Abstract: The study of the history of first Delhi Durbar in 1876 had been neglected by the scholars because they could not find any sign of in it. They ruminated that the Durbar was only a Government event; it was a symbol of personal ambition of Lord Lytons. But recently, scholars started to focus on politically and culturally significance of the Durbar ceremony. Foremost, Julie F Codell in the “Power and Resistances: The Delhi Coronation Durbars 1877. 1903.1911” have described the political and cultural role of the three Durbars. However, his aim was not trace to history of the three Durbars, as he explored photographs of the Durbars activities. As well as, he also explored historical and political events of the three Durbars. Another, Wheeler J Talboys in “The History Imperial Assemblage at Delhi” cached all events of 1876 Durbar what happened in Delhi during Durbar ceremony. Marry Lytton wrote the biographies of Lord Lytton in which she has described the political significance of the Durbar ceremony but most of the events were dropped. All the Durbars were celebrated on the occasion of the coronation of English monarch or empress; Victoria (1837-1901) in 1877, Edward VII (1901-10) in 1903 and Georg V (1910-30) in 1911. Three Durbars ceremonies were associated with three Viceroys; Lord Lytton (1876-80), George Curzon (1899-1905), and Charls Harding (1910-16). ‘Each created a Durbar visual culture through which to express imperial politics and socio-political relation within India.’ (Codell Julie F., 18) First, two viceroys were most hated in India but third was less hated. Lytton followed a rigid administration policy which led to discontent among the Indian people. However, he was well familiar with the Indian problems but his policies did not like the people. Their reforms such as Indian Arms Act, Indian Press Act and half-hearted works in the relief of famine of 1876-77 add fuel in their unpopularity. The press was divided on the Durbar ceremony; Indian newspapers were much active in his criticism.
Keywords: Durbar, Indo-Saracenic, haindava-kulavatanasa, Malika, Kaiser-i-Hind, farzand.
Title: History of the First Imperial Durbar at Delhi
Author: Rakesh
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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