[jyotirmoy]

When you drive past the Civil Lines and Kingsway Camp you reach an abandoned park with wild grass and weeds. This is the Coronation Memorial site. It was here in 1911 that King George V was declared Emperor of India and announced the shifting of the capital from Kolkata to Delhi. Take a little pain and trudge through shrubberies and tall grass. Soon you will find yourself among discarded statues unceremoniously dumped in this park. Look closely and like a ghost rises the statue of King George V in full coronation robe he wore on the occasion. Lord Willingdon and Lord Hardinge both placed on red sandstone plinths now keep the King company while goats roam the park foraging on the wild grass.

[Judi]

Thanks for that, Jyoti - I would really like to see that next time I'm in Delhi!!

[digital drifter]

Benjamin Zephaniah, the UK poet while on his sojourns regarding "Empire" (his refusal of the OBE) talks about them.  On the BBC show on him, he talks about the abandoned statues of the Empire in Delhi.

Powerful stuff.

A quarter of the known world ruled by Empire and then poof, you keep the company of goats and cowherds.

Such is history.

[priya]

Sad too that history is just left to rot.  Pleasant or unpleasant, the roles played in forming a country's character wont be there for future generations.

[WonderWomanUSA]

priya, on Dec 19 2007, 04:14 AM, said:

Sad too that history is just left to rot.  Pleasant or unpleasant, the roles played in forming a country's character wont be there for future generations.

True, but to extend that, really, you'd have to leave the statues of Stalin, Hitler and Saddam Hussein, because they, too, formed the culture of the country.

[jyotirmoy]

In Budapest we went to a park where all communist era statues are kept. The difference is that they are nicely organised and the park is well maintained and you pay money to visit.

[digital drifter]

WonderWomanUSA, on Dec 20 2007, 03:04 AM, said:

True, but to extend that, really, you'd have to leave the statues of Stalin, Hitler and Saddam Hussein, because they, too, formed the culture of the country.

And why not?  We need the reminders, don't we, of what we were capable of electing.   Today, torture seems to be in vogue, after about 60 years.   All that is missing is the flag waving and book burnings.

And I'm optimistic that it WILL happen in the next few years.

[iwanttogoback]

Quote

True, but to extend that, really, you'd have to leave the statues of Stalin, Hitler and Saddam Hussein, because they, too, formed the culture of the country.

indeed, and if we have any hope of learning then we need to remember the past, not that i recommend condoning it.

[priya]

Quote

Stalin, Hitler and Saddam Hussein, because they, too, formed the culture of the country.

No-one should be allowed for forget their atrocities.  Let history not repeat itself, ever!  I know, it's wishful thinking

[Yashodhara]

I believe this is not just about memory, but also about the right balance between seeing things clearly and at the same time not letting them cripple your self confidence. Moving on in a positive way is what memories should help men to do. Hard to achieve, especially where I live.