Bishop's College Calcutta around 1959

When my parents were first in Calcutta after they moved from Madras the family lived in a rented apartment connected to Bishop's College at Ballygunge in Calcutta.  Today I came across some photos of the college at this time, I could be a few years out with the date.  The first photo below is of the student accommodation that looked out onto a grassy square where the students used to play volleyball for recreation.

The second photo is of the Chapel in the college grounds which was just over the fence from where the family ended up living at 67 Ballygunge.  You can see a student ringing the chapel bell calling the congregation to attend a service.  Now I think back I can remember the bell being rung.

 

The final photo shows a group of students having a meal.

G D Thyagaraj - Market outside of the Mosque

I am adding one of two photos sent to me by Waldemar who I think is in the USA.  He contacted me after seeing my blog, he had spotted two paintings by Thyagaraj in his local thrift store.  After doing his research he said he was going back the next day to but them apparently they were for sale at the bargain price of $16.99 each.  Thanks for sending me the photos Waldemar.

 

It looks a nice painting, unfortunately there is a bit of reflection on the photo.  I will add the second painting in a day or two.

Monsoon damaged road

I have added a photo I took around 1967 I was on a trip from Calcutta to a seaside town called Puri on the Bay of Bengal when we ran into trouble caused by heavy rains.  The road we were driving on had been washed away by the water exposing the roots of the trees.  In the background you can see some carts and cattle which have been stranded by the damaged road.  The carts look very similar to those found in the Raj brother's paintings.

Elephant Kerosene Delivery cart

This is a great photo of my sister in Calcutta around 1962 standing next to a delivery cart being pulled by a buffalo which is pulling a tank of kerosene which appears to be banded 'Elephant Kerosene'.  Across the road in the background is the building site of 'Tivoli Court' complete with bamboo scaffolding.

G D Thyagaraj - Mosque

This is the second painting I was sent by Cyrus (thanks again for sending me the photos), it shows a Mosque again a very typical scene for Thyagaraj to paint.

G D Thyagaraj - City Gates

I was contacted by a gentleman that used to live in Calcutta around the same time I was there.  His family owned two paintings by Thyagaraj the first I am adding today is a typical 'City Gates' scene that he used to paint.  Thanks to Cyrus for letting me add them to my blog.

The painting is very like several I have seen before, I will look for the others and compare them with this one.

Calcutta Swimming Club 1962

A photo taken around 1962 showing the outside pool at the swimming club.  You can also see the high diving boards and the round floating raft, water polo goal and the platform for sunbathing.

From memory it was probably a 50 meter (or was it yards in those days) pool you only had to swim around 56 lengths to get your mile certificate.  Hmmm! that does not work out anyway it was a very big pool.