Freed

Gurfateh !

Last weekend I went to Elveden - the country estate once owned by Maharajah Duleep Singh - It is a tradition in our house that all visiting relatives get a tour of London and Cambridge (including Elveden) - it is probably the reason why I have such an interest in Punjabi History, Museums, paintings and the like (Thanks Dad !).

I have always wanted to see the interior of Elveden Hall - the closest I have ever got is looking through the windows and the gardens (as you know Punjabis never take any notice of 'Private Property' 'No Entry' and 'enter at own risk' signs !)

Here are a collection of Photographs that show Elveden Hall as it was when Duleep Singh bought it , his renovations and the later additions.

The photographs also show the famous paintings that hung in Elveden Hall - a constant reminder of more grander times and past glories.

The Maharajah bought Elveden Hall ( located in Suffolk near Thetford) in 1864 - for £105,000 - the money raised by a loan from the India Office at 4 percent interest.

It was a sprawling sporting estate of some 17 thousand acres -it rivalled nearby Sandringham (The Queens estate) as one of the best places to hunt and shoot - Duleep Singh was rated fourth best shot in Britain.

The original building was quite plain - Duleep Singh practically rebuilt it in Italian Renaissance style - but the inside was based on the Mughal Style of the Lahore Fort.

The Drawing room was styled after the Shish Mahal - the Hall and main rooms decorated with Indo Persian / Mughal arches and pilasters.

The famous Dussehra painting of Ranjit Singh's Darbar hung in the Hall and a copy of Winterhalter's portrait of Duleep Singh in the Dining Room.

Elveden was sold by Duleep Singh's trustees after his death in 1894 for £159,000 to the Lord of Iveagh - the Guinness Family (yes - as in the 'Black Stuff') they still own the estate.

**Black and White photographs from The Collection of the Thetford Library.

Elveden Hall in 1863

The renovations made by Duleep Singh

Duleep Singh Standing in the portico of Elveden Hall

Elveden Hall 1877, Lord Frederick Fitz-roy, Lord Leicester, Duke of Athol, Lord Dacre, Prince of Wales, Lord Rendlesham, Lord Holmesdale, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Maharajah, Lord Ripon, Lord Westbury, Sir R. Beauchamp, Capt. Goldingham

The Interiors

The Main Hall - showing the famous August Schoefft 'Dussehra' painting of Ranjit Singh's Darbar on the right and a portrait of Duleep Singh by Capt. Goldingham on the left.

Both paintings are now in the Princess Bamba Collection in the Sikh Gallery of Lahore fort

the Schoeftt and Goldingham paintings

The Dining Room - with a copy of the F X Winterhalter's portrait of Duleep Singh above the fireplace

the Winterhalter painting

The sitting room of Redneck Farm on the Elveden Estate - you can see the August Schoefft portrait of Maharaja Sher Singh - seated on the Golden Throne - hanging on the right as well as a portrait of Ranjit Singh.

the Schoefft painting - now also in the Princess Bamba Collection.

The hall

The drawing room

The dining room

Elveden Hall as it is today - the Dome and extension were added by Lord Iveagh

The Gravestones of Maharaja Duleep Singh, his wife and son at St Andrews church on the Elveden Estate

as they are today

Hope you enjoyed the post

Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh !

Some pictures and a short clip of Snatam Kaur at Sri Guru Singh Sabha , Southall - 9 Sept 2007

I didn't manage to get a picture when her eyes were open !

Click Link to View ;

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...74&hl=en-GB

Enjoy!

Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Sikhs in Britain -'Sada Gravesend'

Gurfateh !

I have finally got hold of a copy of Peter Bance's 'Sikhs in Britain' - after an epic struggle due mainly to the vagaries of the Royal Mail !

It is a great book - chock full of wonderful photographs

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sikhs-Britain-150-...8455&sr=8-1

One of my favourites is this one

An adorable picture of young boys making 'roti' in 1950s Liverpool - on a coal range.

The picture reminded me of my Dad's Tai and Taiya - they came to England in around 1950. They were old school 'salt of the earth' pure hearted people.

They couldn't read or write (Punjabi or English) and spoke only a few words of English. They were the most kind and generous people ever - they worked hard and sent money back to the family- nothing was ever too much trouble for them - every one was welcome in their home and even though they didn't have much they shared what they had willingly.

Anyway getting back to the picture - My Dad's Tai always used the Coal fire to make 'rotian' - I remember going to their house and her cooking Saag (in a frying pan ) - with at least 2 pats of Anchor butter used in the cooking - then another 1 to drizzle on top and another 1 used to butter the roti - those Punjabis must of kept the New Zealand economy afloat with the amount of Anchor Butter they ate !

She always cooked the 'Makki diyan Rotian' on the coal fire in the lounge ! - you were special if you got to eat straight out of the frying pan !!

My Dad's Tai felt totally at home in England - they lived in Gravesend - which she always called 'Sada Gravesend' (our Gravesend)

My dad lived in Gravesend - Cutmore Street - for a while when he first came to UK in 1960 and worked in the Paper Mill.

Gravesend was always a 'Sunny' place to me, we would always go in the Summer - for the famous kabbadi 'Tournament' - Tai's house would be full of people and we would go to the seaside - one time at the seaside - on one of those famous Punjabi impromptu mass outings - 30 people crammed into 3 cars ! - I remember going with my dad to the Ice crean Van and him asking for 30 ice creams - and the icecream man looked at us like we were from outer space - you mean you want 30 ice creams? - then he saw the very colourful crowd of Punjabi Mums Dads and screaming Kids behind us !

At the risk of sounding like an old timer - if you tell kids today about those times - they don't believe you

People had outside toilets usually at the end of the garden , a lot of people had no bathrooms - I remember going to see relatives in Leicester and going to 'Public baths' for a bath where the lady measured out the bath water ! - they had gas lamps in their house -a bit like Bunsen burners - which my uncle would turn on full to make what he called a 'Flame thrower' !

No one had central heating - only coal fires or Gas if you were posh ! - I remember being really scared of the soot covered 'Coal Man' who used to make deliveries and would hide from him.

I know I sound like a grandad but I remember when we got our first Fridge and when we swapped our Black and white TV for a Colour one.

My dad is full of stories of how he shared a house in Southall - and they had shifts for the beds and floors - first back from the night shift got a bed - when he went to work the day shift came back to a warm bed .

Anyway if you want more nostalgia buy the book - for more about 'Sada Gravesend' - watch the film I've posted below - If you're from Kent you'll recognise loads of faces.

It tells the story of Pier Road in Gravesend

the official blurb :

Synopsis

The story of how a typical street (Pier Road, Gravesend, Kent) in an ordinary English town gradually changed from being completely white to predominantly Indian. Told though individual stories, these personal experiences of immigration mirror some of the changes that have taken place in British society during the last half-century. As the new arrivals moved in and established themselves, local residents in turn welcomed, feared and accepted them. At the same time, different generations of Indians strived to assimilate, integrate and ultimately establish their own identity.

It's a great film - about 50 mins long - it's called 'Sikh Street' and was shown on Channel 4 in 2002

Click to watch

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...28&hl=en-GB

"I remember when it was all fields 'round here'" - 'It wasn't like that when I were a Lad''

Thank you and goodnight !

Freed

Dear Chatanga

Here are some photographs of the Partition of India as requested

Refugee Camp

Migration Information - Amritsar

Delhi 1947

A dramatised version of partition from the TV series 'Tamas' - showing the horrors in a mixed village in West Punjab - the Sikh women jump in a well to protect their honour as their menfolk die fighting attackers

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...19&hl=en-GB

Hope that was of some use

Freed

I received a request to post the uncropped pictures, the details come from.

Here they are ;

August Schoefft's famous 'Dussehra' painting of Ranjit Singh's Darbar

A mural from the 'Temple of Bairagis' - Ram Tatwali Dist. Hoshiaarpur

M. Ranjit Singh's 'Sowaaree' - cast in silver by 'Garrards of London'

A gilded panel from the entrances of the Baba Atal Tower

A 'Marwar' (Rajasthani) painting of Guru Gobind Singh's journey to Deccan dated around 1770-80

A folio from Sri Dasm Granth - Jaap Sahib from c1870

The darbar of Ranjit Singh c1830

M. Sher Singh seated in the Shish Mahal Lahore Fort - painted by August Schoeftt 1841

M.Ranjit Singh Listens to Gurbani with the Darbar Sahib in the Background - painted by A. Schoefft 1841

Watercolours of William Carpenter 1854

Sardar of the Kanhaiya Misal - S. Jai Singh - pahari painting by Nainsukh c 1775

'Indian Scenes and Characters' by A Soltykoff 1859 - depicting the Raj of Maharaja Sher Singh

Enjoy !

Freed

Gurfateh Chatanga Sahib !

Here are 2 Jhatka pics especially for you

Fateh Parvaan Jassa Singh Ji !

The Sahibzaday Murals are from the tower of Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib Amritsar - you are so lucky that you are in India - you can drive there (OK it might be a long drive !) but I can only dream and look at pictures until my next visit to Punjab - which probably won't be til next year.

If you do go to Amritsar - you can buy The Buddha Dal gutka and other books published by Buddha Dal at 'Chattar Singh Jivan Singh' book shop - you posted that you were having some trouble finding a gutka.

Gurfateh !

Ranjit Singh

A few I forgot

Gurfateh!

I always get requests and messages to post more pictures of Nihangs - I thought people would get bored of them but it seems people can't get enough of them.

Here is a collection of pictures - I got a little carried away, so this is a HUGE post - I have posted thumbnails because there are so many pictures, so apologies for the 'stupid' advertisements that appear alongside the picture when you click on the thumbnails.

Enjoy the pictures ! (like I said before I got a little carried away - I never know when to stop !)

Lohgarh Collection

ਸੋ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਰੂਪ ਹੈ

ਨੀਲ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਹਿਰਾਇ

ਜਪੇ ਜਾਪੁ ਗੁਰਬਰ ਅਕਾਲ

ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਪਹਿਰਾਇ |੧|

(ਭਾਈ ਦਯਾ ਸਿੰਘ)

My obssession with Nihangs started at an early age - it was sparked by a childhood visit to the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London where I saw the Akali Dastars and it grew on a trip to Punjab in 1979 - Nihangs camped near our village Bus Stand and as I stood waiting for the bus to Phillaur I would watch them in amazement as they combed their Kes and tied and adorned their Dastars.

Here is my first ever picture of a Nihang - taken by me in 1979

These next pictures are from paintings, sketches and lithographs;

*from The Illustrated London News 1846

Details from A. Soltykoff's 'Indian Scenes and Characters' 1859

An Akali by Skinner c.1825

Akali Gian Singh - 9th Jathedar

Boodh Singh Akali - who died fighting in the battle of Ferozeshah

Victorian view of the Akalis

Woodcuts and paintings

Akali Phoola Singh

Akalis depicted with Guru Sahib

Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji shown with Large Dastar and Large Farla

Detail from Gurdwara Baba Atal Sahib

paintings;

Baba Atal Murals

Baba Ajit Singh Ji

Nena Singh Shahid Kharag Singh shahid

Karthorh Singh Sham Singh

Baba Jujhaar Singh Ji

Tapa Singh Shahid

Kharakh Singh

Bijla Singh

Balwant Singh

Baba Deep Singh Ji

Hukum Singh

Chhote Sahibzadey

Uday Singh Shahid

Baba Deep Singh Ji

Nihangs at the time of the Anglo Sikh wars

Sketch and painting by Emily Eden

Akali Natha Singh

Akali Phoola Singh

Details from the paintings of A Schoefft

Details from The 'Sowaree' in silver of Ranjit Singh

A detail from a painting of Sher Singh's Durbar

Simple paintings and Tangore Paintings

A Battle scene

The sons of Jassa Singh Ramgarhia

A French engraving of Darbar Sahib 1831

Details of Akalis

Details from the paintings of Carpenter

Keher Singh paintings

From Wall murals

Mortimer Menpes paintings

Old photgraphs

1960s

Hola

Baba Anoop Singh Gravesend

Hem Kunt Sahib

The Frozen sarover

Amrit

Baba Santa Singh Ji

Some favourite images

That was a lot of pictures ! hope you didn't get 'Nihang' fatigue ! and that you enjoyed them !

Gurfateh !

Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Ha ha

You're a closet fan aint ya tSingh - how else would you know all the words !

Steady with all the compliments Singho you'll be giving me a big head - here I was thinking I was quasimodo's brother !

I'll get you back - don't you worry Sunny Jim - just you wait.

Take this as a lesson about the perils of not logging off and allowing pesky cousins free range in your house and computer

I can assure the members of SA that I am not a 'Poseur' - Just got caught up in the moment at the Majorelle Garden, Marrakech - I love that blue.

I can assure you a substantial 'Jutti' will be making contact with my cousin's head in the very near future.

GOTCHA Freedy Boy !!

for years now our 'Jita Bhaaji' ...... AKA Freed..... has been posting pictures of other people ....now he gets a taste of his own medicine!

not in his usual environment....a place known as /head in a book/ .....but on holiday in Marrakech .... You bloody poser !

HA HA HA - got you bang to rights SON !

Talking about good 'programming' and samples - I read this today (The story is about the recent elections in Southall) in the Sunday Times -

I guess Shinda will be copying Timbaland - copying Shinda copying Timbaland !

it's written by 'Tautall rude bwoy' (TM patent pending) renta-brown-voice -teach you to binge drink/swear like a Punjabi - 'Nirpal Dhaliwal'

( only joking Dhaliwal - my Grandmother's family are Dhaliwals !)

""Sandwiched between the leafy bourgeois west London environ of Ealing and Heathrow, Southall is recognised throughout the world as “Little Indiaâ€, a place more akin to Mumbai than a British suburb. Two months back the American hip-hop mogul Timbaland was spotted spending thousands of pounds in its music shops, buying records for his sampling archive. When the kids in Brooklyn next shake their booty to a bhangra-inspired Missy Elliott track they’ll have Southall to thank for it.""

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/poli...icle2115361.ece

tSingh ! ਅਸ਼ਕੇ !

The one with the 'freudian' video ( Ooer missis!) is from 'Collaborations' by Gurdas Maan, Shinda and Ibrar Ul Haq - Most people don't rate Ibrar (probably because he's Pakistani) - but when he sings he blows both Maan (not at his best) and Shinda off the Stage - glad you like his voice - I thought I was in a minority - I love to hear his 'Theth' Punjabi vocals (but to be honest he does sing some right old dross as well !)

The Video ;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilMgTPrDz1k

The Kabootar one - I can only guess is 'Lucky Kabootar' by Sukhwinder Singh ? from the film 'Daag' - It's the only one I can think of that goes a bit

'kabdak kabdak kabdak kabdak kabdak' - The 'lak tera' bit - it has the classic cheesy line B for Bhangra D for Dance

The video ;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ksT-12WIPE

In case you're wondering - Yes I have been to too many weddings this year ! - I'm the one who bothers the DJ - checking out whats in his box - But if I'm the DJ - God help the person who dares to question what I'm playing ! - Youre gonna dance to it whether you like it or not !

Anyway - All that time in Punjab has made you a lover of all things Pendu and 'Theth Punjabi' - then tSingh ! - Brings a tear to my eye !

Love it

Gurfateh !

Here is a documentary about Maharaja Ranjit Singh's golden throne shown on UK television.

Everyone I know who has seen it has given it mixed reviews - too much emphasis on the excesses of the Raj - no mention of Darbar Sahib and the 'talking heads' stating the 'bleeding obvious' !! - but I think it wasn't too bad - would of liked to have seen more of the inner structure etc. - anyway make up your own mind - here it is :

The film was shown on BBC Four on 12 July 2007 - It is part of the 'Masterpieces of the East' series

'The Golden Throne'

Click link to watch;

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...93&hl=en-GB

Does anyone know which organisation has the wooden copy ?

Some 'Bonus' pictures !

The wooden copy commissioned by Dalhousie

Enjoy ! - oh and as you all probably know you can see the throne at the V & A London - it's free! so if youre ever in South Kensington - do pop in - I can never go past without going in ( My work takes me to South Ken quite a lot - I've spent many hours in there admiring all the amazing treasures in there from all around the world )

'Freed'

Gurfateh Chatanga ji !

You can find the video for that song here :

http://www.plasmarecords.com/audioandvideo.html

It's video number 16 on the 2nd page

While you're there take a look at 'Ghar Hun Kitni Ku Doore' - video No. 14 - this is a classic Dhadi Vaar by Amar Singh 'Shonkie' - that Waris has 'ruined' (my opinion - I'm a big fan of 'Shonkie') - It's also got the usual preachy 'Guilt trip' video about 'kesh katal' - quite ironic in a sad way

Anyway as you can tell I'm not Manmohan's greatest fan - he's ruined lots of the Late Amar Singh Shonkie's religious and Punjabi ( 'peengh hulare lendi' ) songs (great voice & dhad sarangi) - with his 'plinkity plonky' music - can't understand the big fuss about him and his brothers to be honest.

If you want to hear Shonkie's punjabi songs click this link ;

http://www.apnaorg.com/music/shonki/

You'll recognise most of the songs as he's been ripped off by lots of todays Punjabi singers

my small contribution -

Tanjore paintings c1840

Farladharees

Nihang 'R and R'

Amrit

Haunting Eyes

Limca - Even Better than the 'Real Thing'

Enjoy !

Freed

Gurfateh !

Javanmard Sahib has a point about the Indo Persian architecture - take a look at these pictures.

They are of Jehangir's Hiran Minar in Sheikhpura, Pakistani Punjab. Jehangir built this hunting pavillion in around CE 1616 - the minar is the tower, not the central pavillion, built to the memory of a favourite deer , 'Mansaraj'. The Hiran Minar takes the form of an arched causeway leading to a three-storey octagonal pavilion in the centre of a artificial lake, where Jahangir sat and watched the wild animals drawn to the water.

It bears a striking resemblance to Siri Darbar Sahib - though that is not at all surprising as it has been argued that buildings such as this and the Taj Mahal are attempts to portray 'Heaven' on earth - a Persian concept of 'Gardens of Paradise' - such gardens or 'Char Bagh' are divided into 4 sections, each section symbolizing the 4 'abundant' elements of paradise Milk,Honey, Wine and water.

As Sri Harimandar Sahib is the Royal Darbar of Guru Sahib the use of such architecture is not that surprising and very apt.

The Darbar Sahib does take from Indo Persian architecture but it is also argued it enshrines 'Sikh' concepts such as 'Man Neevan Mat Uchi' - being built lower than the surrounding area and the causeway - it is said it takes 84 steps to reach the 'Darbar' - 'Cutting one's Chaurasi'.

Here are the pictures - What I find interesting is that the hiran minar may give a clue as to what the Original Darbar Sahib may have looked like before the 18th century destruction and rebuilding and the Ranjit Singh Gold plating - you can see it is a Lime and brick structure with stucco work and there are traces of frescos.

The Minar or tower

Traces of frescoes - I see our Pakistani Punjabi brothers have as much respect for priceless fragile monuments as many of their Indian counterparts !!!!!!

enjoy

'Freed'

Gurfateh !

ਬੁੰਗੇ, ਬਾਟੇ ਅਤੇ ਬੰਦਸ਼

The alliterative title worked then - it made you view the picture !

Here is a wonderful photograph taken at Amritsar in 1961 by Marilyn Silverstone

It features what seem to be the 3 major preoccupations of Sikh messageboards and forums the 3 Bs of the title - Bungay Baatey and Bandash - in other words Nihangs (Bungay), Sarbloh, be it Shastar or sarbloh 'bibek'/rehat (Baatey) and Raag & Tanti saaj (Bandash)

Enjoy the picture its beautiful !

'Freed'

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh !

Dedicated to all the Shaheed Singh Singhneean of the Panth

Yogi Bhajan described the army attack on the Harimandir Sahib as the 'Martyrdom of the Akal Takht' in a lecture he described the Akal Takht as voluntarily offering itself for sacrifice.

(Gurdwara lecture July 1 1984)

As a mark of respect to all those who gave their lives in June 1984 here is a collection of images of the 'Sri Takht Sahib Akal Bunga Ji' - The Siri Akal Takht Sahib.

P S Arshi 's description and map of Siri Akal Takht Sahib

Early 1900s

W. Carpenter's watercolour 'The Akal Takht' - 1854

In 1967 - during the Punjabi Suba Morcha

In the late 1960s early 1970s

The intricate marble floors infront of the Akal Takht

The interior in the 1970s

Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Display of Shasters

Frescoes in the Akal Takht - now lost

Guru Sahiban

Bhai Bidhi Chand - a fresco depicting Bhai Bidhi Chand presenting Guru Hargobind Sahib with 'Dilbagh' and 'Gulbagh' - horses a Sikh had wanted to present to Guru Sahib , but they were seized by the Governor of Lahore - Bhai Bidhi Chand recovered the horses from Lahore - the first horse was recovered by Bidhi Chand while he was disguised as a hay seller, he recovered the second horse disguised as an astrologer.

A panorama of The Darbar Sahib in the early 1970s

Akal Takht in the early 1980s

After the Army Attack

The interior of the Akal Takht after the army attack and the 1984 'Sarkari' repairs

The dome of the Akal Takht in 1986 during the 'rebuilding'

The original Minars of the Ramgarhia Bunga

A poem by Guru Das Singh - written about the 1984 attack on Amritsar and being prevented from visiting Amritsar

Sri Akal Takhat Sahib - today

Pictures taken from ;

* The History of the Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere - SS Shanti Kaur Khalsa - SDP - 1995

*Sikh Architecture - P S Arshi - I P H - 1986

*The Golden Temple - Patwant Singh - ETP - 1988

*Marg - Vol XXX No.3 June 1977

*Khalsa Panth - Khushwant Singh - Tricolour - 1984

*Indian Temples and Palaces - Michael Edwardes - Hamlyn - 1969

*Sikhism - W Owen Cole Piara Singh Sambhi -Ward Lock - 1973

*Guru Nanak's Birthday - Margaret Davidson - Pergamon - 1982

*Des Pardes Weekly - No 787 - 13 July 1984

Bhul Chuk Maaf

Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Is this any better ?

Can anyone read Arabic / Shahmukhi script ?

If you can, could you translate this - it's from a 'Gagar' my mum received as part of her 'Daaj'.

It's probably a name in Urdu - everyone in the family has a different idea of whose name it is - so I'd be grateful if anyone could decipher it.

Many Thanks in advance

'cellar door'

In his 1955 essay 'English and Welsh' J. R. R. Tolkien claims the English compound 'cellar door' is 'intrinsically beautiful' as it has 'an especially beautiful sound'.

"Most English-speaking people...will admit that cellar door is 'beautiful', especially if dissociated from its sense (and from its spelling). More beautiful than, say, sky, and far more beautiful than beautiful"

Taking this as a starting point do you find any 'simple' , 'everyday' words beautiful ? I have a great love of words - all words be they English Punjabi or whatever - especially words most people would think 'mundane' or describe mundane everyday things.

Unlike Tolkien I can't pick just one, or just one language , so here is a short list of words I think are 'beautiful'.

Please feel free to add you own - or your comments - I guess most of you will think I'm a nutter , but I do have other interests other than posting pictures on SA !!

Persian - 'Itfaaq'

Punjabi - 'Sampooran'

Sanskrit - 'Snanam'

Everyday 'beautiful' Punjabi words

'Gusal khana'

and perhaps my favourite - 'Roshan daan'

Freed

Gurfateh !

Yes it is a shield - it's the back cover of B N Goswamy's 'Piety and Splendour'.

The shield is said to have belonged to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and is in the collection of the Ram Bagh Museum in Amritsar (well worth a visit - great collection and it sells some great posters !)

The Shield is steel with relief work in brass overlaid with gold - Diameter of 49 cms.

It includes an image of Ranjit Singh and 3 other figures which could be his son Kharakh Singh and Hira Singh.

The outer ring has 8 cartouches surrounded by fine arabesques and floral patterns - the cartouches include 2 wrestlers, a rider 'tentpegging' , a warrior fighting 2 lions, a lion and dragon in combat, 2 camels fighting, and an image of Durga on tiger-back attacking the demon Mahishasura.

The eighth cartouche has 2 club wielding combatants - one looks a little like Hanuman - you can make out a tail - so it could be Hanuman fighting Lankini or Meghnaad - But I'm not sure.

What do you think ?

Here are the pictures -

Ranjit Singh

The other 3 figures

The wrestlers

The camels

2 lions

Dragon and lion

Tent pegging

Durga and Mahishasura

Hanuman ?

Freed

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh !

In the 'Bachitra Natak' ( seventh 'adhiaaie' chapter) Guru Gobind Singh Ji writes of his return to 'Madra Des' - the ancient name for the Punjab - and of being loved, cherished and cared for in the Land of his Ancestors.

ਮਦ੍ਰ ਦੇਸ ਹਮ ਕੋ ਲੇ ਆਏ ॥ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਦਾਈਅਨਿ ਦੁਲਰਾਏ ॥੨॥

"Madra des ham ko le ae. Bhant bhant daian dulrae"

In this post I have collected some of my favourite images of Punjab - old and new - it is rather image intensive but I hope you will take the time to look at them all , and enjoy them.

This post is dedicated to the Three ' Punjabs' - the one in Pakistan, the one in India and the one scattered all over the globe.

Lahore - Ranjit Singh's Samadh and the Badshahi Masjid - c.1860

A persian wheel - 'Halt' - Punjab - 1903

A domed bullock cart - 'Gadda' 1903

The GT Road in 1903

A Lahore street scene

Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Samadh - Lahore 1903

The 'Bhangian di Tope' - the Zamzama Gun - [Cannon made in Kabul, brought over by Ahmed Shah Abdali and used in the Battle of Panipat. Cast from bronze and copper. Captured by the Bhangi Misl Sardars .Under Ranjit Singh it became the symbol of the Sikh Empire. Made famous by Rudyard Kipling in "Kim"] - Lahore 1903

Women fetching water from a well - 1903

A Sikh village - 1903 - note the 'Kachhe Kote' - mud houses

Driving Oxen ('balld')

A 'Sadhu' outside the Harimandir Sahib - 1903

The Harimandir Sahib in 1903

The view from the Baba Atal tower

The Darbar Sahib and the Ramgarhia Minars with domes

The Darshani Deori and walkway

Ragees at the Darbar Sahib with tantee saaj - The photograher Gertrude Bell makes this very 'imperial' comment about the picture -

Near Golden Temple. "There were two men outside playing on a sort of lute and singing praises of the Granth, but they can't have been very serious worshippers, for when I stopped to photograph them, I heard them interpolate into the song 'and the Mem Sahib came and took a picture' - all in the same squeaky tune. Perhaps he was telling the Granth about me!"

!!!!!!!!!!! Hmmmm

Bathers - the Akal Takht can be seen in the distance

Stereoviews of Amritsar

In front of the Akal Takht

Amritsar schoolchildren

Amritsar street scene

Anaglyphs of the stereo images

Amritsar booksellers

Amritsar Shopkeepers

1926 - 'Lode Vele di roti' afternoon meal

1940s - Grinding wheat for flour and Churning Milk

Sikh Zamindaars - Sardar Bahadur Jai Singh of Bidowali (Malva) - note the ties and jackests worn with 'salwars' and a Lungi/tamba

Sardarni Bachint Kaur of Bodlan (Doaba)

A Village Mela

Bhangra

Lambardaars (numberdar) of Gurm village (Ludhiana) 1920s

Lambardaars of Raikot village (Ludhiana) 1920s

'Suhaaga' with 'balld' used to remove large clumps of soil

1920s wrestling match between Sikh and Muslim soldiers

The "Great" Gama (1882-1960), also known as Rustam-e-zaman Gama Pahelvan, Pehlwan & undefeated wrestler

A 1920s Mud Village

Pre Green revolution Punjab - 1960s

a persian wheel - a 'Halt'

Rasoi - kitchen

Sparse living conditions - with calendars as decor

Roof Tops - no TV antennas, satellite dishes, or water 'tankys' in the shape of airplanes or weightlifters !

Cattle market

Traffic

Village kitchen

Village 'Been Baja' - bagpipers

Bhangra

'Kusrey' - the 'entertainment' / gatecrashers at a 1970s wedding

A village wedding - note the 'Kanaatan' - coloured marquee / tent - now rarely seen

The 'Hal' - ploughing the land

Sugar Cane harvest - 'Belna' and 'Gurh'

Sewa in the 1960s

Bhagat Puran Singh and Piara Singh - the 'Garland' around his neck

'Shabeel' - giving water to the thirsty. This photograph is like the iconic picture of Bhai Kanhaiya - with the sewadar giving water from a 'Musk' skin carrier.

Teaching Gurbani - an Ustad and students

Kneading the dough for 'Parshadey'

making 'parshaday'

Fanning the Sangat

1973 Kar Sewa of the Sarovar Amritsar

'Jorian di Sewa'

Students of the Central Sikh Orphanage Amritsar

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Modern Pictures

Cha di Hatti - tea seller Amritsar

'Raffle Donali' - Baran Bore

"Gujjars"

Hitching a free ride from a 'Trolley'

Tractors in the shadow of Gurdwara Parivar Vichora

'Kanak di Rakhi' - looking after the ripe crop - note the Lantern - is it a 'Goodmans Lalltan' ?

Kids in the 'Kamaadi' - sugarcane

'Tori vala Saag' -

Cooling down

Gadda races

A Nihang Singh and his Singhni - Aw Bless !

As my family comes from from Doaba here are a couple of pictures for all those who say there is no 'culture' in the Doab - just agri'culture'. !

The beautiful ruins of the medieval sarai at Nur Mahal (near Jalandhar)

Nakodar (Jalandhar) - 'City of Fakirs' - 17th century tombs

the tomb of Mohammed Momin - tanpura player of Khan-i-Khanan , one of Akbar's 'Navratnas'

The tomb of Haji Jamal

And finally ......

A crumbling 'Haveli' in Bassi Pathana (near Sirhind) a reminder of past glories

Hope that wasn't too long !!

Enjoy !

Ranjit Singh 'Freed'