Ram Mohan Roy Memorial, Bristol

 This trip I owe to Shamita Sarkar. As a Historian, I have been talking about Raja Ram Mohan Roy and his contributions and like many others very fascinated with his work towards women's issues. I did not know that he had died in Bristol. It was Shamita who told me this and there was no way that I could leave Bristol with out visiting this memorial. An early morning  taxi on 4th June, 2019, took me to Arnos Vale Cemetery. As one interested only in this memorial, I had imagined only this memorial to be standing there amidst the garden but was mistaken for this was a regular cemetery with many other memorial stones. However, Ram Mohan Roy 's memorial does stand out among the hundreds of others due to its very Indian design. Raja Ram Mohan Roy had died in 1833 and this was built by an entrepreneur Diwakar Nath Tagore in 1843. The design was executed by William Prinsep another merchant from Bristol who knew Ram Mohan Roy. The design of this memorial is very much Indian with carved pillars and   a Chatri, umbrella like structure on top. Even today after 176 years, it is heartening to know that every year on 27th September on a Sunday closer to this date a memorial service is still held here in Bristol  and the memory of Raja Ram Mohan Roy kept alive. There are many other memorials of soldiers in this cemetery and they have beautiful designs but definitely it is this cemetery that stand out. There is a little discolouring due to the long  passage of time but by and large it is in good shape. Thanks Shamita for the timely reminder otherwise, I would have really felt bad on leaving Bristol with out paying homage to this great soul who has influenced me a lot with his thinking. On the way back visited another major land mark of Bristol the Hanging Bridge.

Bristol

Reached Bristol on 2nd  June, 2019. As  I am in Bristol and memories come flooding back. I had spent some great and very productive time here in  Bristol University in 2003, while availing a fellowship. Met so many friends in Gender studies, Marsha Henry Geetanjali Gangoli and still remember the great discussions and the  lovely time, I had with them and many others. I left Hounslow today early  morning  and then from Paddington station in Central London, through  the Northern rail, and in two hours time reached Bristol and  it was as if time had stood still from 2003 and things were the same. I am still not able to understand or analyse, why do these western country cities do not become as crowded as in India. I am here after 2003,and it still looks so laid back with open spaces, few people and the University spread in all its majestic glory. The weather is so beautiful on this summer day.

Windsor Castle

 Windsor Castle is an example of Gothic architecture at its best. Built in 11th century, this Royal residence of the British kept on expanding with new rooms and areas being attached to it through the 18th century. Its construction started after the Norman invasion of England by William the conqueror in 11th century and today it is spread over thirteen acres with huge green lawns all around it. Inside, one can see the royal Chambers of Queen Catherine of Braganza and Charles Two of  17th century. their dinning rooms, drawing rooms, and a huge collection of 16th and 17th century paintings. Photography is not allowed inside. I was a bit disappointed for the main attraction Mary's Doll house built in 1920's by Edward Lutyens, was closed and so were many other rooms which were being repaired. When I visited Windsor Castle last time there were more than four rooms that consisted of the gifts given by the Maharajas and others to Queen Victoria. These were made of gold, diamonds, silver and each and every state was trying to outdo the other in bestowing gifts to the queen. I still remember my reaction at that time that the Britishers had themselves brought so much of wealth and historical heritage from India with out asking and the rest is given to them by the Indian  Princes and royal household. There were beautiful diamond studded swords, wine cups made of gold, small khukharis. I am not sure if this has been removed from display but I never got to see this. So the tour to Windsor Castle was a little disappointing. There was a huge fire here in 1992 and after this the Royal family shifted its residence to the Buckingham Palace.

The hop in and hop off buses lONDON

 A great experience in London is the hop in and hop off buses, which qwe took on 1st June, 2019. These buses have a running commentary and take you around London in the bus and the cruise across Thames. London is so full of History that it is just not possible to visit each and every place. The buses is an easy way out and you can just relax, have a look at the different places and in case you want to explore any destination just get down and spend your time and take the next bus. The bus took us to Kensington Palace, the London Bridge, the Royal Albert museum, the St. Paul Cathedral,Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square. The trafalgar Square attracts a large number of people and the streets were crowded with people of all nationalities . All these names sound so familiar to us and it was fun seeing them through the bus and then through the river ways. The Parliament House, the Big Ben and the London Eye are a major attraction. I could see a lot of scaffolds around some of these structures and repairs were being carried out.Both Paris and London were bombed during the second World War and major buildings were destroyed in both the places. While Paris built its structures exactly the way they were London, opted for modern building too. Hence London has a mix of traditional. Medieval architectural styles along with the modern. It is fun to look at some of these medieval buildings and their Gothic architecture that have stood the race of time and continue to dot the London landscape lending it an old world charm that remains unparalleled.

The Greenwich village

 Visited the Greenwich village which still maintains an old world charm and is famous for the Martine museum and the 17th century Royal observatory. This observatory  is located on a hill top and has a wonderful planetarium where one is explained about the planets and stars with a running commentary and there is also a person to answer you questions related to space. The maritime museum has a collection of all the things associated with maritime and it show cases how Britain was a great naval power and how it emerged so. There were different designs of ships, their decorations, films and paintings on the different sailors and naval battles. In quiet contrast to this was Canary Wharf which is the financial capital of London and had some amazing sky scrapers and a lot of modern shopping areas.