Admirer of Paul Raj Paintings

My photo
Paul was born in Kodaikanal on 22 September 1914 and died on 2 October 1979. G D Arulraj was born in 1925 and died in June 1972 while visiting India. Arul worked at Laguna Beach in the 60's and 1970's. G D Thyagaraj might have been born in 1922 and I am told that he probably died sometime before 1981. He moved to northern India as a young man. I lived in India as a child and spent a lot of time in Calcutta. My mother purchased several paintings directly from Paul Raj while living in Madras and this got me interested in his works. I then discovered he had two brothers Arul Raj and Thyaga Raj who were both fantastic artists. I could not find much information on the internet so decided to set up my own blog. Subsequently a Facebook tribute site has also been created to the memory of the three brothers. Contact me at: rajbrothers@hotmail.co.uk

Wednesday 27 August 2014

Monsoon damaged road

I have added a photo I took around 1967 I was on a trip from Calcutta to a seaside town called Puri on the Bay of Bengal when we ran into trouble caused by heavy rains.  The road we were driving on had been washed away by the water exposing the roots of the trees.  In the background you can see some carts and cattle which have been stranded by the damaged road.  The carts look very similar to those found in the Raj brother's paintings.

Sunday 24 August 2014

Elephant Kerosene Delivery cart

This is a great photo of my sister in Calcutta around 1962 standing next to a delivery cart being pulled by a buffalo which is pulling a tank of kerosene which appears to be banded 'Elephant Kerosene'.  Across the road in the background is the building site of 'Tivoli Court' complete with bamboo scaffolding.

Thursday 21 August 2014

G D Thyagaraj - Mosque

This is the second painting I was sent by Cyrus (thanks again for sending me the photos), it shows a Mosque again a very typical scene for Thyagaraj to paint.

Friday 15 August 2014

G D Thyagaraj - City Gates

I was contacted by a gentleman that used to live in Calcutta around the same time I was there.  His family owned two paintings by Thyagaraj the first I am adding today is a typical 'City Gates' scene that he used to paint.  Thanks to Cyrus for letting me add them to my blog.
The painting is very like several I have seen before, I will look for the others and compare them with this one.

Thursday 14 August 2014

Calcutta Swimming Club 1962

A photo taken around 1962 showing the outside pool at the swimming club.  You can also see the high diving boards and the round floating raft, water polo goal and the platform for sunbathing.
From memory it was probably a 50 meter (or was it yards in those days) pool you only had to swim around 56 lengths to get your mile certificate.  Hmmm! that does not work out anyway it was a very big pool.

Wednesday 13 August 2014

G D Thyagaraj - Cows resting

Another G D Thyagaraj water colour showing a group of cows resting at the edge of a market scene.
Nearby are some carts and women carrying baskets.  The frame of the painting is very similar to some I own myself.

Saturday 9 August 2014

Tree House in Calcutta

As a surprise one year when I went to visit my father during the holidays in Calcutta when I arrived I could see a huge tree house he had arranged to be built by the company carpenter.  It was on the first large branch of a big mango tree with a tall stepladder for access.
It was probably built around 1966 and in the foreground you can see one of the company cars which was an Ambassador car which were built in Calcutta.  I read an article on The BBC website during July which said after falling sales the factory has now closed.

Friday 8 August 2014

Tollygunge Golf Club

My sister and I used to play golf at Tollygunge Golf Club in Calcutta in the early 1970s, while looking through an old box of photos I came across this photo I took while playing gold there.  Unfortunately I am not in the photo but my caddy is standing on probably the 18th tee with the club house in the back ground I think this was taken in 1973.
You can see my club and ball on the tee waiting for me to take my shot.

Wednesday 6 August 2014

G D Paulraj - Cows resting in the shade

Painting by G D Paulraj of a few cows resting at the side of a street in the shade of a building and some trees.  It reminds me of a another painting called 'Madali Street' but taken from a slightly different angle.
I am discussing with my sister on a visit to southern India later this year, I checked some old passports and I reckon the last time I was in India might have been January 1974 so just over 40 years ago, wow what a long time!