| Admin/Biog History | Petherbridge's visit to India evolved out of a series of meetings in India and London with Naveen Kishmore of Seagull Books, who was interested in publishing an 'Indian Portfolio' of Petherbridge's work to coincide with a travelling exhibition of her Indian drawings. The British Council in India invited Petherbridge to visit India for a period of three months, in which time she undertook a lecture tour, visited temples and historical sites in eastern and southern India, and worked in the Latit Kala Studios working on drawings.
During the three months trip (18 Dec 1985-1 Mar 1986) Petherbridge visited Calcutta [Kolkata], Bhubaneshwar [Bhubaneswar], Santiniketan, Madras [Chennai], Trivandrum [Thiruvananthapuram], Ernakulam Town, Madurai and Hyderabad.
George Michell (b. 1944) is an Australian architectural historian, specialising in ancient Indian architecture, and his partner is John Fritz, an American archaeologist and anthropologist. Petherbridge met Michell in the early 1970s when she would visit the Architectural Association to listen to lectures on Islamic architecture, and they remained friends throughout her lifetime (C466/152, Deanna Petherbridge, Artists Lives, British Library).
Zarin Chaudhuri, worked as the Cultural Activities Officer, British Council Division of British Deputy High Commission in Calcutta [Kolkata] Petherbridge and her met each other through this tour and remained friends throughout their lives.
Petherbridge met when Babli (Apurna Sen) (b. 1945) was studying at SOAS, in London, during the early 1970s (C466/152, Deanna Petherbridge, Artists Lives, British Library). Petherbridge stayed at Babli's house during her time in Calcutta.
Seagull Books is an independent publishers founded in Calcutta [Kolkata] in 1982 by Naveen Kishore (b. 1953) a theatre lighting designer, he was introduced to Petherbridge by Babli. |
| Description | This file includes extensive correspondence concerning Petherbridge's trip to India (18 Dec 1985-1 Mar 1986) and includes:
-correspondence between Petherbridge, and George Michell and John Fritz, dated 5 Feb - 5 Nov 1985, discussing Petherbridge's visit to see them both in Kamalapuram; Petherbridge's British Council tour of India, contacts in India and recommendations of temples and sites to visit
-correspondence between Petherbridge and Babli, dated 7 Apr 1985-28 Oct 1986, discussing Petherbridge's visit to India in early 1985 and meeting Naveen Kishmore; Petherbridge's British Council tour of India, and other personal matters. It also includes personal correspondence shared between the two, following Petherbridge's return to London.
-letter from Petherbridge to Teresa Gleadhowe [Gleadowe], dated 16 April 1985, discussing the plans for the British Council tour, her works connection to India, and suggestions of topics which she could lecture on
-correspondence between Petherbridge and Naveen Kishmore, dated 10 May 1985-16 Mar 1986, discussing the plans and financing of Petherbridge's British Council tour, Seagull Books' role in the tour, and the publication and subsequent exhibition
-correspondence between Petherbridge and Zarin Chaudhuri, dated 13 May 1985-20 Jun 1986, discussing the planning and financing of Petherbridge's British Council tour, details her itinerary and concerns temples and sites visited. It also includes personal correspondence shared between the two, following Petherbridge's return to London.
-correspondence between Petherbridge and Elizabeth Wright, Specialist Tours Department, British Council, dated 4 Oct 1985-9 May 1986, discussing financial arrangements, and the scheduling of Petherbridge's itinerary
-letter from Petherbridge to Grace Krishnaswami, Cultural Activities Office, Madras, dated 15 Oct 1985, discussing temples and sites which she would like to visit on her tour of Southern India, and places she previously visited in early 1985
-correspondence and copies of telexes from various British Council staff including information on the contact details of architectural experts in India; and travel and itinerary arrangements. Also includes correspondence with academics on Petherbridge's return, including M. Velayudhan Nair, and Sitansu Muckopadhyay.
Also includes:
-draft report written by Petherbridge following tour
-itineraries
-pamplets and ephemera from exhibitions, historical sites attended
-invitation cards for events
-travel notes
-travel ephemera (e.g. reciepts, tickets and newspaper cuttings)
[For further related material concerning Petherbridge's trips to India 1985-1986 and 1987, and subsequent exhibition see DSP/1/71, DSP/1/72, DSP/1/73, DSP/1/80, DSP/1/81, DSP/1/82, DSP/1/83, DSP/5/9, DSP/5/10, DSP/5/11, DSP/5/12 & DSP/5/13] |
| Image Caption | Letter from Petherbridge to Zarin Chaudhuri, dated 15 Mar 1986, concerning her return to London from India, their friendship, and the London theatre scene |