After 10 years of
hiatus, I would like to start again this blog with the book cover of Pahad (the mountain) published in 1989. The
book was about society, culture, history and ecosystem of Uttarakhand
Himalayas. However, my main interest lies in the back cover of this book,
in the iconic picture of a gorgeous rung woman in her traditional attire and
silver jewelry, looking out of the beautiful ornate window of her old house.
 |
| The cover of Pahad 1989. The picture of it was circulating in facebook groups |
The original photo
was taken in 1987 during Kangdali festival in village Sosa by Anup Sah. The festival of Kangdali
is celebrated once every 12 years in the villages of Chaudas. This photo went
on to became one of the most famous portrayals of rung culture. I am yet to see
another picture as famous. It was in back cover of Pahad, in a calendar by
Koormanchal bank and a painting of it was prominently displayed as an advertisement
of tourism department of Kumaon region (KMVN) for years. Even today, after more
than 25 years this photo was taken, I see rung women posing the same way to get
their best pictures.
The beautiful
woman in this picture is my Mother, Pushpa Hyanki (née Budiyal) who
was the first graduate in Sosa when she married my father. She graduated from
Allahabad university in 1962 before joining as a lecturer in Pithoragarh. The house in this
picture is our old house in Sosa. The house is more than 100 years old. The structure is made with stone and timber, floors and walls plastered with rammed earth and roof is covered with stone slabs. The
heavy doors and windows are made of wood and have intricate engravings and symbols.
Trivia Time - Did you notice that there is one another person in this
picture? In the left bottom side of the window there are a set of eyes and nose.
That is a kid holding his mother's hand and trying to sneak in the picture.
That is me :)
