Look Inside

Rajasthan Exploring Painted Shekhawati

FREE Delivery
Express Shipping
$54
$90
(40% off)
Express Shipping: Guaranteed Dispatch in 24 hours
Quantity
Delivery Ships in 1-3 days
Item Code: NAL449
Author: Ilay Cooper
Publisher: Trisha
Language: English
Edition: 2014
ISBN: 9789383098217
Pages: 305 (Throughout Color Illustrations)
Cover: Hardcover
Other Details 11.5 inch x 8.5 inch
Weight 1.50 kg
Fully insured
Fully insured
Shipped to 153 countries
Shipped to 153 countries
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
23 years in business
23 years in business
Book Description
About the Book

Cycling into rarely visited northern Rajasthan, in tiny desert towns llay Copper discovers impressive buildings, their walls covered with vibrant paintings. Fascinated, he settles nearby and, exploring, finds that the main painted towns lie in the defunct administrative district of Shekhawati. After ten years studying all aspects of the painting, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) commissions him to document the phenomenon. A local teacher, Ravindra Sharma (Rabu), assists him; together they map the painted towns and, over two-and-a-half years, describe 2,260 building. They travel by motorbike and their work is punctuated by adventures. Research reveals the unpublished writings and drawings of Colonel Lockett and Lieutenant Boileau, who crossed Shekhawati in 1831. After completing their project, llay and Rabu follow Lockett and Boileaus’s 180-year-old trail, recreating the past here and illuminating the present there of this fascinating landscape. Both men are depicted in contemporary murals. Their mission was to enquire into, and record the brigandry them affecting local trade. This led to the founding of a Shekhawati Brigade to suppress robbery and bring security to the local merchants. Peace and prosperity returned, creating ideal conditions for a display of conspicuous wealth. The merchants commissioned fine buildings and, as a final touch, their walls were painted. So a military mission led to an artistic one!

 

About the Author

Raised and educated in Purbeck, in south English, llay Cooper graduated from London University in 1966. Between study, teaching and working in a quarry, he travelled widely in Asia, spending some thirteen years in India, mostly based in Churu, Rajasthan. His initial nine journeys between England and India were overland, by hitchhiking and buses, culminating in a motorcycle journey from Churu to Purbeck in 2000. His research in Shekhawati was funded by quarry work in England and photo-journalism in India. After documenting Shekhawati’s buildings, he listed those of Diu also for INTACH. These projects were followed by a series of scholarships to study wall paintings in India and Pakistan. He has written many published articles for Indian and British periodicals, five published academic papers and five books. He has also lectured widely on South Asian murals in India, Pakistan and the UK.

Contents

Cycling into a Painted World 8
Two officers Approach a Mission 23
Our Project is Launched. Ramgarh, a Merchant Town 35
Lockett and Boileau Advance 47
Narnaul: A Diwan and his Plans in Historic City 58
Into Shekhawati: Dosi Pahar, a Raja and Singhana Industries 70
Breakfast with a Rani and a Night in the Zenana 82
Baghor: Diverting to a Strategic Fort 94
Heading Westward: A Cavalcade and Nawab 104
Baron, Murders, Stepwells and Sati 116
Press Attacks, Politics and a Progress through Town 130
Mandawa: Tourism, Erotica and Craftwork 143
Boileau’s Later Route, Plots and a Failed Assassination 155
A Prolific Baron; Bandits Pursued 164
Shyam Singh’s Capital, a Pageant and Wrestling 181
Lockett Enters Churu and We Come Home 193
Superstition, Lockett’s Worries and Famine Relief 204
Two Strategic Towns, a Portrait and Marriage 218
Ruined Havelis and Royal Scandals 231
A Scarred Fort and Hanuman’s Fair 244
A Boy Prince Greets Lockett and We Meet the Police 258
Punishments and Prosperity 274
Epilogue 283
Glossary 286
Index 290

 

Sample Pages
















Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q. What locations do you deliver to ?
    A. Exotic India delivers orders to all countries having diplomatic relations with India.
  • Q. Do you offer free shipping ?
    A. Exotic India offers free shipping on all orders of value of $30 USD or more.
  • Q. Can I return the book?
    A. All returns must be postmarked within seven (7) days of the delivery date. All returned items must be in new and unused condition, with all original tags and labels attached. To know more please view our return policy
  • Q. Do you offer express shipping ?
    A. Yes, we do have a chargeable express shipping facility available. You can select express shipping while checking out on the website.
  • Q. I accidentally entered wrong delivery address, can I change the address ?
    A. Delivery addresses can only be changed only incase the order has not been shipped yet. Incase of an address change, you can reach us at help@exoticindia.com
  • Q. How do I track my order ?
    A. You can track your orders simply entering your order number through here or through your past orders if you are signed in on the website.
  • Q. How can I cancel an order ?
    A. An order can only be cancelled if it has not been shipped. To cancel an order, kindly reach out to us through help@exoticindia.com.
Add a review
Have A Question

For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy