Kamal Ghorui
Nainital: A rare window into the nineteenth-century Himalayas has opened in Nainital, where a week-long exhibition titled ‘Himalayan Encounters’ commenced at CRST Inter College on Monday. Showcasing the historic Schlagintweit drawings in India, the exhibition offers visitors a glimpse of “hidden views” of the Himalayas from nearly 170 years ago.Organisers said entry to the exhibition is free for all visitors. The exhibition will remain open daily from 11 am to 7 pm between May 12 and 18.The exhibition was inaugurated at the Jagdish Sah Auditorium by Justice Ravindra Maithani of the Uttarakhand high court. The opening ceremony featured two lectures exploring the intersection of European exploration and Indian heritage.Professor Hermann Kreutzmann of Freie Universität Berlin delivered a lecture on ‘The German Role in Himalayan Understanding’, focusing on the pioneering work of the Schlagintweit brothers, 19th-century German scientists and explorers.Renowned historian and PAHAR founding editor Shekhar Pathak spoke on ‘Remembering Pundit Nain Singh Rawat’, highlighting Rawat’s role as a companion to the Schlagintweit brothers during their Himalayan expeditions.Padma Shri awardee Anup Sah told TOI, “As a photographer, I felt overwhelmed to see the collection in Nainital.” He credited professor Pathak for first seeing the drawings in Berlin in 2015 and helping bring them to India. “I am glad this exhibition is taking place at CRST. The amazing part is that this building itself is around 165 years old,” Sah added.Commissioner and secretary to the chief minister Deepak Rawat said, “Nainital possesses a rich historical legacy and the exhibition formed a valuable part of that heritage. We must appreciate what we have.”
