill and required blood donation which was not available readily due to his blood group being rare. “It was my father’s best friend, who was a Christian, who donated blood and saved my father’s life. That act made me very thankful.”

Ansari also spoke about how acceptance is a necessity in today’s world, be it for religious minorities or people suffering from physical impairments. “Despite my hearing impairment I have been accepted and treated by the people I have met or worked with.”

From gurdwaras to churches, the mountains of Kalash or the hard and gritty landscape of the metropolis, Ansari has captured the varied faces of individuals belonging to different minorities and many of them were present at the book launch in support of the cause.

Present among them was Rashna representing the Parsi community. “I am actually an ex-Indian and married in Pakistan since the last 27 years. I cannot explain how warmly I have been accepted by the Pakistani nation.”

Rashna, a piano teacher who is also fluent in several languages, expressed her pride in being featured in the book. “I just love Pakistan and I am proud to be a Pakistani.”

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2017