Rare Photos Of Kashmir

1970s Polo View Srinagar
1970s Polo View Srinagar.
Some state cultural programmes used be conducted here where in school kids used to participate besides the march-past. The Bakhshi stadium was not build then. The transport departments footballers besides other teams used to play there. Infact this field was a great motivating factor for many future footballers.

Poplar Avenue near Rambagh, Srinagar 1880
Poplar Avenue near Rambagh, Srinagar 1880.
This is the time when there was no flood/spill channel and Ram bagh bridge. This poplar avenue road was part of old Mughal road as it was leading to Pulwama and Shopian. The Bakarwals still use this road when they bring their herds to valley.
Photograph taken by Francis Firth in 1870 showing children playing "AAREO MAAREO TAAREYO TICH" which was a popular means of selecting teams for other games of those days, in the middle of a dirt road near Rambagh.

Barbar Shah Bridge Early 1900s
Barbar Shah Bridge Early 1900s.
I do, almost, regularly cross this bridge, which has nowadays turned out to be a bottle neck for all the frequent traffic jams, leading to great chaos, I can't just associate myself with the older version, as it's beautiful lush verdancy and a unique tranquility seem to be an out of this world experience. Young willows with waving foliage, at the edge of a rough hewn road, looming over the sedentary dinghies, and people squatted, washing clothes are good enough to make many art lovers believe it as a scene from some pages of Old Testament. Alas! The cruel fists of time and apathy of people toward their environment have blanched and eaten away every shade of beauty from this spot and left it wizened and bereft of all its pristine glory.

View from the minarets of Jamia Masjid
Mid 20th century View from the minarets of Jamia Masjid. See width of Gojwara road.
See how poplars are adding beauty and colour to the landscape. And see the less density of houses.

1976 Children of Kashmir
1976 Children of Kashmir.
Such a small girl holding a big kanger (Kangri).
These children enjoyed one of the best periods of Kashmir! Grown up now, wondering how they must be feeling staring at the most unfortunate present atmosphere ?

1980s Pahalgam Bus Stand
1980s Pahalgam Bus Stand.
Remember those days ? Going by these buses and as kids fighting to sit at the front seat and watching the roads along the countryside ! Nostalgic..
People used to call them cival (civil) buses in the local language just to differentiate from the Govt buses. Very few would call them KMD buses. Indeed KMD buses were the lifeline of Kashmir !
KMDA (Kashmir Motor Drivers Association ) Bus Stand . They used to operate largest bus fleet in Kashmir valley and gave tough competition to J&K Tpt. owned by Govt.
Remember sitting besides the driver and watching him drive.
And if front seat was not available then children would sit on that long engine.
Black leather top used to be like a hot plate but nevertheless most sought after in case you missed getting hold of the front seat . The front seat used to give the feeling of driving the bus and sitting on the engine would make you feel like the closest pal of the driver . I also remember huge crowd waiting to board the bus and in the hoard to catch a seat they would throw a handkerchief from the window and then claim it once the bus was packed from inside ☺☺☺

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