This mixed-media collage is inspired by a letter written in Urdu by an Indian soldier, Mozafar Ahmed Khan (Pathan) to his compatriot, Ashuraf Khan (Hazara District, NWFP). The letter dated 13^th November 1916, was sent from France to the North-West Frontier Province NWFP, during the First World War. The NWFP was a province of British India from 1901 to 1947. This letter along with other letters, is part of the book, ‘Indian Voices of the Great War: Soldiers’ Letters, 1914-18’ by David Omissi. The letter expresses a soldier’s despair of seeing so many naked unburied corpses on the battlefield, but grateful that his compatriot was honoured with a coffin, a grave, and a headstone. An extract from the letter reads, “This calamity has fallen not only on us but on the whole world. Fine young men, dearly beloved of their parents, of astonishing beauty, I have seen so often naked on the field of battle”.

Mozafar Ahmed Khan (Pathan) to Ashuraf Khan (Hazara District, NWFP) [Urdu] 13th November 1916, was developed during Baptist Coelho’s year-long Artist-in-Residence, supported by and at Fondation Fiminco, Romainville, 2021-22. The residency was also supported by Fonds de Dotation Buchet Ponsoye, Paris; Institut Français, India. The artwork was first exhibited as part of the group exhibition at Fondation Fiminco, Romainville, from 2 June to 3 July 2022. The exhibition was curated by Yomna Osman.