a pamphlet, 1947

Cross posted at my other blog
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“The pamphlet cover displayed above is from a title published in 1948 by the Kashmir Bureau of Information in Delhi. The design is arresting, and clearly leftist in inspiration. The designer (the name is in the bottom left hand corner) was Sobha Singh, at the time a young progressive artist. In later years, he became better known for his religious paintings of the Sikh Gurus.

The woman in the foreground depicted lying on the ground and aiming a rifle is Zuni Gujjari, a woman from a milkman’s family who became renowned as a militant supporter of the National Conference, the main Kashmiri nationalist party. The black and white photograph is of members of the Women’s Self Defence Corps, a women’s militia set uplargely by Communist supporters of the National Conference in October-November 1947, when Srinagar was in danger of being overrun by an army of Pakistani tribesmen.”

Found it at the site of Andrew Whitehead author of A Mission in Kashmir.

Besides Zuni Gujjari, the other women featured in this incredible image include Krishna Misri (nee Zardoo),  her younger sister, Indu, Begum Zainab, Jai Kishori Bhan. Usha Kashyap – known now as Usha Khannawife of Indian freedom fighter Rajbans Khanna (associate of Director Bimal Roy) , niece of Balraj Sahni (one of the pioneers of left leaning IPTA or Indian People’s Theatre Association and the hero of 1972 bilingual film Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor based on life of Kashmiri poet Mahjoor) and the founder of Samovar restaurant at the Jehangir art gallery in Mumbai.

Do check out Andrew Whitehead’s blog for more on these incredible women and stuff like this:

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Tip off- Autar Mota ji. Thanks!

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Update:  Got the name of one more woman (not in Andrew Whitehead’s article) in that pamphlet thanks to Vijay Kashkari Ji. He writes:
“My mother Shanta Kashkari is also in photograph. She was an active member of the peace brigade formed for voluntary works, when Kashmir was raided by the raiders.My mother is  2nd behind Jai Kishori Ji [woman under first ‘E’ of DEFENDS]. She is wearing white saree, head and arm is covered by the saree.”

Shanta Kashkari would be the woman under left edge of ‘D’ of DEFENDS.

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Old House on Jhelum, Aabi Guzar

From the looks of that towel left for drying on the window sill, somebody actually lives in that house.
Update: The place is known as Aabi Guzar. Apparently at this place people used to pay taxes for using the water ways. 2010.

Update:
Notice the design.

Drawn by  H.R. Pirie for P. Pirie’s ‘Kashmir; the land of streams and solitudes’ (1908).

DumOlu

All kind of potato dishes, from plain boiled small potatoes sprinkled with dhaniya to big potatoes cut in eight pieces and served with Dahi or Mexican sauces and some other irrelevancy, are sold in Indian restaurants, Dhabbas, eat-outs, as Kashmiri Dam Aloo. I have cousins who make it a point to try and enlighten their friends and the waiters about the ‘Authentic Dam Aloo’.

‘What the hell is this? You call this Kashmiri Dam Aloo. You know I am a Kashmiri. You call this Dam Aloo. What a joke! What’s this green thing in it! I tell you my friends – it is a fake. You guys should stick to Innovating on Chinese. Puff…Cashmeri Daamalooo. It’s an atrocity perpetrated on simple and gullible.  You will probably go into shock if you see and taste the real thing. It’s a fiery beast. And not your beast of burden served in a plate. I protest.’

‘Bai’ja Bhai! Tu Kashmiri Pulao Kha lay!’

‘So you want to know what I think about this Pulao. This piece of…’

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Tasted some fine Dumolu after what seems to be ages. There was a havan-gathering at the local community temple back in Jammu. Some of the Olus made their way to me.

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Kashmiri Students at Government College Lahore, 1927-28

Scanned and contributed by Man Mohan Munshi Ji.

Government College Lahore Calender. Year 1927-28

Late Shri Jai Lal Raina

Late  Prof. Sarvananad Thussu

Late Shri Maheshwar Nath Zutshi

 Late Shri Naranjan Nath Wanchoo 

Late Shri  Jiya Lal Dhar

Late Shri Upender Nath Koul

Late Shri Indar Nath Madan

Late Shri Bishewar Nath Munshi and Prof. D.N.Kak

Civil List of Kashmir Government, 1947

Scanned and sent over by Man Mohan Munshi Ji. 
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Cover page of Civil List of Kashmir Government Published in 1947 
Maharaja and heir apparent
Names, Salaries and date of appointment of the then Prime Minister and a few cabinet ministers 

Emblem of Dogra Rulers.  The ruler clan claimed decent from famed Suryavanshis..

Three Kashmiri Friends, 1925

Contributed by Man Mohan Munshi Ji. 

Sitting left to right: Late  Dina Nath Kak retired as Principal Govt. College, Kapurthala.  Late Bisheshwar Nath Munshi retired as Secretary, Public Service Commission, J&K Govt.
Standing:  Late Sham Lal Dhar, retired Home Secretary , J&K Govt.
This picture was taken on 10.6.1925 on Dina Nath’s Birthday
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A Walnut Box, Shaving Box

Text and Images contributed by Man Mohan Munshi Ji. 



About 100 years old carved walnut box with a  a Kashmiri family at San Diego, USA.
Note the carving on outer as well as inner sides.





 Believed to have been  used as a shaving box by owner’s grandfather.


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