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A reader’s view

Just before the lockdown a friend bought a copy and this is what she said.

I have read your book and am very impressed. First of all, I like the originality of the layout, the quality of the paper and the photographs; quite unusual these days. The historical background and research you have undertaken is incredible. It appears there is little that is straightforward in India, Kashmir or with the people.

Your account of the floods of 2014 and the effect on the people is very moving. It must have been a terrifying experience for you and Jean; not the normal holiday experience. Also, your reference to your family who lived and worked in Kashmir makes your journey and experiences very personal and moving.

Well done Mike on a fascinating and informative book. I was half in love with India after my trip but if I return to India, a visit to Kashmir certainly appeals. Your love and enthusiasm for the region is infectious!

Chapter XIII – 1947

This chapter from my new book talks about Kashmir’s first hydroelectric power station at Mohra. It was here that Pathans invaded Kashmir from Uri District but spent too long looting and pillaging in Baramulla. On the way to Srinagar they doused the city lights by closing the power station. Here is a BBC clip of the area generally as it is now: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-india-41. Incidentally the short clip of the power station shows the inside of the 1960’s building, which is where Mohammed Sultan Thakur worked. Even today he is always pleased to show people round and feature in film clips such as this.

If it hadn’t been for that event Hari Singh might not have had time to sign the Instrument of Accession and persuade Nehru to fly in troops to Srinagar and so repel the invaders. Kashmir could have been very different today.

New book: Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley

About the book:

“An exhilarating Himalayan journey: a mélange of personal experiences, geology, ancient histories, trade routes, the great flood, conflicting religions, politics, and militancy in one of the most volatile parts of the world, leading to the brink of war.”

It is relevant now due to the current lockdown in Kashmir and the dangerous standoff between India and Pakistan.

The eminent historian John Keay has written the Prologue and has sent me this encouraging comment: “Congratulations; this is a serious book, beautifully produced and full of bold insights. I shall treasure it, so professional.”

The book is now available online. It can only be obtained from this website (not Amazon, Waterstones etc.). Copies cost £25.00 plus £3.70 shipping via PayPal – UK only.

Local collection by hand (from Reading) can be arranged.

228 pages beautifully printed on fine art paper. The text is supplemented by many b/w photographs by the author.

If you wish to buy a copy from outside the UK please go to GET IN TOUCH on the Menu bar and leave your contact details. They are safe. PayPal produces an invoice for payment; it’s quick and simple.

For updates please go to the NEWS AND COMMENT blog – below the logo on the Menu bar

Odisha – a lexicon for tribal languages

Move seen as a push to preserve vanishing native languages in State with largest tribal diversity

In what is seen as a significant step to keep vanishing tribal languages in circulation, the Odisha government has come out with lexicons of 21 such languages. Full story

The bilingual tribal dictionaries will be used in multilingual education (MLE) initiated by the State government at the elementary level in tribal-dominated districts.

Rain in England

Rain – Nageen Lake, Kashmir 2014

How many of us have grumbled about the excessive amount of rain this year? A couple of beautiful days, England at its best, then thunderstorms. Just now heavy rain started again whilst I was scrolling through some photos of Kashmir Valley and I was reminded of the floods in September 2014, five days and nights of incessant rain. Nageen lake rose by 15ft and people were picking apples off the tops of trees. The area is prone to flooding and this was the worst since 1903. A million people were affected in one way or another and 44 people died.

Why am I complaining? I suppose I am not but will continue living on the top of a hill and talking about the weather. After all it’s an English custom.

Viceroy’s House and Loot

I have just seen this new film ‘Viceroy’s House’ about Partition today at the Regal Cinema in Henley. Annoyingly I fell asleep at the crucial moment when the line of Partition was decided; the seats are very comfortable! The film is OK and visually excellent but I have had to spend the entire evening exploring the Cabinet Mission (not mentioned), Jinnah (did he really want Pakistan to be outside India), and were Jinnah and Earl Mountbatten duped by a plan made two years before the hapless Ratcliffe had to draw the line? These questions are still hanging in the air.

In this evening’s study I came across an excellent two-year old article by William Dalrymple about the EEIC and ‘Loot‘. I commend it you and the hyperlink should take you there. Well worth reading, good history well applied. I can’t find the book though so maybe the prolific Mr Dalrymple is still struggling with it. Please let me know if you have found it.

Tribal matters – Odisha

According to ‘Asianage’ the Tribal Museum at Koraput, a scheduled tribal area, is to close. It was started by some enthusiastic researchers and intellectuals led by Mr Krushna Chandra Panigrahi in 1992 with the aim of preserving the art and artefacts of over 62 local tribal communities including Paraja, Didayi, Koya, Bonda, Lanjia Soura and Gadhva. Lack of funds and government patronage for maintenance of the museum has led to its current poor state. According to researcher Dr Gouranga Charan Rout “The age-old traditional and cultural practices are declining fast due to the onslaught of modern influences and they can be preserved only through an institution like this tribal museum.” This will be a sad loss.

At the other end of the scale Lanjigarh refinery, owned by Vedanta, is to get enough bauxite to keep it from closing. It seems as if the company has at last given up its vigorous attempts to get legal permission to rip off the top of the Niyamgiri Hills that have been home and sacred to the Dongria Kondh tribe for centuries. Instead the State Government has agreed to provide raw materials from the Kodingamali bauxite mines District leased to Odisha Mining Corporation. It so happens that the mines lie within Koraput District. Ironic.

World Refugee Day – 20 June 2016

How appropriate that Parliament should reassemble today at 2.30 pm in a non-partisan way to pay tribute to Jo Cox MP who was murdered on her way to her constituency surgery in Birstall last Thursday. The Independent wrote that she ‘campaigned tirelessly for refugees’ and these included the many Kashmiris in her constituency who she mentioned in her maiden speech last June. What a great loss to so many.

The world’s largest chandeliers

Durbar Hall - Scindia Palace - Gwalior

Durbar Hall – Scindia Palace – Gwalior

20 years ago, I discovered that my great-grandfather Henry Elworthy, a farmer’s boy from Devon, emigrated aged 16 to Calcutta in 1864 to work for F &C Osler a top line crystal manufacturer in Birmingham. There are many stories here but this is about the world’s largest chandeliers, installed in the Durbar Hall of Scindia Palace, Gwalior and built by Jayajiroa, Maharajah of Gwalior, in 1874. Of course I had to see them.

Each weighs around 3 tonnes and to test the strength of the roof, the Italian engineer Sir Michael Filose insisted on building a mile long ramp and coaxing 9 elephants on top to roam around for a week! There are 274 lamps in the larger chandelier and spare bulbs have to be made specially in Calcutta. The palace is vast, unusually in the Italianate style, the design researched by Filose by visiting European cities in advance as he had no architectural training. There are 400 rooms, 40 of which are devoted to the Museum.  The courtyard must be at least as large as two football pitches.

Nearly all the lighting, candelabra, and metalwork was supplied by Henry as Osler’s agent for Rajputana and finished in time for a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1875. Our hosts, staff of the Scindia Palace Museum, even turned on the lights for us. Have a look at some of the collection and note the banquet hall with its silver Basset-Lowke railway to take the brandy round after dinner: http://jaivilasmuseum.org/Collection.html.

Bizarrely I learnt that the great grandson of Filose had visited just three months before. Another world then and now, as ever India continues to surprise.

Durbar Hall with lights - Scindia Palace - Gwalior

With the lights on

Crystal balustrade

Crystal balustrade Colour pics: Jean Thomas

 

 

 

Reparation

If you haven’t seen it please look at Youtube: “Dr Shashi Tharoor MP – Britain Does Owe Reparations” and then read John Keay’s article about ‘Dreaming Spires..’. Something to think about! As ever I have my views but would be interested to read yours first.

Snow Leopard

DARJEELING - SNOW LEOPARD - modified

Snow Leopard, Darjeeling

There are just a few thousand snow leopard left and mainly distributed along the Himalaya, they are endangered. A few years ago I was taken round the Himalayan Mountain Institute in Darjeeling by a young experienced mountaineer, he has retired now because he has a son and his wife says he must be responsible. This has not diminished his enthusiasm and he gave a very stimulating tour of the museum. At the time the snow leopard conservation project was well under way but not open to the public although I was allowed access to see the Red Panda and this wonderful leopard. The site is open to visitors except for the breeding section. Here is a link that gives current information about Project Snow Leopard.

Nepal

Nepali family - PatanI heard last night that much of the Durbar square in Patan had been smashed in the appalling earthquake that hit Nepal recently. Anyone who has been to this extraordinary land-locked country will have been impressed by its beauty, the generosity of the people and the dire poverty.

Let us hope that the many international tourists and world heritage organisations will dig deep to restore as much as possible of this amazing place. Here is just one photograph of a typical family who are bound to have been affected.

Loot

Loot is an Indian word and William Dalrymple has just published an excellent article in the Guardian about a part of the brutal looting reign of the [English] East India Company. He cleverly links this with modern India and worlwide multinationals. A new book is promised next year.

Carving against the grain

Num panel and detailHouseboats are serious business in Srinagar, Kashmir and in two senses. In good times they are full and profitable but in the 20-year conflict they were largely left to decay. Then there is the puzzling law. No new houseboats are allowed at all and repairs are bounded by heavyweight bureaucracy, even a permit from Central Government. Meanwhile many of these iconic boats are starting to decay.

Recently there have been newspaper articles about the decline in woodcarving which is a major feature of these boats – “Kashmir’s famed woodcarving a dying art” says one paper. I have witnessed the resurrection of one of these boats and so here are some illustrations for the record.

The num or verandah on Mascot 1 Continue reading