An exhibition titled Kindered Nations in Chennai, explores the US-India ties that are believed to date back to 1783
An exhibition of around 30 vintage pictures in Chennai, titled Kindered Nations, explores the US-India ties that are believed to date back to 1783, the year the US was founded.
Many chronicle the contribution by key Indians and Americans in nurturing business, education besides inspiring through art, culture and religion crossing boundaries.
An 1858 water-colour painting of the landmark Madras Ice House building along the Marina tell the story of Fredrick Tudor from Boston who shipped frozen blocks of water to ice houses he set up in the then Madras, Calcutta and Bombay. The image also beautifully captures how close the sea used to be to the historic building.
Another 1894 vintage click has captured a casual Swami Vivekananda, sitting on a lawn with guests at the Green Acre School, a year after his historic Chicago address.
Rare images of sewing machine major Singer's Bombay office in 1897, Helen Keller meeting Rabindranath Tagore in New York, US businessman Atkinson's Calcutta House after he made India his home, Indian born actress Merle Oberon who made it big in the US and Indian immigrants landing in the US strike a chord among visitors.
Former Governor of West Bengal, Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi said, "The connection between the US and India goes much beyond the political, techno commercial and now security connection. I would also add to that the great traditions of the freedom of dissent and freedom of expression in both countries which is valuable in both countries and never so much as today."
The collection is in a sense a treasure trove. There's an 1880 picture of Anandibai Joshee, the first Indian woman to earn a medical degree in the US; a picture of Philadelphia-based Samuel Stokes, who's remembered for successfully introducing apples in Shimla which he made his home.
Not many would know that America's first ever live elephant was brought from Calcutta in 1796. A report with a pencil sketch of a jumbo tells this story.
Others include pictures of Director Ellis R Dungan on the set of Meera, in the then Madras, who spent 15 years in India making Tamil and Hindi films, Indian born American actor, Jungle Book fame Sabur Dastagir and the Roosevelt brothers' Indian expedition sporting beard.
Ariel Pollock, Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate in Chennai added, "These pictures are more than just photographs. They are telling stories of extraordinary Americans and Indians who really paved the way for the amazing dynamic great partnership we have now. These photographs are not just about Indian contributions in the US but US contributions to India in so many different fields."