Apr 9, 2012 ~ iz10

Hawa Mahal Jaipur in 1895

1:42 AM | 0 Comments

Photograph of the east façade of the Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace) at Jaipur in Rajasthan, taken by Raja Deen Dayal & Sons in the 1890s, from the Curzon Collection: 'Views of places proposed to be visited by Their Excellencies Lord & Lady Curzon during Autumn Tour 1902'. It was designed by Lalchand Usta and built by Sawai Pratap Singh (r.1778-1803) in 1799 as an addition to the existing City Palace. Like all the buildings in the old walled quarter of the city it is painted a rusty pink. The building consists of two courtyards with residential ranges, fronted by a five-storey façade with a curved roof-line shown in this view. The façade is composed of a multitude of window bays arranged in tiers, each crowned by an arch or dome. The lattice-work designs of the windows created a purdah screen behind which ladies of the court in the zenana or women’s quarters could observe the outside world in privacy and enjoy the breeze.

From: British Library

Photography of Raja Deen Dayal

1:41 AM | 0 Comments

Photograph of Baz Bahadur’s Palace at Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, taken by Raja Deen Dayal & Sons in the 1880s, from the Curzon Collection: 'Views of places proposed to be visited by Their Excellencies Lord & Lady Curzon during Autumn Tour 1902'. Lord Curzon served as Viceroy of India between 1899 and 1905. This is a view of the ruined palace and shows the façade rising out of the undergrowth with trees in the foreground. Mandu became a hillfort as early as the 6th century but it was not until the 10th century that it gained prominance under the Paramara dynasty. Most of the surviving architecture was built between 1401 and 1531 when the city was the thriving capital of the Sultans of Malwa. They renamed the fort ‘Shadiabad’ (City of Joy) and built palaces, mosques and tombs beside gardens and lakes within its walls. After the fall of the Malwa Sultanate, Daulat Khan ruled Mandu as Sultan Baz Bahadur from 1555 until 1561 when he was deposed by the Mughal Emperor Akbar (r.1556-1605). The Palace of Baz Bahadur stands on a hill above the sacred tank Rewa Kund, contained in the royal enclosure in southern Mandu. It was built in c.1509, before Baz Bahadur came to power, but was occupied by him.

Photograph of Dig Fort in Rajasthan, taken by Raja Deen Dayal & Sons in the 1890s, from the Curzon Collection: 'Views of places proposed to be visited by Their Excellencies Lord & Lady Curzon during Autumn Tour 1902'. Lord Curzon served as Viceroy of India between 1899 and 1905. Dig was the first capital of the Sinsini Jats established by Badan Singh (r.1722-33). Later the captial was moved to Bharatpur. The fort was built by his son Suraj Mal (r.1533-63) in 1730. This view shows the Lakha Burj at the north-west corner, the largest of twelve massive bastions reinforcing the fort walls, and the moat which encircles the fort.

Photograph of the city and lake at Udaipur in Rajasthan, taken by Raja Deen Dayal & Sons in the 1880s, from the Curzon Collection: 'Views of places proposed to be visited by Their Excellencies Lord & Lady Curzon during Autumn Tour 1902'. Lord Curzon served as Viceroy of India between 1899 and 1905. Udaipur was chosen by Maharana Udai Singh (r.1567-72) of the Sisodia Rajputs as the new capital of the Mewar State in the mid-16th century. This followed the sacking and possession of the previous capital, the hilltop fortress of Chittorgarh, by the Mughal Emperor Akbar (r.1556-1605) in 1567. Udaipur lies in a valley beside three artificial lakes, the largest of which is Lake Pichola. This is a general view looking across Lake Pichola towards the city with the hills in the distance. The white domes and towers of the massive City Palace (c.1567-c.1734) rise above the rooftops. Beyond the bridge are the island palaces of the Jagmandir and Jagniwas, in the main part of the lake.

From British Library Collection

Dakshineswar Kali Temple in 1850s

1:38 AM | 0 Comments

Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Calcutta (Kolkata) . The large temple complex was built between 1847 and 1855. In this photograph you can see the construction work is going on. The photographer was Frederick Fiebig. This image is collected from charlesisaacs.com

Calcutta [Kolkata] in 1850s

1:37 AM | 0 Comments

I have found Three very old photographs of Calcutta in artnet.com website. The photographer was Frederick Fiebig. He shot these photographs in 1850s.

Views of the North Park Cemetery, Calcutta

A bridge is visible in the background. and some people can be seen in the foreground. in right hand side a canal is visible.

A rotunda in a garden, Calcutta. Can you identify the place ?

Various Photographs of Subhas Chandra Bose - 1940

1:35 AM | 1 Comments

Subhas Chandra Bose in 1940

Subhas Chandra Bose (L) greeting admirers in 1940

Subhas Chandra Bose (C) being greeted w. garland of flowers after his arrival in Victoria Station

Pro-Japanese, anti-British Indian Nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose (C) enjoying a meal at Bardoli Ashram on his way to the 51st Indian National Congress during WWII in 1940.

Subhas Chandra Bose, the new President of the 51st Indian National Congress, wearing traditional formal clothing in 1940

Source: Life Archive Hosted by Google

The Cathedral and Bishop's Palace (Calcutta 1865)

1:32 AM | 0 Comments

This photograph of St. Paul's Cathedral and the Bishops' Palace from 'Views of Calcutta and Barrackpore' was taken by Samuel Bourne in the 1860s. Located on the south-east corner of the Maidan, St. Paul's Cathedral was designed by Major W. N. Forbes in an Indo-Gothic architectural style and built in 1839. Rev. Daniel Wilson, the Bishop of Calcutta was the major financial contributor towards the building of St. Paul's Cathedral. Bishops' Palace, located east of St. Paul's Cathedral, was purchased by Bishop Wilson in 1849.

From: www.bl.uk

Dalhousie Square Calcutta (now BBD Bug) 1865

1:32 AM | 0 Comments

Photograph from the Vibart Collection, of the Dalhousie Square at Calcutta taken by an unknown photographer about 1865. Dalhousie Square, originally named Tank Square because of the presence there of the spring-fed tank which provided a large part of the water supply for the city, was later renamed Dalhousie Square after the Governor-General Lord Dalhousie. The square became the main administrative area for the city, containing Writer's Buildings, the East India Company's offices for new employees and the General Post Office, built in the 1860's. The Square has since been renamed BBD Bagh (Benoy Badal Dinesh Bagh) after three Indian freedom fighters. This view was taken from the west side of the square looking towards Writers' Buildings and St Andrew's Church on the north side. The tank is in the foreground.

From : www.bl.uk

Calcutta. The Eden Gardens 1885

1:30 AM | 0 Comments

Photograph of Eden Gardens in Calcutta, from an album of 62 views of India and Ceylon. The print is unsigned but probably by Johnston & Hoffmann. Eden Gardens was named after Emily and Fanny Eden, the sisters of Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India from 1836-1842. This view looks across the lake towards the Burmese Pagoda erected in 1856 and brought to Calcutta from Prome, in Burma, by Lord Dalhousie, the then Governor- General. Eden Gardens is now the home of Calcutta Cricket Ground.

From: www.bl.uk

Calcutta (kolkata) - Panoramic view from the Ochterlony Monument 1865

1:28 AM | 0 Comments

Photograph by Samuel Bourne in 1865 from Ochterlony Monument (now Shahid Minar). Images from www.geh.org. Photographs are low resolution I need a high resolution for more detail. Old photographs of calcutta are extremely rare.

Rabindranath Tagore

1:27 AM | 0 Comments

From Life Magazine Archive
Date Taken : 1925

I love the compositions. These pictures are new to me. I can not Identify any of followers of Tagore. Probably the poet is reciting to them.

Source: http://life.time.com/

Gopal Krishna Gokhale - Indian nationalist leader

1:25 AM | 0 Comments

From www.postcardman.net

Gopal Krishna Gokhale, (May 9, 1866 - February 19, 1915) was one of the founding social and political leaders during the Indian Independence Movement against the British Empire in India. Gokhale was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and founder of the Servants of India Society. Through the Society as well as the Congress and other legislative bodies he served in, Gokhale promoted not only or even primarily independence from the British Empire but also social reform. To achieve his goals, Gokhale followed two overarching principles: avoidance of violence and reform within existing government institutions.

Gokhale was famously a mentor to Mahatma Gandhi in his formative years. In 1912, Gokhale visited South Africa at Gandhi's invitation. As a young barrister, Gandhi returned from his struggles against the Empire in South Africa and received personal guidance from Gokhale, including a knowledge and understanding of India and the issues confronting common Indians. By 1920, Gandhi emerged as the leader of the Indian Independence Movement. In his autobiography, Gandhi calls Gokhale his mentor and guide. Gandhi also recognised Gokhale as an admirable leader and master politician, describing him as 'pure as crystal, gentle as a lamb, brave as a lion and chivalrous to a fault and the most perfect man in the political field'.Despite his deep respect for Gokhale, however, Gandhi would reject Gokhale's faith in western institutions as a means of achieving political reform and ultimately chose not to become a member of Gokhale's Servants of India Society. Gokhale was also the role model and mentor of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the future founder of Pakistan, who in 1912, aspired to become the "Muslim Gokhale".Even the Aga Khan ( the Spiritual Head of the Islamic sect of Ismaili Khojas & grandfather of the present Aga Khan) has stated in his autobiography that Gokhale's influence on his thinking was probably considerable. (Wikipedia)

Gandhi old unseen two photos

1:24 AM | 0 Comments

Source: http://www.postcardman.net