“India’s Oldest Photo Studio Preserves the Essence of Kashmiri Art, Culture, and Politics”
Mahatta & Co., India’s oldest surviving photo studio, has been a custodian of Kashmiri art, culture, and history for an impressive 120 years.
Established in 1915 by the Mehta brothers, Amar Nath and Ram Chand, the studio originally started as a small photo shop inside a houseboat on the picturesque banks of the Jhelum River in Srinagar. Drawn to the Valley’s stunning landscapes and the influx of foreign tourists, the self-taught photographers quickly expanded their reach to cities like Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Lahore, and the charming hill station of Murree.
The studio, located on The Bund, has become a cornerstone of Srinagar’s cultural heritage. In 2012, Mahatta & Co. was officially recognized as India’s second-oldest photography studio by the government. Inside its walls, a rich tapestry of history unfolds through thousands of photographs that document the lives of Kashmiris, visitors, and the region’s evolving political landscape.
The collection at Mahatta & Co. is meticulously organized, showcasing a rare perspective of Kashmir that many have never encountered. The studio houses an impressive array of historical cameras, including a German-made Linhof, a Japanese Mamiya, an American Camflex, a German Gevabox, a Rollieflex, a Japanese Yashica, and a classic 35mm camera, alongside numerous black-and-white photographs.
The photographs span several decades, reflecting the life and times of Kashmir from the late 1920s to the early 1960s. Notable images include British colonial troops stationed in Srinagar, as well as portraits of prominent personalities like Maharaja Hari Singh, his son Karan Singh, and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Anita Mehta, now 70 and the widow of Ram Chand Mehta, carries on the legacy of Mahatta & Co. She recalls how, in the 1930s, the studio became the official photographer for Maharaja Hari Singh’s royal durbar, gaining exclusive access to capture significant events and ceremonies.
For over five decades, she has witnessed the evolution of the studio, noting how tourists and locals alike flocked to Mahatta & Co. for unique portraits. “We have been here for generations, documenting the highs and lows of Kashmir. Photography runs in our family, but with changing times, my two sons have pursued careers in wallpapers, animations, and film in New Delhi,” Anita shares.
Photographer Ghulam Mohammad Sofi, who has been part of Mahatta for 50 years, has had the honor of photographing several prime ministers, including Indira Gandhi, V.P. Singh, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as well as Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Sheikh Abdullah. Sofi reflects on the challenges of manual photography in the past, recalling the long queues of eager customers during Eid in the 1970s and ’80s.
“When I joined Mahatta on February 6, 1972, I was just a young boy, passionate about photography. I learned the craft under the guidance of the Mehta brothers,” Sofi reminisces. Interestingly, British tourists often mispronounced ‘Mehta’ as ‘Mahatta,’ leading to the studio’s name becoming synonymous with photography in India.
Today, Mahatta & Co. continues to stand proudly on the banks of the Jhelum, carrying the weight of Kashmir’s rich heritage and preserving its story through the art of photography.