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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)