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My Curious Years with Charles Henri Ford: The Autobiography of Indra B. Tamang
A young Nepalese man’s globe-spanning relationship with an American surrealist over three decades changes the course of his life, his fortune, and his sense of family and home.
In 1973, poet, photographer, collage artist, and sculptor Charles Henri Ford, often called the father of American surrealism, convinced a young Nepalese waiter at his hotel in Kathmandu to come work as his all-purpose helper. Nineteen-year-old Indra Tamang, who spoke minimal English, was soon enjoying an education and a life he could not have imagined. He quickly graduated from cooking and running errands to attending social engagements with Charles, to accompanying the artist on his international travels, eventually becoming his collaborator, and more of a son than an employee.
Charles was a magnet for creative people, and during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, Indra found himself at the center of seemingly every fantastic little universe in New York, Paris, Crete, and Kathmandu, often as a quiet observer taking photographs and making mental notes. There was Studio 54, Andy Warhol’s Factory, the teas that Charles would host at the Dakota, attended by regulars such as Tennessee Williams, Quentin Crisp, Patti Smith and Henry Geldzahler; there were special dinners at the United Nations; visits to Mary McCarthy and Leonor Fini; and chats in the elevator with neighbors like John and Yoko and Lauren Bacall. Charles gave Indra a second upbringing, one that Indra absorbed with tremendous curiosity and enthusiasm. In turn, Indra brought Charles into his family’s village in Nepal, introducing him to a world that not many Westerners were privileged to see, especially then. Indra managed to shuttle between these two vastly different worlds, marrying and having children in Nepal, though not revealing this to Charles for quite some years.
In 2010, Indra Tamang became the object of global fascination after inheriting two apartments from Charles’s sister, the actress Ruth Ford. The story in the Wall Street Journal described a Nepalese “butler” who “grew up in a mud hut” and ended up owning property in one of New York’s most famous buildings. The attention that followed inspired Indra to write this richer and more accurate account of his life. Illustrated with nearly fifty photographs and ephemera from the private collections of Charles and Indra, gathered together for the first time and including some never before shown, readers will discover that nothing about Indra’s “curious years” with Charles and his constellation of friends was ever ordinary or predictable in any way.
In 1973, poet, photographer, collage artist, and sculptor Charles Henri Ford, often called the father of American surrealism, convinced a young Nepalese waiter at his hotel in Kathmandu to come work as his all-purpose helper. Nineteen-year-old Indra Tamang, who spoke minimal English, was soon enjoying an education and a life he could not have imagined. He quickly graduated from cooking and running errands to attending social engagements with Charles, to accompanying the artist on his international travels, eventually becoming his collaborator, and more of a son than an employee.
Charles was a magnet for creative people, and during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, Indra found himself at the center of seemingly every fantastic little universe in New York, Paris, Crete, and Kathmandu, often as a quiet observer taking photographs and making mental notes. There was Studio 54, Andy Warhol’s Factory, the teas that Charles would host at the Dakota, attended by regulars such as Tennessee Williams, Quentin Crisp, Patti Smith and Henry Geldzahler; there were special dinners at the United Nations; visits to Mary McCarthy and Leonor Fini; and chats in the elevator with neighbors like John and Yoko and Lauren Bacall. Charles gave Indra a second upbringing, one that Indra absorbed with tremendous curiosity and enthusiasm. In turn, Indra brought Charles into his family’s village in Nepal, introducing him to a world that not many Westerners were privileged to see, especially then. Indra managed to shuttle between these two vastly different worlds, marrying and having children in Nepal, though not revealing this to Charles for quite some years.
In 2010, Indra Tamang became the object of global fascination after inheriting two apartments from Charles’s sister, the actress Ruth Ford. The story in the Wall Street Journal described a Nepalese “butler” who “grew up in a mud hut” and ended up owning property in one of New York’s most famous buildings. The attention that followed inspired Indra to write this richer and more accurate account of his life. Illustrated with nearly fifty photographs and ephemera from the private collections of Charles and Indra, gathered together for the first time and including some never before shown, readers will discover that nothing about Indra’s “curious years” with Charles and his constellation of friends was ever ordinary or predictable in any way.
264 pages, Paperback
Published October 22, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 8, 2024
I was very lucky to meet Indra in person when I had tea with him and Charles-Henri at their apartment in the Dakota, along with my old friend Felice Picano. This book is an absolute delight and answers something I've always wondered about, which is who was that lovely Nepalese gentleman serving me tea? It turns out Indra has a fascinating story and the book is beautifully written and I really couldn't put it down - I just about gobbled it up in one go. The photographs are marvelous as well and I do remember some fun times with Charles-Henri and enjoyed finding out more about his life, especially his times with Indra. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It really was a pleasure and Indra, thank you for the tea and I send you my very best regards.
September 2, 2024
A captivating journey into the enigmatic world of Charles Henri Ford, a trailblazing poet, publisher, and artist who was a central figure in the surrealist and avant-garde movements. Told with warmth, wit, and the unique perspectives of Indra Tamang—Ford’s longtime confidant and celebrated photographer—and Romy Ashby, an acclaimed writer and chronicler of the underground arts scene, this memoir offers an insider’s look at Ford’s life and the most influential artists of the 20th century. A must-read for anyone fascinated by the vibrant, creative forces that shaped modern art and literature.
January 24, 2025
Indra tells a tale of life from Nepal's high mountains to New York City's high rises. His life journey is inspiring and envy-worthy, but it also makes you heartache. Thank you for sharing your very personal story with the world.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews