Madhya Pradesh

Solo Tiger by Jangarh Singh Shyam

The Gond community is regarded as one of the oldest and largest surviving adivasi communities of India. The term Gond is derived from the word ‘Kond’ meaning ‘green mountains’; a majority of the people live in the lush forested regions of Madhya Pradesh, but there are also some Gonds to be found in pockets of… Read more »

Gond: Maindo Mai

This is a Gond painting created in the tribal regions of Madhya Pradesh. A ritualistic mural tradition of the Gondi tribe, Gond paintings are done on paper with synthetic colours now. This image created by Rajkumar Shyam depicts a tribal goddess called “Maindo Mai”. She holds a broom and a trident in her two arms,… Read more »

Gond: Deer with Foxes

This is a Gond painting created in the tribal regions of Madhya Pradesh by Durga Bai in her signature style of small dashes, which replace continuous lines. It depicts two symmetrically placed deers, facing against each other and looking at a smaller animal, which look like blue foxes, on their backs. The stags have horns… Read more »

Gond: Dancing Elephants

This image is created by Durga Bai shows three figures who look like Ganesha dancing with two elephants. The painting is monochromatic, and the artist has experimented with the execution style including a wavy pattern, apart from the traditional dashes and the dots. One of the three Ganeshas stands atop the composite trunk of two… Read more »

Group of Guests

This is an image from the larger album titled “The investiture of the Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia of Gwalior” – an event that was attended by various European guests and dignitaries. This image is of the king’s guests posing on the steps of the Sahasra Bahu Temple in Gwalior.

Rendition of Fort

This is a photograph taken by Lala Deen Dayal & Sons of a procession during the investiture ceremony of Maharaja Sir Madho Rao Scindia of Gwalior. They were commissioned by the Maharaja to cover the event. A few commoners and soldiers assembled at the Gwalior fort during the procession.