Message: 5
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 12:26:14 +0530
From: "Shyamal L." <lshyamal@gmail.com>
To: Wikimedia India Community list
        <wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org>
Subject: Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Opportunity to embellish Lal Bagh
        Botanical Garden related WP article before the flower show on Jan 26.
Message-ID:
        <CAB6bDongvStabTJ7Ta-poRXM=KnVTRdY8YhvFZWQiGs3oHukNQ@mail.gmail.com>
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Sowmyan, this is great news indeed! I know a number of people who are
interested. It would be great if some of their archives can be accessed.
Most of the trees that are out there are somewhat more readily accessible
as indeed are the ornamentals.

There are some really historic material including some amazing artwork
(some of which I believe is by some unfortunately little-known botanical
artists like K. Cheluvayya Raju who died more than 70 years ago).
There is probably some interesting material related to G H Krumbiegel, Hugh
Cleghorn and the Agri Horticultural Society.
There are also some interesting publications made by the Horticulture
Department that are largely inaccessible - over the years I have had
enquiries from the Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh for looking up a book
called "Glass House – The Jewel of Lalbagh" published in 1991 that has
hardly been seen by people who are interested in it. I have likewise had
requests for archive data relating to John Cameron (Krumbiegel's
predecessor).

There is also a great deal of as yet un-written history on plant
introductions such as
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chayote ("Seemay Badnekayi" = foreign brinjal
 - one of the introductions to our diet thanks to the work at Lalbagh) as
well as the numerous avenue trees (like the pink  poui currently in bloom
and chosen by Krumbiegel as part of his Ritu Samhara idea for Bangalore)

For a glimpse of the excellent artwork of an unfortunately little-known
botanical artist - K. Cheluvayya Raju - see
http://www.benakaartconservation.com/Restoration/Portfolio_-_Art_Conservation_&_Restoration_files/Botanical%20paintings.pdf
and we have several other botanical artists who as yet have no articles on
even on the en.wiki (for example the somewhat famous pair of Govindoo and
Rungiah).

I have been postponing my own plans to research the archives there and
would be very happy to join you in your meetings if possible. There are
some active tree groups in India who will be interested too.

best wishes
Shyamal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Shyamal