Meet The Royal Photographer Who Captured The Birth Of The UAE
From documenting the day the Emirates united to form a nation to immortalising its remarkable evolution, Ramesh Shukla shares his extraordinary journey with Bazaar Arabia here
On a crisp winter morning, the air brimming with anticipation, a young Ramesh Shukla set out with his trusty camera. This was no ordinary assignment; it was December 2, 1971, the day that would mark the historic birth of the UAE.
The images he took at the momentous formation of the country went on to become iconic.
Decades laters, he’s still known affectionately as “Fannan,” meaning artist in Arabic, a title Ramesh had earned from the royals of the country for his dedication to capturing its unfolding history. Since his arrival in the region, his sole aim was to document the transformation of the land through his lens.
Now 85-year-old Ramesh, notably recognised as the UAE’s “royal photographer,” sat down with Bazaar Arabia to detail his journey through the years and his presence at the momentous formation of the country
How The “Royal Photographer” Ramesh Shukla Began His Journey…
Rewinding back to 1965, when he first moved to the country at the age of 26, Ramesh had taken a dhow from the coastal city of Mumbai to Sharjah.
“After working as a photojournalist at various publications in India, I thought that it was time for me to see the rest of the world,” he recalled.
After a treacherous journey and with only a few rupees in his pocket, the young photographer reached a port in the UAE, which was then a collection of Trucial States yet to become a nation.
Upon his arrival, he connected with a local who urged the young visitor to go to the Sharjah camel racetrack to capture an event taking place at the time. With a drive to immerse himself in the true essence of the region, he went along, not forgetting his camera of course.
At the racetrack, crouched on the ground, clicking away, he noticed a group of distinguished men gathered together. Among them were His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who would soon be hailed as the Father of the Nation and first president of the new country, as well as His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. He made sure to immortalise the moment with his camera.
The following morning, after developing the photographs, he cycled back to the racetrack and had the opportunity to show them to His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. “He was delighted and endearingly told me that I am a fannan (an artist),” he said.
The young cameraman received a signed copy of the images from His Highness, and his work began to be recognised ever since.
The encouragement he received that day only fueled his passion for capturing the nation. He started renting a humble home that more often than not served as his photo studio.
He chose to live in the historic Dubai Creek area, a part of the country bustling with life – a trading hub where merchants from all corners of the globe would arrive, and also home to many Emirati families at the time.
“From capturing the fishermen that would line the creek at dawn to traditional Emirati weddings, my camera saw it all,” he said.
He sent the pictures back home to India, and they were published through his connections in the industry. It provided the outside world a rare inside look into life within the Arabian Peninsula.
Meanwhile, Ramesh also attended and captured official meetings and sporting events, further solidifying his connection with the royals of the country.
“Sheikh Rashid’s office was near Bur Dubai. I would visit it and take his pictures there, and that’s when he started to recognise me,” he said.
Capturing A Part Of History
On the morning of December 2, 1971, he got a call to head to the Union House located in Jumeirah Beach Road.
“I grabbed as many film rolls as I could and headed to the Union House. It was a round table, I distinctly remember,” Ramesh recalled vividly.
As Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan waved his hand to sign the unification documents, Ramesh was just three feet away. His camera flash fired incessantly, immortalising each moment of the historic event.
After the signing, they moved outside to witness the raising of the flag. The image of the flag being hoisted became iconic, now featured on every 50-dirham note printed in the country. Another one of Ramesh’s iconic photographs, capturing Sheikh Zayed signing the union agreement, also adorns the same banknote.
While diligently expanding his portfolio, Ramesh vowed not to return to his homeland until he had done justice to his work, and more importantly, fulfilled his passion for capturing the UAE’s transformative journey. He only visited India after 14 years of dedication.
Today, his legacy includes eight books, each chronicling the UAE’s remarkable progress through his lens. His work has been part of numerous galleries not only in the country but around the world.
For those intrigued by his photographs, they are displayed throughout Dubai. Whether in the halls of the Etihad Museum or the bustling corridors of the Metro stations, the pictures are a testament to his extraordinary odyssey.
Lead Image Courtesy of Ramesh Shukla