Never Thought Big B Would Help Me: Injured Kashmiri Photographer

Photojournalist Bilal Bahadur was covering a funeral in Baramulla when he got injured.

Kashmiri photojournalist Bilal Bahadur was injured while covering a funeral in Baramulla. 

(Photo: The Quint/ Stuti Shukla)

Video Editor: Deepthi Ramdas
Camera: Vikar Syed

Bilal Bahadur, a Kashmiri photojournalist, was injured while covering a funeral in Baramulla on 26 January. He had mounted a truck to take photos. “Suddenly, this boy who was sitting with us, got up. A light nudge from him and I fell. I don’t remember anything after that,” he told The Quint.

Bilal works as a photographer with The Times of India and Kashmir Life. Doctors told him he had a dislocated shoulder, a broken elbow and other injuries. He is bedridden, and needs constant assistance. “I cannot eat myself. I cannot go to the washroom,” he said.

Bilal Bahadur needs three months bed rest, doctors said.(Photo: The Quint/Vikar Syed)

On 4 February, Altaf Qadri, an Associated Press photographer from Kashmir, tweeted about Bahadur’s condition, and asked people to support photographers and camerapersons who work in dangerous circumstances.

Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan also responded to Qadri and asked for Bahadur’s contact details.

When asked Bahadur about Big B’s gesture, he said, “I want to express my gratitude to Amitabh Bachchan. I have only seen him in movies. I never thought someone of his stature would one day express his desire to help me.”

Qadri spoke about safeguards that employers need to provide to journalists in Kashmir, especially photojournalists and freelancers.

Bahadur spoke about the circumstances that photographers work in.

“Photographers’ lives are always at risk. We don’t have a desk job. Unlike reporters, we don’t work from offices. We need to go to the spot and cover live action.” 

Bilal Bahadur, Kashmiri Photographer  

Bilal – the only earning member of the family – lives with his father, wife and two children. With additional medical expenses, he is worried about providing for them. Fortunately, support has poured in since his story got social media’s attention.