Princely India: Photographs by Raja Deen Dayal, 1884-1910

AN AMAZING LOOK AT LIFE CIRCA 1900 IN INDIA. SADLY 50000? GLASS PLATES WERE SOLD AS SCRAP AS THE FAMILY FORTUNE TANKED. THE PHOTO OF THE TEMPLE AT MOUNT ABU IS AMAZING. FROM THE DUST JACKET: These 128 photographs constitute a rare pictorial document that spans twenty-five years. They are the work of Raja Lala Deen Dayal, the outstanding Indian photographer of the 19th century, selected by the Nizam to be the photgrapher to his court. Through these images we are able to explore the Nizam's courtly life. Here is the Nizam amid his entourage, the Nizam entertaining kings and heads of state at tea, at polo, at hunts, at balls of unsurpassed opulence (the roster of visiting aristocrats included the future Czar of Russia, the archdukes of Austria and Russia, assorted German princelings, and the Duke of Connaught). Here is the daily life of a princely menage, and here is the Prince himself. And here, in haunting images of Indian landscape and Indian people, seen through the eye of the artist-photographer who was their countryman, is a rare and intimate view of a vanished world." I WONDER WHAT THE OTHER 40000 TO 60000 PICTURES LOOKED LIKE.

(From the DJ flap) "These 128 photographs constitute a rare pictorial document that spans twenty-five years. They are the work of Raja Lala Deen Dayal, the outstanding Indian photographer of the 19th century, selected by the Nizam to be the photgrapher to his court. Through these images we are able to explore the Nizam's courtly life. Here is the Nizam amid his entourage, the Nizam entertaining kings and heads of state at tea, at polo, at hunts, at balls of unsurpassed opulence (the roster of visiting aristocrats included the future Czar of Russia, the archdukes of Austria and Russia, assorted German princelings, and the Duke of Connaught). Here is the daily life of a princely menage, and here is the Prince himself. And here, in haunting images of Indian landscape and Indian people, seen through the eye of the artist-photographer who was their countryman, is a rare and intimate view of a vanished world." (End quote) This book is both beautiful and (by today's standards) horrifying at the same time. The incredible pictures in this book are indeed an "intimate view of a vanished world" because they not only chronicle a certain time and place but they also reveal early 20th century man's brutal treatment of other men, of women and children, and especially of animals. (The pictures of the slaughtered and skinned Bengal tigers are not the least bit enjoyable to look at.) Yet at the turn of the 20th century, slaughtering animals, having slaves, and treating women and children like possessions was considered normal, not brutal, behavior. Sadly, the only societal attitude shown in this book that has NOT changed in the last 100 years is how the rich and the aristocratic (in any country) continue on with their merry, high-living lifestyles while ignoring their fellow countrymen and women who are starving.

Princely India is a collection of photographs by one of the pioneer photographers in the world, namely Lala Deen Dayal whose work is a valuable reflection of India in the period 1870-1905. It covers architecture, views, portraits of native princes, visits of dignitaries and influence of the British in various aspects of political and social life. The photographs provide excellent reference material for period costumes, historical events and social life. It is a must for every library and every collector of 19th century photographs. The quality of the pictures is amazingly sharp with an artistic novelty about the composition and lighting coupled with attention to details. Most of the photos particularly views are collodian prints which incorporate the total mastery of the photographer in pioneering circumstances. The book can be an ideal gift for lovers of photography and a fine feast for the coffee table browsers.

Raja Deen Dayal was the most sort after photographer in the state. My parents wedding pictures werewere taken by his studio in 1938. The book is a pictorial history of the state and its people. Some of the most striking photo graphs of the time. Whether the pictures are studio portraits or panaramic view of landscapes. The are very accurateand wonderfully compsed. The light effects in black and whitephotography is phoenominal. Those baby boomers whogrew up in Hyderabad must possess this book. It brings brings the childhood memories of traditionspeople and the landscape back. A totally captivating book.the childhood

The only modern pictorial of pre-1948 Hyderabad of His Exalted Highness the Nizam, once the world's richest man. Good selection of pictures of monuments, people, dresses etc. A "must get" for any serious collector of impressions of the Deccan. Black and white pcitures; subjects covered are famine, palaces, circuses, birthday parties and one photo of Bhilwara temple at Mount Abu that is hard to beat