Record Number: 18308

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'The same afternoon we were received with much pomp and ceremony by [His Holiness] the Rawal [of the pilgrim village of Badrinath]. An address was read to us by his interpreter from the foot of the temple steps. This address was couched so delightfully that I make no excuse for giving it here in full.' (Full text of letter follows over 2 pages.)

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

31 Jul 1931

Country:

India

Time

afternoon

Place:

city: Badrinath, Garwhal District
other location: foot of temple steps

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Listener:

Frank Smythe

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

6 Jul 1900

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

mountaineer, writer, photographer

Religion:

unknown

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

India

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

Capt.E. St John Birnie and other (unspecified) members of the successful Kamet Expedition.

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

His Holiness the Rawal of Badrinath

Title:

[address to mountaineers]

Genre:

Geography / Travel, Politics

Form of Text:

Unknown

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

18308

Source:

Print

Author:

Frank Smythe

Editor:

n/a

Title:

Kamet Conquered : in The Six Alpine/Himalayan Climbing Books

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

2000 (1932)

Vol:

n/a

Page:

505

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Frank Smythe, Kamet Conquered : in The Six Alpine/Himalayan Climbing Books, (London, 2000 (1932)), p. 505, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=18308, accessed: 09 October 2024

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Additional Comments:

This letter, from the high priest of Badrinath and the public of that village, congratulates the team on their successful first ascent of the mountain (then the highest ascent in India) and asks the team to petition the British Indian Government for improved road access.
Other members of the expedition were also present at this reading.