Mutiny Scrap Book. Containing original Paper Clippings of the Indian Mutiny. Collected and pasted in his own handwritten Note Book. Colonel U G Urmstrong of the British Army stationed in India. 1857- 58.Purchased by my father for his friend Satyajit Ray to help making of Satranj ki Khilari, from Sotheby's auction for then £100. Satyajit Ray visited Kumar often for books and material. When Ray, the famous filmmaker, started his research on the mutiny for his film Satranj ki Khilari (The Chess Player), he depended on Kumar for rare books on the subject. Kumar not only provided him all the relevant books, but also went out of his way to bid for a Scrap Book, in a London Auction, on Indian Mutiny, having paper clippings and notes on the happening. According to R.P.Gupta, a close friend, Ray did not forget this gesture and also the fact that Kumar had always helped him with innumerable informations and facts, and paid him his biggest personal tribute. He based one of his characters in his story book series on Feluda, the detective, etched on Kumar. R.P comments that the character Sidhu Jaytha (Sidhu Uncle) in the Feluda series, with an encyclopaedic knowledge, immortalizes Kumar, who had a vast knowledge on many subjects.
Mutiny Scrap Book
