1. THE STORY OF KASHMIRI
1. Old ladies separating rice from husk using a traditional Kanz and Muhul. 
2. A double-storey houseboat on the Jhelum river in the early 20th century.
2.
3. The Children's Militia at Srinagar's Lal Chowk
3.
Another photograph by Ram Chand Mehta taken in Srinagar in 1947-48. These are youngsters drilling with wooden rifles in Lal Chowk in the centre of the city. In the excited political atmosphere of late October and November 1947, when the maharajah had fled and Sheikh Abdullah came to power and straight away faced an invasion of Pathan tribesmen, thousands of people of Srinagar took up arms in some fashion or another. Several members of the men's militia were killed in service - including Pushkar Zardoo, the brother of Krishna Misri.
The photograph was taken outside the Palladium Cinema, which the National Conference took over as their headquarters. The building still stands, just, but is a ruin - bearing witness to the agony Kashmir has endured over the last twenty years in particular.
The photograph was taken outside the Palladium Cinema, which the National Conference took over as their headquarters. The building still stands, just, but is a ruin - bearing witness to the agony Kashmir has endured over the last twenty years in particular.
The Women's Militia at Srinagar airfield
Another wonderfully evocative photo taken by Ram Chand Mehta - Begum Zainab and the women's militia, and beyond them the men, at the airstrip at Srinagar. I imagine they were there to meet Nehru. I haven't yet managed to identify any of the women ... help welcome! India Picture hold the rights to this image.
Krishna Misri has managed to identify some of the women - here's an extract from the email she sent me (April 2015). "Yes, this is a picture taken at the airport to welcome Nehru. I can place just a few faces. Starting from the right, Sajjida Zameer Ahmad and Kamla Shankar, my elder sister. The third and fourth I cannot recognise. The fifth is Begum Jallaludin, Mahmuda Ahmad Ali's elder sister. She taught in a government girl's school in later life and rose to the position of Director, Women's School Education dept.. Leading the contingent is, of course, Zainab Begum." Krishna also subsequently identified the last woman in the row as Freda Bedi. Neerja Mattoo (December 2015) has identified the third from right as her sister, Usha Kak.
Krishna Misri has managed to identify some of the women - here's an extract from the email she sent me (April 2015). "Yes, this is a picture taken at the airport to welcome Nehru. I can place just a few faces. Starting from the right, Sajjida Zameer Ahmad and Kamla Shankar, my elder sister. The third and fourth I cannot recognise. The fifth is Begum Jallaludin, Mahmuda Ahmad Ali's elder sister. She taught in a government girl's school in later life and rose to the position of Director, Women's School Education dept.. Leading the contingent is, of course, Zainab Begum." Krishna also subsequently identified the last woman in the row as Freda Bedi. Neerja Mattoo (December 2015) has identified the third from right as her sister, Usha Kak.
Follow me : Instagram ........ @photosoldkashmiri
Follow me : facebook page.www.facebook.com/oldkashmiriphotos.co/
No comments:
Post a Comment