Ajith Krishnan Nair, owner of the Krishnan Nair studio, has contributed several photos of an earlier Kochi for the walls of the Mahatma Gandhi road station of Kochi Metro

Photos: Ajith Krishnan Nair, pic by Albin Mathew; Rajendra Maidan; Indira Gandhi

By Shevlin Sebastian

At the Mahatma Gandhi Road station of the Kochi Metro, Ajith Krishnan Nair, owner of the Krishnan Nair studio, points at a photo taken in 1950, of a large open area, beside Foreshore Road, in Kochi, and facing the backwaters. “Most of the political meetings during the pre and post-Independence era took place at the Rajendra Maidan,” says the 68-year-old. “But I have a family story linked to the maidan.”

Ajith’s father MP Krishna Pillai was the secretary of the All India Students Congress. A meeting had been planned in 1947 to protest against British Rule in India. But it had been banned by the Cochin administration, which was under the control of the British. Police Commissioner Pappali had his office just opposite Krishna’s studio on TD Road. Pappali sent two policemen across to inform Krishna not to take part in the meeting; otherwise, he would be beaten up.

“Many of the student protesters from Travancore had come a day earlier and were staying in a room above the studio,” says Ajith. “The police were aware of that. Krishna was banned from stepping out by an uncle. But on the pretext on buying something, he stepped out and went to the Maidan.”   

Expectedly, the protestors were lathi-charged. Krishna was beaten on his leg and a knee cap broke. He was hospitalised and later taken to the Viyyur Central Jail in Thrissur. He spent several months there. Soon, India gained independence and Krishna was released in early 1948.

The black-and-white photos are on display at the entrance, in the station concourse and also on the platforms. These include images of the iconic Hotel Sealord, which had been the only building at the present-day Marine Drive, the Assembly building which is now the Law College, the Ernakulam Town railway station, the High Court boat jetty, Maharaja’s College, as well as the Rama Varma club. Beside each photo, there is one showing the present-day building. Most of the prints are of a width of 9 ft or 12 feet and at a height of 3 ½ feet.

It all began when the Kochi Metro put out an advertisement in all the leading newspapers and magazines asking for photos of the old Kochi. “The idea was that by looking at earlier photos, we will get an idea of the progress of Kochi over the years,” says APM Mohammed Hanish, Managing Director of the Kochi Metro Rail Limited. “Also, these photos showcase our glorious past.”.

Many applied but they had taken images from the Internet. On the other hand, Ajith had actual negatives. “So, mine would print much better,” he says. Ajith submitted 75 prints but the Metro authorities decided they would only put up buildings. Hence, the number came down to 25. Incidentally, this is a gift by Ajith to his beloved town of Kochi. All the photos have been given for free. “I felt that these are important visuals for future generations,” he says.

Ajith’s studio was set up by his grand uncle in 1910. But it was his uncle Krishnan Nair, who began running the studio in 1930 and made it a success. Soon, there were branches in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram. Ajith’s father began working at the studio in the 1950s. The studio would print postcards of Kochi with an image of the town on one side and a space for an address and a writing area on the other.

"These cards were very popular, especially among tourists,” says Ajith.

Today, Ajith has a collection of over 200 photos. There are photos of Mahatma Gandhi who had come to Vaikom in 1925, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on a visit to Kochi, a dapper Jawaharlal Nehru at the railway station and a smiling Indira Gandhi on her first-ever visit in 1956. A group photo of the Cochin State Police was taken in 1940.   

Meanwhile, Hanish says there are plans to put up more old photos in the other stations. And Ajith says he is, once again, ready to share his treasure trove...for free.