The exhibition of artworks by children, collected by Yousefi, held in Islamabad, Pakistan

I lost my childhood to a war. The Iran-Iraq War had taken away so many childhoods!” -- says Iranian globetrotter Khosrow Yousefi. Yousefi, on his bicycle, has been to 20 countries in Asia and Africa including Azerbaijan, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, U.A.E, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, India, and now he is in Bangladesh.

An interesting aspect of his expedition is that, Yousefi collects artworks from the children in each country. He has had a few exhibitions of these paintings and drawings (one in Islamabad, Pakistan for instance) but he has so far refused to sell any of them. In Bangladesh, Yousefi is holding an exhibition at 'Chhobir Haat' that started from yesterday (cross the street from Institute of Fine Arts, Shahbagh) and the artworks on display are on sale. The proceeds will go to Sidr victims.

“I know what going to sleep without a meal feels like, I know what freezing in the winter without warm clothes does to one. The difference is, war made me suffer and in this case, a natural calamity has devastated these people,” says Yousefi.

On the raison d'être behind collecting drawings and paintings by children, Yousefi says, “I used to be an art teacher and I always see this exuding sense of harmony, warmth and friendship in the artworks by children.”

Struggling with his English, the Iranian voyager says, “I want a 'proper world' for children. A proper world for children would be a utopia for everyone. The divisions between humans have been created by adults. Children do not see differences; these divisions and boundaries are impure and unnatural to them. In different countries, you may notice the differences in nature and surroundings in the drawings by children but the inner-messages are pretty much the same.”

Yousefi began his journey three years ago. From Iran, he first went to Azerbaijan. “I speak Azeri, and I wanted an uncomplicated start,” says Yousefi. From Azerbaijan, he went to Georgia, Armenia and Turkey. He speaks highly of the hospitality he received in Cameroon and Bangladesh but not all places have been kind. Because of his nationality, Yousefi endured difficulties in Gabon and had to return to Cameroon.

Yousefi entered India through Punjab. He went to Varanasi, as a film by Makhmalbaf (Yousefi's favourite filmmaker) had triggered his interest in the city by the Ganges, regarded holy by Hindus. From Kolkata, the cyclist started towards Bangladesh and crossed the Benapole border. He arrived here a week ago.

Yousefi would like to urge everyone to contribute according to his/her means, to the Sidr victims. “Not everyone has to buy a drawing or painting at the exhibition. You can also donate clothes and other items, whatever you would like to or can.”

Where would his journey end? Yousefi says with a smile, “The day I'm convinced that I've truly experienced childhood.”