We have lost a unique diamond: lensman

“In his death we have lost a unique diamond,” said Shukla, who has lived in Dubai since the 1960s and documented UAE’s development through his photographs.

“I met Shaikh Saqr on innumerable occasions,” Ramesh said. He has a huge collection of photographs of Shaikh Saqr which reflect on the many aspects of his personality.

“I cannot forget the first anniversary of the UAE National Day in 1972 celebrated months after Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) joined the UAE federation,” he recalled.

“Shaikh Saqr attended the National Day parade in Abu Dhabi. I was happy that another royal family had joined the UAE making it the federation of seven emirates,” Ramesh said.

Ramesh said several foreign journalists used to approach him for an introduction to Shaikh Saqr to grant them an interview.

“In 1974, a woman journalist from Iraq wanted to meet Shaikh Saqr. I took her to the palace and the interview continued for more than three hours. During this period, Shaikh Saqr spoke candidly, answering all her questions and not showing signs of tiredness,” Ramesh said. “Shaikh Saqr used to be very busy on the phone. On many of my visits, I found him talking on the phone, sometimes for an hour at a stretch. I have several pictures of him holding the phone,” he said.

“Shaikh Saqr would not let me leave the palace without having dinner with him. “Sura’a” (hurry), he would tell me inviting me to the dinner table,” Ramesh said.

Ramesh said Shaikh Saqr was especially happy in the company of his ‘brothers’, the Rulers of the other emirates. “One such occasion was the grand banquet at the Burj Al Arab. Shaikh Saqr was there while I was taking pictures for more than seven hours,” Ramesh said. It was six-seven years ago when Ramesh last met Shaikh Saqr at a wedding in Ajman.

“I was very sad when he said he was not keeping well. To me he seemed to be in good health, not a man to die so soon,” Ramesh said.

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