Queen Victoria’s Statue Being Removed In Bombay, 1965 Photo
This is a 1966 photo showing Queen Victoria’s statue being removed in Bombay, now Mumbai. Workers are strapping the statue for the crane to lift it out of its place and to move it to the safety of a museum. This British-era marble Queen Victoria Statue in a marbled canopy was placed on the Esplanade Road (now Mahatma Gandhi Road).
It was originally intended for the Victoria And Albert Museum (now the Bhau Daji Lad Museum). As it was considered too appealing to be confined indoors. Soon after, it was moved to Esplanade Road. Where it was displayed for almost a century, from 1872 to 1965. Indian nationalists defaced the statue in the 1920s.
Because of constant threats of further disfigurement, it was decided to move the statue. When the crane took the weight the head fell off. The second image shows it as headless. The queen’s statue now lies at the Victoria And Albert Museum (Bhau Daji Lad Museum) since then. Ironically it was its initial intended home. The marbled canopy for some reason was separated from the statue and was sold off. Click on the image for better view.
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., Unveiling Dominion Columns New Delhi, 1931., Aden, Bombay, Madras & Calcutta – Vintage Map 1910.
