Skip to content
Past-India Logo Past-India Logo Past-India Logo
  • Home
  • Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection
  • Old India Photos
    • Bombay Photos
    • Delhi Photos
    • Madras Photos
    • Calcutta Photos
    • Bangalore Photos
    • Other India photos
    • Miscellaneous Photos
  • Old India Postcards
    • Bombay Postcards
    • Delhi Postcards
    • Madras Postcards
    • Calcutta Postcards
    • Banglore Postcards
    • Cochin / Kerala Postcards
    • Other India Postcards
    • Miscellaneous Postcards
  • Old India Prints
    • Bombay Prints
    • Other India Prints
    • Miscellaneous Prints
  • More
    • India Railway
    • Colonial Era Motor Cars
    • Maps & Plans
    • Books & Publications
Homenb-develop-admin2026-07-18T17:43:18+05:30
nb-develop-admin2024-02-09T07:42:45+05:30
View of The Iron Pier From Parry's Corner Madras, 1895 Photo
View of The Iron Pier From Parry’s Corner Madras, 1895 Photo
Gallery

View of The Iron Pier From Parry’s Corner Madras, 1895 Photo

View of The Iron Pier From Parry’s Corner Madras, 1895 Photo

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

View of The Iron Pier From Parry's Corner Madras, 1895 Photo An 1895 photo of the iron pier harbour viewed [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2021-03-27T23:08:37+05:30
1929 Photo Madras Buick Cars
Buick Cars In Madras – Old Photo 1929
Gallery

Buick Cars In Madras – Old Photo 1929

Buick Cars In Madras – Old Photo 1929

Colonial Era Motor Cars, More

Buick Cars In Madras - Old Photo 1929 This is a vintage photo of Buick Cars grouped in Madras, now [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-02-09T08:26:29+05:30
Mount Road & Electric Tram British Era Madras, 1938 Photo
Mount Road & Electric Tram British Era Madras, 1938 Photo
Gallery

Mount Road & Electric Tram British Era Madras, 1938 Photo

Mount Road & Electric Tram British Era Madras, 1938 Photo

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

Mount Road & Electric Tram British Era Madras, 1938 Photo A 1938 photo of the Mount Road and electric tram [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-02-09T08:46:30+05:30
Iron Pier Harbour British Era Madras, 1870 Photo
Iron Pier Harbour British Era Madras, 1870 Photo
Gallery

Iron Pier Harbour British Era Madras, 1870 Photo

Iron Pier Harbour British Era Madras, 1870 Photo

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

Iron Pier Harbour British Era Madras, 1870 Photo An 1870 photo of the iron pier harbour in then-British era Madras [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-02-11T11:12:53+05:30
Cooum River In 19th Century Madaras, 1880 Photo
Cooum River In 19th Century Madaras, 1880 Photo
Gallery

Cooum River In 19th Century Madaras, 1880 Photo

Cooum River In 19th Century Madaras, 1880 Photo

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

Cooum River In 19th Century Madaras, 1880 Photo An 1880 photo of the Cooum River in 19th-century Madras (Chennai). Once [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2021-05-15T01:02:52+05:30
Antique Photo Madras Mowbray's Road 1902
Madras Mowbray’s Road – Old Photo 1902
Gallery

Madras Mowbray’s Road – Old Photo 1902

Madras Mowbray’s Road – Old Photo 1902

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

Madras Mowbray's Road - Old Photo 1902 This is an old 1902 photo of the Mowbray's Road at Adyar in [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-02-11T11:29:17+05:30
The Massive Chepauk Palace Madras, 1880 Photo
The Massive Chepauk Palace Madras, 1880 Photo
Gallery

The Massive Chepauk Palace Madras, 1880 Photo

The Massive Chepauk Palace Madras, 1880 Photo

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

The Massive Chepauk Palace Madras, 1880 Photo An 1880 photo of the massive Chepauk Palace, in Madras (Chennai). Located in [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2026-07-03T00:52:03+05:30
Viceroy's Party After The Inauguration of New Delhi, 1931 Photo
Viceroy’s Party After The Inauguration of New Delhi, 1931 Photo
Gallery

Viceroy’s Party After The Inauguration of New Delhi, 1931 Photo

Viceroy’s Party After The Inauguration of New Delhi, 1931 Photo

Delhi Photos, Old India Photos

Viceroy's Party After The Inauguration of New Delhi, 1931 Photo A 1931 photo of the viceroy's party is progess after [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2026-07-03T00:52:13+05:30
rashtrapati bhavan & parliament delhi
Rashtrapati Bhavan & Parliament New Delhi, 1933 Photo
Gallery

Rashtrapati Bhavan & Parliament New Delhi, 1933 Photo

Rashtrapati Bhavan & Parliament New Delhi, 1933 Photo

Delhi Photos, Old India Photos

Rashtrapati Bhavan & Parliament New Delhi, 1933 Photo  This is a 1933 photograph of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament buildings [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2026-07-03T00:52:22+05:30
Inauguration Of Parliament Building Delhi - Old Photo 1927
Inauguration Of Parliament Building Delhi – Old Photo 1927
Gallery

Inauguration Of Parliament Building Delhi – Old Photo 1927

Inauguration Of Parliament Building Delhi – Old Photo 1927

Delhi Photos, Old India Photos

Inauguration Of Parliament Building Delhi - Old Photo 1927 This is an old 1927 news photograph of the New Parliament [...]

Learn More
Previous12···125126127128Next

blank

Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph 1894

past-india.com

This site illustrates a past India through a collection of antique and vintage mediums of Raja Ravi Varma oleographs, old India photos, old postcards, old paper prints, and so on.

Although the collection may or may not be too varied, but generally projects a glimpse to what India looked like in the past. And how it has evolved since then. Few would realize that once there were Trams in Bombay, Madras, Delhi…

That, Madras operated the first electric Tram in India from 1895 up to its closure in 1953. With Calcutta and Bombay starting off with Horse-Drawn Trams, later electrifying them by the early 1900s.

That, in World War II, they camouflaged the Taj Mahal with bamboo scaffoldings. So as to project it as a construction site that perhaps would fool any air attacks from the Germans and Japanese might, although this never happened. All in all, the jewel in this collection is the rare Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” oleograph or chromolithograph of 1894. This was the first oleograph to come out from the then newly opened Raja Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithograph Press(or FAL press) in 1894.

The many legacies of the British Raj are not missed out in this collection. Many of the buildings and streets have gone through several makeovers to the extent of being unrecognizable today or have completely disappeared from the scene. But the memories are kept alive hopefully to some extent by this collection.

As they say- “seeing is believing.” Hope you enjoy this collection. Please write to us at- info@past-india.com

Popular & Rare

php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php

Past India

You can see the main categories on the top of the page, and except for the “Raja Ravi Varma Oleograph & Other Art” category all the other main categories have drop-down to sub-categories. You can then select the subject of your interest or you can check through the search box and if available it will display the results. The photos, prints & picture postcards depict a varied subjects of a Past India we may have forgotten- from people on the streets to people at grand events like Delhi durbar, from Taj Mahal to Gateway of India, from residential areas to commercial areas, from home exterior to interior of homes and so on. This site also includes a photo of "Charlie Chaplin" with his autograph signed on the back. There are also old maps, books, Raja Ravi Varma’s oelographs etc. “A picture is worth a thousand words” is an old adage, I’m sure this blog should interest you likewise. All the items displayed are from my personal collection unless otherwise specified.

Contact us:

info@past-india.com
DMCA.com Protection Status
© Copyright | Past-India by Nubes Technologies | All Rights Reserved
Facebook
Page load link
Go to Top