INFLUENCE OF

BRITISH RULE
IN KOLKATA
HISTORY SUMMER PROJECT- RUHI ROY
VICTORIA MEMORIAL
 HISTORY BEHIND VICTORIA
MEMORIAL
Built between 1906-1921, this building is a memorial
for the late Queen Victoria. Building it was proposed
by Lord Curzon. The foundation stone was laid by
the Prince of Wales on 4th January, 1906 but was
opened to the public in 1921. By the time it was fully
constructed, the capital was transferred from Calcutta
to Delhi. After an appeal was made by Lord Curzon,
British officials and Indian individuals funded the
making of the memorial.

Lord Curzon- 1st Marquess Curzon of

Kedleston
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF
BUILDING THIS MEMORIAL?
The Victoria Memorial was Lord Curzon’s vision of
attracting tourists and residents to “ learnt the lessons of
history and see revived before their eyes, the marvels of the
past.”-Lord Curzon
 ARCHITECTURE AND
CONSTRUCTION OF VICTORIA
MEMORIAL
The construction of the building was entrusted to Messrs Martin and Co. The
architect was William Emerson, who used Indo-Saracenic revivalist style to
design the building. This style is a mixture of British and Mughal elements, with
Venetian, Egyptian and Deccani architectural influences.
 HOW DID BRITISH RULE
INFLUENCE THE
ARCHITECTURE OF KOLKATA?
A lot of building that were built in Kolkata during the British rule
used British Colonial styles like neoclassical, baroque and gothic
revivals. Kolkata is the city most influenced by British Colonial
architecture and is a landmark of British architectural history.
 HOW DID BRITISH RULE
INFLUENCE THE CULTURE
OF KOLKATA?
 CULTURAL CAPITAL OF INDIA
KOLKATA IS KNOWS AS THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF
THE COUNTRY BECAUSE IT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE
EAST INDIA COMPANY AND TURNED INTO THE
BIRTHPLACE OF MODERN INDIAN LITERARY AND
ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.
 CITY OF PALACES
THE CITY UNDERWENT RAPID INDUSTRIALIZATION
UNDER GOVERNOR GENERAL, RICHARD
WELLESLEY. THIS TIME PERIOD IS CALLED THE ‘ERA
OF HIGH BRITISH INFLUENCE ON THE CULTURE OF
KOLKATA.
WHAT IS THE VICTORIA
MEMORIAL USED FOR NOW?
The Victoria Memorial is now under the Ministry of Culture. It has 25 galleries which portray
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and their lives. Residents and tourists of Kolkata visit Victoria
Memorial to admire the history of the place and learn about the past. People can even spend
evenings looking at the light and sound shows that take place there.
ME AT VICTORIA MEMORIAL
BIBLIOGRAPHY
History and other research-
 https://www.culturalindia.net/monuments/victoria-memorial.html
 https://www.holidify.com/pages/history-of-kolkata-324.html#:~:text=Colonial%20Era&text=T
he%20city%20underwent%20rapid%20industrialization,on%20the%20culture%20of%20Kolk
ata
.

Pictures – Google.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE END
OF MY PRESENTATION.