Also known as the Imperial Durbar, the Delhi Durbar (translates to “the court of Delhi”) was a huge mass assembly organized at the Coronation Park, Delhi, India, by the British. This was done in an Indian Imperial style to mark and celebrate the succession of an Emperor or Empress of India. The Delhi Durbar was held three times in 1877, 1903, and 1911.
In this article, we shall discuss at length the objectives and significance of Delhi Durbar, 1911. IAS aspirants must go through the aspects of the civil services exam preparation.
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The History of the Delhi Durbar
The 1911 Delhi Durbar was organized to celebrate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary in June of that year at London, Great Britain, to commemorate the historic moment. The Delhi Durbar was intended to be one of the grandest events in history, in which the King and Queen would be named the Emperor and Empress of India. The 1911 durbar in Delhi was held nine days in total, from 7th December to 16th December.
The Delhi Durbar of 1911 is considered by many as the most important amongst the three Delhi Durbars ever held, as it was the only one that was visited by royalty, George V. This article looks to unfold Delhi Durbar 1911 the complete story.
The Timeline of Delhi Durbar: For UPSC 2023
It is advisable to know the chronology of the events to cover the topic as part of your UPSC syllabus:
- A royal proclamation announced the date of the Durbar on 22nd March 1911 to commemorate the connotation of King George V and Queen Mary of Teck and to name them the new Emperor and Empress of India.
This Durbar was so grand that every nobleman, prince, and other people worth mentioning at the time paid a visit to celebrate the moment personally and congratulate the new rules of India. During the Delhi Durbar 1911 viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge, made sure to make special arrangements to accommodate all these people.
- The Durbar of 1911 lasted nine days from the 7th to the 16th of December, while the major ceremony took place on 12th December. The King and Queen arrived at the ceremony in their coronation robes. The emperor King George V wore the imperial Crown of India covered with various jewels. The royal couple then received homage from the native prince and princesses at the ceremonial tent of the shamiana.
- The following day on 13th December, the King and Queen of India made an appearance at the window of Red Fort to receive the greetings of more than half a million people who had gathered there to pay their homage to them.
- On 14th December, the emperor George V led a parade with over 50,000 military troops.
- Finally, on the last day of the Durbar, 26,800 Indian and British military personnel who participated in the events of the Durbar were awarded silver medals.
Additionally, two hundred more gold medals were awarded to high-ranking government officials and various Indian princely rulers.
The details and the timeline are a very important part of the chapter Delhi Durbar 1911 UPSC.
Controversy at the 1911 Delhi Durbar
While several price and princesses came to pay their homage to the new King and Queen of the Indian motherland, the Gaekwar of Baroda, Maharaja Sayajirao III, gave rise to a certain controversy. He arrived at the coronation with his jewellery on and left while showing them his back after one single and a simple bow. At the time, Sayajirao’s actions were considered to be a dissent towards British rule.
Questions regarding this controversy are frequently asked in the IAS Exam.
Frequently Asked Questions on the 1911 Delhi Durbar
What was the Imperial Crown of India?
The Imperial Crown of India was a crown worn by King George V at the 1911 Delhi Durbar during his coronation as the new ruler of India. The crown was embellished with 6170 exquisitely cut diamonds and other gemstones like sapphire, emerald, and ruby.
Who was the last emperor of British India?
The last British Emperor that ruled over India was King George VI. George VI started ruling on 11th December of 1936, and his rule ended on the 22nd June of 1948. His last viceroy was Lord Louis Mountbatten.
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