Elderly man holding a household list, documents before him
An elderly man seated in a camp shelter holds a household list with a small slip attached; in front lie handwritten letters, forms, household photographs, another household list and a green cash memo.
About this document
- Category
- Household & Family
- Script
- Burmese
- Photographed by
- RM Mohammed
- Shared on
- 20 October 2026
From the collection
We are Rohingya, an ethnic community with deep historical, cultural, and ancestral roots in Myanmar. These documents are more than pieces of paper; they represent our identity, our history, our lives, and our connection to the land where we belong. For generations, we used these documents in Myanmar for almost every aspect of our daily lives. They helped us identify ourselves, access education, find employment, conduct official activities, and prove ownership of our land and property. Our family records, land documents, photographs, and other important papers were part of our everyday lives and held memories of our homes, families, and communities. These documents remind us of the lives we built in Myanmar before we were forced to leave our homeland. Every paper carries a story of belonging, dignity and the rights we believe every human being deserves. They connect us to our ancestors, our villages and the places where our families lived. RM Mohammed
Photograph by RM Mohammed, first shared by the Rohingya Photographic Society.