Descriptions

A robe (choga) from India
A choga is a long sleeved woollen garment that is loosely worn by men. Its origins lie in the rich weaving traditions of Central Asia. This particular robe is decorated with panels of richly couched gold and silver threadwork embroidery and is lined with a very fine Gujurat-made silk fabric called mashru. It appears to have been made in the Kashmir or the Punjab regions of colonial India.

This garment’s acquisition is linked to Britain’s colonial history in India. Major-General Daniel Mocatta, formerly Lieutenant, of the Bengal Staff Corps obtained this garment as a result of the forced march on Delhi during the “Indian Mutiny” of 1857.

On 6 September 2022 RAMM hosted ten internationally renowned writers, poets and spoken word artists as part of a partnership with the Museum of Colour. The Museum of Colour is a digital museum that explores the contribution made by People of Colour to the nation’s culture, specifically in film, television and the arts. Mona Arshi, Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Fred D'Aguiar, Jennifer Lee Tsai, Adam Lowe, Shivanee Ramlochan, Jacob Sam-La Rose, John Siddique, Yomi Sode and Yusra Warsama performed specially written pieces, influenced and inspired by objects in the collections at RAMM accompanied by live music from composer Randolph Matthews. The event is part of Museum of Colour's exhibition 'My Words', celebrating the legacy of poets of Colour in Britain over 250 years. Shivanee Ramlochan wrote a poem in response to this robe https://museumofcolour.org.uk/my-words/response-gallery/shivanee-ramlochan?piece=9

This object is not on display.