Gwalior photographer behind rare Shirdi image of Sai Baba
Gwalior — A photograph of Sai Baba that is regarded as one of the most cherished and widely reproduced images of the saint was taken by a photographer from Gwalior who served as the official photographer for the Scindia princely household, according to a report published on Tuesday.
The image, showing Sai Baba leaning against a wall and surrounded by a few attendants, was captured by K H Maval, who was based in Gwalior and employed as the Scindia estate's photographer. The picture is believed to have been made roughly two years prior to the saint’s samadhi, which occurred on Dussehra in 1918 at about 2.30 PM, the report said.
"This rare photograph holds a special place in the hearts of almost all his devotees," the report said.
The photograph was taken against a wall behind the residence of Laxman Ratnaparkhi, an associate of Sai Baba in Shirdi. Over the decades the print has been reproduced in temples and private homes across India and abroad, becoming one of the iconic visual representations of the saint.
Public records and family accounts cited in the report identify Maval as an accomplished photographer in Gwalior during the era of princely rule. His professional responsibilities included documenting the Scindia royal palace, the Maharaja and visiting dignitaries. The Shirdi photograph, however, became his most enduring work in popular memory.
According to the report, Maval’s descendants continue to live in Gwalior and maintain the family’s photographic tradition. The connection between a small team of local practitioners and a nationally recognised religious image highlights an overlooked strand of the city’s cultural and visual history.
Why the photograph matters locally
For residents of Gwalior, the revelation underscores a direct link between the city’s artisans and broader cultural currents that extend beyond state borders. Photographers who served princely households often documented events of local and national significance; that one such practitioner captured a now-iconic image of a saint revered throughout India draws attention to Gwalior’s role in the production of visual heritage.
- Photographer: K H Maval — resident of Gwalior, official photographer for the Scindia princely state.
- Subject: Sai Baba of Shirdi, photographed circa two years before his samadhi in 1918.
- Location of shot: Against a wall behind Laxman Ratnaparkhi’s home in Shirdi.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Photographer | K H Maval |
| Connection to Gwalior | Resident; official Scindia palace photographer |
| Subject | Sai Baba photograph taken in Shirdi |
| Historical reference | Image made roughly two years before samadhi on Dussehra 1918 |
Local historians and heritage practitioners in Gwalior may find the account useful for mapping the city’s contribution to photography and cultural documentation during the late princely period. The Scindia household maintained a number of specialised roles, and photographers like Maval occupied an important position in recording court life and visits by dignitaries; the Shirdi image extends that remit into a devotional sphere.
While the report does not provide a catalogue record or archival reference number for the original negative or print, it says descendants of Maval retain family material and continue to practise photography in Gwalior. Their stewardship of a family archive — if accessible — could offer researchers and curators primary material for exhibitions or publications relating to early 20th-century photography in central India.
For now, the revelation serves as a reminder that objects of national and religious significance often have unexpected local origins. In this instance, a Gwalior-based visual practitioner produced an image that has travelled far beyond the city’s boundaries and has remained in the devotional imagination of millions.
