A couple of photographs I came across in the book ‘Asia’ by Dorothy W. Furman (1960).
Roohafza and Flit!
Michel Serraillier – Rapho Guillumette
Roohafza is still Roohafza. But Flit. My father still calls an insect killer, of any brand as ‘Flit’. It must have been quite effective at getting rid of those lovely T’chars, Khars and Kan’hepins.
Deepak Razdan shares some pages from the photo-book ‘Enduring images frozen in time: a Photo-Portrait of Kashmiri Pandits by S N Pandita and Ramesh Manvati’ (2007). This book has more than 200 images of Kashmiri Pandits spread over a century. From what I read, the only problem with the book was the it gave very little or no information about the actual subjects in these photographs, doesn’t tell you who they were, where was the photograph taken, general stuff like that would have made this book more personal. Still, a great effort. As I have written quite a bit about vintage photographs from Kashmir, I am adding some additional notes to some of the photographs shared here. [Those interested in buying the book can do so here ]
The photograph is by Francis Frith. I have written in detail about it, more about the image here
The youngest in the group wearing a Ladakhi Gomcha. Others in collared Pherans. (change visible in dress code)
Deepak Razdan’s grandfather’s brother JN Kaul with Indira Gandhi
First Kashmiri Photographer. Pandit Vishi Nath Kampassi in his studio (1893 A.D.)
A few of his works survive in the book ‘Kashmir in Sunlight & Shade: a Description of the Beauties of the Country, the Life, Habits and Humour of its Inhabitants, and an Account of the Gradual but Steady Rebuilding of a Once Down-trodden People’ (1922) by Cecil Earle Tyndale-Biscoe. You can see it here, here and
From Volume 4 of ‘The people of India : a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan’ (1868)
A shawl seller at Qazigund bus stand, Kashmir. 2008.
Travelling Kashmiri Shawl sellers in Gurgaon. 2012.
Still a regular winter phenomena in North India.
In fact, I have come across them down as far as Nagpur too.
From ‘Our summer in the vale of Kashmir’ (1915) by Frederick Ward Denys. Below you can see the impact that these images from Kashmir had in shaping the western imagining of this land.
A page from a children’s book set in Kashmir and written around 1939.
‘Rhamon a boy of Kashmir by Heluiz Washburne, pictured by Roger Duvoisin‘ (1939).
The book tells the story of a little Kashmiri boat boy who is deputed by the King to visit the city on a special mission. There is houseboats, floating gardens, a mela, a trip to the big city alone, adventure, all the ingredients that would trigger the imagination of a young child. Most of the illustrations in the book are based on some old photograph of Kashmir, and in some cases (like the case of stealing of floating gardens) based on an old travelogue.
This is from a time when you could tell children wonderful stories about Kashmir – a far-off exotic land of simple, beautiful people, with a nice king – without you having to worry that they would one day grow-up and probably think that the world is actually a very messy place to be.
Yes, definitely it is a book meant for children
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Update: Below is an alternative view of the first image of “Living Human Welcome” published in National Geographic, Vol 40, 1921. We can see here that unlike the first image the word “welcome” is not mirrored, it actually spells right. Also, if one goes by the caption, the event was held to welcome the British viceroy (should be Minto and his wife) into Kashmir and not the Maharaja as claimed in the book ‘Our summer in the vale of Kashmir’ (1915) by Frederick Ward Denys.
Came across it in ‘Modern India’ by William Eleroy Curtis (1909). Photographer: Unknown. In the book the group is not identified as Kashmiri pandits but the fact is obvious from their dress.
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Update: Photographer was Jadu Kissen. Another (bigger) version of the same image. Came across it in ‘Le Tour du Monde; À travers la Perse Orientale Journal des voyages et des voyageurs; 2e Sem.’ (1905) which carried Kashmir travelogue by F. Michel.
Photo by Bourne & Shepherd. Samuel Bourne, a prolific British photographer who first visited Kashmir in 1864. The photograph is probably from around that time.
From ‘The world’s peoples; a popular account of their bodily & mental characters, beliefs, traditions, political and social institutions’ by A.H. Keane (1908).
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Update: I had shared the entire album ‘Kashmir: Traditional Songs And Dances. Vol II, 1974’ on Mediafire, but they seem to have recently removed it from their server ( possibly due to copyright thingy). Now my problem is: I had the album on my computer, but then I lost my all data last month thanks to a hard disk crash. I had it on my phone but I lost my phone too a couple of months back. But I really want it back. Last I checked at least 100 people had downloaded it. I would be thankful if someone would be kind enough share it back with me.
A bunch of rare vintage Kashmir photographs, most of them already posted at this blog. The music is an instrumental piece from David Lewiston‘s ‘Kashmir: Traditional Songs And Dances. Vol II’ recorded in Srinagar in 1976. I had been searching for this album for a longtime and finally found in the archives of Tonal Bride. Mohanlal Aima was one of the consultants for this incredible album which among others had performances by legendary artists like Muhammad Abdullah Tibetbaqal and Zoon Begum.
The only Mohanlal Aima track in this album is a wedding song. Download the album here [mediafire link]. His more famous work ‘Bumbro Bumbro’ can be found on Kashmir: Traditional Songs And Dances. Vol I recorded by David Lewiston in 1974. This album one is still not available.
