In early 1971 ten million refugees streamed into India from East Pakistan to escape political and religious persecution. The total number of displaced people from that conflict is estimated at twenty million, fleeing from one of the most concentrated acts of genocide of the twentieth century. I covered that refugee crisis for UPI. When I returned to cover the India-Pakistan war later that year, I witnessed the transformation of East Pakistan into an independent Bangladesh.Blind, aged, and displaced from his home in search of safety, this man emanates peace and dignity. His image serves as a reminder of the perpetual tragedy of those forced to leave behind everything they know simply to survive.
Holiday wishes from David & Rebecca Kennerly
The Kennerly Archive Creation Project
My 1971 Pulitzer Prize-winning portfolio contained another, better known, image from this day. However, this shot, never before published or seen by the public, has haunted me for decades. I was afraid it had been lost. Days ago, I was thrilled to rediscover the precious piece of film that contained this image -- one of only two frames I made of this magnificent man. Uncovering this image at the bottom of a box where it had been hiding for so many years felt like discovering buried treasure.This discovery was only possible because of the work that Rebecca and I have done to assemble and organize my million-image plus collection of historic photos and objects. Look for the launch The Kennerly Archive Creation Project in the coming year with the ultimate goal of turning my vast and unweildy collection into a vibrant archive that might make an important contribution to the understanding of fifty years of history.