On a Monday morning, as I make my way through Cubbon Park, I stop to notice the Statue of Queen Victoria next to the Park. On a working day, there aren’t many people. But there are a group of men busy at work to restore the statue.
“It will take some days,” one worker hurriedly says as he makes his way into the space where the statue stands.
The flora and fauna of Cubbon Park captures our attention more than anything else. But when you take time to look closely at the statue, you will marvel at its sheer grandeur.
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Sculpted by Sir Thomas Brock, the 11 feet high marble statue is larger than life. It brings out the personality of Queen Victoria, who had been the Monarch of Great Britain from 1837 till 1901, depicting a rather proud, stern person with pronounced features.
About 50 statues of Queen Victoria, following her death in 1901, were commissioned to be erected in several cities across India, Bengaluru was one of them. In 1906, the statue was unveiled in the city by George Frederick Ernest Albert, Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and York, making it stand in all its glory in its 111th year. The statue has a few chips on it, but has stood splendidly against the ravages of time.
Even though there is a wealth of history to the statue, and it was made to appear imposing, the busy Bengalurean would probably refer to it as just another landmark. As the workers are busy in discussion on the instructions given to them, life continues as usual in the Park. Hawkers sell their ware, Bengaluru traffic speeds by, and a few people saunter in to enjoy the scenery. The pride on the statue’s face seems to have softened too over the years.
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