Statue of Queen Victoria 1887 Madras
In February 1887 the Sheriff of Madras announced that Rajah Goday Narayan Gajapati Rao of Vizagapatnam has offered to install a statue of Queen Victoria as part her Jubilee celebration. The statue was made in London by Mr.Boebin under the watchful eyes of Duke of Buckingham former Governor of Madras. The Queen is sculpted as sitting on a high back Chair with a sceptre on her right hand. It was opened on 20th June 1887 by Connemara Governor of Madras. An account of the arrangements made on the opening day of the statue
"The ground in front of the statue was covered with Carpet and Red cloth and the Chepauk compound was gaily decorated. An arch was erected at the west gate of the Chepauk grounds and another stood close to the small bridge that spans the Buckingham Canal in front of Revenue Board office.
This latter arch bore the inscription " Long live our Empress" on its west face with a painting of Royal Coat of Arms above it and the inscription " Victoria the light of India " on its East face. Venetian masts from the top of which large flags floated in the breeze lined the roadway on both sides from the west gate of Chepauk upto beach road; and the south beach road from the Iron bridge to the Presidency College looked very attractive.
Strings of lamps were placed along each side of these roads. Opposite Cricket pavilion there was grand display of bunting. A saracenic arch was erected at the gate leading from Government House into Chepauk and over the top of this arch ran the inscription " The people thank their Governor ". Two arches built after the fashion of old rock cut Hindu temples were placed on the roadway in front of the statue on either side.
The inscriptions on these arches were " God bless the Empress of India " and " Long live our beloved Sovereign". By 5 pm thousands of people were present. The terrace and verandahs of Revenue Board office and Public Works Department were filled with people".
What a grand evening it would have been 130 years ago at Chepauk. My great grandfather who was 18 years at that time must have definitely witnessed this spectacle since he was an Anglophile and always spoke much of their discipline.
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