The most important years of my great-grandfather, Malik Zaman Mehdi Khan’s life were the 1920s, for it was during this time – on 1st January 1920 – that the title of “Khan Sahib” was conferred upon him by the British-Indian Government.
Benda is a common term used for a maang tikka in central India and Uttar Pradesh. In 1961, Mrs Prakashwati Misra, my great-grandmother, travelled all the way to Lucknow from Raipur by road to get this made for her daughter-in-law.
In 1960, Shashi Kapur, a young woman in her early 20s placed an order with a leather worker in Mandalay for a handcrafted leather purse, along with a request to have her name engraved on the inner flap, complete with the title yet to be earned: Dr. Shashi Kapur.
The Bonti is a kitchen instrument that is used in Indian households to peel, chop, shred, slice and dice vegetables and fruits, especially in the states of Bengal, Assam, Orissa.
This vanity set of four included an oval-shaped mirrored tray, a powderbox, a photo frame and the ittardan, all made by an American brand called ‘Stylebuilt’, which rose to popularity first in the 60’s, with its signature metallic gilding.
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