IDNO

P.97612.WIL

Description

On Cech’s list describing prints:
“(Photos 1-5 are a continuation of the series IV: 231-247, “Bhutan comes to Calcutta”.)
1. “The Bhutan party at 42, Chowringhee, Calcutta, 2.1.35”
Front row seated L - R: Taki Dandrin, Gantep Geley, Balep, Crown Prince of Bhutan, Kesang (his future wife), Gantep Peljor, Santengampa, Tekela.
Second row L - R: (standing), Setrang holding Phodrang Rimpoche (i. e. Ugyen, youngest son of Tobgye), Jigme (son of Tobgye and futute [sic] P.M. of Bhutan), (sitting) Rani Chuni, F.W,Maharani of Bhutan, Maharaja of Bhutan, Peggy, Tobgye, Tashi.
Third row: ?, Shar Kumbu, Wilingpa, Baba Nakchu, Teacher, Paro Dronyer, Tongsa Zimpon, Senla Dorje, Zimpon Dondrup, ? , ?.
Forth row: ? , ? , ? , Babu Phuntsog, ? , Dasho Jamyang, ?.
Fifth row: Tsoling, Apel Dorje, ? , ? , ? , Lobpa Tashi, Am Ringzin, ? , ? , ? , ? , ?.” [printed text]
For more information see Cech’s list.

Place

S Asia; India; Bhutan; Kolkata; 42 Chowringhee [Calcutta]

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Taki Dandrin; Gantep Geley; Balep; Kesang; Gantep Peljor; Santengampa; Tekela; Setrang; Phodrang Rimpoche; Jigme; Rani Chuni; Frederick Williamson; Maharani of Bhutan; Maharaja of Bhutan; Margaret Williamson (Peggy); Raja Sonam Tobgye Dorji; Tashi; Shar Kumbu; Wilingpa; Baba Nakchu; Paro Dronyer; Tongsa Zimpon; Senla Dorje, Zimpon Dondrup; Babu Phuntsog; Dasho Jamyang; Tsoling; Apel Dorje; Lobpa Tashi; Am Ringzin; Adhum; Sandrup

Photographer

?Williamson, Frederick

Collector / Expedition

Williamson, Frederick

Date

2 January 1935

Collection Name

Williamson Collection

Source

Williamson, Margaret

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

The transcription of this album by Mark Turin and Sara Shneiderman was carried out with reference to Krystina Cech’s catalogue list alone. Alex Nadin has since revised their cataloguing by systematically matching their records to the images. Margaret Williamson’s handwritten captions for photographs have now been transcribed into the Inscription field, and Cech’s descriptions appear in the Description field. Correct entries for Place, Named Person and Other Nos. have also been entered by Alex Nadin. [Sudeshna Guha 29/10/2002]

Named Person: "Group photograph taken in Calcutta (42 Chowringhee) on the occasion of the Second Druk Gyalpo’s visit to Calcutta in 1934-35.
The only people I can identify who are not already identified on the website are:
Third row, first from left: Adhum (Sikkimese attendant to Rani Choni wearing men’s hat), fourth row, third from left, wearing Gorkha hat: Samdrup (attendant to the Williamsons), plus there are three Sikkimese Lepcha guards to Williamson, all three wearing cane hats with badge on forehead." Knowledge shared by Royal Grandmother of Bhutan, Ashi Kesang Choeden, and her sister Ashi Tashi, who just turned 100. Both sisters are in many of these photographs, and were delighted to see them. [Identification project by Anna Balikci, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok, Sikkim, JD 24/10/2022]


Publication: Image published in Williamson, MArgaret D., 1987. 'Memoirs of a Political Officer's Wife in Tibet, Sikkim and Bhutan', (Wisdom Publications, London) as cover and and captioned: "Front cover: detail of a photograph taken in Calcutta in 1934 of the King and Queen of Bhutan and their entourage; Me and Mrs Williamson are seated either side of them."
The full image is printed on plates between p.60 and p.161, and captioned:
"Maharaja and Maharani of Bhutan and entourage in Calcutta. Seated: Rani Dorji, Derrick, Maharani, Maharaja, self, Raja Dorji. In front: Crown Prince Jigme and Ashi Kesang Dorji (later to be King and Queen of Bhutan)." [JD 03/06/2021]