 |
| The Gwalior Monument commons.wikimedia.org |
Above image: Gwalior monument, Kolkata,Located between Prinsep and Outram ghats off Strand Road,Kolkata.......
The Gwalior Monument, a striking memorial on Strand Road along the Hooghly riverfront in Kolkata, stands as a solemn testament to a pivotal moment in the expansion of the British East India Company’s power in the mid-19th century. Erected in 1847 by Lord Ellenborough, the then Governor-General of India, the monument commemorates the English officers and soldiers who perished during the decisive Gwalior War, or Gwalior Campaign, of 1843. Due to Ellenborough's controversial and flamboyant style of governance, coupled with the unusual use of captured enemy cannons for its construction, the memorial quickly earned the popular and slightly mocking nicknames "Ellenborough’s Folly" and "The Pepperpot.
 |
| Sketch The Gwalior Monument telegraphindia.com |
"The monument is an impressive octagonal cenotaph, rising to a height of about 60 feet (18 meters). Its design, executed by Colonel H. Goodwyn of the Bengal Engineers and constructed by the prominent engineering firm Jessop and Company, is a deliberate blend of European memorial structure and Indian architectural elements. The base is a sturdy single-storied structure of white marble, lending it a classical permanence against the river backdrop. A spiral staircase inside leads to an upper floor, which is designed to resemble a Mughal chhatri or umbrella, supported by eight intricately detailed bronze pillars. The most distinctive feature is its crowning element: a magnificent bronze dome specially cast from the cannons captured from the Maratha forces during the 1843 campaign. This unique material choice symbolically turns the instruments of defeat into a monument of victory.
 |
| Gwalior monument, Kolkata getbengal.com |
 |
| Gov.Gen. Lord Ellenborough commons.wikimedia.org |
The historical context for the memorial lies squarely in the Gwalior Campaign of 1843. At the time, the Scindia Dynasty represented one of Central India's last formidable and independent forces, maintaining a large, French-based, modernized army. Following the death of Maharaja Jankoji Rao Scindia, Lord Ellenborough saw an opportunity to decisively curb the kingdom’s military might, which he viewed as a threat to Company rule. He issued a warning on December 13, 1843, demanding that the Maharani, Tara Scindia, dismiss a usurping regent and drastically reduce the size of the Gwalior army. Her non-compliance was the immediate trigger for the British invasion
.webp) |
| Gen.Hugh Gough commons.wikimedia.org |
 |
| Kolkata Gwalior monument kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com |
General Sir Hugh Gough, violating the terms of the Treaty of 1804 with Gwalior, forded the Chambal river and invaded the city on December 29, 1843. The town was noted for its grand palaces and riches, treasures that British officers were keen to seize. The Gwalior War was fiercely contested on two fronts. At Maharajpur, Sir Hugh Gough led the English army of 14,000 against a much larger Maratha force of 25,000 men backed by 150 guns, commanded by Appa Sahib. Though the British ultimately secured a victory, the Marathas inflicted a severe blow, causing a staggering 979 British casualties, including the death of General Churchill. Simultaneously, at Punniar, General Grey defeated another large Maratha army. The ensuing Treaty of Gwalior (1844) not only cemented British political control but also mandated the reduction of the Maratha army and established a British Resident in the state, effectively ending Gwalior's independence.
This conflict took place during a period of aggressive 'Indian kingdom-grabbing' by the East India Company, often using policies like the Doctrine of Lapse as a ruse. The Gwalior Monument, therefore, not only remembers the fallen but also stands as a permanent, albeit imposing, symbol of British military dominance and imperial ambition. Despite being subjected to neglect and minor vandalism over the years, the monument was restored by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in 1990. Today, the memorial’s prime location near the Hooghly river provides a picturesque view of the Howrah Bridge and the Vidyasagar Setu, while the Kolkata Circular Railway passes alongside, ensuring the monument remains a visible landmark of Kolkata’s layered, colonial history.
https://kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com/2025/03/10/gwalior-monument-kolkata
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwalior_Monument
