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John Burke
The Khan of Lalpura and Followers, with Political Officer
1878-1880
Albumen print
24.1 x 29.6 cm (image)
The Royal Collection
RCIN 2702092
LL/93685
Group photograph, taken on a mountain hillside, with seventeen Afghan tribesmen including the Khan of Lal Pur (who may be the man sitting in second row, fourth from left, carrying a dagger), carrying swords, daggers and rifles. The man in the second row, third from left, dressed in European style uniform and striped turban with cloth over shoulder, with a ring on his finger, is Colonel Sir Robert Warburton (1842-1899).
This was taken by John Burke in 1878. Burke travelled widely as a photographer in the sub-continent, but is best known for his photography during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80). Colonel Warburton was half-Afghan, his mother Shah Jahan Begum was the niece of the former Amir Dost Mohammed of Afghanistan, and his father was Lieutenant Colonel Robert Warburton who saw action in Kabul in the First Afghan War (1838-42). It was said that she had saved him from capture and he fell in love with her and married her. Their son was educated in India and at Addiscombe in England, joining the Royal Artillery and returning to India in 1862. After the Khyber Pass came under British possession, he was made political officer in charge of the pass, from 1879-1897, responsible for the Afridis, considered the most aggressive of the Afghan tribes.
Photograph in album presented by the Earl of Lytton (1831-91), Viceroy of India to Queen Victoria in 1880
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