Annointing Nawab of Arcot 1842
Lord Elphinstone Governor of Madras (1837-42) annointing young Titular Arcot Nawab Ghulam Mohammed Ghaus Khan in August 1842 at Chepauk Palace. It is said that he was appointed as Governor of Madras since it was rumoured that young Queen Victoria had fallen in love with him. During his period Elphinstone bridge on the Adyar was built. A first hand account of the annointing ceremony at Chepauk.
" The ceremony of the installation of the Nawab of Carnatic at Chepauk Palace was performed on the 25th August with great splendour in the presence of the Governor, Commander in Chief, Members of the Council , Judges of Supreme Court with various heads of department. The young Nawab was conducted to the musnud by Lord Elphinstone who was supported on his left by the Naib -i- Mooktar the late regent. The installation was announced to the multitude outside by a salute from the battery and an incessant fire of musketry. The ceremony was performed in a spacious hall decorated with full length portraits of the present Nawab his uncle and grand father. The quadrangle outside presented a pleasing and animated experience; the Nawab elephant twelve in number and gaily caparisoned several mounted with different coloured howdahs formed no inconsiderable feature in the scene. The ceremonies being ended his highness conducted the Governor to the inner palace were a collation was prepared for nearly 200 persons laid out in three long adjoining apartments separated merely by pillars supplementary tables being spread in a long verandah at one end of them; it passed of without disorder not withstanding the immense assemblage of various creeds and colours whom the spectacle had brought together".
Visualising the event that happened 175 years ago and enjoying it.
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