Changing Asia

This incomplete sequence of slides was put together for Henry Sara's talk 'On Changing Asia'. Most of the slides show views of Russian Turkestan (now Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan), including photographs of Khiva, Khokand, Tashkent and Samarkand. The slides also include images of 'typical' inhabitants and some examples of Soviet propaganda. The prejudices of the age (early 1920s) can be seen through the various references to 'natives', etc., in the captions, as well as the use of racial profiling. Sara's full captions, together with additional notes and press cuttings are available onlineLink opens in a new window (please contact us if you are unable to access the information in pdf format).

The lantern slides come from several different sources and in the majority of cases pre-date Soviet rule (many were taken by the British clergyman Henry LansdellLink opens in a new window during the 1880s). Some of the lantern slides have the name of the series 'Turkistan and the Afghan Frontier' printed on them, others are marked with the names of the London companies E.G. Wood and Newton & Co.

A short report on Sara's delivery of this lecture at the Weavers' Institute, Padiham, is included in the Burnley Express of 4 March 1936: "A return visit to the township was made by Mr. Henry Sara, of London, last Sunday, when he lectured to a large audience in the Weavers' Institute on "Changing Asia." Mr. Sara spoke at length on life in the southern part of the Russian Empire, and dealt with the history of Turkestan. The lecture, which was held under the auspices of the Padiham and District Weavers' Association, was illustrated by a number of beautiful slides. Mr. James Palmer, president of the Weavers' Association, occupied the chair, and at the conclusion of Mr. Sara's talk he opened an interesting discussion."

Reproduction for any purpose (publication, exhibition, web display, commercial use, etc.) is only permissible with the consent of the Modern Records Centre. Please contact us for more information.

Changing Asia
'The Islam World'
Russian Turkestan: Total population 9 millions, 1,290,000 square miles
Vierny (looking south): snowy peaks of the Southern Ala-Tau, one of the northern ranges of the Thian-Shan. Average height 8,600 feet.
Murza-robat [Robat Mirza, Afghanistan] in the 'hungry steppe' between Tashkend and Samarkand. A desert place as far back as the 7th century. At the end of the 16th century Abdullah-Khan the Emir of Bokhara is said to have built this Caravansary.
The Post Station of Bekler Bek. The Medrese stands near the highway between Tashkend and the town of Turkistan. 'The latter before the invasion of the Russians was regarded by the Muhammadans as one of the holiest of Central Asian Cities.'
Khiva: Mosque and Minaret Seid-Bai
Great Minaret, Khiva: 'It was intended for a Great Tower at least twice as high but was never finished. On the outer surface are built texts from the Koran.'
Hazarasp Gate at Khiva. The ancient Zariaspe is thought to be the town, now called Hazarasp, where Alexander the Great retired for the winter from Maracanda or Samarkand. The wall is said to be 8 miles long.
Map of Tamerlane's Empire
Thian Shan Mountains: 10,000 to 20,000 feet
The 'Happy Pass'
Arganatinsk, 20 miles from Lake Balkash in length 400 miles (36 times larger than Lake Geneva)
Dungan Mosque and Market Place
Minaret built in Chinese style
'A Turkie. Less than ¼ Million'
Turkoman women making a carpet
'A Kirghese. About 4 Million'
'Another type of Kirghese'
'Kirghese flitting'
'Senior wife'
Tent
Interior of tent
'A Tranchi. In Chinese = Labourer'
Musical instruments
Taranchi orchestra
'A Turgot Kalmuk. 191,000'
'Sibo Woman. In dress they resemble the men. Hair plaited'
'Omnibus'
Stables at Khokand
Kohkand Palace Prison
Palace at Khokand built 1870
'Native Encampment'
'Native Bazar'
'Native Market'
'Sart Butchers'
'Sart Woman. Mixture Indo-Germanic. 1 million.'
'Sart and his Sons. Margellan.'
Boys in Fergana
'Sart Women'
'Andijan. Earthquake Dec. 1902.'
Cotton Spinning, Margellan
Karl Marx Street, Tashkent - city of stone. Extensive as Paris. Population 120,000.
'Native Quarter'
'Bazar'
'Native Street'
District of Samarkand. Area 24,184 square versts. Population 46,985.
Samarkand
Madrasa Tillah Kari
Bibi-Khanym, mausoleum. 'The most imposing ruins are undeniably the medresse and mosque of Bibi Khanym, the Chinese consort of Timur...'
Interior of Bibi-Khanym mausoleum
'Shah Zindeh. Exquisite cluster of mosques and mausoleums, raised in honour of a saint whose immortality is expressed by the title of Shah Zindeh, or the Living King.'
Gur Amir or tomb of Tamerlane
Shir Dar or the Lion. Bearing on its façade it had the Persian Lion (1601).
The Registan, Samarkand
The Registan, Samarkand
The Registan, Samarkand
The Registan, Samarkand
The Registan, Samarkand
The Registan, Samarkand
Personal
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Omsk. 31,000 inhabitants. Built upon the banks of the Om at its confluence with the Irtish. Col. John Ward arrived on the evening of November 17th 1918. Admiral Kolchak thanked him for his patriotic attempt to revive the spirit of his people.
British at Omsk
'Admiral Kolchak. Shot by a Chinaman who had been condemned to death. When? 5.a.m. 7th Feb. 1920'
Map of blockade
Kolchak cartoon
Book distribution
Louse poster
'A book is nothing else but a man speaking in public'
'Hail to them that shall be free'
'Native Propaganda'
'Native Meetings'
Baku Conference. 'The Proletariat has nothing to lose but its chains'. 'The Ruler of the World will be Labour'

[Document reference for this set of slides: MSS.15B/5/1/1]

Changing Asia

'The Islam World'

Russian Turkestan: Total population 9 millions, 1,290,000 square miles

Vierny (looking south): snowy peaks of the Southern Ala-Tau, one of the northern ranges of the Thian-Shan. Average height 8,600 feet.

Murza-robat [Robat Mirza, Afghanistan] in the 'hungry steppe' between Tashkend and Samarkand. A desert place as far back as the 7th century. At the end of the 16th century Abdullah-Khan the Emir of Bokhara is said to have built this Caravansary.

The Post Station of Bekler Bek. The Medrese stands near the highway between Tashkend and the town of Turkistan. 'The latter before the invasion of the Russians was regarded by the Muhammadans as one of the holiest of Central Asian Cities.'

Khiva: Mosque and Minaret Seid-Bai

Great Minaret, Khiva: 'It was intended for a Great Tower at least twice as high but was never finished. On the outer surface are built texts from the Koran.'

Hazarasp Gate at Khiva. The ancient Zariaspe is thought to be the town, now called Hazarasp, where Alexander the Great retired for the winter from Maracanda or Samarkand. The wall is said to be 8 miles long.

Map of Tamerlane's Empire

Thian Shan Mountains: 10,000 to 20,000 feet

The 'Happy Pass'

Arganatinsk, 20 miles from Lake Balkash in length 400 miles (36 times larger than Lake Geneva)

Dungan Mosque and Market Place

Minaret built in Chinese style

'A Turkie. Less than ¼ Million'

Turkoman women making a carpet

'A Kirghese. About 4 Million'

'Another type of Kirghese'

'Kirghese flitting'

'Senior wife'

Tent

Interior of tent

'A Tranchi. In Chinese = Labourer'

Musical instruments

Taranchi orchestra

'A Turgot Kalmuk. 191,000'

'Sibo Woman. In dress they resemble the men. Hair plaited'

'Omnibus'

Stables at Khokand

Kohkand Palace Prison

Palace at Khokand built 1870

'Native Encampment'

'Native Bazar'

'Native Market'

'Sart Butchers'

'Sart Woman. Mixture Indo-Germanic. 1 million.'

'Sart and his Sons. Margellan.'

Boys in Fergana

'Sart Women'

'Andijan. Earthquake Dec. 1902.'

Cotton Spinning, Margellan

Karl Marx Street, Tashkent - city of stone. Extensive as Paris. Population 120,000.

'Native Quarter'

'Bazar'

'Native Street'

District of Samarkand. Area 24,184 square versts. Population 46,985.

Samarkand

Madrasa Tillah Kari

Bibi-Khanym, mausoleum. 'The most imposing ruins are undeniably the medresse and mosque of Bibi Khanym, the Chinese consort of Timur...'

Interior of Bibi-Khanym mausoleum

'Shah Zindeh. Exquisite cluster of mosques and mausoleums, raised in honour of a saint whose immortality is expressed by the title of Shah Zindeh, or the Living King.'

Gur Amir or tomb of Tamerlane

Shir Dar or the Lion. Bearing on its façade it had the Persian Lion (1601).

The Registan, Samarkand

The Registan, Samarkand

The Registan, Samarkand

The Registan, Samarkand

The Registan, Samarkand

The Registan, Samarkand

Personal

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-

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Omsk. 31,000 inhabitants. Built upon the banks of the Om at its confluence with the Irtish. Col. John Ward arrived on the evening of November 17th 1918. Admiral Kolchak thanked him for his patriotic attempt to revive the spirit of his people.

British at Omsk

'Admiral Kolchak. Shot by a Chinaman who had been condemned to death. When? 5.a.m. 7th Feb. 1920'

Map of blockade

Kolchak cartoon

Book distribution

Louse poster

'A book is nothing else but a man speaking in public'

'Hail to them that shall be free'

'Native Propaganda'

'Native Meetings'

Baku Conference. 'The Proletariat has nothing to lose but its chains'. 'The Ruler of the World will be Labour'