Lord Curzon of India - Preserver of Taj Mahal
Viceroy Curzon from the Book High Noon of Empire, History of India
Sep 11, 2009
This is a well written account of Viceroy Curzon’s government of British India, however it has to be said that it is not a book that can be casually browsed. Whilst the book was first published in 1965, it is certainly relevant to students of the History of India today, as it gives excellent primary source documentation regarding the administration of India by Viceroy Curzon and the British Empire.
The title gives the impression that it will be a general account of India at its height, but it emerges as a biographical account of Curzon, with some analysis. However, Curzon is certainly painted as a vivid character, from his workaholic nature (“It is no good trusting a human being to do a thing for you. Do everything yourself”) to the humour displayed in his private letters to his wife, and his belligerent attitude when he felt it necessary.
One of the principal areas of interest to the historian is the variety of primary source materials, ranging from Curzon’s pithy notes on administration to descriptions of the Simla hill camp by his wife.
Taj Mahal, Preserving the Ancient Buildings of India, Curzon's Legacy to India
The importance of Curzon's contribution to the historic architecture of India today cannot be doubted. Curzon's tours of India uncovered architectural gems, including the Taj Mahal, which he ordered should be preserved. Curzon's involvement in the preservation of the ancient buildings of India is one of his most important legacies to the nation of India.
Curzon's Administration
It is clear that Curzon’s administration was extremely proactive and he finalised many problems from the previous administration and initiated various reforms. In office he proved a very ‘hands on’ Viceroy, wanting to be involved in every decision. As India was so far removed from Britain the administrators created a massive paper trail before committing to any decisions, applying retrospectively for consent. Regarding it as a “literary Bedlam” Curzon would read papers from 10am until 2am, with only a short break.
Historically, Curzon’s administration was interesting as marking the start of Indian nationalism and active terrorism against British rule. These extreme activities were in part due to some of Curzon’s policies, such as dividing Bengal which polarised the Hindu and Muslim communities. At the time the British had begun to regard Muslims as allies against rising Hindu nationalism, highlighted by the murder of the Chief Plague Officer Rand which was reputedly “evidence of a vast conspiracy by Hindus” and according to Edwardes marking, “the seeds of India’s partition”.
To Curzon the British were trustees for the “the patient, humble silent millions” and he felt the landed, high caste Indian Congress representatives did not have the same interest in the people’s welfare, which was epitomised by Congress opposition to his agricultural and tenant right reforms.
Curzon left India a permanent legacy with his preservation of ancient buildings, deciding it was the responsibility of the Government of India to “preserve the striking or beautiful or historic fabrics of a bygone age” however Edwardes suggests that this assisted “a sense of national pride which later flowered into active opposition to alien rule".
Certainly, however, Curzon's admiration for Indian architecture, particularly of the Mughal Empire, did much to preserve and protect ancient buildings from decay and neglect. The Taj Mahal is a particular example of Curzon's concern, and now one of the most famous and beautiful monuments of ancient India.
Further major projects undertaken by Curzon included massive investment in the creation of the Punjab Canal Colonies, together with an overhaul of the railway system.
Curzon Alienates Administrators of the Indian Civil Service Together with Most Indian Nationals
One of the main deductions emerging from this book is what a difficult character Curzon was, alienating the British Government with his constant warmongering in the surrounding areas and his own administration by his insistence upon overseeing every development within India, educated Indians with his school and university reforms and even the British Army in India with his attitudes and policies.
Criticisms of High Noon of Empire
The major criticism of the book is that although Edwardes provides a bibliography, none of his references throughout the body of text are footnoted, therefore students wishing to verify his data would need to conduct a great deal of personal research. His typically Victorian style of opening sections and chapters with poetry and quotations is also dated. Finally, there is not a great deal of information about Indian society or economics.
Conclusion
Sumit Sarkar summarises Curzon’s administration with a quote from B Pal’s contemporaneous ‘New India’ as follows: “Lord Ripon’s ideal was to secure by slow degrees autonomy for the Indian people. Lord Curzon’s is to secure it for the Indian Government” (20 August 1903).
In conclusion, as part of studies of British India, this book is highly recommended. Certainly the wealth of primary source material proves it to be a little gem to students wishing to source descriptions from the time. As it is a biographical account, the information contained has not particularly dated, although modern historians such as Sarkar are more critical of Curzon’s motives for his actions than Edwardes.
Sources
Sumit Sarkar, Modern India, 1885-1947, Macmillan Press, 1989
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