Babaji’s Britain [2025]

Babaji’s Britain is a photographic series by Shizza Majeed that focuses on her grandfather, Ghulam Abbas — known to her as Babaji — a Pakistani man who migrated to Britain in 1962. What began as a temporary plan soon became permanent, and over sixty years later, his life is firmly rooted in East London. Now 85, his identity reflects a delicate balance between cultural preservation and adaptation.

Through a series of collaborative portraits, Majeed explores how her grandfather’s life has evolved across decades in Britain — how his faith, love of cricket, memories of Pakistan, and adopted British customs coexist within him. Each portrait is carefully composed, using props and settings that symbolise the blending of two cultures, building a visual dialogue between past and present.

This work stems from Majeed’s own experience as a British Pakistani, drawing parallels between her identity and her grandfather’s journey. His story, while personal, speaks more broadly to the experiences of countless immigrants who have shaped Britain’s multicultural landscape.

In an era when questions of belonging persist, Babaji’s Britain stands as a quiet act of reclamation. It affirms that immigrant stories are not only part of the nation's history, but also its ongoing identity. Through tenderness and intention, Majeed presents her grandfather not as an outsider, but as an integral part of the British story — resilient, dignified, and deeply rooted.