The King Edward VII & Kala Ghoda Statue Bombay, 1885 Photo
A rare 1885 photo of the King Edward VII & Kala Ghoda statue in Bombay (Mumbai). Although the statue had been removed long ago, the place is still known as Kala Ghoda at Fort. The precinct includes Flora Fountain, the Prince of Wales Museum, Horniman Circle, etc. It also covers Watson’s Hotel, Elphinstone College, David Sassoon Library, and the Army & Navy building.
The name Kala Ghoda referred to an equestrian statue of King Edward VII mounted on a horse, as seen in this photo. The king had toured Bombay and other parts of India in 1875 when he was the Prince of Wales. After the royal visit and in memory, an equestrian statue of the king was donated to the city by Albert David Sassoon in 1876. Sassoon was a well-known and highly respected industrialist and philanthropist of the city.
Edward VII, succeeded his mother, Queen Victoria, to the British throne after she died in 1901. The statues of the Prince, Queen Victoria, and other British personalities were removed in 1965. However, in 2017, another equestrian statue, also named Kala Ghoda, was placed in the same area. But devoid of the famous rider. It was commissioned by the Kala Ghoda Association. Click on the photo to enlarge.
Read more History of Kala Ghoda – Statue Old & New.
Did you know – the original bronze sculpture measured 12 feet 9 inch high, and was designed by Edgar Boehm.
Past posts – 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#10)., Main Street Pune – Old Postcard 1910., Queen Victoria Memorial Project Allahabad, 1902 Print ., Aden, Bombay, Madras & Calcutta – Vintage Map 1910.
