Old Kashmir Images

Master Samsar Chand Kaul (1883-1977) Famous Teacher of Past ?( Pandit Samsar Chand Kaul with his wife Lachchkuji in 1964 ).
Master Samsar Chand Kaul (1883-1977) was a renowned educationist, ornithologist and environmentalist of his time, when subjects like bird watching and study at natural history was unknown in Kashmir. By profession, he was a teacher in the then C. M. S. School at Fateh Kadal, later Central High School, Srinagar, continuously for 65 years and developed interest among the students in the natural history around; besides teaching of his usual academic subjects. His keenness in inculcating aptitude among the students towards glorious and everlasting surroundings of mountains, birds, flowers and forests was appreciated by the then British Principal of the School, Mr. C.E. Tyndale Biscoe, who, while writing a foreword to Master Samsar Chand's book "Beautiful Valley of Kashmir & Ladakh", wrote as under:
"I am most grateful to Samsar Chand for having taught his boys to love birds through his teaching of natural history".
Our Tribute.

Srinagar street 1970s.
Jamia market, just near Nowhatta side gate.

From the olden times, A Kashmiri mother braiding her daughters hair ( Wankah Pauren).
Wankah Paurean is an old tradition to braid one's hair into small pleats. In olden days every Kashmiri female used to braid their hair. Even the females from the elite households used to braid their hair, for them special hairdressers known as the Sazangers who used to reside at Sazgaripora were called to braid the hair. Nowadays this tradition has almost completely finished expect barring a few Hanji Women (Gada-hanjin) or the Bakerwal female folk who still practice this lost tradition.

1950s Children of Kashmir.
Though in Rags yet so happy.
Ignorant about what is good what is bad, who is rich who is poor enjoying only their present moment. kahan milega bachpan fir aisa.

"Mere bachpan ke din bhi kya khoob the Iqbal 

be-namazi bhi tha aur be- gunah bhi"

cap was the proud part of dress in olden days. All are covering their heads.

1920 Kashmir. Friends in wilderness.
See wearing straw shoes the "PULHOOR".

From the past - Famous Kashmiri Sofiana musician late Ustad Mohammad Abdullah Tibetbaqal.
Sufiana music is devotion to God. And especially great were Kashmiri musicians-Mystic voices as if connected to God. Wish we could get back those times and see them performing live. May Almighty bless his soul.