Some old shikaar pics

[shahid]

Memories and memories of an era gone by.

Mussorie seems to have progressed a lot now. During my school days in Dehra Doon, there were only two major hotels there the Savoy and Hackman's Grand on the mall. This was during my Welhams and Doon School days in 1970s and early 80s

[mehulkamdar]

Superb pictures Abhijeet! Very, very nice. Just wish that era did not end...

[cooldude]

Asif,

In the Mughal times,a taluq was a district comprising about 80-85 villages.The Taluqdar was a functionary of the Mughal state,responsible for the collection of revenue and for maintaining law and order in his area.The post was not hereditary though in practise this was often the case.The Taluqdar receieved a part of the revenue collected as his salary.

As the central authority weakened,many of the Taluqdar's began to function as independent rulers,paying their dues to the authority above them,if any,as per their convenience and sometimes not at all.Their position was secured by the British Rule which ended the rule of the EIC in 1858.The Allahabad declaration of the Governor General proclaiming the rule of the Crown also declared the survival and continuation of the rule of the Indian prince's( the term royal or royalty was used only for the British Royal Family,the Indian rulers were called Indian Prince's.It's only after Independence,which also ended their rule,that the former rulers were free to use the word Royal for themselves .So there was no Royal family of ...add the word...before 1947).The Taluqdars during the British rule were akin to Rajas and many also held that title.Some were very rich.

penpusher

There was a difference between the Talukdars and Ruling Chiefs to whom you refer as Indian Princes. Talukdars (Awadh) were akin to Zamindaars in other areas and Ruling Chiefs were the ones with the title HH ( His or Her Highness as the case may have been )