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-admin2024-01-03T10:14:38+05:30
Constructing Gateway Of India Bombay, 1922 Photo
Constructing Gateway Of India Bombay, 1922 Photo
Gallery

Constructing Gateway Of India Bombay, 1922 Photo

Constructing Gateway Of India Bombay, 1922 Photo

Bombay Photos, Old India Photos

Constructing The Gateway Of India Bombay, 1922 Glass Slide Photo. An old 1922 glass slide photo, constructing the Gateway of [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2023-06-05T05:18:24+05:30
England To India Telephone Service Inauguration, 1933
England To India Telephone Service Inauguration, 1933
Gallery

England To India Telephone Service Inauguration, 1933

England To India Telephone Service Inauguration, 1933

Old India Prints, Other India Prints

England To India Telephone Service Inauguration, 1933 An old 1933 cigarette card showing the inauguration of England to India telephone [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-03-01T04:38:42+05:30
Central Hall of Indian Parliament House Delhi, 1925 Print
Central Hall of Indian Parliament House Delhi, 1925 Print
Gallery

Central Hall of Indian Parliament House Delhi, 1925 Print

Central Hall of Indian Parliament House Delhi, 1925 Print

Old India Prints, Other India Prints

Central Hall of Indian Parliament House Delhi, 1925 Print A 1925 print showing the central hall of the old Indian [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-01-17T19:29:17+05:30
Origin Of The British East India Company, 1903 Print 
Origin Of The British East India Company, 1903 Print 
Gallery

Origin Of The British East India Company, 1903 Print 

Origin Of The British East India Company, 1903 Print 

Old India Prints, Other India Prints

Origin Of The British East India Company, 1903 Print An old 1903 print shows an agent of the British India [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2026-07-03T00:35:31+05:30
Qutub Minar Showing The Basement, 1880 Photo
Qutub Minar Showing The Basement, 1880 Photo
Gallery

Qutub Minar Showing The Basement, 1880 Photo

Qutub Minar Showing The Basement, 1880 Photo

Delhi Photos, Old India Photos

Qutub Minar Showing The Basement, 1880 Photo An old 1880 photo of the Qutub Minar showing the basement. The Qutib [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-04-23T17:38:27+05:30
Pensive Lady British India Watercolour Sketch, 1837
Pensive Lady British India Watercolour Sketch, 1837
Gallery

Pensive Lady British India Watercolour Sketch, 1837

Pensive Lady British India Watercolour Sketch, 1837

Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection

Pensive Lady British India Watercolour Sketch, 1837 An 1837 watercolour sketch of a pensive European Lady in British India. This [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2023-10-27T03:46:42+05:30
Old Map of Madras Harbour In British Era 1884
Old Map of Madras Harbour In British Era 1884
Gallery

Old Map of Madras Harbour In British Era 1884

Old Map of Madras Harbour In British Era 1884

Maps & Plans, More

Old Map of Madras Harbour In British Era 1884 An old and rare map of Madras Harbour in the British [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-02-13T16:02:15+05:30
Views of BMC & Victoria Terminus Bombay – 6 Postcards
Views of BMC & Victoria Terminus Bombay – 6 Postcards
Gallery

Views of BMC & Victoria Terminus Bombay – 6 Postcards

Views of BMC & Victoria Terminus Bombay – 6 Postcards

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Views of BMC & Victoria Terminus Bombay - 6 Postcards Six old postcards with views of BMC & Victoria Terminus [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2023-06-16T16:07:19+05:30
Frere The Man Who Transformed Bombay, 1870 Photo
Frere The Man Who Transformed Bombay, 1870 Photo
Gallery

Frere The Man Who Transformed Bombay, 1870 Photo

Frere The Man Who Transformed Bombay, 1870 Photo

Bombay Photos, Old India Photos

Frere The Man Who Transformed Bombay, 1870 Photo Old 1870 cdv photo of Frere the man who transformed Bombay, now [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-01-06T08:55:12+05:30
cochin port
Panoramic View of Cochin Port, 1948 Postcard
Gallery

Panoramic View of Cochin Port, 1948 Postcard

Panoramic View of Cochin Port, 1948 Postcard

Cochin & Kerala Postcards, Old India Postcards

Panoramic View of Cochin Port, 1948 Postcard An old 1948 photo postcard with a panoramic view of Cochin Harbour and [...]

Learn More
Previous12···3637383940···127128Next

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