An old 1883 print of the city fair and the Royal visit of the Duke and Duchess to British-era Bombay (Mumbai). This page is from the London-based The Graphic of Dec 22, 1883. The bottom picture shows a fair being conducted at the Azad Maidan (Esplanade) in 1883. The Bombay Gymkhana was located at a triangular plot on a corner of this ground. The plot can be seen beyond in a corner of the Maidan. Although the Gymkhana’s building looks a bit obscure in the engraving.
The newspaper gives an account of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught’s visit to the city. A fair or exhibition was held at the Azad Maidan in his honor. Prince Arthur the Duke was the third son of Queen Victoria and her favorite. He married Princess Louise, the great-niece of Wilhelm I, Emperor of Germany. He held many important posts. One of them was the Governor-General of Canada from 1911 to 1916. He was also an army officer and rose from the ranks. Served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army, from 1886 to 1890. While on his visit to Bombay in 1883, he held the rank of a General.
Read more Arthur, Duke of Connaught.
Did you know- Connaught Place, in New Delhi, was named after Prince Arthur on his visit to India as the Duke of Connaught, during the Delhi Durbar of 1905.
From the collection- Antique Photo Prince Wilhelm Tour of India Special Train., Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph c1894., Vintage Postcard British Monarchs Delhi Durbar 1911., Antique Photo Imperial Service Cavalry Delhi Durbar 1903.
