Signed Photographs of Indian Movie Stars

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Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Jeetendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Jeetendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Jeetendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Jeetendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Jeetendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Jeetendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Jeetendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Jeetendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Jeetendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Dharmendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Dharmendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Dharmendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Dharmendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Dharmendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Dharmendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Dharmendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Dharmendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Dharmendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Dharmendra

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Shashi Kapoor

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Shashi Kapoor

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Shammi Kapoor

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Shammi Kapoor

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actress Babita

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Rajesh Khanna

Signed Photograph of Indian Movie Actor Sunil Dutt

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City of Saints: Multan, Some Rare Images

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Photograph of the interior of a mosque in Multan, now in Pakistan, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1880s, part of the Bellew Collection of Architectural Views. The city of Multan has a recorded history that stretches back over two millenia. It was an ancient stronghold of the Buddhist Gandharas, then from the 6th century AD a centre of Hinduism, especially the worship of Surya or the sun god. Following the advent of Islam in South Asia, when the city came under Arab rule in the 7th century, it became a centre for Muslim saints and scholars, where many of their shrines and tombs remain. These include the mausolea of the famed Islamic scholar Shaikh Baha-u'd-din Zakria and his grandson Shah Rukh-i-Alam

Photograph of the ghats or stepped embankments lining the Ravi river in Multan, now in Pakistan, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1880s, part of the Bellew Collection of Architectural Views

This print of the Van Agnew monument in Multan was taken in the 1860s by an unknown photographer. Multan, situated on the frontier of the subcontinent, has had a turbulent political history as the first point of contact for Mughal invaders. It came under the control of British forces by 1849 after a long battle with the Sikh rulers of the Punjab and rebellion in Multan province and the city itself. The memorial obelisk is dedicated to two British officers, Vans Agnew and Anderson, who were murdered after being sent by the resident to take charge of the fort during the troubles

Photograph of Shams-i-Tabriz's Tomb at Multan in the Punjab, Pakistan, from Macnabb Collection, taken by William Henry Baker in the 1860s. This tomb was rebuilt in 1780 and belongs to a celebrated Sufi martyr who was murdered in 1247. The main body of the building is a square surrounded by a verandah. The upper section is octagonal, surmounted by a hemispherical dome covered in glazed blue tiles. Some parts of the wall are decorated with glazed tiles, mainly blue and white, arranged in geometric patterns

Photograph of the Fort at Multan in the Punjab, Pakistan, from the Macnabb Collection, taken by William Henry Baker, in the 1860s. The fort in Multan once had forty-six towers or bastions, including the two flanking towers at each of the four gates. Aurangzeb built a mosque on the site of the temple of Narsingh but the mosque was destroyed in the siege of 1848. The Mausoleum of Rukn-ul-din, or Rukh-i-Alam ('Pillar of the World'), may be seen on the left of the photograph. This tomb is one of the finest achievements of the Multan builders. It is believed to have been executed by order of Ghiyas al-Din Tughluq (r.1325-51), Sultan of Delhi, between the years 1320 and 1324. This domed structure decorated with glazed tiles and has an octagonal plan with battered walls and sloped turrets.

Photograph of the mausoleum of Rukn-ul-din, known as the Rukn-ul-Alam in Multan, the Punjab, Pakistan, taken by William Henry Baker in the 1860s. The Mausoleum of Rukn-ul-din, or Rukh-i-Alam ('Pillar of the World'), may be seen on the left of the photograph. This tomb is one of the finest achievements of the Multan builders. It is believed to have been executed by order of Ghiyas al-Din Tughluq (r.1325-51), Sultan of Delhi, between the years 1320 and 1324. This domed structure has an octagonal plan with battered walls and sloped turrets. The exterior is decorated with glazed tiles and and string courses; the dark blue, azure and white tiles stand out against the red bricks.

Photograph of an Idgah at Multan, Punjab in Pakistan, from the Macnabb Collection, taken by William Henry Baker in 1865. An Idgah is a qibla wall for prayers during the Muslim Id festival, which marks the end of Ramadan. Multan has numerous mosques and tombs. However, it is particularly noted for its large Fort and three major mausoleums; those of Shams-i-Tabriz, Rukn-i-Alam and Shah Bahawal Haq

Photograph of a temple in the Lachman Tal at Gohad in Madhya Pradesh, taken by George Edward Herne in 1869. The Imperial Gazetteer of India states, "The town [of Gohad] stands on the right of bank of the Vaisali river, a tributary of the Sind, and is surrounded by three walls, within the innermost of which stands a massive fort. The latter was built by the Jat chief Rana Bhim Singh in 1739, and contains a large palace built by Rana Chhatrapati Singh, now used as an office, and several other buildings, all profusely covered with carving...To the south of the palace is a large tank, the Lachman Tal, with a small temple in the centre."

Watercolour by Alfred Frederick Pollock Harcourt (1836-1910) of the tomb of Shams-i Tabriz at Multan in the Punjab, Pakistan, dated 30th December 1876. The image is inscribed on the front in pencil: 'Shumuz Tabraez. 30 Dec 76'; and on the back in ink: 'The Shumus Tabraez Musjid Multan, Alfred Harcourt.' This tomb was rebuilt in 1780 and belongs to a celebrated Sufi martyr who was murdered in 1247. The main body of the building is a square surrounded by a verandah. The upper section is octagonal, surmounted by a hemispherical dome and covered in glazed blue tiles. Some parts of the walls are decorated with glazed tiles, mainly blue and white, arranged in geometric patterns

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Old Pictures of Mumbai, Lucknow & Varanasi

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The Kaiser Pasand Palace - Lucknow 1880'

Shah Najaf Imambara Lucknow 1880's

Entrance to Victoria Gardens, Byculla -  Bombay (Mumbai) - 19th Century Photograph

Elphinstone College, Byculla - Bombay (Mumbai) - 19th Century Photograph

Cotton Sheds & Merchants - Bombay (Mumbai) - 19th Century

Cotton Merchant - Bombay (Mumbai) - 19th Century Photograph

Bathing in the River Ganges, Benares (Varanasi) -  Circa 1870-80

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Lahore's Educational Heritage : GCU

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Lahore Government College University or simply GCU, is synonymous with Lahore. Among the most famous of Lahore educational institutes, it is among the first educational institutions that were established in the Punjab. Generations of students have passed through its portals and attained eminent positions in all walks of life in Pakistan.

Although the establishment of a Central College at Lahore was sanctioned in 1856 with the condition that the teachers should be graduates of Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin or Durham, it was not until January 1, 1864 that the college opened its doors in the palace (haveli) of Dhian Singh/Khushal Singh, in Lahore's Walled City. The first principal was the famous Dr. G. W. Leitner whose name is closely attached to the College. In April 1871 the college moved to a large Bungalow near Anarkali. In 1873 its location was changed to another house called Rahim Khan’s Kothi.

When it was decided to move to more suitable premises, a site on an eminence north of the Soldier's Garden (Gol Bagh) was selected, and a 'picturesque building', with a large central clock tower was constructed. That Gothic was the chosen style for the building is not surprising. Among the first major structures of Lahore, the missionary zeal frequently expressed by the Lawrence brothers (Henry and John Lawrence) no doubt had an impact on the architectural expression of the college. As is well known, during the early Victorian age, every administrator from England arrived as a missionary soldier in the subcontinent, and what could better express the Christian zeal than buildings clad in Gothic attire?

The building was designed by W. Purdon, Superintendent Engineer, and constructed under the supervision of Executive Engineer Kannhaiya Lal. It was completed in 1877 at a cost of Rs. 320,000. A couple of years after its completion. Viceroy Lord Lytton presided over the convocation of 'Punjab University College' (1879) held in its convocation hall with its enormous height—"the great hall of the Lahore College, which was tastefully decorated and arranged for the occasion." Lytton papers recorded that the event was witnessed by "a large number of ladies and gentlemen, European and Native."

From the main road the main college building is seen above the landscaped terracing through the foliage of trees, presenting a picture postcard view. The Lahori brick is combined with sparing use of black Chiniot stone in the first floor columns as well as in the borders lining the openings. Pointed arches on the facade are accented with simple moldings, and the building is topped by a steeply sloping roof. According to Kannahiya Lal, the slate for the roof covering was acquired from Dalhousie Mountain hundreds of miles away.

The centre of the building is marked with an enormous entrance tower—a most impressive element representing the image of Government College. Placed on a 15' high podium, and accessible from the garden by a wide flight of stairs, the tower rises to a total height of 176'. Divided into four distinct storeys, it is terminated in the form of a spire. The battered sides of the octagonal tower carry quaint dormer windows, with its enormous clocks visible from great distances. The classrooms are accessed from a deep verandah which also provides protection from the strong Punjab sun.

The college has a large campus. It contains one of the earliest libraries of the province, which houses a large collection of books acquired over the years. Apart from several other structures, in the rear of the main college building is also located another historic building—a boarding house dating to 1892. Built around a quadrangle 160' by 170', at a cost of Rs. 57,000, it was designed to accommodate 100 students.

This prestigious educational institution has such distinguished alumni as Allama Iqbal, the visionary who galvanized the Muslims of South Asia through his poetry and philosophy to strive for a separate homeland and Dr. Abdus Salam, the noble laureate in physics.

After 147 Years of its wonderful history, the Government College, Lahore was raised to the status of a University in 2002. It was renamed as the GC University Lahore. The academic life here has been re-shaped in accordance with its new challenges and we hope to fulfill the expectations that go with a University. The GCU is committed to act as a promoter of quality education for all.

Although the college was granted the status of university by the Pakistan Government in 2002, the word college is still retained in the name for historical reasons and also because of the wide recognition of the name Government College in Pakistan. The University offers bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. degrees in a variety of disciplines. The university currently has more than 6000 students and 323 faculty members and is ranked at No.6 by HEC in General category. Alumni of Government College are called Ravians which is derived from the name of the magazine "Ravi", published by the administration of the college

Text Source : ualbtera and wiki
Photos: Shiraz Hassan

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