Saturday 22 December 2007

Christmas In India- in 1881


Christmas in India"; chromoxylograph from a drawing by E.K. Johnson; 1881. An idealized picture of British home life: attentive servants and happy children (who would be packed off to England for schooling before long).

You can see the ayah - children 's nurse, a man operating an overhead cloth fan or punkha . My parents had these in their bungalows before electricity came to their area.My mom recalls that during the hot long afternoons when my grandparents who were both doctors were away at the hospital the children would force the punkha man to let them operate the fan against the orders of the sahibs. But it was fun for them.

In the painting you can also see a bearer or butler serving cool drinks.Do you think that 's a tiger skin under the lady 's chair?

Hundreds of the big cats were hunted.My grandfather shot one, but it was a maneater and he was asked to do it by the authorities.My Dad was a hunter too. He brought us game when it was permitted, but never broke the law.I must tell tell you how he shot a rabid wolf in our front yard, right in the middle of the city.He used to shoot snakes, which is quite difficult to do as they move so fast.

10 Fertilize my soul:

Curious Servant said...

Interesting picture. I'm pretty sure that is a tiger skin.

Colonialism sure left a lot of problems. I suppose there were benefits as well.

I'll be doing a picture during the services at church tomorrow. I'll get it posted one way or another.

Thank you for your companionship.

Merry Christmas!

Susan Skitt said...

Very interesting!

holy chaos said...

I just read a couple of your posts.They are very interesting!

IJ Hanna Lucky said...

Amrita Godbless you my Dear thanks for visiting my blog

Godbless

Living Beyond said...

Merry Christmas lady - pray the blessing and peace over Jesus rests upon you this season.

Mrs. Mac said...

I hope you have rested and recovered from your 'brain drain' ;) I find your post so interesting and thank you for sharing. Was shocked to read that you have your power turned off at certain times of the day. I guess you have to be thankful that you have some power at times (looking on the bright side). When my children were younger we had a pediatrician from India. She used to share little tidbits about her life back home from time to time.

Sara said...

how very interesting this is to me. i am a nurse and work with several Indian doctors so i feel a sort of connection. thank you

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Dear Amrita,
I red that you daddie died also, your in 2004, may he rest in peice and laugh with my dad i heaven, so they are not alone and smile at us!

With sisterly love JoAnn

nvittal said...

Interesting picture. Those old pictures tell so much about the time and the culture.

Rebecca said...

Gosh, where have I heard of and seen this type of life style before??!!!