Meaning in the make
Ever wondered what Kashmir looked like before the militia, the government, the terrorists and the plague of fear took over?
Kalakriti Art Gallery, host to the art exhibition: Makers and Meanings, has displayed three tiny room full of photographs, clicked by R.C. Mehta. Mr. Mehta ran the first photo studio of Kashmir and he clicked animated portraits of the commoners and celebrities, alike--Pandit Nehru campaigning in the house boats to shy women and sunkissed soldiers, you will find the breath of Kashmir captured in these portraits. Also, the camera which was used was displayed too. So, go ahead, photo bugs!
And, for the poets in us, walk through the bazaars where they sold bread, the farms where women toiled and campaigns in House Boats. What was impressive was that the farmers were women. This was 1940s. Can you imagine? These photo rooms, as I call it, is a time travel. You can see the Dal Lake, the Jhelum, the Shalimar Bagh of the 40s and be awestruck.
As I passed by, going through the portraits of the people, the snow-smeared roads, I could only repeat what Jehangir, the Muslim ruler said: If there's heaven on earth. It is this. It is this. It is this.
Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hamin ast.
Kalakriti Art Gallery, host to the art exhibition: Makers and Meanings, has displayed three tiny room full of photographs, clicked by R.C. Mehta. Mr. Mehta ran the first photo studio of Kashmir and he clicked animated portraits of the commoners and celebrities, alike--Pandit Nehru campaigning in the house boats to shy women and sunkissed soldiers, you will find the breath of Kashmir captured in these portraits. Also, the camera which was used was displayed too. So, go ahead, photo bugs!
And, for the poets in us, walk through the bazaars where they sold bread, the farms where women toiled and campaigns in House Boats. What was impressive was that the farmers were women. This was 1940s. Can you imagine? These photo rooms, as I call it, is a time travel. You can see the Dal Lake, the Jhelum, the Shalimar Bagh of the 40s and be awestruck.
As I passed by, going through the portraits of the people, the snow-smeared roads, I could only repeat what Jehangir, the Muslim ruler said: If there's heaven on earth. It is this. It is this. It is this.
Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hamin ast.
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