A royal affair

As part of its tenth anniversary celebrations, Tasveer is showcasing vintage photographs of the Maharanis and other royal women of erstwhile princely India. The exhibition is a counterpoint to the usual narratives that have mostly centred around the Maharjah and includes photographs primarily from the Museum of Art & Photography, Bengaluru, Victoria & Albert Museum and National Portrait Gallery, London, Amar Mahal Museum & Library in Jammu and personal photographic archives of royal families from across India

Maharani Sri Sudarshan Prasad Kumariji Sahiba of Bikaner, formerly of Rewa, 1940	Nawab Begum Sajida Sultan of Bhopal, also Begum of Pataudi, 1938-1940

 

Rani Usha Devi of Dada-Siba, formerly of Kapurthala. 1942 Maharani Vijaya Raje Scindia, Rajmata of Gwalior, 1940

Maharaj Kumar Rani Sita Devi of Kapurthala, 1934	Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda, 1948

Maharanis: Women of Royal India can be viewed at The Harrington Street Arts Centre in Kolkata till October 14