Old Kashmir Images

1948 Kashmiri labours in unison lifting huge rocks.
The common phrase used in tough works in order to raise the effort was "Ya Peer Dastgeer"
( No bulldozers no cranes only by manual effort. Our tribute to these men )
During the period the conditions of work were same in the subcontinent. No machines etc. It was all human /animal power. We owe a gratitude to this work force.

1900s Kashmiris.

Photograph seems to be at Hazratbal.
There was a time when we never locked our house during day time. It was so safe for girls to walk alone or travel in shikara or minibus. That was kashmir we left behind. Simple honest and loving people.

1950s View from a window. watching some event.
Where have the days gone by ? My beautiful Kashmir. Why has the paradise been polluted by my own brethren ? The most aesthetic people have lost the aesthetic sense. Please do not turn it into concrete jungle leave space for our proginese to have a fresh breath of air.

A colored post card from earlier 20th century showing present day M.A Road as seen from mound of Rutum Garhi.
There used to be Nedous Hotel bulit among orchards on left side. What an architectural style buildings were those! Hotels, schools hospitals. Those days it used to look no less than England with all four seasons and amazing buildings. Autumn the best with golden touch all around.
Kashmir has lost its sheen. Completely transformed into a slum with ilegal encroachment. More ever the tree wich had grown there from decades has been choped off. Alas .

1927 At Baramullah.
The foreign tourists in this era used to come in EKKAS upto Baramullah through JVR and then come Srinagar in House boats.
This is a view of Veth(Jehlum) just upstream of Baramulla Qadeem which can be seen in back ground on right bank. In the foreground is a house boat moored , most probably waiting for guests to be carried upstream to Srinagar. Jehlum Valley Road was the first motorable road into valley. It's construction was started in 1873. The stretch netween Kohala & Baramulla was completed in 1889 & was inaugrated by Lord Lansdown Vicroy of India. JVR was completed upto Srinagar im 1897. Im earlier days mode of transportation used to be Ekkas , Tongas & Blucok Carts To get a feel of those days I am posting a photograph taken by R.E.Shorter in1911 showing a train of Ekkas on JVR near Chkoti with a picturesque waterfall in the background.

1950s During Harvest season (Harud).
Nothing much has changed in harvesting. Not much impact of Technology in this field..Only labour class has changed from locals to other states.