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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
A century-old collection of photographs of India has been discovered in the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland archive.
The rare and fragile glass plate negatives, which date back to around 1912, show life on the subcontinent at the high point of the British Raj.
The 178 negatives were found in a shoebox for a pair of grey, size 9, slip-on shoes, and were stored in their original five-by-eight-inch plate boxes, wrapped in copies of The Statesman newspaper dating from 1914. The identity of the photographer is not known yet.
Highlights from the imagery include celebrations for the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Calcutta in 1912 -- the only visit by a British monarch to India as Emperor of the subcontinent -- with the city's buildings lit up at night in tribute.
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Ascetics or sadhus seated, possibly near Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Riverbank with bathers and ship, probably from Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Two men stick dancing with onlooking crowd, Maidan, Kolkata
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Buildings on south east side of the Lal Dighi (BBD Bagh, formerly Dalhousie Square), Kolkata lit at night for the 1912 British royal visit
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Royal Insurance Building from across the Lal Dighi tank, Kolkata, lit for the British royal visit
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
A Muharram procession with taziya, Kolkata
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Buildings on south east side of the Lal Dighi (BBD Bagh, formerly Dalhousie Square), Kolkata lit at night for the 1912 British royal visit.
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Riverside scene with bathers, looking north from Chatulal's Ghat towards Ram Chandra Goenka's Zenana (ladies) ghat, Kolkata.
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Washermen on waterside at a dhobi ghat. Unknown location.
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
A painted elephant, probably on the Maidan, Kolkata
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Group of children with donkeys. Unknown location, possibly in Darjeeling or north Bengal
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Jain Temple complex, Kolkata
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Fishing boats. Unknown location, possibly the Salt Lakes to east of Kolkata or the Sundarbans to the south.
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
A woman with her children on the Maidan, Kolkata. The family are likely to be pilgrims to a festival from outside Bengal.
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RARE PHOTOS: A 100-year-old glimpse of British India
Street market at Babu Ghat, Kolkata. Also known as Rani Rashmoni Ghat. The ghat was founded by Rani Rashmoni in memory of her husband. The Dakshineshwar Kali Temple was also founded by Rani Rashmoni, who was a widow, successful businesswoman, philanthropist and leader of clashes against the British relating to taxation of the poor. Ahirtola Ghat and Nimtola Ghat were also built by Rani Rashmoni to allow access to river to the common people for bathing.
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