Vintage Advertisements from India

First Online:  April 23, 2000
Last Updated: August 20, 2024

© K. L. Kamat
Swadeshi Advertisement

Introduction to Advertisements from India

In India, a country of diverse population, of over 200 languages and of even more diverse economic background of purchasers, the advertisers face unique challenges. In this online exhibit at Kamat's Potpourri, we showcase some of the old and successful messages conveyed to the public by the advertisers. They include messages to consume Swadeshi (made-in-India) to advertisements for soft drinks (a industry that boomed in India after Coca-cola was ousted in 1977).

All the advertisements are from my father's personal collection, and were collected over a fifty year period. Enjoy!

--Vikas Kamat

Vintage Advertisements of India



1938 Adverisement of Young India Records
Swadeshi Advertisement
Advertisement of the Phoenix Saree Co.
An Advertisement of the Phoenix Saree Company, 1940

An Advertisement of the Phoenix Saree Company, 1940s
Advertisement of the Phoenix Saree Co.
Vintage Indian Advertisements
Advertisement of Air India

Advertisement of Raleigh Bicycle
Vintage Advertisements
Cure for Plague
Advertisement for Medicine for Plague
A 1930s advertisement from India

Advertisement of a Panacea
An advertisement from 1930s for a vitalizing tonic
Old Advertisements from India
Amul Vintage Advertisement
Advertisement of Amul Butter

Advertisement for Half-tone Blocks
Advertisement from 1938 Congress Party Souvenir
Vintage Advertisement
Unity in Diversity Campaign by Parle
Agreement in Diversity
A Parle-Crackjack advertisement from 1980s

Art from Tourist Brochure of Maharashtra
Brochure shows motifs of Ajanta, Aurangabad and the Western Ghats
Vintage Tourist Brochure
Buy Handloom Cloth Campaign
Be Indian, Buy Indian
Swadeshi Advertisement from Kalyan Mills

Cinema Cutouts, Bangalore
Cinema Cutouts Outside a Movie Plaza
Mail Order Cotton Fabrics Ad.
Clothes by Mail Order!
Advertisement of a Cotton Mill during 1950s

"Don`t forget the Cherry Blossoms!"
Advertisement for a shoe polish, 1980
Vintage Advertisements
Multipurpose Scooter!
Hamara Bajaj!
Advertisement of a Scooter shows a pillion rider carrying a cot (charpai)

Housewife from Gujarat
Detail from advertisement postcard mailed to clothing retailers, 1940s
Picture Post Cards
Picture Post Cards
Indian woman -- from a picture postcard

A lady spinning yarn
Gandhiji used spinning as a powerful weapon to drive home the importance of self-reliance
A lady spinning Swadeshi yarn
Saree Catalog
Picture from a Saree Catalog

A Prize Winning Entry From Limca Poster Contest 1980
Order a Limca!
Woman Welcomes by Offering tea
A Saree Advertisement of 1950s from Phoenix Company

Swadeshi Advertisement
Detail from a 1940s picture postcard; artist unknown
Swadeshi Advertisement
Unity in Diversity Campaign by Parle
Unity in Diversity
A Parle-Crackjack advertisement from 1980s

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