Skip to content
Past-India Logo Past-India Logo Past-India Logo
About Past-India
  • 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
    • Vintage Motoring
    • Maps & Plans
    • Books & Publications
Homedevmaster2026-07-18T17:43:18+05:30
devmaster2024-02-14T15:57:02+05:30
The Cooum Once Charming River Of Madras - 2 Postcards 1900
The Cooum Once Charming River Of Madras – 2 Postcards 1900
Gallery

The Cooum Once Charming River Of Madras – 2 Postcards 1900

The Cooum Once Charming River Of Madras – 2 Postcards 1900

Madras Postcards, Old India Postcards

The Cooum Once Charming River Of Madras - 2 Postcards 1900 Two old postcards from 1900 and 1920 of the ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-03-23T03:44:24+05:30
British Families In 19th Century Colonial India, 1880 Photo
Glimpse of British Families In 19th Century India, 1880 Photo
Gallery

Glimpse of British Families In 19th Century India, 1880 Photo

Glimpse of British Families In 19th Century India, 1880 Photo

Old India Photos, Other India Photos

Glimpse of British Families In 19th Century India, 1880 Photo   An 1880 photo giving a glimpse of British families ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2026-07-03T00:36:45+05:30
Inauguration Of Indian Airlines By Nehru, 1953 Photo
Inauguration Of Indian Airlines By Jawaharlal Nehru, 1953 Photo
Gallery

Inauguration Of Indian Airlines By Jawaharlal Nehru, 1953 Photo

Inauguration Of Indian Airlines By Jawaharlal Nehru, 1953 Photo

Delhi Photos, Old India Photos

Inauguration Of Indian Airlines By Jawaharlal Nehru, 1953 Photo A 1953 photo showing the inauguration of Indian Airlines by Jawaharlal ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-04-03T05:54:46+05:30
Rajaji Road From The Madras Pier, Old Photo 1942
Rajaji Road From The Madras Pier, Old Photo 1942
Gallery

Rajaji Road From The Madras Pier, Old Photo 1942

Rajaji Road From The Madras Pier, Old Photo 1942

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

Rajaji Road From The Madras Pier, Old Photo 1942 An old 1942 photo with a view of Rajaji Road from ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2026-07-03T00:37:03+05:30
British Flag Flying Over Viceroy's House Delhi,1931 Photo
British Flag Flying Over Viceroy’s House Delhi,1931 Photo
Gallery

British Flag Flying Over Viceroy’s House Delhi,1931 Photo

British Flag Flying Over Viceroy’s House Delhi,1931 Photo

Delhi Photos, Old India Photos

British Flag Flying Over Viceroy's House Delhi, 1931 Photo A rare sight of the British Flag flying over the Viceroy's ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-06-14T19:02:42+05:30
Newly Completed Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay, 1903 Photo
The New Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Bombay, 1903 Photo
Gallery

The New Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Bombay, 1903 Photo

The New Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Bombay, 1903 Photo

Bombay Photos, Old India Photos

The New Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Bombay, 1903 Photo A rare 1903 photo of the newly completed Taj Mahal Palace ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-03-30T18:50:24+05:30
Madras Beach Station & General Post Office, 1928 PC
Madras Beach Station & General Post Office, 1928 PC
Gallery

Madras Beach Station & General Post Office, 1928 PC

Madras Beach Station & General Post Office, 1928 PC

India Railway, More

Madras Beach Station & General Post Office, 1928 PC Old 1928 photo postcard of the Beach Railway Station & General ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-03-31T05:14:41+05:30
View Over British Era Bombay City, Old Photo 1885
View Over British Era Bombay City, Old Photo 1885
Gallery

View Over British Era Bombay City, Old Photo 1885

View Over British Era Bombay City, Old Photo 1885

Bombay Photos, Old India Photos

View Over British Era Bombay City, Old Photo 1885 An old 1885 photo showing a view of British Era Bombay ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-03-02T18:59:36+05:30
Queen Victoria's Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print
Queen Victoria’s Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print
Gallery

Queen Victoria’s Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print

Queen Victoria’s Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print

Old India Prints, Other India Prints

Queen Victoria's Delhi Durbar, 1877 Print Old 1877 print of the Delhi Durbar of 1877 to honor Queen Victoria. This ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-02-14T16:02:14+05:30
British Era South Parade Road / M G Road Bangalore, 1905 PC
British Era South Parade Road / M G Road Bangalore, 1905 PC
Gallery

British Era South Parade Road / M G Road Bangalore, 1905 PC

British Era South Parade Road / M G Road Bangalore, 1905 PC

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

British Era South Parade Road / M G Road Bangalore, 1905 PC. A 1905 oilette postcard of South Parade now ....read more

Learn More
Previous12···3839404142···124125Next

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

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