Uploads from Brajeshwar, tagged military

Calcutta Dock

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:15:15 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

GI dock workers of the Port companies created order out of chaos at Calcutta's great docks and thousands of tons of vital war supplies flowed through to china, Burma and India. The MP is on hand to see that the coolies do not pilfer from the rations they are carrying.

The American Red Cross Burra Club, Calcutta

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:10:46 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

The American Red Cross Burra Club, leave center for GI's and recreation spot for all enlisted men. The unpretentious facade belies an interior complete with dormitory, snack bar, restaurant, music room games room, lounge, barber and tailor shops, wrapping service department and post exchange.

Indian Women in Saree

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:12:37 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Indian women, dressed in the native Saree, return from prayer at Jain Temple. Little girls wear European dress usually until the marriage age, although some mothers like to dress the little girls in Sarees.

Dhobie drying clothes inside during monsoon

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:13:42 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Downone alley you might see a shop such as this one, packed with shoemakers sewing and cutting or pulling on a hookah such as the one at right. Combined with the shoe making enterprise is a laundry (dhobie). During monsoon, dhobie must contrive to dry clothes inside, tho hampered by shortage of sheltered spaces.

A street gathering

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:11:33 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Crowd gathers round a sidewalk performer at bus stop while GI's take temporary advantage of an overhead view from steps of a camp bus. This is a good spot for hawkers, beggars, shoe shine boys, showmen to work on the bankroll of the 'rich American soldier'.

Buffalo Herd on the Road, Calcutta

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:10:56 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

This buffalo herd's movements seem to be guided by whim alone and are typical of the complete indifference to traffic control by man and animal alike. this is Old Court House street, one of Calcutta's busiest. In left background is Great Eastern Hotel, Calcutta's best, used by U.S. Officers as a billet.

Slum Dwellers

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:13:39 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Most any block in the slum areas will find natives sleeping huddled together under any shelter they can find, frequently none at all. How the thousands of homeless can survive under such conditions is beyond the understanding of many Western visitors.

Professor Sher Mohammed just bit off the head from a live Krait Snake

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:11:45 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Belive it or not, this man has just bitten the head from a live Krait snake. He is professor Sher Mohammed and his feats include drinking acid, eating glass, fire-walking. He is a legitimate performer and has spent the war years touring for the entertainment of Indian troops rather than poach on sidewalk tourists.

Sacred Cattle and Coolie

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:15:09 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Sacred cattle and coolies push and pull great carts to the loading platform of the Howrah railroad station in background, on of the city's two stations. Howrah is on the west bank of the river, and Sealdah, the other station, is in another section of Calcutta on the east side.

Taxi

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:11:01 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Of Calcutta's assortment of colorful and intriguing characters, the sikh taxi-driver and his co-pilot rank high. The co-pilot was added in 1944 following an affray in which a soldier knifed a driver. The two GI's shown here are doing their best to convey their destination to the driver of the ancient jalopy.

Brahmins worshiping in the Kalighat Temple

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:12:16 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Brahmins worhips in the Kalighat temple Spoon-shaped brass container holds Ganges waer. Brahmins are the highest caste of Hindus, their mark of distinction being the piece of string seen in hand of gray-haired
senior Brahmin.

Binota Bose (left) and Mrs. Rekha Mullick - Indian Actors of that time

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:12:41 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Indian movie actresses. Dressed in Sarees, 19-year old Binota Bose, left, and Mrs. Rekha Mullick, right, are right at home before the camera and lights. Miss Bose earns $360.00 per month and Mrs. Mullick $210.00. Both are well educated and prefer American books, pictures.

Coconut Market

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:12:51 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

This coconut market on Cornwallis street is a sample of the haphazard way in which many bazars are operated. The popular pauses for refreshment is indulged by Indian in central foreground drinking coconut milk.

Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Mon, 21 May 2007 08:47:39 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

New American Kitchen

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:14:13 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

After a couple of years in India, the bizarre aspects of street life become commonplace to the average soldier, as evidenced by the scant notice given the passing snake-walla by the GI at right bargaining for a shine from one of he city's hundreds of bootblacks. The New American Kitchen is a popular Chinese restaurant, owned by a Portuguese, and serves up a steak of chop-suey before you can say "Teek hai".

Brass ware and Gurkha Knives

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:14:20 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Brass ware and Gurkha knives are two of the most popular souvenir purchases made by soldiers. Bargaining is the rule and only the sucker pays the fist price asked. The New Market is alive with stalls like this.

The wondering holy man

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:14:53 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

An Indian family sweat out a train. Cooking vessels, clothes are surrounded by this group which is distinguished by the presence of one of India's wandering holy men, (at right with painted brow).

Hoogly River, Calcutta

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:15:21 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

The Hooghly river is lined with bathing ghats like the one shown here. The troop transports in the background seem out of place in the old-world atmosphere created by the temple at left and the sampans at anchor.

The Calcutta Tram Way Workers' Union Strike, Calcutta

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:15:44 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

Indicative of the resumption of an age-old struggle for decent conditions is this immediate post-war picture of tram-workers on strike. The strike lasted nine days but employees won par of their demands.

Child Brides

nobody@flickr.com (Brajeshwar) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:16:18 -0700

Brajeshwar posted a photo:

India has thousands of child brides. The unfortunate young woman shown here feeding the infant from the giant coconut in foreground has been seen on Calcutta's streets day after day with he child. Her misery is more than typical thousands of India's unfortunates.