Pathshala

Pathshala, the South Asian Institute of Photography was set up in 1998 by the Bangladesh photographer, writer and activist Shahidul Alam [1]. The school is now recognised by many as being one of the finest schools of photography in the world. It is affiliated to Sunderland University and Bolton University in the UK. Oslo University College in Norway, Edith Cowan University in Australia [2] and The Danish School of Journalism [3]. It provides a bachelors degree in photography. Pathshala is the teaching wing of Drik Picture Library Ltd. [4] The school has however received death threats by fundamentalists claiming photography is un-Islamic [5]. The school is now in its eleventh year. Students have won numerous accolades during this short period. [6][7] Students have been active in social movements [8] and have also organised exhibitions addressing social concerns at overseas events. [9]
Building upon its reputation as one of the finest schools of photography in the world, Pathshala, after a series of consultations with international and local experts and local stakeholders, is now being set up as a media academy, to help strengthen other fields of media. [10]