Mansur Ali Khan Bahadur
Mansur Ali Khan Bahadur (1830 – 1884) and his two children The Nawab of Bengal until his abdication in 1880. He had a total of 101 children by more than 20 wives and was succeeded by his eldest son Hassan Ali Mirza as Nawab of Murshidabad. His great-grandson, Iskander Mirza became the first president of Pakistan in […]
Jagannath Sunkersett
Jagannath Sunkersett (1803 – 1865) A philanthropist and educationalist. Unlike his forefathers, he engaged in commerce and soon acquired a large fortune, much of which he donated for public work. During the first war of Independence in 1857, the British suspected his involvement, but he was acquitted due to lack of evidence. Wood engraving by […]
Maharana Swaroop Singh
Maharana Swaroop Singh (r. 1842 – 1861) He succeeded the throne at Udaipur after his elder brother Maharana Jawan Singh fell ill and died in July 1842. Able, intelligent and financially prudent, Swaroop Singh was also a complex and devious character, distrustful of all and tyrannical in conduct. Distrusting his advisors, Swaroop Singh took control […]
Maharaja Takoji Rao Holkar II
Maharaja Takoji Rao Holkar II (1835 – 1886) He became the 11th ruler of Holkar dynasty when the late Maharaja died without an heir. Sir Robert Hamilton (1802 – 1887), the British resident, allowed the King’s widow to adopt an heir in 1844. During the revolt of 1857 he was loyal to the British East […]
Raja of Omkareshwar
Raja of Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh Omkar Mandhata or Omkareshwar, on the banks of the river Narmada, is famous for its temple. It is the ancient site of one of the 12 Sacred Jyotilingas of Lord Shiva. The engraving portrays the Raja of the city, a devout Brahmin, enjoying his simple yet palatial lifestyle. Wood engraving by […]
Son of the Nawab of Banda
Son of the Nawab of Banda (circa 1830) Banda was a province in Northern India, ruled by a Muslim Nawab. The town flourished at the beginning of 19th century when Nawab Shamsher Bahadur chose it for the seat of his newly established (1803) fiefdom. Banda was centre of flourishing cotton trade. Tinted lithograph by Lower […]
Maharaja Shere Singh
Maharaja Shere Singh (1807 – 1843) Ranjit Singh died having reigned for nearly four decades & did not designate a successor. His sons from different wives jockeyed for power together with other Sikh nobles. After much turbulence Shere Singh was enthroned. Tinted lithograph by Lower Dickinson (1819 – 1908), after a drawing by Emily Eden […]
The Raja Hindu Rao
The Raja Hindu Rao (d 1855) He was the brother of the female regent of the Indian princely state of Gwalior. Following the Revolt of 1857, he retired to Delhi where he was on friendly terms with the British Resident. He was well known in the European society, whom he was also fond of interacting. […]
Dost Mohammed Khan by Emily Eden
Dost Mohammed Khan (1793 – 1863), Muhammed Akram Khan, Hyder Khan, Abdool Ghunee Khan Eden here sketches Dost Mohammed Khan with two of his sons, Muhammad Akram Khan and Haider Khan, and his cousin Abdal Ghani Khan. Dost, Emir of Afghanistan, was deposed by the British and exiled to Calcutta in 1841. Tinted lithograph by […]
Dedar Khan
Dedar Khan (circa 1835) As Emily Eden writes, ‘They are jemadar or head servant working under the British in the government house Calcutta.’ During her 6 year visit to India from 1835, she spent two and half year on tour of the country. Tinted lithograph by Lower Dickinson (1819 – 1908), after a drawing by […]