Nepal Remembered: Storytelling by the Chitrakars

A book launch and exhibition of historical photographs by Dirgha Man Chitrakar and Ganesh Man Chitrakar took place on September 1, 2022, at Lal Durbar, Hotel Yak and Yeti.

Chitrakar and family organized the exhibition to display the previously unpublished collection of pictures from 1877 to 1951.

The book, which Cristeena Chitrakar co-wrote with Mark Watson and David N. Geller, was edited by Lisa Choegyal and published by Kiran Man Chitrakar.

They discussed how the pictures developed from constrictive Rana era, when only a select few had access to the outside world and photography, to the post-Rana age, when photography changed in both the private and public spheres.

It illustrates how the government, non-governmental organizations, and the general people used photography to present a story of national progress. These photographs document the transition from portraits and political pomp to images of development, the land, and the people.

During the event, Kiran Man, expressed his gratitude towards his daughter Cristeena, family and friends, “I’m happy for the team and thankful for being a part of this project.”

The word "Chitrakar" translates to "painter". The Chitrakars were court artists who worked in the palace of the Mallas (1201-1769). When photography was brought to Nepal in the late 1800s, Dirgha Man, who had previously worked for Prime Minister Chandra Shamsher JB Rana as a court painter, decided to pursue it.

In a conversation with NepalNews, Cristeena said she was both anxious and happy as they had been working on the book, preparing for the launch, and exhibition. “We began working on our book in 2016. I've put a lot of effort into learning as much as I could about the images. As a result, I'm hoping with this book, people will come up to me and tell me that this is my family and say something about them,” she explains.

The book recalls a bygone era through images taken from the Chitrakars' unique insider perspective and presented with a learned commentary on Nepal's political, social, and aesthetic history of time.

From a collection of roughly 5,000 photos that Dirgha Man and Ganesh Man took, the pictures in the book were chosen. Their direct descendant, art historian Cristeena Man, along with her brother Swaraj Man and their father Kiran Man, have chosen a vast collection of images that span a century of diplomatic missions, royal receptions, affluent portraits, magnificent architectural works, ceremonial celebrations, and everyday landscapes.

She further added, "I hope the readers enjoy this book and know that this is a really important compilation and quite unique, as the book has four sections ‘My family the Chitrakars’, ‘Perspective on culture and heritage’ by Mark Watson, ‘Politics of image: the Ranas and photography’ and ‘Reflections of ordinary life: stories and memories’ by David Gellner.”

The launch was followed by an exhibition showcasing some of the book's photographs, the original painted backdrops that Dirgha Man and Ganesh Man both used, the camera that Dirgha Man purchased during his 1908 visit to England and France, original paintings, and glass plate negatives from the collection

A few delectable bites were served as a conclusion to the occasion following the spectacular and successful book launch and exhibition.