From Kashmir to Kabul: The Photographs of Burke and Baker, 1860-1900

by Omar Khan

As recent events draw attention to the people and landscapes of Afghanistan and Pakistan, images of these wartorn countries are becoming increasingly familiar. The harsh beauty of the region has been luring photographers since the Victorian age, the most famous of whom were William Baker and John Burke. Their photographs of the Great Game—a phrase coined by Rudyard Kipling for the power struggles of British and Russian imperialism—were an inspiration to the writer, and remain some of the most poignant images of the British Empire. From Kashmir to Kabul is the first book to piece together the remarkable careers of Baker and Burke. No photographers of the Raj era witnessed more wars, discoveries, news events and human diversity than did these two Irishmen. Few encountered the kinds of adverse conditions, hauling heavy equipment and glass plates over steep mountain ranges, and mixing chemicals at dangerously high altitudes than Baker and Bourke. Based on decades of research, this book chronicles their early days in Peshawar and their move to Muree, the Himalayan hill station on the border of Kashmir. It follows their documenting of the Afghan Wars, some of the earliest war photography, and their return to the plains of Lahore, where they continued to photograph the region’s people and landscape. Baker and Burke’s story is also the story of photography itself, a medium that was evolving at a dizzying pace—as quickly as the world they sought to capture was changing.

Genres: History, Photography

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Naeem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional book, with both beautiful photographs and rigorously well-researched text. Many of the stories and facts the author uncovers about the photographs serve as little mysteries solved and served on a silver platter. Most photography books have beautiful pictures and little text; this book has both great pictures and meaningful text that help fix the importance of the photos in our mind.
Together, these shed much needed light on the rich history of northwestern India, Pakistan and Afghanistan - a history that is hardly known or talked about. A real pleasure to read and look at, this is the best book in my historical photography collection.

[Tobias Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some gorgeous photos and interesting historical context. A bit heavy on some of the photographical stuff and personal lives of the photographers, but obviously this is just my taste.

[Shyam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book - amazing collection of pristine images and thoroughly researched and easy to follow historical context. Mr. Khan has true talent as a historian, as a collector and as a writer.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Omar while posted in Karachi and he was kind enough to sign my copy of this book. Fascinating photos, all high quality, and the historical context in the book rounds out the content.