Through the lens: Mukul Royun photography and the first days of Devon Avenue

In this blog post, the research and entry department in the CHM, a graduate assistant Anita Sharma wrote the work that documented the establishment of South Asian communities in Mukul Roy and Chicago.

In 1984, India American photographer Mukul Roy (1931-2023) presented the portfolio of twenty-four black-and-white photos in the Chicago History Museum (previously Chicago History Society). DePaul University Professor Laura Kina’s Asia refer to this gift in a rare interview for the American Oral History Project. The interview remains one of several public accessible sources that document Roy’s life and photo experience.

Devon Avenue near Maplewood Avenue, November 1984. Chm, Ichi-026078Open mukul roy, photographer

During the Born India, Roy was held in India before moving to England in 1966 in 1966 in Udupi. He moved to the United States in 1970 and settled in Chicago. With its photo trip early 1980s, with the purchase of the first camera, an instamatic purchased with store coupons. At that time, photography was a way to walk cultural and language barriers that encountered as a new immigrant. There was an interest and communication tool that allows you to relate to the South Asia, which is growing around and around. Then he was raised to a Nikon chamber, took photography classes and was written in a master program in Columbia College Chicago.

Roy’s arrival has been the center of immigration and detailed information from 1965 to 1980 by 1980 to 1980 by the Azerbaijani population, especially in the Devon Avenue in the neighborhood of West Ridge, the revelation of South Asia, this demographic turn with the body documenting. These images seize South Asian Diaspora space preparation – how came together to establish cultural acquaintance and social communication.

The 1984 portfolio Devon Avenue, including the first Sari-store shop, including street life, including street life, including clothing stores, grocery products, grocery stores, and many South Asian women in Chicago ordered Saris from Japanese mail order catalogs. Roy calls reminded: “Selecting examples had shopping issues and because of a long waiting period. A few months after the opening of the store, the Indian people followed the store.” The store that sells imported synthetic Sarias from Japan, became a cultural center for women not only shopping, but to assemble and socialize.

Royal Sari Store, 2541 Devon Avenue, participants in November 1984 and customers. Chm, Ichi-025787Open mukul roy, photographer

While investigating Devon Avenue and South Asian communities in Chicago, Mukul Royun photos are almost always the surface. It intuitively understood the long-term importance of documenting daily moments. At a time of visual representation of South Asian life in the city, Roy, he turned to people, enterprises and rhythms that will determine a nervous diaspora society.

Devon Avenue is now synonymous with Iconic Patel Brothers supermarket, which opened its first place in 1974 and later in the United States. Photos of Royun’s original Patel brothers are among the earliest visual notes of this cultural signs and are currently quoted in the area, exhibitions and local dates are often quoted.

In the son of the owner’s Patel, 2542 Devon Avenue, November 1984, November 2542 November. Chm, Ichi-026012Open mukul roy, photographer

Roy, South Asian immigrants and families are difficult to find the spices in a difficult and new environment, looking for familiar dishes. Its photographs show that local enterprises shared foods and the vital placement places where the families share their food with a wider society.

A family in food and flavor, 2559 Devon Avenue, in December 1984. Chm, Ichi-025847Open mukul roy, photographer

Standard India restaurant on Devon Avenue. Chm, Ichi-025788Open mukul roy, photographer

The fun of a familiar family leased the famous Bollywood movies from neighborhood grocery stores. In the 1980s, in South Asian supermarkets, these video kiosks were facilities by establishing a relationship shared to home and culture for many new families.

Video in food and flavored video, 2559 Devon Avenue, November 1984. Chm, Ichi-189095Open mukul roy, photographer

In addition to the documentary in Chicago, Roy was a career as a free photojournalist. Contributed to publications such as India Tribune and Chicago Tribune, and the tasks returned him to India. In 1984, he returned to India and took a photo of the Prime Minister Gandhi in a short time before the conspiracy. That same year, he seized the memorial march in Chicago in honor of Gankin. Roy also covered significant political moments, including South Asian leaders and respected individuals.

Indira Gandhi, Devon Avenue March March 31, 1984, October 31, 1984. Chm, Ichi-061457Open mukul roy, photographer

In the early 1990s, Mukul Roy held the first solo show in the Chicago Cultural Center in Chicago Cultural Center, organized by the Department of Culture Affairs, “Asian Indians”. At that time, he was exhibited at the Artemisia Gallery, an alternative art. Recently, his case was seen at the Archive exhibition and was shown at the Unseen Exhibition: South Asia Mapschick in the South Asia Institute in 2024.

The portfolio of Devon Avenue is located in the collection of Chicago History Museum and is also shown in the electronic encyclopedia of Chicago. These achievements emphasize important legacy in the arrest and protection of early South Asian Diasporary history in Chicago.

Bibliography

• Emily Eller, interview with Mukhul Roy, 2011.
• “Indians” Chicago Encyclopedia, Chicago Historical Society.
• Maria Nilsson, “The same Explorer: interested minds of interested in the mind” Chicago TribuneJuly 29, 1990.
• Serana A. Rodriguez, “Devon Avenue is a party for the South Asian community of feelings and mental Chicagon” Chicago Sun timesNovember 25, 2022.
• Mukul Roy, portfolio of Indian immigrants, 24 photographers, black and white, 1984, Chicago History Museum Collection.
• South Asian American Policy and Research Institute, Counting information: South Asia Americans in the 2010 census focused on Illinois (Chicago: Saapri, 2013).
• Jie Zong and Jeanne Batalova, “Indian immigrants in the United States, the Institute of Migration Policy, July 11, 2006.