Waterhouse Coup

“That was possibly the only time when all the four begums of Bhopal,Qudsia,Sikander,Shah Jehan and Sultan Jahan,were photographed,” says Rahaab Allana,curator at the Alkazi Foundation for the Arts that was established three years ago to bring together artwork and photographs of the Alkazi collection. The photographs have also been published as The Waterhouse Albums: Central Indian Provinces (edited by John Falconer,published by the Alkazi Collection of Photography and Mapin,Rs 3,300).

The captions alongside the photographs add to your insight. Culled from Waterhouse’s notes,these give detailed descriptions of each subject and the surroundings. In one photograph,three men holding Turkish fans are standing behind Sikander Begum. They are described by Waterhouse as her chowriburdars. He goes on to note that the begum was bestowed with the Collar of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India. There are also photographs of Bibi Doolan,widow of a minister of the begum,and Anton da Silva,the begum’s physician. “They followed Christianity,” says Allana.

Waterhouse went beyond the court and photographed the tribes and communities in the Central Provinces,such as the Bheelalahs of Sehore and the Bhils. Another possible first are the photographs of the Sanchi Stupa before its restoration.

The exhibition even has vintage cameras from the period as well as photographs of the Photo-Litho Department of the Survey of India where Waterhouse was in-charge from 1866 to 1897. “These are important because they show the work conducted under him,” says Allana. However,it is the rare glimpse of the begums that will stay with you.