Collection of rare photos of Mussoorie soon to be in book form

rajugusain

Collection of rare photos of Mussoorie soon to be in book form

Raju Gusain
Mussoorie, September 7

Meet Gopal Bhardwaj, a 54 year-old-photographer who with his rare
collection of photographs takes one on a pictorial tour of Mussoorie during
the British Raj.

Historic landmarks such as the Mall Road, Kulri, Landour Bazaar,
Camel's Back, etc. - all captured in old photographs mounted on white
cardboard, provide an enchanting experience. A church flying the Union Jack,
Gun Hill, and Jawaharlal Nehru riding a pony on the Mall Road, the
history of Mussoorie there for all to see in these black and white
photographs.

His collection includes snaps of the first car arriving in Mussoorie
(1920), similarly, the first bus (1930), and Charleville (1854), Mussoorie's first hotel. The oldest photograph - George Everest at Oakden -
dates back to 1852.

Bhardwaj claims to have over 150 such photographs and says, "I have
inherited most of the photographs from my father and my father-in-law. The
rest I have collected from various sources. It is an expensive hobby
but with my wife's support and encouragement I have been able to continue
with it."

He conducts exhibitions of his collection here at regular intervals.
The photographs along with the text narrating their historical importance
indicates the hard work put in by Bhardwaj. For, instance, with the
portrait of distinguished writer Rudyard Kipling he has quoted these lines
from 'Kim', "Who goes to the hills goes to the mother.... They had
crossed the Shivalik and half tropical Doon, left Mussoorie behind them,
and headed north along the narrow hill roads…"

His rich collection and the encouragement he receives during exhibitions, has inspired Gopal to write a book.

"My book, 'A Pictorial History of Mussoorie', is in its final stages
and should be out by the year end. It will include some 120 rare
photographs and will prove an authentic reference book for all interested in
knowing the history of the Queen of the Hills."

Hindustan Times
September 8, 2004
New Delhi edition (Late City)

__________________
141577

SHIMLA

Very interesting ! I look forward to the release of the book !

__________________
Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

pkalra

me too, when is the book out.
Saw about this book on TV today

SHIMLA

rajugusain's report says the book should be out by the end of this year.

tstan

Then I will be able to pick up a copy in mid-December! Shimla I will keep an eye out for out for that History of Shimla - not so far available in the many antiquarian bookshops (where there is a fair bit of Raj stuff available) here in Sydney.

Adelaide and Melbourne have a lot of interesting collections of Indian material. Western Australia, which has a large Anglo-Indian population is sure to have a fair amount of literature discarded by uncaring relatives but I am sounding like a vulture!

SHIMLA

Thanks, tstan! It'll be great if you can get hold of the Shimla book !!

Noz

Hi there,

I was lucky enough to meet Mr Gopal while in Mussourie and I spent most of my days there being ferried around him on his motorbike to show me the area. What a wonderful gentleman! Unfortunately I cannot find his contact details and would really love to get in contact with him. He even called my house to see if I was ok in the wake of the London bombings but I wasn't in at the time and he didn't leave his phone number. Any help in getting his address or phone number would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Noz

__________________
Americans have different ways of saying things. They say 'elevator', we say 'lift'... they say 'President', we say 'stupid psychopathic git. (nicked from the great Alexei Sayle)

rajugusain

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. The phone number of Gopal Bhardwaj is:
91-0135-2631780

Regards,
Raju Gusain
Dehra Dun
India