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John burke
&
william baker
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Observe
how various parts of Pakistan looked 150 years ago. Classic
photographs of Old Pakistan.
This album is based on scans from Omar Khan's book titled
"From Kashmir to Kabul". He has compiled photographs
by John Burke and Willian Baker, two Irishmen who covered
the area that now constitutes much of Pakistan. Website
for Omar Khan's book is: http://www.kashmirtokabul.com
His award winning website is:
http://www.harappa.com
Imran H. Khan, co-founder of OPEN USA, digitized this Album
and dedicated it to the 2006 Earth Quake victims of Kashmir/NWFP.
Thalassa Ali has written a forward (see below). Imran H.
Khan has hosted this Album at:
http://www.softserv-intl.com/oldPakistan
Click
here to view entire Album
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northern part of Pakistan is beautiful. The flat, dusty plain
of the Punjab rises first to bare hills, then to high mountains,
where valleys lie flat between steep, wooded slopes, and the
sun gleams on distant, snow-clad peaks. Alexander the Great
came here. King Ashoka made Mansehra one of his seats of government.
A thousand years later, Taimur Lang left soldiers at Mansehra,
to guard the road between Kabul and Kashmir. A hundred years
after him, the Mughal emperor Akbar took the same road to
Kashmir. |
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thalassa
ali's comments
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| After
the British annexed the Punjab (including the Northern Areas)
in 1848, they began the great task of documenting it. They
wrote gazetteers, describing every detail of the people, vegetation
and geography of the area. When photography arrived, they
took photographs. I first saw Omar Khan’s “From
Kashmir to Kabul” two years ago, while researching my
new novel, “Companions of Paradise.” The book
was just what I needed to see—a catalogue of black and
white images taken only a few years after ‘Companions’
ends. They perfectly capture a place and time, making it easy
for me to picture the British army on the move in 1842, and
the people of Kabul who fought them.
Photographers John Burke and William Baker lead us from
the Punjab to Kabul, showing us people and cities and scenery
as they were nearly 150 years ago.
Thalassa Ali is the author
of “A Singular Hostage,” “A Beggar at
the Gate,” and the forthcoming “Companions of
Paradise.” These books are set in 19th
Century Lahore and Kabul.
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earthquake
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This
site is dedicated to the 3,000,000 survivors of the Oct 2005
earthquake in Pakistan. They have survived the winter of 2005-2006
and are now ready to embark on the reconstruction of their
homes and lands. The site celebrates the role of individuals,
NGOs and governments from all over the world that came together
in a global show of humanity to assist the survivors. The
challenges of reconstruction are daunting but not insurmountable.
Boston Earthquake Response Group is getting organized to assist
in this reconstruction. It consists of individuals and organizations
around Boston.
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reconstruction
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Life
goes on. People soon forget even historic moments and tragic
events of human history. October 8, 2005 at about 8.45 a.m,
a massive earthquake struck mountainous regions of Pakistan
leaving behind such tragedies inexperienced by the human history
and never ending tales of agonies. The entire world was shocked
and rushed to these areas to help the suffering people. It
reminded Pakistanis about a similar earthquake which destroyed
Quetta on May 31, 1935 at 3 past 3 minutes in the morning.
In 30 seconds life came to stand still. Glorious Quetta and
thousands of people were buried alive in a matter of seconds.
Photographers John Burke and William Baker
lead us from the Punjab to Kabul, showing us people and cities
and scenery as they were nearly 150 years ago.
It is in the northern areas that the South Asian Earthquake
of 2005 took place, destroying whole mountain villages,
wiping out schools and hospitals, and killing tens of thousands
of people. We must rebuild these villages and towns, and
restore the livelihood of the proud people who have lived
in this region for so many thousands of years.
Thalassa Ali
Boston, Massachusetts
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