Victoria Memorial, Calcutta, Before Its Grand Opening, 1921 Photo
A 1921 photograph captures a flurry of activities on the path to the Victoria Memorial Hall in British-era Calcutta. A procession of mostly open-top motorcars of the period can be seen moving from the left towards the foreground. The activity could conceivably be connected with preparations for the memorial’s inauguration. Perhaps the Viceroy was visiting the site to inspect the arrangements, or the Prince of Wales was being shown the monument ahead of its formal opening.
The magnificent white-marble structure was formally opened to the public on 28 December 1921 by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII. Designed by Sir William Emerson, the building gives a commanding presence in the heart of Calcutta. The grand entrance arch, crowned by an equestrian statue of King Edward VII, stands prominently before the domed memorial building.
The building was conceived by Lord Curzon in memory of Queen Victoria. While the main building opened in 1921, final structural additions like the corner cupolas and gardens were added at a later date. The photo offers an interesting glimpse of motoring in the early 1920s, when automobiles were increasingly associated with official visits, ceremonial occasions, and the transport of the colonial elite. Another striking feature is the artillery field gun positioned on the open grounds in front of the memorial, adding a military dimension to an otherwise stately scene. Housed in a 64-acre estate, today, the Memorial functions as one of India’s premier public museums, art galleries, and cultural spaces.
Did you know – the Victoria Memorial’s central dome is topped by the massive Angel of Victory hollow bronze statue, a figure that can rotate in the wind.
