Two RAAF groundstaff in Old Delhi Street

Place Asia: India
Accession Number ART24308
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 52.8 x 68.3 cm
Object type Work on paper
Physical description crayon with wash on paper
Maker Hodgkinson, Roy
Place made India
Date made 1945
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Showing two members of the Royal Australian Air Force ground staff in a familiar street scene of Old Delhi. They are seen surrounded by a typical motley crowd of Indians. The location is called Chandi Chaulk or the "richest street in Asia" and is renowned for its merchandising of silver. After dark it is placed out of bounds to the forces. The Australian in the forage cap is Leading Aircraftsman C. Ross and the soldier holding the Chatti (Hindustani for 'pitcher')is Corporal F. McKinnon. They are bargaining over the sale of the 'chatti', which is of sun-baked clay and is used for holding drinking water which it will keep moderately cool. Behind the chattie vendor are two sacred cows. In the extreme left foreground is a Punjabi, employed as a policeman. Behind the cows is a small gathering of Mohammedan's, trading among themselves. In the background is a motley crowd of many castes, milling around the bazaars, India.