GWALIOR MONUMENT ... Cenotaph from Melted Weapons !!

Let me start this post with the definition/explanation of two common English word:

• Folly - An act of foolishness OR A costly ornamental building with no practical purpose.
• Pepper-pot - A container for pepper (a common item in our dining table).

I know that you are confused. You are definitely wondering that whether I am conducting an English class or writing a heritage blog. Please don't get bewildered. Have patience and read on. 

Today, I'm exploring the GWALIOR MONUMENT, a solitary structure in the revamped Kolkata Riverfront, stretching from Outram Ghat to Prinsep Ghat. The above words are linked to this site only but I will explain those in the proper place. First, let us go back around 200 years to start the journey.

History of Gwalior in a nutshell -

Gwalior is a historical city in the state of Madhya Pradesh and one of the Counter-magnet area of India. The history of Gwalior can be traced back to the 6th century BC. With the start of foreign invasion in the late 12th century, Gwalior had been ruled by different leaders till its capture by the British in 1843. With the Turkish seize in 1231, it was under the Muslim rule for 150 years, then passed on to Tomar Rajputs, then Mughals and finally the Marathas got the power. 

Anglo-Maratha War and the Treaty of Burhanpur -

The fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799 was actually the fall of Mysore as a serious threat to the British expansion in South. The Marathas were the only major power left outside the British control. Major General Arthur Wellesley (the very same person who defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo) turned attention towards it. 

The Maratha empire at that time consisted of a confederacy of five major chiefs - Peshwa at Pune, Gaekwad of Baroda, Bhonsale of Nagpur, Holkar of Indore and the Scindia of Gwalior. Gwalior was then ruled by Daulat Rao Scindia. After the repeated defeats against the British troops, Daulat Rao, overwhelmed by a sense of failure and frustration, signed the Treaty of Surji-Arjungaon with the East India Company in Dec. 1803. This treaty was further clarified by the signing of Treaty of Burhanpur in Feb. 1804. It was actually a defensive alliance with the East India Company. This treaty, was however ignored in subsequent diplomatic relations but was never formally denounced. Lord Cornwallis termed it as a 'Dead Letter'.

The Article VI of this controversial treaty was something like this -

"The subsidiary force, will at all times, be ready, on the requisition of Maharaja, to execute services of importance such as the care of the person of Maharaja, his heirs and successors, the overawing and chastisement of rebels or exciters of disturbances in Maharaja's dominions; but it is not be employed on trifling occasions."

Gwalior Campaign, 1843 -

After the death of Daulat Rao in 1827, British left no stone unturned to make it surrender under English dominion and a war was inevitable. Jankoji Rao II succeeded Daulat Rao but passed away in Feb. 1843 without leaving a heir. Bhagirath Shinde was adopted and succeeded the 'Gwalior Gaddi' under the name of Jayaji Rao in 1843 at the age of 8. A civil war was impending. This was the time when East India Company decided to interfere citing violation of Article VI of Burhanpur Treaty. The 'Gwalior Campaign' was launched by Lord Ellenborough, the then Governor General of India.

The British, under the command of General Sir Hugh Gough and Lt. General Sir John Grey, clashed with the Maratha Forces, in two battles on the same day: 29th December, 1843 (as per H E A Cotton, it's 20th Dec.). Gough led the British army in the Battle of Maharajpore while Grey encountered Maratha forces in the Battle of Punniar. After several casualties on both side, Marathas were defeated by the mighty British force and their guns and artillery were seized. 

In 1844, a new treaty of Gwalior was signed and a British Governor was appointed in Gwalior Fort. The British Soldiers who participated in the battle, were awarded a medal - Gwalior Star. 

Gwalior Monument, Calcutta -

Photograph taken during 1912-14

In 1847, Lord Ellenborough decided to build a Cenotaph (a memorial without any grave) in the memory of the officers and men fell during the Gwalior War of 1843. Conceptualised by Ellenborough himself, Colonel H Goodwyn of Bengal Engineers designed the Gwalior Monument and it was constructed by Jessop & Co. This octagonal cenotaph is about 60 ft. high (58 ft. 6 inches to be precise) and built in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The monument is crowned with a metal cupola which is actually a bronze dome supported by eight bronze pillars. The base is single storied made of bricks and faced with Jaipur marble. A spiral marble staircase is leading to the upper floor from inside. The top of the monument is built like a Mughal 'Chhatri' or umbrella. The entire bronze part was cast by melting the guns, about 100 in numbers, captured from the Marathas in the war. 

Upstairs there is a commemorative bronze sarcophagus in the centre - unoccupied and inscribed with the names of British Officers and native soldiers who took part in the Gwalior War. H E A Cotton in his 'Calcutta - Old and New' mentioned "...some of the surnames of the English soldiers are noticeable by their uncommonness: Casebow, Epalett, 'Kernon Troy', Homer, Bumevin, Fishlock. Equally striking is the spelling of native names: Twangerally being quite unrecognisable, although Peer Baccus is not...". Unfortunately, I couldn't photograph the sarcophagus as the monument is under lock and key. The security guard won't allow you without a permission from PWD. But the upper floor would certainly provide a majestic view of Hooghly river with the full view of Howrah Bridge on one side and the Vidyasagar Bridge on the other.

It was might be considered as a show-off act by Ellenborough that the monument earned the nickname 'Ellenborough's Folly' during the British period itself and the visual similarity with our everyday utensil lead it to the reference of 'Pepper-pot' !!

A small marble plaque, obscured by dust, lying at the right side of the entrance keeps the account of its last thorough renovation - "This Monument has been restored in 1990 by The U B Group. 1 Vittal Mallya Road. Bangalore - 560001, under the supervision of the Calcutta Chapter of INTACH, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage".


Fast Fact - Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, the former Union Minister of Power under UPA II Government belongs to this very same Scindia family and he is the current Maharaja of Gwalior.

Acknowledgement:

• Calcutta - Old and New by H E A Cotton
• History of the Marathas by R S Chaurasia
• The Victorians at War, 1815-1914: An Encyclopedia of British Military History by Harold E. Rough
• The Article on Gwalior Monument hosted by Kolkata on Wheels Website.
• Wikipedia