The Proclamation Of Queen's Rule In India

The first royal proclamation to India was made at Allahabad in northern India, on the 1st of November 1858, which will ever be a memorable moment in the history of our Indian empire. Proclaimed in the aftermath of the Indian Rebellion (1857), the British parliament passed the Government of India Act. Spelling out the terms of the transfer of the government of India from the East India Company to the ‘Crown’, that is to say, the British government: except that the wearer of the crown insisted that power transfer in her direction. Queen Victoria and her consort left their mark all over the legislation that ended the days of the East India Company. Denied a political role at home, the royal couple declared the crown’s privileges in India.

Uncoloured lithograph of The Town Hall in Calcutta by Frederick Fiebig dated c.1847.

The assumption of the reins of Government in India by her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria was celebrated at Calcutta with a great glorious ceremony and with great enthusiasm, both on the part of natives and of Europeans. From all regions people came into the city such a concourse of people as had never before been witnessed there before. Government House was, of course, the great center of attraction for everyone and shortly after 3 o'clock the streets surrounding it became almost impassable. From the Esplanade to Tank-square the entire place was alive with a surging crowd.

Esplanade Row contained many of Calcutta’s impressive public buildings including the High Court, Town Hall and Government House.

The proclamation was read, according to programme, at around 4 o'clock, the troops were all in attendance, and the public assembled in large crowds, forming a very striking assemblage in the square before the great steps of the Government House. The proclamation terms and documents were read in English by Mr. Beadon, and in regional Bengali language by Baboo Samachurn Sircar. At the end of ceremony the Royal flag was hoisted at the head of the mast erected for the occasion before Government House, and it was saluted and cheered by the European portion of crowd, led by Mr. Halliday on the first round, and again by a sailor who hoisted the flag, and who had placed himself in a remarkable position on the Dragon Gun.

A View of Government House Calcutta (Kolkata), from the Court House by James Baillie Fraser - 1826

The Auckland Hotel (Hall of all Nations), which was superbly illuminated, is shown in the Illustration from the illustrated London News, 1 January 1859. Among the various designs and illuminated devices displayed on this building was a transparency of her Majesty the Queen, surmounted by a cross, above which, in brilliant jets of gas, were the words "LONG LIVE OUR NOBLE QUEEN"

A View of Esplanade Row Calcutta (Kolkata), from the River at Chandpaul Ghat by James Baillie Fraser - 1826

Calcutta, British India, c.1840

Esplanade Row, Chowringhee, Calcutta, 1833

Supreme Court, Esplanade Row, Calcutta, 1851

View of Calcutta from Hooghly River by William Hodges. c1789

Old Court House, Tank Square, c1760-1774

Steuart and Company: House, Manufactory and Bazar, Tank Square, 1795

The Esplanade and Government House from Chowringhee, Calcutta,1865

View of Arched Gateways to the Raj Bhavan (Government House) and Great Eastern Hotel, Calcutta, c.1881

Calcutta Street Scene, c 1881

Chandpal Ghat, Calcutta, c1814

Victoria Memorial, Kolkata (Calcutta)