Lala Deen Dayal
Encyclopedia
Lala Deen Dayal (also known as Raja Deen Dayal) was an Indian photographer. His photography career began in the mid-1870s as a commissioned photographer, eventually he set up studios in Indore, Mumbai and Hyderbad; he became the court photographer to the sixth Nizam
of Hyderabad
, Mahbub Ali Khan, Asif Jah VI
, who awarded him the title, Musawwir Jung Raja Bahadur and later he was appointed as the photographer to the Viceroy of India in 1885.
He received the Royal Warrant
from Queen Victoria in 1897.
, Uttar Pradesh
, near Meerut in a family of jewelers. He received technical training at Thompson College of Civil Engineering at Roorkee
, (later IIT Roorkee)..
. Meanwhile he took up photography. His first patron in Indore was Maharaja Tukoji Rao II of Indore state, who in turn introduced him to Sir Henry Daly, Agent to the Governor General
for Central India (1871–1881), who encourage his work, along with the Maharaja himself who encouraged him to set up his studio in Indore. Soon he was getting commission from Maharajas and the British Raj. The following year he was commissioned to photograph the Governor General's tour of Central India In 1868, Deen Dayal founded his studio Lala Deen Dayal & Sons, and was subsequently commissioned to photograph various temples and palaces of India. He established studios in Secunderabad
, Bombay
, and Indore
in the 1870s.
In 1875-76, Deen Dayal photographed the Royal Tour of the Prince
and Princess of Wales
. In the early 1880s he travelled with Sir Lepel Griffin through Bundelkhand
, photographing the ancient architecture of the region. Griffin commissioned him to do archaeological photographs, the result was a portfolio of 86 photographs, known as "Famous Monuments of Central India".
The next year he retired from government service and concentrated on his career as a professional photographer. Deen Dayal became the court photographer to the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad in 1885, Soon afterwards he moved from Indore to Hyderabad
, in the same year he was appointed as the photographer to the Viceroy of India.. In time, the Nizam of Hyderabad, conferred the honorary title of Raja
upon him. It was at this time that Dayal created the firm Raja Deen Dayal & Sons in Hyderabad.
Deen Dayal was appointed photographer to Queen Victoria in 1887.
In 1905-1906, Raja Deen Dayal accompanied the Royal Tour of the Prince
and Princess
of Wales. Dayal died in Bombay
in 1905.
After his death his family continued the studios with the seventh Nizam in Hyderabad, where his fourth generation descendants continue to run the studio.
in 1989, which today is the largest repository of his work. A large collection including celebrated images of the 1870s’ famine are with the Peabody Essex Museum
, US and the Alkazi
collection in Delhi. In 2010, a retrospective exhibition of his work was held at IGNCA, curated by Jyotindra Jain
.
In 2006, a curated collection of Raja Deen Dayal's photographs was exhibited at the Salar Jung Museum
during the "Times Hyderabad Festival"; subsequently in November, the Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts released a commemorative stamp honouring him, the ceremony was held at Jubilee Hall
, Hyderabad.
, George Curzon's Collection
: Views of HH the Nizam's Dominions, Hyderabad, Deccan, 1892.
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
of Hyderabad
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
, Mahbub Ali Khan, Asif Jah VI
Mahbub Ali Khan, Asif Jah VI
-External links:*...
, who awarded him the title, Musawwir Jung Raja Bahadur and later he was appointed as the photographer to the Viceroy of India in 1885.
He received the Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
from Queen Victoria in 1897.
Early life and education
Deen Dayal was born in SardhanaSardhana
Sardhana is a town and a municipal board in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located northeast of New Delhi, and 13 mi from Meerut...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, near Meerut in a family of jewelers. He received technical training at Thompson College of Civil Engineering at Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, (later IIT Roorkee)..
Career
In 1866, Deen Dayal entered government service as Head Estimator and Draughtsman in the Department of Works Secretariat Office in IndoreIndore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
. Meanwhile he took up photography. His first patron in Indore was Maharaja Tukoji Rao II of Indore state, who in turn introduced him to Sir Henry Daly, Agent to the Governor General
Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India, and later, after Indian independence, the representative of the monarch and de facto head of state. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William...
for Central India (1871–1881), who encourage his work, along with the Maharaja himself who encouraged him to set up his studio in Indore. Soon he was getting commission from Maharajas and the British Raj. The following year he was commissioned to photograph the Governor General's tour of Central India In 1868, Deen Dayal founded his studio Lala Deen Dayal & Sons, and was subsequently commissioned to photograph various temples and palaces of India. He established studios in Secunderabad
Secunderabad
Secunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment...
, Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, and Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
in the 1870s.
In 1875-76, Deen Dayal photographed the Royal Tour of the Prince
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
and Princess of Wales
Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
. In the early 1880s he travelled with Sir Lepel Griffin through Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
, photographing the ancient architecture of the region. Griffin commissioned him to do archaeological photographs, the result was a portfolio of 86 photographs, known as "Famous Monuments of Central India".
The next year he retired from government service and concentrated on his career as a professional photographer. Deen Dayal became the court photographer to the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad in 1885, Soon afterwards he moved from Indore to Hyderabad
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
, in the same year he was appointed as the photographer to the Viceroy of India.. In time, the Nizam of Hyderabad, conferred the honorary title of Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
upon him. It was at this time that Dayal created the firm Raja Deen Dayal & Sons in Hyderabad.
Deen Dayal was appointed photographer to Queen Victoria in 1887.
In 1905-1906, Raja Deen Dayal accompanied the Royal Tour of the Prince
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Princess
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
of Wales. Dayal died in Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
in 1905.
After his death his family continued the studios with the seventh Nizam in Hyderabad, where his fourth generation descendants continue to run the studio.
Legacy
The Lala Deen Dayal studios’ collection of 2,857 glass plate negatives, was bought by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
in 1989, which today is the largest repository of his work. A large collection including celebrated images of the 1870s’ famine are with the Peabody Essex Museum
Peabody Essex Museum
The Peabody Essex Museum , originally the Peabody Museum of Salem and the Essex Institute, in Salem, Massachusetts is the oldest continuously operating museum in the United States, and holds one of the major collections of Asian art in the US; its total holdings include about 1.3 million pieces, as...
, US and the Alkazi
Ebrahim Alkazi
Ebrahim Alkazi is one of the most influential Indian theatre directors and Drama teachers in 20th century Indian theatre. He also remained the Director of National School of Drama, New Delhi He has also been a noted art connoisseur, collector and gallery owner, and found Art Heritage Gallery in...
collection in Delhi. In 2010, a retrospective exhibition of his work was held at IGNCA, curated by Jyotindra Jain
Jyotindra Jain
Jyotindra Jain is an Indian art and cultural historian, and museologist. A scholar on folk and ritual arts of India, he was the Director of the National Crafts Museum, New Delhi, Member Secretary and Professor , at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts , New Delhi, and also Professor at the...
.
In 2006, a curated collection of Raja Deen Dayal's photographs was exhibited at the Salar Jung Museum
Salar Jung Museum
The Salar Jung Museum is an art museum located at Darushifa, on the southern bank of the Musi river in the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India...
during the "Times Hyderabad Festival"; subsequently in November, the Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts released a commemorative stamp honouring him, the ceremony was held at Jubilee Hall
Jubilee Hall
Jubilee Hall is a royal palace built in 1913 during the reign of Mir Osman Ali Khan of erstwhile Hyderabad state. It is considered one of the architectural masterpieces of Hyderabad....
, Hyderabad.
Gallery
Photographs taken by Deen Dayal in the 1880s, sourced from the British LibraryBritish Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
, George Curzon's Collection
George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston
George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, KG, GCSI, GCIE, PC , known as The Lord Curzon of Kedleston between 1898 and 1911 and as The Earl Curzon of Kedleston between 1911 and 1921, was a British Conservative statesman who was Viceroy of India and Foreign Secretary...
: Views of HH the Nizam's Dominions, Hyderabad, Deccan, 1892.
Further reading
- Princely India: Photographs by Raja Deen Dayal, 1884-1910, by Deen Dayal (Author), Clark Worswick. Knopf, 1980. ISBN 039450772X.
- Raja Deen Dayal : Prince of Photographers, by Narendra Luther, Sureshchand Deendayal. Hyderabadi, 2003. ISBN 81-901752-0-3.
- Lala Deen Dayal: the eminent Indian photographer, 1844-1910, Deen Dayal (Raja), London Borough of Camden. Libraries & Arts Dept., 2002.
- Raja Deen Dayal Collection at Alkazi Foundation