What was the Delhi Durbar 1903? (3 Viewers)

[Ana Donzino]

Ana,

This is a great thread!

A question. Can you add more as to who the Imperial Cadets were?

I ask as I am aware of a small party from one Australian private school who attended the Durbar.

Scott

Thank you, Scott. I don't know much about the Imperial cadets. Only that they were part of an Indian elite academy, where many Indian princes were formed. Here is what I found online:


During the British Raj in India until 1901, professional military training was the exclusive preserve of the British officer. Yet in 1901, military training was extended for the first time to the Raj’s Indian subjects, in the form of the Imperial Cadet Corps (ICC).

In 1897, the Maharaja of Cooch Behar, wrote to Lord George Hamilton, the India Secretary, asking whether his son, then at Eton, could obtain an officer commission in the British Army. Since the Maharaja was an Indian prince, and thus a “legitimate” Indian, his request was taken seriously. However, it was rejected because Indian princes were legally not British subjects, and thus were barred, according to the Act of Settlement of 1690, from holding officers’ commissions in any part of the Crown’s Armed Forces.

In Lord George Curzon, the incoming Viceroy, he found a willing and like-minded ally. In June 1900, Curzon produced a proposal to set-up an Imperial Cadet Corps to meet the military aspirations of Indian princes and gentlemen. This was to be a small body of between twenty and thirty carefully selected young scions of the Indian princely and noble houses, and was to be attached to the Viceroy’s Durbar on special ceremonial occasions. For rest of their time, the cadets were to undergo a course of military training. The Corps was to be under the control of the Government of India’s Foreign Department, which handled all dealings with the princes.

http://usiofindia.org/Article/Print/?pub=Journal&pubno=577&ano=289


I was aware of the Australian private school attending the Durbar. I understand that one of those students wrote a book about her experiences there.

Ana

 

[Hazebrouck]

I was aware of the Australian private school attending the Durbar. I understand that one of those students wrote a book about her experiences there.

Ana

Hi Ana,

Thanks for that link to the Imperial Cadet Corps story.

Your mention of a book jogged my memory as I have a copy of this book. The book you are referring to is called 'A season in India- The letters of Ruby Madden', edited by Helen Rutledge and originally printed in 1976. Ruby Madden was a sister in law of Lieutenant-Colonel Claude de Courcy Hamilton of the Royal Artillery, who invited her to India to attend the Durbar. There is a chapter concerning the Durbar and in her letters are mentions of the Imperial Cadet Corps uniforms.

Additionally there are some more photos in the book of the Imperial Cadet Corps. They were mounted on 'walers' (Australian horses).

If these details are of any use to you send me a PM with your email details.

Scott

 

[Ana Donzino]

Scott,

Thank you so much for the information! I really appreciate it. As my research about the Delhi Durbar 1903 has been focused mainly on the events of the Indian Princes, I don't know much outside them, except for the things that really concerned the elephants background.
I haven't had the chance to read Miss Madden's book. I will try to get it. I'm really interested on her comments about the Durbar.
I'd love to receive more information. I'll send my email address in a PM.
Thanks!

Ana

PD: I appreciate any comments about my posts, adding information or correcting mistakes

 

[Ana Donzino]

After the Indian Chiefs

Following the 48 elephants of the Main Procession, carriages with authorities and more cavalry came.
Carriages with Grand Duke of Hesse, The Governors of Bombay, Madras and The Punjab, all of them with their bodyguards.
On horse, Lord Kitchener on horse escorted by mounted volunteers.
Carriages again: Governors of Burna, Bengal and the United Provinces Burma Bengal united provinces of Agra y Oudh. The honbles.
Horseback: Authorities, The Baluch Chiefs, Chiefs of the NW Frontier
More authorities on carriages
The 11st Bengal Lancers


The last elephants of the Main Procession and the first horses that followed


More cavalry turning from Khas rd. You can see the Main Procession at the back, leaving, having already turned around the Jumma Masjid, and turning onto Esplanade rd towards Chadni Chawk


Grand Duke of Hesse with his staff and Escort of the 15th Hussars


More carriages and horsemen. Al the back (top left) the second group of elephants, the Retinues, is getting ready to follow

 

[Ana Donzino]

The Baluch chiefs and the chiefs of the NW frontier




This picture shows clearly the public in front of the Town Hall. Most women and children were there, and all the Indian Chiefs that weren't riding their elephants

 

[Ana Donzino]

Here is a detail I wanted to show you. There are very very few pictures (if any) of the Retinue elephants, waiting all along Elgin Road (the road that ran along the Red Fort, the one that the elephants took in order to get to Khas road, which led them to the Jumma Masjid). They waited on both sides of the street saluting (same pattern as Queen's rd) until the Main Procession passed in front of them. After the second group of cavalry and carriages ended, they moved out of their places to continue with the Procession. This picture shows some cavalry going around the South side of the Juma, and the row of Retinue elephants can be seen at the back.


Red Fort at the distance, and the elephants waiting for their turn to go


A closer look with the Red Fort as a reference


A much closer look. Lovely view of the Retinue elephants


A view of the Main Procession coming, taken from the highest point of the Jumma Masjid

 

[Ana Donzino]

Here's a plate, from 'The Sphere', that helps us get an idea of how the Retinue elephants waited for their turn to go


The traffic was crazy. Here, the carriages, bringing the spectators, arrive at the Jumma Masjid. Most accounts talk about taking hours to arrive, and even more to leave the place. Having in mind that the Procession in total took a bit less than 2 hours, taking 2 hours to arrive and 2 more hours to get back home must have made it a long day under the sun.


The 'parking lot'


The return home

 

[Ana Donzino]

Now it was time for the second (and much larger) group of elephants.

There’s no much about the Retainers elephants. They were all the elephants that each state brought to Delhi, except for the state elephants that carried the Maharajas and Rajas. The Retainer or Retinue elephants were ridden by Sardars and attendants of the Indian Chiefs. There are many pictures, but they don’t cover all the elephants at all.
If you go to the press releases, they barely covered the first few elephants of the Main Procession. They all describe the first 4 or 6, and then comment on any particular elephant that called their attention, but that’s it. Unfortunately they didn’t describe all the elephants as the first from the group. So no much expected comments about the Retinues.
The references say that they were 166 elephants marching after the Main Procession, but the listed ones don’t include a few states that were there indeed, nor the ones from the Shan States, so there were probably many more. The accounts mention about 250.

Here is a list of the quantity of elephants that each Indian state brought:
Rajputana (Major Michin leading)
Jaipur 4
Bundi 4
Kota 1
Karauli 4
Bharatpur 2
Jaisalmer 1
Alwar 9
Tonk 3
Sirohi 1
Jhalawar 2
Shahpura 2

Central India (Capt. Barnes leading)
Gwalior 15
Indore 5
Bhopal 2
Rewa 11
Orchha 8
Datia 7
Dhar 1
Samthar 6
Charkhari 5
Rajgarh 1
Narsingarh 1

Kashmir 6
Hyderabad 16

Punjab
Patiala 6
Bahawalpur 2
Nabha 6
Jind 5
Sirmur 4
Kapurthala 1
Maler Kotla 2
Faridkot 2
Kalsia 2

United Provinces
Benares 6
Bulrampur 8
Rampur 5
Sardars and attendants


A group of Press representatives



The Rewa Group, with the Baby Elephant in front and the Rewa Executioner in third place, on the left column



Same group, a few minutes before (passing in front of the East side of the Jumma Masjid)



Beau Geste's Baby Elephant from Rewa (BG114)

 

[Ana Donzino]

The Rewa group walking along Chadni Chawk, in front of the Town Hall. Check how tiny the baby elephant is, walking in front of the group of elephants


Same group after the first curve around the Jumma, along the south side of the building


A detail of the previous photo. I bought this digital copy from the British Library about 9 years ago. It's very neat, and we used the picture to make our Rewa Executioner elephant. The tigers on the sides of the howda look black, but they are yellow. If you look closely you will see the black stripes on the darkened yellow. Same happened with the Maharaja of Hyderabad's elephant. It wore all yellow and gold, and it looks black in all the photos.


Beau Geste's Rewa Executioner Elephant (set BG275)

 

[Ana Donzino]

No idea to which states these elephants belong. This is my next project, to identify as many elephants as possible. For that, I need to study and research among all the photos I have from January 7, the Retainers Review at the Amphitheatre.

 

[Ana Donzino]

Although no text mentions if the elephants were the last of the parade, there are pictures of camel riders and cavalry from the princely states going their same route. It's probable that the states had some of their military groups, escorts and servants parading after them. But it's just a guess, I couldn't find anything about them anywhere (remember that I said the more at the back of the Procession the less mentions and descriptions)

That's all for today. More soon.

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

Some comments from Wheeler about the procession leaving of the city

...'Passing down Esplanade Row, the viceregal procession turned into the Chadni Chawk, at a point nearly opposite the Delhi bank, once the residence of the celebrated Begum Somru; a place which has its memories, also, of the Mutiny, for on the roof of an outhouse, the manager of the Bank, Mr. Beresford, on May 11th, 1857, desperately defended himself and his family till he was overpowered. The march of the procession through the Chadni Chawk, the Silver Street of Delhi, which was thronged with Indian spectators, who also filled every window on either side, and crowded the flat roofs, was watched with intense and eager interest. The street was gaily decorated with flags and streamers; and with coloured cloths, patterned carpets and even costly shawls, hung from carved balconies, of which some were veiled with muslin curtains, that the ladies of a rich man’s household might view the procession unobserved. Outside many of the shops were hung pictures of the Royal family; others dosplayed mottoes appropiate to the occasion. The Viceroy and the Duke of Connaught were received in this portion of the procession with cheering such as is rarely heard from an Asiatic crowd; and a buzz of sound, breaking at times into a roar, swept from one end of the crowded avenue to the other.'...


Whole path of the Main Procession






...'The procession headed to Mori gate to leave the city. A short distance outside the walls of the city, near the intersection of the Rajpur and Kudsia roads, the Viceroy and the Duke halted their elephants, while the ruling chiefs, with whom they exchanged salutations, filed past them and proceeded to their respective camps.'...

 

[Ana Donzino]

Main Procession at the saluting point


Retainers elephants, after Main Procession at the saluting point





Retainers leaving through Mori Gate


Retainers leaving through Mori Gate

 

[Ana Donzino]

The Camps

The camps were all outside Delhi, the Government and the Indian Princes’ ones. Each prince was given a large piece of land, where the city provided the tents to shelter all the attendants from that state. Each one brought everything thay thought they might need during their stay.
They where grouped by their respectives zones. Rajputana, Central India, Hyderabad, Kashmir, Punjab, United Provinces.

 

[Ana Donzino]

Kashmir Camp


Nepal Camp


Sikkim Camp


Sikkim Camp


Kashmir Tent

Many visitors walked around the camps during the Durbar days. Most painters and illustrators took their time to sketch and take notes at the camps. Also the accounts and chronicals were mostly during the hours between events. The Main Procession and the Retainers Review didn't give much time to anyone to take notes since there were too many things happening during a relatively short period of time.

 

[Ana Donzino]

The Imperial Durbar
...'On the first day of January 1903, with a wealth of ceremonial and with a spectacular gorgeousness, unapproached by any previous display, His Imperial Majesty, King Edward the VII, was proclaimed Emperor of India. Princes and mighty Chiefs had assembled to do him honor and to yield obeisance to him in the person of His Viceroy.
On the plain outside the City was built an Amphitheatre extensive enough to accommodate the immense concourse os spectators drawn from the whole world. Its shape was that of a gigantic horse-shoe. A Daïs surmounted by a cupola projected from its center and on the Daïs were the throne chairs for His Excellency the Viceroy and His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught.
By 12 o’clock, the vast Amphitheatre and its numerous tiers of seats was nearly filled, and the Mutiny Veterans marched into the Arena preceded by a band. These old warriors, to whom the very ground they were treading was full of terrible and glorious memories, were greeted on every hand by loud and spontaneous cheering.
Then in all the brilliance of oriental splendour came the Ruling Chiefs and Princes of India, each in his Coach or Carriage resplendent with silver and gold and escorted by Lancers and numerous attendants.
Outside the Amphitheatre stretching away almost to the horizon, battery after battery and regiment after regiment of India’s gallant army were drawn up; 40.000 men of all arms. His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught drove up with an escort of the 9th Lancers and the 15th Bengal Lancers. He was received by a Royal Salute. Thirty one guns were fired and the National Anthem was played by the bands gathered in the Arena.
A few minutes later, His Excellency the Viceroy drove up escorted by a British Cavalry Regiment, the Imperial Cadet Corps and a Native Cavalry Regiment, in addition to His Excellency’s Body guard. He was received with Royal honours. The Guns fired a Royal Salute. The National Anthem was played and Viceregal Standard was hoisted.
The Herald, Major Maxwell with the trumpeters rode up to the Daïs with flourishes of trumpets and at the Command of the Viceroy, he read the Imperial Proclamation. One undred and one guns were fired and the Royal Standard was hoisted, the massed bands playing the National Anthem.
His Excellency the Viceroy then read the King-Emperor’s Message and addressed the assemblage.'...

 

[Ana Donzino]

 

[Ana Donzino]

The opening of the Exhibition of Art Manufactures

...'The whole India had been searched and its choicest treasures were gathered together in the Exhibition building. Nearly every exhibit was chosen by the personal selection of the director, Sir George Watt.
In the Loan Collection, every province had contributed its rarest and most beautiful treasures, from Kashmir to Travancore, from Bombay to Burmah, the whole peninsula combined to freely and generously despatch its costliest treasures to help demonstrate the artistic resources of the land.'...

 

[Ana Donzino]

On January 3rd, The viceroy Lord Curzon received the Mutiny Veterans on the lawn in front of his residence.









On the same day and on the 5th, two assault-of-arms were held in the Amphitheatre. Some of the events held there were the Musical Ride of the I.Battery and the 15th Hussars, Gymnastic displays by the Army gymnastic staff, and the running drill of the 15th Sikh.

 

[Ana Donzino]

A few more pictures of the previous events


The Imperial Durbar day, the proclamation. Curzon, Connaught and their wives already in place.


A Battery Skirmish display


A painting portraiting the arrival of the authorities at the Amphitheatre