Queen Victoria’s Statue Being Removed In Bombay, 1965 Photo
A 1966 photograph captures the removal of Queen Victoria’s statue in Bombay (now Mumbai). Due to persistent threats of vandalism, authorities decided to relocate the statue to a museum for safekeeping. In the image, workers are seen strapping the statue and preparing to lift it with a crane. However, as the crane took the weight, the statue’s head suddenly detached and fell off.
The second image shows the statue of Queen Victoria headless, moments after the mishap. Since then, the statue has been housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum (now the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum), ironically, its originally intended location. The marble canopy that once sheltered the statue on Esplanade Road (now Mahatma Gandhi Road) was, for unknown reasons, separated and went missing.
During the British era, the statue stood prominently under this marble canopy, a symbol of imperial presence in the heart of Bombay. As it was considered too appealing to be confined indoors, Queen Victoria’s statue was originally intended for the Victoria And Albert Museum (now the Bhau Daji Lad Museum). It was moved to Esplanade Road soon after. It was displayed there for almost a century, from 1872 to 1965. Indian nationalists defaced the statue in the 1920s. Click on the photo to enlarge.
Read more Seated Statue Of Queen Victoria.
Did you know – the ornately carved marble canopy lies in the compound of an industrialist’s home today.
From the collection –1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#17)., Bangalore Cantonment Market – Old Postcard 1900.
